Coordination and Supramolecular Chemistry

Overview

The group works on the coordination chemistry of macrocyclic compounds and their supramolecular assemblies (host-guest chemistry). Appropriate macrocycles of the polyaza- and polyoxa-polyaza type, which may also contain benzene or pyridine as further building blocks, are prepared and their coordination to metal ions is studied. The attachment of pendant functionalized arms such as acetate, methylphosphonate or methylferrocenyl to the nitrogen donor atoms leads to ligands which form metal complexes with increased stability and different properties. Applications in the biomedical range as taylor-made ligands for radionuclides with tumorspecifity as well as in analytical chemistry for the construction of sensors with metal selectivity or for the detection and removal from water of important anionic or neutral molecules like pesticides are under investigation.