RSA CE&C 2015-2021 Group descriptions

Molecular Systems and Materials Chemistry (MSMC) 85 SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND CATALYSIS Program leader/section leader Prof .dr.ir. A.R.A. (Anja) Palmans Scientific staff FTE Full professor Prof .dr.ir. A.R.A. (Anja) Palmans ( since 04-2019) 1.0 Mission In 2019, with the appointment of A. Palmans – previously part of the Macro-Organic Chemistry (MOC) group – as a full professor, the Supramolecular Chemistry and Catalysis (SCC) group was founded. At the SCC group, we take advantage of the exciting opportunities that arise from the integration of polymer chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, stereochemistry and catalysis. Herein, we pursue two main goals. On the one hand, we integrate biological and chemical processes to generate non-natural conversions in complex media. To achieve this, we focus on the design and synthesis of (supramolecular) copolymers that form nanometer- sized structures to achieve efficient and selective catalysis in water and complex cellular media. Developing such complex molecular systems based on non-covalent, reversible interactions and understanding the mechanisms underlying their formation will provide a solid foundation to progress towards in-vivo applications and green chemical conversions. Our ultimate goal is to develop synthetic enzyme analogues that can perform catalytic conversions in concert with their natural counterparts and that display similar activity and selectivity. On the other hand, we design macromolecular systems that combine non-covalent and dynamic covalent chemistries to help address the global challenge of reducing plastic waste. The development of crosslinked materials applied in coatings and smart materials that can be easily repaired and reused is of particular interest because the chemical networks used are very stable and difficult to reuse or repair. The introduction of semi-permanent chemical crosslinks into the materials will allow a balance between the desired material properties and the reuse of such crosslinked materials. With these research activities that integrate organic/polymer chemistry, catalysis and material sciences, we aim to attain our most important mission: to train and educate new generations of engineers to become independent professionals who will contribute to the societal challenges of the future. Research themes The research in the Supramolecular Chemistry and Catalysis group is divided into two main themes. One is fundamental in nature (1A, 1B) and addresses fundamental questions in supramolecular systems and the folding of macromolecules whereas the other (2A, 2B) progresses towards applications in green chemistry, life sciences andmaterial sciences. Because of the historic connections to MOC, some themes (such as 1B) are still closely connected to the activities in the MOC group whereas other activities that were previously part of MOC have been transferred to the SCC group (such as 1A, 2A). 1A. Fundamentals of single-chain polymeric nanoparticles We combine small-molecule self-assembly with polymer chemistry to produce single-chain polymeric nanoparticles (SCPNs). Our aim is to explore the limits of SCPNs in terms of structural control, characterization and utilization and we use a bottom-up approach to achieve this. Responsiveness to the environment, folding and unfolding on demand and control of shape and size are some of the topics we work on. Special attention is given to accessing polymers with a high degree of control over the monomer sequence and to