Ben Feringa

Ben L. Feringa obtained his PhD degree at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands under the guidance of Professor Hans Wynberg. After working as a research scientist at Shell in the Netherlands and at the Shell Biosciences Centre in the UK, he was appointed lecturer and in 1988 full professor at the University of Groningen and named the Jacobus H. van’t Hoff Distinguished Professor of Molecular Sciences in 2004. He was elected Foreign Honory member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and is member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences. In 2008 he was appointed Academy Professor and was knighted by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands. He is the 2016 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, together with Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Jean-Pierre Sauvage, for the design and synthesis of molecular machines.

Feringa’s research has been recognized with a number of awards including the Spinoza Award (2004), the Prelog gold medal (2005), the Norrish Award of the ACS (2007), the Paracelsus medal (2008), the Chirality medal (2009), the RSC Organic Stereochemistry Award (2011), Humboldt Award (2012), the Grand Prix Scientifique Cino del Duca (French Academy 2012), the Marie Curie medal (2013) and the Solvay Chemistry for the Future Award (2015). He is a member of the ERC research council. His research interests include stereochemistry, organic synthesis, asymmetric catalysis, photopharmacology, molecular switches and motors, self-assembly and molecular nanosystems.

The Art of Building Small
from Molecular Switches to Motors

The fascinating molecular motors and machines that sustain life offer a great source of inspiration to the molecular explorer at the nanoscale. Among the major challenges ahead in the design of artificial molecular systems in order to achieve control over dynamic properties and responsive far-from-equilibrium behavior. Chemical systems and adaptive materials ultimately require integration of structure, organization and function of multi-component dynamic molecular assemblies at different hierarchical levels. A major goal is to achieve and exploit translational and rotary motion.
In this presentation the focus is on the dynamics of functional molecular systems as well as triggering and assembly processes. We design switches and motors in which molecular motion is coupled to specific functions. For instance, Photopharmacology offers fascinating opportunities to control biological function by light. Responsive behavior will also be illustrated in self-assembly and responsive materials with a focus on cooperative action, amplification along multiple length scales and 2D and 3D organized systems. The design, synthesis and functioning of rotary molecular motors and machines will be presented with a prospect toward future dynamic molecular systems and materials
Information on https://www.benferinga.com
– Molecular Machines: Nature, September 2015
– Molecular Switches: Chemistry World, June 2016
– Vision statement “Materials in Motion”: Adv. Mater. 2020

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