Membranes and Molecular Assemblies

Describes the wealth of membrane structures realized by chemists since the 1970s - micelles, vesicles, fibres and surface monolayers - from the point of view of supramolecular chemistry. The text places an emphasis on "synkinetic" procedures for the preparation of non-covalent assemblies as well as their structural characterization by electron microscopy, solid state NMR spectroscopy, and comparison to X-ray crystal structures. The supramolecular structure of well-defined molecular assemblies and their use as complex reaction systems is also emphasized. Stereoselective surface recognition, asymmetric membranes, vectorial photoreactions, solid molecular bilayers in the form of tubules or helical rods, and sealable nanopores in membranes or on electrode surfaces are a few examples. In addition, the importance of well-defined gaps on surfaces and within membranes and crystals is discussed in context.