| 㰀栀㐀㸀㰀瀀㸀㰀戀㸀㰀愀 渀愀洀攀㴀椀渀琀爀漀㸀䤀渀琀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀戀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
Nanosciences, nanotechnologies and supramolecular chemistry are today 昀椀攀氀搀猀 漀昀 甀渀椀瘀攀爀猀愀氀 猀挀椀攀渀琀椀昀椀挀 椀渀琀攀爀攀猀琀⸀ 㰀椀洀最 愀氀椀最渀㴀爀椀最栀琀 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀㈀ 猀爀挀㴀∀⸀最椀昀∀㸀刀攀挀攀渀琀 瀀爀漀漀昀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 椀猀 搀攀洀漀渀猀琀爀愀琀攀搀 by the 2001 United States budget allocation for nanosciences through the ᰀ一愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 一愀渀漀琀攀挀栀渀漀氀漀最礀 䤀渀椀琀椀愀琀椀瘀攀ᴀ⸀ 䤀琀 愀洀漀甀渀琀猀 琀漀 猀漀洀攀 ␀㔀 洀椀氀氀椀漀渀Ⰰ which is more than double the amount allocated for the year 2000. 㰀瀀㸀䤀渀 愀渀愀氀漀最礀Ⰰ 愀 猀椀最渀椀昀椀挀愀渀琀 渀甀洀戀攀爀 漀昀 椀渀琀攀爀渀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀氀礀ⴀ爀攀挀漀最渀椀稀攀搀 爀攀猀攀愀爀挀栀 laboratories here in Switzerland are also working in the areas of supramolecular 挀栀攀洀椀猀琀爀礀 愀渀搀⼀漀爀 洀愀琀攀爀椀愀氀猀 挀栀攀洀椀猀琀爀礀⸀ 䤀渀搀攀攀搀Ⰰ 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 爀攀猀攀愀爀挀栀 最爀漀甀瀀猀 are currently well established in these areas, since they began their 椀渀瘀攀猀琀椀最愀琀椀漀渀猀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀椀猀 昀椀攀氀搀 漀昀 猀挀椀攀渀挀攀 眀愀猀 昀椀爀猀琀 椀渀琀爀漀搀甀挀攀搀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 瀀氀愀挀攀猀 Swiss research teams at the forefront of these research domains. 㰀瀀㸀㰀戀㸀㰀愀 渀愀洀攀㴀焀甀椀搀㸀䔀砀愀挀琀氀礀 眀栀愀琀 愀爀攀 猀甀瀀爀愀洀漀氀攀挀甀氀愀爀 昀甀渀挀琀椀漀渀愀氀 洀愀琀攀爀椀愀氀猀㼀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀戀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀These are materials capable of fulfilling very specific tasks. Supramolecular 昀甀渀挀琀椀漀渀愀氀 洀愀琀攀爀椀愀氀猀 愀爀攀 挀漀洀瀀漀猀攀搀 漀昀 猀甀瀀攀爀洀漀氀攀挀甀氀攀猀 愀渀搀 愀猀 愀 挀漀渀猀攀焀甀攀渀挀攀 belong to the nanoworld. 㰀瀀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⸀樀瀀最∀ 愀氀椀最渀㴀爀椀最栀琀㸀䤀渀瘀椀猀椀戀氀攀 琀漀 琀栀攀 渀愀欀攀搀 eye, their size scale is in the nanometer range. Nano, from the Greek 眀漀爀搀 㰀椀㸀渀愀渀漀猀㰀⼀椀㸀 洀攀愀渀椀渀最 搀眀愀爀昀Ⰰ 椀猀 愀 瀀爀攀昀椀砀 猀椀最渀椀昀礀椀渀最 漀渀攀ⴀ戀椀氀氀椀漀渀琀栀 (1/1,000,000,000, 10-9). Let us make two comparisons: a chemical 戀漀甀渀搀 眀栀椀挀栀 氀椀渀欀猀 琀眀漀 愀琀漀洀猀 椀猀 最攀渀攀爀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 漀渀 琀栀攀 䄀渀最猀琀爀☀漀甀洀氀㬀洀 甀渀椀琀 漀昀 measurement, or one-tenth of a nanometer, and the diameter of a single 猀琀爀愀渀搀 漀昀 栀甀洀愀渀 栀愀椀爀 椀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 Ⰰ 渀愀渀漀洀攀琀攀爀猀 ⠀ ⸀ 洀洀⤀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 㰀瀀㸀㰀戀㸀㰀愀 渀愀洀攀㴀栀椀猀琀漀㸀圀栀攀渀 搀椀搀 琀栀攀礀 戀攀挀漀洀攀 瘀椀猀椀戀氀攀㼀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀戀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀The field covered by the term nanosciences is very wide, hence it is 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀 琀漀 最椀瘀攀 愀 猀椀渀最氀攀 猀琀愀爀琀椀渀最 瀀漀椀渀琀⸀ 䄀猀 愀 挀漀渀猀攀焀甀攀渀挀攀Ⰰ 椀琀 椀猀 瀀攀爀栀愀瀀猀 advisable to speak in terms of two separate approaches namely, the nanotechnological 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀甀瀀爀愀洀漀氀攀挀甀氀愀爀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 The nanotechnological approach 㰀瀀㸀吀栀攀 渀愀渀漀琀攀挀栀渀漀氀漀最椀挀愀氀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀 椀猀 戀愀猀攀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 椀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀 洀愀渀椀瀀甀氀愀琀椀漀渀 of atoms and molecules in order to assemble complex structures with precision. 䘀漀爀 愀 洀愀渀礀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 琀礀瀀攀 漀昀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀 眀愀猀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 琀漀 戀攀 甀渀昀攀愀猀椀戀氀攀⸀ As recently as the 1950s, Erwin SchrFdinger winner of the Nobel prize 昀漀爀 瀀栀礀猀椀挀猀 椀渀 㤀㌀㌀ ጀ 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 椀洀愀最椀渀攀 琀栀愀琀 椀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀 琀漀 愀琀琀攀洀瀀琀 an experiment on one electron, an atom or even a single molecule. Some 礀攀愀爀猀 氀愀琀攀爀 栀攀 眀愀猀 瀀爀漀瘀攀搀 眀爀漀渀最 戀礀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀琀椀渀最甀椀猀栀攀搀 猀挀椀攀渀琀椀猀琀Ⰰ 刀椀挀栀愀爀搀 P. Feynman, who was awarded the Nobel physics prize in 1965. Invited by 琀栀攀 䄀洀攀爀椀挀愀渀 倀栀礀猀椀挀愀氀 匀漀挀椀攀琀礀 琀漀 椀琀猀 愀渀渀甀愀氀 洀攀攀琀椀渀最 漀渀 䐀攀挀攀洀戀攀爀 ㈀㤀Ⰰ 㤀㔀㤀Ⰰ Feynman gave a memorable lecture entitled Theres Plenty of Room at the 䈀漀琀琀漀洀ᴀ⸀ 䠀攀 猀愀椀搀㨀 ᰀ吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀椀瀀氀攀猀 漀昀 瀀栀礀猀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀猀 昀愀爀 愀猀 䤀 挀愀渀 猀攀攀Ⰰ 搀漀 not speak against the possibility of manoeuvering things atom by atom. 㰀瀀㸀吀栀攀 洀愀樀漀爀 氀椀洀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 愀琀 琀栀愀琀 琀椀洀攀 眀愀猀 愀 氀愀挀欀 漀昀 猀甀椀琀愀戀氀攀 琀攀挀栀渀漀氀漀最礀⸀ For this problem to be overcome, it was necessary to wait until the early 㤀㠀 ✀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 椀渀瘀攀渀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 眀栀愀琀 椀猀 攀昀昀攀挀琀椀瘀攀氀礀 猀挀愀渀渀椀渀最 琀甀渀渀攀氀椀渀最 洀椀挀爀漀猀挀漀瀀礀 (STM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In 1986, the German Gerd Binning 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 匀眀椀猀猀 䠀攀椀渀爀椀挀栀 刀漀栀攀爀 眀攀爀攀 樀漀椀渀琀氀礀 愀眀愀爀搀攀搀 琀栀攀 一漀戀攀氀 瀀爀椀稀攀 椀渀 瀀栀礀猀椀挀猀 for the invention of the scanning tunnel microscope. 㰀瀀㸀吀栀攀猀攀 椀渀猀琀爀甀洀攀渀琀猀 眀攀爀攀 椀渀椀琀椀愀氀氀礀 挀漀渀挀攀椀瘀攀搀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 漀戀猀攀爀瘀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 愀琀漀洀椀挀 matter, but have since undergone modifications which have aided their 愀瀀瀀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 洀愀渀椀瀀甀氀愀琀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 猀琀甀搀礀 漀昀 愀琀漀洀猀⸀ 䤀琀 椀猀 瀀攀爀栀愀瀀猀 眀漀爀琀栀 pointing out that as an experiment the acronym "IBM" was once 眀爀椀琀琀攀渀 椀渀 ㌀㔀 砀攀渀漀渀 愀琀漀洀猀Ⰰ 挀愀爀攀昀甀氀氀礀 氀愀椀搀 漀甀琀 漀瘀攀爀 愀 猀椀渀最氀攀 猀甀爀昀愀挀攀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 㰀瀀㸀䤀渀 琀栀攀 猀甀瀀爀愀洀漀氀攀挀甀氀愀爀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 挀漀渀挀攀瀀琀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 爀攀愀氀椀稀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 渀愀渀漀猀挀漀瀀椀挀 systems begins on the molecular scale. The strategies for realizing these 猀礀猀琀攀洀猀 愀爀攀 椀渀 最攀渀攀爀愀氀 戀愀猀攀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀椀瀀氀攀 漀昀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ愀猀猀攀洀戀氀礀⸀ 䴀漀氀攀挀甀氀攀猀 are linked together as supermolecules exploiting the non-covalent interactions 渀愀琀甀爀攀 栀愀猀 甀猀攀搀 昀漀爀 洀椀氀氀椀漀渀猀 漀昀 礀攀愀爀猀 琀漀 愀猀猀攀洀戀氀攀 氀愀爀最攀 昀甀渀挀琀椀漀渀愀氀 戀椀漀氀漀最椀挀愀氀 molecules such as DNA and proteins (enzymes). Equally on speaks in terms 漀昀 洀漀氀攀挀甀氀愀爀 爀攀挀漀最渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 愀瀀瀀氀礀椀渀最 琀栀攀 氀漀挀欀 愀渀搀 欀攀礀 愀渀愀氀漀最礀 琀漀 愀椀搀 琀栀攀 understanding of this process. A receptor molecule (enzyme) can selectively 爀攀挀漀最渀椀稀攀Ⰰ 戀椀渀搀 愀渀搀 爀攀愀挀琀 眀椀琀栀 愀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀洀攀渀琀愀爀礀 栀漀猀琀 ⠀猀甀戀猀琀爀愀琀攀⤀ 洀漀氀攀挀甀氀攀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀The first scientist to introduce this principle was the research chemist 䔀洀椀氀 䘀椀猀挀栀攀爀Ⰰ 愀琀 琀栀攀 琀甀爀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 ㈀ 琀栀㰀猀甀瀀㸀㰀⼀猀甀瀀㸀 挀攀渀琀甀爀礀⸀ 圀栀椀氀攀 猀琀甀搀礀椀渀最 the reaction of an enzyme with its substrate, Fischer came to the conclusion 琀栀愀琀 椀渀 漀爀搀攀爀 琀漀 爀攀挀漀最渀椀稀攀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 爀攀愀挀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 ✀猀栀愀瀀攀✀ 漀昀 愀 猀甀戀猀琀爀愀琀攀 molecule needs to be complementary with that of its receptor site. Rather 氀椀欀攀 愀 欀攀礀 ⠀猀甀戀猀琀爀愀琀攀⤀ 眀椀琀栀 椀琀猀 挀漀爀爀攀猀瀀漀渀搀椀渀最 氀漀挀欀 ⠀爀攀挀攀瀀琀漀爀⤀⸀ 䘀漀爀 琀栀攀猀攀 findings, he was awarded the Nobel prize in chemistry in 1902. 㰀瀀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀㈀⸀樀瀀最∀ 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀䤀琀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀 甀渀琀椀氀 渀攀愀爀氀礀 100 years later that the full impact of Fischer's research was fully realized, 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 挀栀攀洀椀猀琀 䨀攀愀渀ⴀ䴀愀爀椀攀 䰀攀栀渀 戀攀最愀渀 琀漀 眀漀爀欀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀爀攀愀 栀攀 栀愀猀 猀椀渀挀攀 named as "supramolecular chemistry". Isolated molecules have 瀀爀漀瀀攀爀琀椀攀猀 眀栀椀挀栀 爀攀猀甀氀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀椀爀 洀漀氀攀挀甀氀愀爀 猀琀爀甀挀琀甀爀攀⸀ 䠀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 愀 洀漀氀攀挀甀氀攀 is never totally isolated because it finds itself in a chemical environment 眀椀琀栀 眀椀挀栀 椀琀 椀猀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 椀渀琀攀爀愀挀琀⸀ 䘀爀漀洀 琀栀攀猀攀 椀渀琀攀爀愀挀琀椀漀渀猀 挀漀洀攀 渀攀眀 挀栀攀洀椀挀愀氀 and physical properties. The combination of molecular interactions is 琀栀攀 挀漀渀挀攀瀀琀 漀渀 眀栀椀挀栀 猀甀瀀爀愀洀漀氀攀挀甀氀愀爀 挀栀攀洀椀猀琀爀礀 椀猀 戀愀猀攀搀⸀ 䰀攀栀渀 爀攀挀攀椀瘀攀搀 the Nobel chemistry prize in 1987 for his work on the "development 愀渀搀 甀猀攀 漀昀 洀漀氀攀挀甀氀攀猀 眀椀琀栀 猀琀爀甀挀琀甀爀攀ⴀ猀瀀攀挀椀昀椀挀 椀渀琀攀爀愀挀琀椀漀渀猀 漀昀 栀椀最栀 猀攀氀攀挀琀椀瘀椀琀礀☀焀甀漀琀㬀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀To obtain supramolecular structures which are made to measure , or in 漀琀栀攀爀 眀漀爀搀猀Ⰰ 昀甀渀挀琀椀漀渀愀氀 猀甀瀀爀愀洀漀氀攀挀甀氀愀爀 猀琀爀甀挀琀甀爀攀猀Ⰰ 猀挀椀攀渀琀椀猀琀猀 愀爀攀 挀甀爀爀攀渀琀氀礀 exploiting the possibilities of using molecular building blocks for the 挀漀渀琀爀漀氀氀攀搀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ愀猀猀攀洀戀氀礀 漀昀 氀愀爀最攀爀 猀甀瀀攀爀洀漀氀攀挀甀氀攀猀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 㰀瀀㸀吀栀攀 猀甀瀀爀愀洀漀氀攀挀甀氀愀爀 愀渀搀 渀愀渀漀琀攀挀栀渀漀氀漀最椀挀愀氀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀攀猀 愀爀攀 爀愀搀椀挀愀氀氀礀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀 from the approaches still generally adopted by the industry. The industrial 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀 椀猀 挀甀爀爀攀渀琀氀礀 爀攀昀攀爀爀攀搀 琀漀 愀猀 ☀焀甀漀琀㬀琀漀瀀ⴀ搀漀眀渀☀焀甀漀琀㬀Ⰰ 漀爀 琀漀 瀀甀琀 椀琀 another way, one starts on the largest scale and then reduces the size 琀漀 搀攀瘀攀氀漀瀀 椀渀挀爀攀愀猀椀渀最氀礀 猀洀愀氀氀攀爀 搀攀瘀椀挀攀猀⸀ 䤀渀 挀漀渀琀爀愀猀琀 栀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 渀愀渀漀琀攀挀栀渀漀氀漀最椀挀愀氀 and the supramolecular approaches are referred to as being "bottom-up" ⴀ 椀渀 漀琀栀攀爀 眀漀爀搀猀 漀渀攀 戀攀最椀渀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 猀洀愀氀氀攀猀琀 ⠀洀漀氀攀挀甀氀愀爀⤀ 氀攀瘀攀氀 愀渀搀 椀渀挀爀攀愀猀攀猀 the size to move towards larger nanoscale dimensions. 㰀瀀㸀㰀戀㸀㰀愀 渀愀洀攀㴀戀甀琀㸀吀眀漀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀攀猀Ⰰ 漀渀攀 猀椀渀最氀攀 愀椀洀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀戀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀Although different, both approaches have important applications in the 昀椀攀氀搀 漀昀 渀愀渀漀猀挀椀攀渀挀攀 愀渀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 攀渀搀 氀攀渀搀 琀栀攀洀猀攀氀瘀攀猀 琀漀 愀 挀漀洀洀漀渀 最漀愀氀 渀愀洀攀氀礀Ⰰ the conception and construction of "nanomachines" which will 栀愀瘀攀 愀 挀漀渀猀椀搀攀爀愀戀氀攀 椀洀瀀愀挀琀 漀渀 渀攀眀 琀攀挀栀渀漀氀漀最椀攀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 愀搀瘀攀渀琀甀爀攀 椀猀 漀渀氀礀 just beginning, but the wildest dreams are already permissible. To quote 䌀栀爀椀猀琀椀渀攀 䰀⸀ 倀攀琀攀爀猀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀爀攀猀椀搀攀渀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䘀漀爀攀猀椀最栀琀 䤀渀猀琀椀琀甀琀攀㨀 ☀焀甀漀琀㬀䤀昀 you're looking ahead long-term, and what you see looks like science fiction, 椀琀 洀椀最栀琀 戀攀 眀爀漀渀最⸀ 䈀甀琀 椀昀 椀琀 搀漀攀猀渀✀琀 氀漀漀欀 氀椀欀攀 猀挀椀攀渀挀攀 昀椀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 椀琀✀猀 搀攀昀椀渀椀琀攀氀礀 wrong." 㰀⼀琀搀㸀 㰀⼀琀愀戀氀攀㸀 䤀 眀愀猀 戀漀爀渀 漀渀 匀攀瀀琀攀洀戀攀爀 ㌀ 㤀㌀㤀 椀渀 刀漀猀栀攀椀洀Ⰰ 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 洀攀搀椀攀瘀愀氀 挀椀琀礀 漀昀 䄀氀猀愀挀攀 椀渀 䘀爀愀渀挀攀⸀ My father, Pierre Lehn, then a baker, was very interested in music, played the piano and the organ and became later, having given up the bakery, the organist of the city. My mother Marie kept the house and the shop. I was the eldest of four sons and helped out in the shop with my first brother. I grew up in Rosheim during the years of the second world war, went to primary school after the war and, at age eleven, I entered high school, the Collège Freppel, located in Obernai, a small city about five kilometers from Rosheim. During these years I began to play the piano and the organ, and with time music has become my major interest outside science. My high school studies from 1950 to 1957 were in classics, with latin, greek, german, and english languages, french literature and, during the last year, philosophy, on which I was especially keen. However, I also became interested in sciences, especially chemistry, so that I obtained the baccalaureat in Philosophy in July 1957 and in Experimental Sciences in September of the same year.㰀瀀㸀 I envisaged to study philosophy at the University of Strasbourg, but being still undecided, I began with first year courses in physical, chemical and natural sciences (SPCN). During this year 1957/58, I was impressed by the coherent and rigorous structure of organic chemistry. I was particularly receptive to the experimental power of organic chemistry, which was able to convert at will, it seemed, complicated substances into one another following well defined rules and routes. I bought myself compounds and glassware and began performing laboratory practice experiments at my parents home. The seed was sown, so that when, the next year, I followed the stimulating lectures of a newly appointed young professor, Guy Ourisson, it became clear to me that I wanted to do research in organic chemistry.㰀⼀瀀㸀㰀瀀㸀 After having obtained the degree of Licencié-ès-Sciences (Bachelor), I entered Ourisson's laboratory in October of 1960, as a junior member of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in order to work towards a Ph.D. degree. This was the first decisive stage of my training. My work was concerned with conformational and physico-chemical properties of triterpenes. Being in charge of our first NMR spectrometer, I was led to penetrate more deeply into the arcanes of this very powerful physical method; this was to be of much importance for later studies. My first scientific paper in 1961 reported an additivity rule for substituent induced shifts of proton NMR signals in steroid derivatives.㰀⼀瀀㸀㰀瀀㸀 Having obtained my degree of Docteur ès Sciences (Ph.D.) in June of 1963, I spent a year in the laboratory of Robert Burns Woodward at Harvard University, where I took part in the immense enterprise of the total synthesis of Vitamin B12. This was the second decisive stage of my life as a researcher. I also followed a course in quantum mechanics and performed my first computations with Roald Hoffmann. I had the chance to witness in 1964 the initial stages of what was to become the Woodward-Hoffmann rules.㰀⼀瀀㸀㰀瀀㸀 After my return to Strasbourg, I began to work in the area of physical organic chemistry, where I could combine the knowledge acquired in organic chemistry, in quantum theory and on physical methods. It was clear that, in order to be able to better analyze physical properties of molecules, a powerful means was to synthesize compounds that would be especially well suited for revealing a given property and its relationships to structure. This orientation characterized the years 1965- 1970 of my activities and of my young laboratory, newly established after my appointment in 1966 as maître de conférences (assistant professor) at the Chemistry Department of the Univerity of Strasbourg. Our main research topics were concerned with NMR studies of conformational rate processes, nitrogen inversion, quadrupolar relaxation, molecular motions and liquid structure, as well as ab initio quantum chemical computations of inversion barriers, of electronic structures and later on, of stereoelectronic effects.㰀⼀瀀㸀㰀瀀㸀 While pursuing these projects, my interest for the processes occurring in the nervous system (stemming diffusely from the first year courses in biology as well as from my earlier inclination towards philosophy), led me to wonder how a chemist might contribute to their study. The electrical phenomena in nerve cells depend on sodium and potassium ion distributions across membranes. A possible entry into the field was to try to affect the processes which allow ion transport and gradients to be established. I related this to the then very recent observations that natural antibiotics were able to make membranes permeable to cations. It thus appeared possible to devise chemical substances that would display similar properties. The search for such compounds led to the design of cation cryptates, on which work was started in October 1967. This area of research expanded rapidly, taking up eventually the major part of my group and developing into what I later on termed "supramolecular chemistry". Organic, inorganic and biological aspects of this field were explored and investigations are continuing. In 1976 another line of research was started in the area of artificial photosynthesis and the storage and chemical conversion of solar energy; it was first concerned with the photoly is of water and later with the photoreduction of carbon dioxide.㰀⼀瀀㸀㰀瀀㸀 I was promoted associate professor in early 1970 and full professor in October of the same year. I spent the two spring semesters of 1972 and 1974 as visiting professor at Harvard University giving lectures and directing a research project. This relationship extended on a loose basis to 1980. In 1979, I was elected to the chair of "Chimie des Interactions Moléculaires" at the Collège de France in Paris. I took over the chemistry laboratory of the Collège de France when Alain Horeau retired in 1980 and thereafter divided my time between the two laboratories in Strasbourg and in Paris, a situation continuing up to the present. New lines of research developed, in particular on combining the recognition, transport and catalytic properties displayed by supramolecular species with the features of organized phases, the long range goal being to design and realize "molecular devices", molecular components that would eventually be able to perform signal and information processing at the molecular level. A major research effort is presently also devoted to supramolecular self-organisation, the design and properties of "programmed" supramolecular systems.㰀⼀瀀㸀㰀瀀㸀 The scientific work, performed over twenty years with about 150 collaborators from over twenty countries, has been described in about 400 publications and review papers. Over the years I was visiting professor at other institutions, the E.T.H. in Zürich, the Universities of Cambridge, Barcelona, Frankfurt.㰀⼀瀀㸀㰀瀀㸀 In 1965 I married Sylvie Lederer and we have two sons, David (born 1966) and Mathias (born 1969).㰀⼀瀀㸀 sponsors link òþíèíã àâòîòþíèíã ìàøèí |