Synlett 2011(12): 1643-1648  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1260815
SYNPACTS
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Kinetic and Thermodynamic Self-Sorting in Synthetic Systems

Karolina Osowska, Ognjen Š. Miljanić*
Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, 136 Fleming Building, Houston, TX 77204-5003, USA
Fax: +1(713)7432709; e-Mail: miljanic@uh.edu;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 25 February 2011
Publication Date:
05 July 2011 (online)

Abstract

Self-sorting represents the spontaneous transformation of a low-order multicomponent system into several high-order subsystems with fewer components. This elementary behavior is involved in many chemical self-organization processes, serves as a model for complex biological systems, and could allow rapid identification of new sensors, solar cell components, and other structured functional architectures, as well as new reactions. Selected recent examples of self-sorting in synthetic systems are reviewed.