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
- Photoisomerization in biological membranes, Ainoa Guinart, Yusuf Qutbuddin, Petra Schwille*, Ben L. Feringa* Nature Reviews Chemistry, 2025, (DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00783-7)
- Elucidating the physicochemical processes of light activated rotary motors imbedded in lipid membranes, Ainoa Guinart†, Yusuf Qutbuddin†, Alexander Ryabchun, Petra Schwille, and Ben L. Feringa, Chem 2025, 102574 (DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2025.102574)
- Photo-Amygdalin: Light-dependent release of hydrogen cyanide and its cytotoxicity, Albert Schulte, Ainoa Guinart, Georgios Alachouzos, Wiktor Szymanski, Ben L. Feringa, Chem. Sci., 2025, 16, 10585-10594 (DOI: 10.1039/D5SC01248A)
- 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)
