Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y N
Course Code CHEM4147
Date2024/10/11 18:44
Enquiry for Course Details
CHEM4147 Supramolecular chemistry (6 credits) Academic Year 2024
Offering Department Chemistry Quota 40
Course Co-ordinator Prof. H Y Au-Yeung, Chemistry < hoyuay@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof. H Y Au-Yeung,Chemistry)
(Prof. K Okuro,Chemistry)
(Prof. Y F Wang,Chemistry)
Course Objectives Supramolecular chemistry concerns the chemistry beyond that of molecules. This course aims at introducing students to concepts and techniques in supramolecular chemistry, demonstrating how molecular assembly and supramolecular structures leads to functions and properties, and their relevance to material and biological science.
Course Contents & Topics Basic concepts in molecular recognition and self-assembly; non-covalent interactions and common supramolecular building blocks; methods in supramolecular chemistry. Selected topics in modern supramolecular chemistry, such as macrocycles and cages, molecular capsule and container molecules, synthetic receptors, interlocked structures, supramolecular polymers and supramolecular chemistry of biomolecules and biomaterials, will also be discussed.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 Understand important principles and concepts in supramolecular chemistry
CLO 2 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the nature of non-covalent interactions and to apply these concepts in the design and explanation of the structures, properties and functions of different supramolecular systems
CLO 3 Interpret and analyse physical characterization data of supramolecular systems and extract relevant chemical information to explain the properties of the supramolecular systems
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in CHEM3341 and CHEM3441
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2024 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2024 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2024 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2023 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2023 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2022 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2022 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2021 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2021 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2020 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2020 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y        2nd sem    Examination May     
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts and principles in supramolecular chemistry, especially those relating to non-covalent interactions, molecular recognition and self-assembly. Show strong ability to apply and integrate knowledge in supramolecular chemistry in explaining the formation and properties of, and in designing different supramolecular systems. Show strong ability to analyse and interpret experimental data to draw appropriate conclusions relating to the advanced principles and properties of supramolecular systems.
B Demonstrate substantial knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts and principles in supramolecular chemistry, especially those relating to non-covalent interactions, molecular recognition and self-assembly. Show evidence to apply and integrate knowledge in supramolecular chemistry in explaining the formation and properties of, and in designing different supramolecular systems. Show evidence to analyse and interpret experimental data to draw appropriate conclusions relating to the advanced principles and properties of supramolecular systems.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete amount of knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts and principles in supramolecular chemistry, especially those relating to non-covalent interactions, molecular recognition and self-assembly. Show some ability to apply and integrate knowledge in supramolecular chemistry in explaining the formation and properties of, and in designing different supramolecular systems. Show some ability to analyse and interpret experimental data to draw appropriate conclusions relating to the advanced principles and properties of supramolecular systems.
D Demonstrate partial but incomplete command of knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts and principles in supramolecular chemistry, especially those relating to non-covalent interactions, molecular recognition and self-assembly. Show evidence of limited ability to apply and integrate knowledge in supramolecular chemistry in explaining the formation and properties of, and in designing different supramolecular systems. Show limited ability to analyse and interpret experimental data to draw appropriate conclusions relating to the advanced principles and properties of supramolecular systems.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts and principles in supramolecular chemistry, especially those relating to non-covalent interactions, molecular recognition and self-assembly. Show little or no ability to apply and integrate knowledge in supramolecular chemistry in explaining the formation and properties of, and in designing different supramolecular systems. Show little or no ability to analyse and interpret experimental data to draw appropriate conclusions relating to the advanced principles and properties of supramolecular systems.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36
Tutorials 12
Reading / Self study 100
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments 15 CLO 1,2,3
Examination 50 CLO 1,2,3
Presentation 15 CLO 1,2,3
Test 20 CLO 1,2,3
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Supramolecular Chemistry by Jonathan W. Steed and Jerry L. Atwood, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2nd Edition, 2009
Modern Physical Organic Chemistry by Eric V. Anslyn and Dennis A. Dougherty, University Science Books, 2006
References to specialist texts and other published materials will be made throughout the course.
Course Website
Additional Course Information
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