Reactivity in organised assemblies

Abstract

This article discusses recent publications on chemical reactivity in large organic structures, including supramolecular systems (e.g., host–guest complexes), dendrimers, colloids (e.g., micelles, vesicles, microemulsions), nanoparticles and thin films. Although these systems are very different structurally, the main factors affecting organic reactivity in these assemblies are similar. These effects are: (i) proximity of functional groups in organised assemblies that may facilitate reactions between them (“proximity effect”); (ii) partitioning of the reagents between the bulk solvent and the organised assembly, which determines the local concentration of reagents in the vicinity of the functional group (“solvent effect”); (iii) unique properties of the interface between the organic assembly and the bulk solution (“interface effect”); (iv) restricted and/or anisotropic mobility of organic molecules in the organised assembly (“steric effect”). This article aims to describe each effect using examples from different types of organic assemblies. The review covers literature published in 2006 and early 2007.