The art of building small
The research program of the Feringa group is focused on synthetic and physical organic chemistry. Inspired by Nature's principles of molecular assembly, recognition, transport, motion and catalysis, the goal is to exploit the full potential of synthetic chemistry to create new structures and functions. A major part of the research is directed towards dynamic molecular systems. The focus is on molecular nanoscience, novel responsive materials and photo-pharma exploring biohybrid systems, self-assembly, molecular switches and motors. A second part of the program deals with the development (and application in chemical biology) of novel stereoselective synthesis methods and asymmetric catalysis. Chirality is a leading theme and over the years a unique and broad expertise in fundamental aspects of stereochemistry has been acquired including chiroptical phenomena, chiral amplification and origin of chirality.
Collaboration and Embedding
Ben L. Feringa
Prof. Ben L. Feringa obtained his PhD. at the University of Groningen, where he was appointed full professor in 1988, after working as research scientist for Shell. Under his guidance the Feringa group has developed extensive expertise in the fields of organic chemistry, nanotechnology, asymmetric catalysis. His discovery of the molecular motor ranks highly among the many discoveries made over the years.
We gratefully acknowledge the following funding agencies: ERC, ARC CBBC, Ubbo Emmius Foundation, China Scholarship Foundation, Solvay, FNRS-FWO, NWO
Most recent publications
- Photoactuating artificial muscle from self-assembly of an overcrowded alkene-derived molecular switch, Adrien Combe, Shaoyu Chen, Gianni Pacella, Marc C. A. Stuart, John Y. de Boer, Giuseppe Portale, and Ben L. Feringa, Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 3897 (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58468-0)
Photoswitchable molecular motor Phospholipid: synthesis, characterization and integration into lipid vesicles, Ainoa Guinart, Daniel Doellerer, Yusuf Qutbuddin, Henry Zivkovic, Cristina Branca, Dominik Hrebik, Petra Schwille, and Ben L. Feringa, Langmuir 2025, 41, 6, 3961–3970 (DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c04173)
A light-driven molecular motor-polypeptide conjugate supports controlled cell uptake, Ainoa Guinart, Camilla Pegoraro, Esther Masiá Sanchis, Daniel Doellerer, Marc C. Stuart, Inmaculada Conejos-Sánchez, Ben L. Feringa, and María J. Vicent, J. Mater. Chem. B 2024, 13, 2658 - 2665 (DOI: 10.1039/D4TB02434F) - Photochemical on-demand production of hydrogen peroxide in a modular flow reactor, Thomas Freese, Jelmer T. Meijer, Matteo Miola, Paolo P. Pescarmona and Ben L. Feringa, Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 11, 2024 (DOI: 10.1039/D4SE01142B)
- The relevance of sustainable laboratory practices, Thomas Freese, Nils Elzinga, Matthias Heinemann, Michael M. Lerch and Ben L. Feringa, RSC Sustainability 5, 2024 (https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00056K)
- Formylation boosts the performance of light-driven overcrowded alkene-derived rotary molecular motors, Jinyu Sheng, Wojciech Danowski, Andy S. Sardjan, Jiaxin Hou, Stefano Crespi, Alexander Ryabchun, Maximilian Paradiz Domínguez, Wybren Jan Buma, Wesley R. Browne & Ben L. Feringa, Nat. Chem., 2024. (DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01521-0)
- Two-photon absorption of oxindole-based push–pull molecular motors
Author links open overlay panel, Ainoa Guinart, Daniel Doellerer, Daisy R.S. Pooler, John Y. de Boer, Sandra Doria, Laura Bussotti, Mariangela Di Donato and Ben L. Feringa, ScienceDirect, (DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2024. 115649) - Light-Activated Synthetic Rotary Motors in Lipid Membranes Induce Shape Changes Through Membrane Expansion, Ainoa Guinart, Yusuf Qutbuddin, Svetozar Gavrilović, Kareem Al Nahas, Ben L. Feringa and Petra Schwille, Advanced Materials, (DOI: 10.1002/adma.202311176)
- The Development of a Smart Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Contrast Agent for the Imaging of Sulfatase Activity, Ilse M. Welleman, Friederike Reessing, Hendrikus H. Boersma, Rudi A. J. O. Dierckx, Ben L. Feringa and Wiktor Szymanski, Pharmaceuticals, 16, 10, 1439 (DOI: 10.3390/ph16101439)
- Dynamic Control of Multiple Optical Patterns of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Microdroplets by Light-Driven Molecular Motors, Jiaqin Li, Shuting Xie, Yuying Liu, Qi Zhan, Yang Zhang, Lingling Shui, Guofu Zhou, Ben L. Feringa and Jiawen Chen, CCS Chem. 2023, Just Published (DOI: 10.31635/ccschem.023.202303171)
