NMR Diffusion Measurements in Chemical and Biological Supramolecular Systems

Nature self-assembles molecules into large supramolecular aggregates which are capable of performing specific biological functions [1]. Therefore it is not surprising that supramolecular chemistry has become an important theme of chemistry in recent years [2]. One of the main problem of supramolecular sciences is the elucidation of the structure of the supramolecular aggregate that prevails in solution. Consequently, new analytical methods that may assist these structural determinations are required, especially those techniques that may provide some information regarding the mutual interactions between the different molecular components of the supramolecular system. In this context it seems to us that the diffusion coefficient, as measured by the pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) NMR technique [3], may provide such information.