March 29, 2011

by Benjamin White

Eric Masson may be a new face at NQPI, but he hopes to make a large impact on a molecular scale as he and his group delve into the fascinating field of supramolecular chemistry.

Masson, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio University since 2007, earned his Ph. D. in organic chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne in 2005, and spent two years at Yale University as a post-doctoral fellow in bioorganic chemistry. He joined NQPI last year for its collaborative opportunities and research capabilities.

Masson's group works in the overlapping realms of physical organic, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry, and is focused on host-guest recognition chemistry between various synthetic assemblies, as well as DNA and proteins.

Masson has recently attracted attention for his molecular machines that incorporate Cucurbiturils, pumpkin-like hollow macrocycles that are currently generating a tremendous interest in the supramolecular community. Those unique systems display extreme affinity towards a variety of guests, and can undergo mechanical motion along organic axles, once triggered by an external stimulus, such as pH changes, heat or light. The Masson group has recently investigated the kinetic and thermodynamic self-sorting properties of such systems, and has published the first case of an organometallic reaction catalyzed by Cucurbiturils.

Masson says that “in addition to their theoretical and aesthetic appeal, those nanometer-scale assemblies can be applied to areas as diverse as catalysis, data storage, chemical sensing, and the controlled release of anti-cancer, anti-malaria, wound healing or anti-macular degeneration drugs”.

Masson lives with his wife in Lancaster, Ohio, and besides supramolecular chemistry, he enjoys backpacking around the World, photography, and playing the piano.