Novel Supramolecular Architectures based on weak interactions

This thesis reports the synthesis and the studies of a new series of Supramolecular architectures enable to function as selective anion receptors, efficient transmembrane transporters, and as Low Molecular Weight Gelators (LMWGs). A novel family of bis-selenoureas receptors were synthesised and their affinity towards different anion species were tested by means 1H-NMR titrations in DMSO-d6. A novel family of amide-based receptor were reported. Specifically, the role of the halogen substituents on the anion binding properties and on the activity as anion transporters of a series of isophthalamides and dipicolineamides both in solution and in the solid state was investigated. With the same aim, a new family of symmetric squaramide- based receptors functionalised with different fluorophores for anion recognition, transport and cell imaging were studied. The synthesis, gelation tests and characterization of eight LMWGs based on the urea moiety scaffold were explored in the last part of the thesis. Finally, a new family of aromatic selenoureas has been studied with the aim to construct molecular logic gates based on the nature of the adduct formed. Furthermore, results on a side project carried out during this PhD on hexosomes and cubosomes for theranostic application were reported