From Dynamic Combinatorial to Systems Chemistry

Chemists are building molecular mixtures that can sense and respond to their environment, much like a lock that changes shape to fit a key. Dynamic combinatorial chemistry already lets scientists create synthetic receptors—molecules that grab specific targets. But the technique has unexplored dimensions: molecules within a mixture can recognise each other, fold into new shapes, and react to added templates. This project will systematically study how these three layers of recognition interact. The second part pushes into systems chemistry, asking what unexpected properties emerge when many different molecules mingle in a complex soup. This is fundamental science. There is no immediate practical application. The goal is to establish systems chemistry as a discipline—to understand how molecular networks behave, rather than how individual molecules act alone. Past fundamental work on self-assembly and molecular recognition laid the groundwork for drug delivery, sensors, and responsive materials. A deeper grasp of how molecules collectively organise could eventually lead to adaptive catalysts, self-healing materials, or chemical systems that process information. But for now, the aim is simply to map the rules of this uncharted chemical territory.