Current note
As of WS 2022/23, the courses will once again be held in person. However, hybrid or online events are also possible.

Research topics
Biochemistry and natural products
Catalysis and sustainable chemistry
New methods in synthesis
Organo-electrochemistry
Organometallic compounds in synthesis
Organic materials
Polymer chemistry
Supramolecular chemistry and sensors
The Research Training Group “Template-Designed Organic Electronics – TIDE“, funded by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) invites for applications.
It is challenging to increase the rigidity of a macromolecule while maintaining solubility. Established strategies rely on templating by dendrons, or by encapsulation in macrocycles, and exploit supramolecular arrangements with limited robustness. Covalently bonded structures have entailed intramolecular coupling of units to resemble the structure of an alternating tread ladder with rungs composed of a covalent bond. We introduce a versatile concept of rigidification in which two rigid-rod polymer chains are repeatedly covalently associated along their contour by stiff molecular connectors. This approach yields almost perfect ladder structures with two well-defined π-conjugated rails and discretely spaced nanoscale rungs, easily visualized by scanning tunnelling microscopy. The enhancement of molecular rigidity is confirmed by the fluorescence depolarization dynamics and complemented by molecular-dynamics simulations. The covalent templating of the rods leads to self-rigidification that gives rise to intramolecular electronic coupling, enhancing excitonic coherence. The molecules are characterized by unprecedented excitonic mobility, giving rise to excitonic interactions on length scales exceeding 100 nm. Such interactions lead to deterministic single-photon emission from these giant rigid macromolecules, with potential implications for energy conversion in optoelectronic devices.
Subcomponent self-assembly gave access to Dy12(L)8 and Dy6(L)6 architectures via second-order template effects. The Dy6(L)6 assembly behaves as a single-molecule magnet exhibiting a high anisotropy barrier and butterfly-shaped magnetic hysteresis.
In contrast to regular J- and H-aggregates, thin film squaraine aggregates usually have broad absorption spectra containing both J-and H-like features, which are favorable for organic photovoltaics. Despite being successfully applied in organic photovoltaics for years, a clear interpretation of these optical properties by relating them to specific excited states and an underlying aggregate structure has not been made. In this work, by static and transient absorption spectroscopy on aggregated n-butyl anilino squaraines, we provide evidence that both the red- and blue-shifted peaks can be explained by assuming an ensemble of aggregates with intermolecular dipole–dipole resonance interactions and structural disorder deriving from the four different nearest neighbor alignments - in sharp contrast to previous association of the peaks with intermolecular charge-transfer interactions. In our model, the next-nearest neighbor dipole-dipole interactions may be negative or positive, which leads to the occurrence of J- and H-like features in the absorption spectrum. Upon femtosecond pulse excitation of the aggregated sample, a transient absorption spectrum deviating from the absorbance spectrum emerges. The deviation finds its origin in the excitation of two-exciton states by the probe pulse. The lifetime of the exciton is confirmed by the band integral dynamics, featuring a single-exponential decay with a lifetime of 205 ps. Our results disclose the aggregated structure and the origin of red- and blue-shifted peaks and explain the absence of photoluminescence in squaraine thin films. Our findings underline the important role of structural disorder of molecular aggregates for photovoltaic applications.

Jun. Prof. Ala Bunescu
Transition Metal Catalysis
Organic Synthesis

Prof. Dr. Jeroen Dickschat
Natural products chemistry
Biosynthesis, synthesis, structure elucidation

PD Dr. Marianne Engeser
Mass spectrometry
Mechanism elucidation

Prof. Dr. Andreas Gansäuer
Catalysis
Radical chemistry
Stereoselective synthesis

Prof. Dr. Sigurd Höger
Organic chemistry
of complex systems

Prof. Dr. Arne Lützen
Supramolecular chemistry
Organic synthesis
NMR spectroscopy

Prof. Dr. Dirk Menche
Natural products:
Characterization, total synthesis,
synthesis methods

Dr. Stefan-Sven Jester
Junior Research Group
Supramolecular patterning of surfaces,
Scanning probe methods

Dr. Larissa von Krbek
Junior Research Group
Fuel-driven supramolecular systems:
Synthesis, development and investigation
Chemistry minor
Courses for students of human medicine, dentistry and nutrition and food sciences

Chemistry for physicians and dentists
Seminar, lecture and practical course

Chemistry for nutrition and food scientists
Seminar, lecture and practical course
Departmental library
The Chemistry Department Library is a joint library of the Chemistry Department located in the building of the Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (EG). It consists of a collection of monographs, journals and series and is run as a reference library. A public photocopier is available in the library.