Research

Research Priorities: Supramolecular chemistry, physical organic chemistry, stereochemistry, molecular machines

Sir J. Fraser Stoddart is a British-American chemist. His research focus is on the synthesis of molecular machines that consist of molecules, which can fulfil mechanical functions. For example, a molecular switch can be turned on and off again via external stimuli like light, electrical, or magnetic fields. Fraser Stoddart’s research at the nanoscale has enormous potential for the development of new materials and appliances. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel prize for chemistry together with the Dutch physicist Bernhard L. Feringa and the French chemist Jean-Pierre Sauvage.

In Nature, molecular machines are nothing new, but they are in chemistry. Biological systems like enzymes and proteins turn chemical energy into mechanical energy. The most famous example of a natural molecular machine is adenosine triphosphate (ATP) -synthase. It produces ATP, which is the molecule that provides energy to the metabolism of living cells. In contrast to their natural models, the tiny molecular compounds, which are produced in the laboratory, are deliberately programmed and steered to fulfil specific tasks.

Building on the work of Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart worked towards developing molecular engines that perform rotating motions, not unlike the engine of a car. These engines, which are called rotaxanes, consist of multiple interconnected molecules that are arranged in a covalent network. By applying external forces, these molecules can turn in a certain direction and thus move.

Fraser Stoddart and his team focused on producing these machines through complex, multistage processes of synthesis. Among other things, they developed molecular Borromean rings, that consist of multiple interwoven circular molecules, during this process. If one of these rings is removed, all other rings disintegrate. Producing Borromean rings is a challenge because of the difficulties in weaving the three rings together so that they remain stable. In 1994, Fraser Stoddart developed the first Borromean ring from molecular building blocks and called it “Molecular Borromean Linkage”.

Borromean rings bear great potential for the development of molecular machines as they can execute precise functions because of their complex and nonlinear structure. Fraser Stoddart and his team developed for example an artificial molecular muscle, which consists of Borromean rings. This special molecular machine can move by activating and deactivating specific chemical reactions.

Fraser Stoddart was awarded multiple awards for his work, amongst them the Nobel prize in chemistry in 2016. His work bears the potential to develop new materials and applications that can be controlled on a molecular level. Possible fields of application lie in medicine, electronics and energy production. As a renowned chemist, he significantly contributed to the theoretical advancement of supramolecular chemistry.

Career

• 2010-2020 Director, Center for the Chemistry of Integrated Systems (CCIS), Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
• since 2008 Professor Emeritus for Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
• 2003-2007 Director, California NanoSystems Institute, Los Angeles, USA
• 2003-2008 Fred Kavli Professor for Nanoscience, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
• 1997-2003 Professor of Organic Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
• 1990-1997 Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
• 1981-1990 Reader in Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
• 1980 Doctor of Science
• 1978-1981 Researcher, Imperial Chemical Industries, London, UK
• 1970-1978 Lecturer in Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
• 1967-1970 Postdoc, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
• 1966 PhD, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
• 1964 Bachelor of Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Functions

• since 2018 Member, Faculty Honors Committee, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
• since 2018 Member, Editorial Advisory Board, ChemSystemsChem
• 2012-2016 Chairperson, Faculty Honors Committee, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
• since 2013 Member, International Advisory Board, Chemistry World
• since 2013 Member, International Advisory Board, Macromolecular Rapid Communications
• since 2013 Member, International Advisory Board, ChemPlusChem
• since 2010 Chief Editor, Applied Nanoscience
• since 2008 Member, Board of Trustees Professor of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
• 2007-2012 Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
• 2007 Member, Departmental Awards Committee, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
• 2004-2014 Member, American Chemical Society (ACS) Executive Director’s 2020 Committee, ACS, USA
• 2004-2006 Member, Research Advisory Council, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
• 2004 Member, Wolf Prize in Chemistry Committee, Wolf Foundation, Herzlia Bet, Israel
• 2003-2005 Associate Editor, Organic Letters
• 2003 Member, Scientific Committee of the Nanoworld Institute, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
• 2003 Member, International Advisory Committee for Conference on Materials and Advanced Technologies, Singapore, Singapore
• 2000-2008 Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Crystal Growth and Design
• 1997-1999 Member, Departmental Awards Committee, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
• 1992-1993 Chairperson, Chemistry Futures Group, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
• 1991-1994 Chairperson, Science Faculty Industrial Liaison Panel, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Honours and Memberships

• 2022 STEM Leadership Award for Propelling Science, Chemical Marketing & Economics, Inc., New York City, USA and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), USA
• since 2021 Corresponding member, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, Australia
• since 2018 Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
• 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (together with Bernard L. Feringa and Jean-Pierre Sauvage), Royal Swedish Academy of Science, Stockholm, Sweden
• since 2014 Member, National Academy of Sciences, Washington D. C., USA
• 2014 Centenary Prize Winner, Royal Society of Chemistry, London, UK
• since 2012 Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, USA
• 2012 Distinguished Citizen Award, Illinois Saint Andrew Society, Chicago, USA
• 2010 Royal Medal, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
• 2008 Davy Medal, Royal Society, London, UK
• 2008 Arthur C. Cope Award, Arthur C. Cope Fund, ACS, USA
• 2007 Knight Bachelor, UK
• 2007 King Faisal International Prize, King Faisal Foundation, Riad, Saudi-Arabia
• 2007 Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber) Medal, Saudi Chemical Society, Saudi-Arabia
• 2007 Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Organic Chemistry, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 2007 Albert Einstein World Award of Science, World Cultural Council
• 2007 Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology, Foresight Institute, San Francisco, USA
• since 2006 Foreign Member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Netherlands
• 2006 Edward Mack Jr. Memorial Award, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
• 2006 Fusion Award, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
• 2006 Honorary Doctorate, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
• 2005 Arthur K. Doolittle Award, Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PSME Division), ACS, USA
• 2005 Alumnus of the Year, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
• 2005 Honorary Doctorate, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
• 2005 Honorary Doctorate, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
• since 2005 Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), USA
• 2004 Nagoya Gold Medal in Organic Chemistry, MSD Life Science Foundation (Banyu), Tokyo, Japan
• 2000 Herbert Newby McCoy Award, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA
• since 1999 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• 1999 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, ACS, USA
• 1995 Steinhofer Award, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
• 1994 Chaire Bruylants Award, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
• since 1994 Member, Royal Society, UK
• 1993 International Izatt-Christensen Award in Macrocyclic Chemistry, IBC Advanced Technologies Inc., American Fork, USA
• 1980, 1981, 1982 Perkin Division Career Award, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
• 1978 Chartered Chemist, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
• 1978 Carbohydrate Chemistry Award, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
• since 1971 Member, ACS, USA
• since 1965 Member, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
• 1964 Hope Prize in Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, USA