1
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López-Gandul L, Lavarda G, van den Bersselaar BWL, Vantomme G, Meijer EW, Sánchez L. Supramolecular polymerization and bulk properties relationship in ester-functionalized N-annulated perylenediimides. Chem Sci 2024:d4sc03797a. [PMID: 39144454 PMCID: PMC11318647 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc03797a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of a series of N-annulated perylenediimides (NPDIs) 1-4 with an ester group and an alkyl spacer of different length in the peripheral chains was carried out, and the influence of the side chain architecture on the self-assembly, both in solution and in the solid state, was investigated. Solution studies evidenced that the carbonyl group plays a key role in the supramolecular organization of these derivatives, changing from an H-type isodesmic polymerization (4) to a J-type cooperative process as the spacer length decreases (1-3). On the other hand, bulk assays revealed an odd-even effect that correlates with the length of the alkyl spacer. Whereas the odd-spaced derivatives (2 and 4) organize in a disordered columnar hexagonal fashion, the even-spaced ones (1 and 3) show the formation of multiple crystalline (and liquid crystalline) structures. The results presented herein highlight the importance of side chain functionalization in the design of building blocks for in-solution and bulk purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía López-Gandul
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040 Madrid Spain
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Giulia Lavarda
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Bart W L van den Bersselaar
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Ghislaine Vantomme
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - E W Meijer
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Luis Sánchez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040 Madrid Spain
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2
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Gudmundsson TA, Kuppadakkath G, Ghosh D, Ruether M, Seddon A, Ginesi RE, Doutch J, Adams DJ, Gunnlaugsson T, Damodaran KK. Nanoscale assembly of enantiomeric supramolecular gels driven by the nature of solvents. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:8922-8930. [PMID: 38591601 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00204k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the key parameters that control the self-assembly process is critical to predict self-assembly modes in multi-component systems, which will lead to the development of nanofibrous materials with tuneable properties. Enantiomeric amino acid-based low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) were mixed in polar (polar protic) and aromatic apolar (aromatic) solvents and compared to their individual counterparts to probe the effect of solvent polarity on the self-assembly process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals that xerogels of individual components display hollow needles in polar protic solvents, while chiral coils are observed in aromatic solvents. In contrast, the multi-component gel displays hollow needle morphologies in both solvents, indicating similar morphologies in polar protic solvents but an entirely different nanostructure for the individual gel networks in aromatic solvents. PXRD experiments performed on the dried gels showed that the nature of the solvents plays a vital role in the co-assembly process of multi-component gels. The self-assembly modes and the gel state structure of the gels are analysed by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS) and small-angle neutron diffraction (SANS), which reveals that the mixed gel undergoes different co-assembly modes depending on the nature of the solvent systems. This study shows that different co-assembly modes can be achieved for structurally similar components by varying the solvent polarity, demonstrating the importance of solvent choice in the self-assembly process of multi-component gels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tómas A Gudmundsson
- Department of Chemistry, Science Institute, University of Iceland, Dunhagi 3, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland.
- School of Chemistry and Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI) and Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) Centre, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Geethanjali Kuppadakkath
- Department of Chemistry, Science Institute, University of Iceland, Dunhagi 3, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland.
| | - Dipankar Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry, Science Institute, University of Iceland, Dunhagi 3, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland.
| | - Manuel Ruether
- School of Chemistry and Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI) and Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) Centre, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Annela Seddon
- School of Physics, HH Wills Physics Laboratory, Tyndall Avenue, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK
| | - Rebecca E Ginesi
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - James Doutch
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Dave J Adams
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson
- School of Chemistry and Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI) and Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) Centre, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Krishna K Damodaran
- Department of Chemistry, Science Institute, University of Iceland, Dunhagi 3, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland.
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3
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Nieuwland C, Almacellas D, Veldhuizen MM, de Azevedo Santos L, Poater J, Fonseca Guerra C. Multiple hydrogen-bonded dimers: are only the frontier atoms relevant? Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:11306-11310. [PMID: 38054332 PMCID: PMC11022277 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp05244c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-frontier atom exchanges in hydrogen-bonded aromatic dimers can induce significant interaction energy changes (up to 6.5 kcal mol-1). Our quantum-chemical analyses reveal that the relative hydrogen-bond strengths of N-edited guanine-cytosine base pair isosteres, which cannot be explained from the frontier atoms, follow from the charge accumulation in the monomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Nieuwland
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam 1081 HZ, The Netherlands.
| | - David Almacellas
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica & Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, Barcelona 08028, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mac M Veldhuizen
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam 1081 HZ, The Netherlands.
| | - Lucas de Azevedo Santos
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam 1081 HZ, The Netherlands.
| | - Jordi Poater
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica & Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, Barcelona 08028, Catalonia, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Célia Fonseca Guerra
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam 1081 HZ, The Netherlands.
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4
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Morishita D, Itoh Y, Furukawa K, Arai N, Zhang XJ, Aida T. Supramolecular copolymerization of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in liquid crystalline media. Chem Sci 2024; 15:4068-4074. [PMID: 38487215 PMCID: PMC10935670 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06341k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
In the case of covalent polymers, immiscible polymers can be integrated by covalently linking them together, but such a strategy is not possible in supramolecular polymers. Here we report the supramolecular copolymerization of two porphyrin-based monomers, C10P2H and TEGPCu with side chains bearing cyanobiphenyl (CB) groups at the ends of hydrophobic alkyl or hydrophilic tetraethylene glycol chains, respectively. These monomers undergo self-sorting supramolecular polymerization in highly diluted solutions ([monomer] = 3.4 × 10-9 mol% (2.0 × 10-8 mol L-1)) in nonpolar media due to the incompatibility of the side chains. Surprisingly, these monomers undergo supramolecular copolymerization under high concentration conditions ([monomer] = 7.7 mol%) in the medium of 4-cyano-4'-pentyloxybiphenyl (5OCB) to form a columnar liquid crystalline phase under thermodynamic conditions, where the individual columns are composed of supramolecular block copolymers. The combination of CB ends of both monomers and the 5OCB medium is essential for the two monomers to form an integrated structure in a condensed system without phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Morishita
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8656 Japan
| | - Yoshimitsu Itoh
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8656 Japan
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) 4-1-8 Honcho Kawaguchi Saitama 332-0012 Japan
| | - Ko Furukawa
- Center for Coordination of Research Facilities, Institute for Research Administration, Niigata University 8050 Ikarashi 2-no-cho, Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan
| | - Noriyoshi Arai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku Yokohama 223-8522 Japan
| | - Xu-Jie Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8656 Japan
| | - Takuzo Aida
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8656 Japan
- Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), RIKEN 2-1 Hirosawa Wako Saitama 351-0198 Japan
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5
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Rey-Tarrío F, Simón-Fuente S, Cuerva JM, Miguel D, Ribagorda M, Quiñoá E, Freire F. Metallo-Supramolecular Helical Fibres from Chiral Phenylacetylene Monomers: Cation Induced Self-Assembly. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202318454. [PMID: 38185794 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202318454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Chiral metallo-supramolecular fibres can be easily obtained by mixing a chloroform solution of a phenylacetylene monomer (PA) that bears a chiral sulfoxide group as pendant, with different equivalents of a methanolic solution of AgClO4 . Thus, while the PA is found molecularly dissolved in chloroform, the addition of Ag+ ions induce its aggregation through the formation of an axially chiral metallo-supramolecular aggregate with high thermal stable properties. In this case, the ability of the metal ion to coordinate the PA triple bond, combined with the argentophilicity of the metal ion and the planarity of the phenylacetylene drives to the formation of a helical coordination polymer, whose P or M axial chirality is determined by the chirality of the sulfoxide used as substituent of the PA. Depending on the PA/Ag+ (mol/mol) ratio, it is possible to tune the morphology of the metallo-supramolecular aggregate from chiral fibers to chiral gel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Rey-Tarrío
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Silvia Simón-Fuente
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan M Cuerva
- Departamento de Química Orgánica. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada (UGR), Unidad de Excelencia de Química Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente (UEQ), 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Delia Miguel
- Departamento de Fisicoquímica. Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada (UGR, UEQ), 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Maria Ribagorda
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Institute for Advanced Research in Chemical Sciences (IAdChem), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilio Quiñoá
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Félix Freire
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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6
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Nieuwland C, Verdijk R, Fonseca Guerra C, Bickelhaupt FM. More Electropositive is More Electronegative: Atom Size Determines C=X Group Electronegativity. Chemistry 2023:e202304161. [PMID: 38117278 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202304161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Opposite to what one might expect, we find that the C=X group can become effectively more, not less, electronegative when the Pauling electronegativity of atom X decreases down Groups 16, 15, and 14 of the Periodic Table. Our quantum-chemical analyses, show that, and why, this phenomenon is a direct consequence of the increasing size of atom X down a group. These findings can be applied to tuning and improving the hydrogen-bond donor strength of amides H2 NC(=X)R by increasingly withdrawing density from the NH2 group. A striking example is that H2 NC(=SiR2 )R is a stronger hydrogen-bond donor than H2 NC(=CR2 )R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Nieuwland
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ron Verdijk
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Célia Fonseca Guerra
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - F Matthias Bickelhaupt
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa
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7
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López-Gandul L, Morón-Blanco A, García F, Sánchez LL. Supramolecular Block Copolymers from Tricarboxamides. Biasing Co-assembly by the Incorporation of Pyridine Rings. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202308749. [PMID: 37483088 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202308749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis of a series of triangular-shaped tricarboxamides endowed with three picoline or nicotine units (compounds 2 and 3, respectively) or just one nicotine unit (compound 4) is reported, and their self-assembling features investigated. The pyridine rings make compounds 2-4 electronically complementary with our previously reported oligo(phenylene ethynylene)tricarboxamides (OPE-TA) 1 to form supramolecular copolymers. C3 -symmetric tricarboxamide 2 forms highly stable intramolecular five-membered pseudocycles that impede its supramolecular polymerization into poly-2 and the co-assembly with 1 to yield copolymer poly-1-co-2. On the other hand, C3 -symmetric tricarboxamide 3 readily forms poly-3 with great stability but unable to form helical supramolecular polymers despite the presence of the peripheral chiral side chains. The copolymer poly-1-co-3 can only be obtained by a previous complete disassembly of the constitutive homopolymers in CHCl3 . Helical poly-1-co-3 arises in a process involving the transfer of the helicity from racemic poly-1 to poly-3, and the amplification of asymmetry from chiral poly-3 to poly-1. Importantly, C2v -symmetric 4, endowed with only one nicotinamide moiety and three chiral side chains, self-assembles into a P-type helical supramolecular polymer (poly-4) in a thermodynamically controlled cooperative process. The combination of poly-1 and poly-4 generates chiral supramolecular copolymer poly-1-co-4, whose blocky microstructure has been investigated by applying the previously reported supramolecular copolymerization model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía López-Gandul
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Ciudad Universitaria, s/n, 28040-, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián Morón-Blanco
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Ciudad Universitaria, s/n, 28040-, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fátima García
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Ciudad Universitaria, s/n, 28040-, Madrid, Spain
| | - L Luis Sánchez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Ciudad Universitaria, s/n, 28040-, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Matern J, Fernández Z, Bäumer N, Fernández G. Expanding the Scope of Metastable Species in Hydrogen Bonding‐Directed Supramolecular Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202203783. [PMID: 35362184 PMCID: PMC9321731 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202203783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We reveal unique hydrogen (H‐) bonding patterns and exploit them to control the kinetics, pathways and length of supramolecular polymers (SPs). New bisamide‐containing monomers were designed to elucidate the role of competing intra‐ vs. intermolecular H‐bonding interactions on the kinetics of supramolecular polymerization (SP). Remarkably, two polymerization‐inactive metastable states were discovered. Contrary to previous examples, the commonly assumed intramolecularly H‐bonded monomer does not evolve into intermolecularly H‐bonded SPs via ring opening, but rather forms a metastable dimer. In this dimer, all H‐bonding sites are saturated, either intra‐ or intermolecularly, hampering elongation. The dimers exhibit an advantageous preorganization, which upon opening of the intramolecular portion of the H‐bonding motif facilitates SP in a consecutive process. The retardation of spontaneous self‐assembly as a result of two metastable states enables length control in SP by seed‐mediated growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Matern
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Corrensstraße 36 48149 Münster Germany
| | - Zulema Fernández
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Corrensstraße 36 48149 Münster Germany
| | - Nils Bäumer
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Corrensstraße 36 48149 Münster Germany
| | - Gustavo Fernández
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Corrensstraße 36 48149 Münster Germany
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9
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Matern J, Fernandez Z, Bäumer N, Fernandez G. Expanding the Scope of Metastable Species in Hydrogen Bonding‐Directed Supramolecular Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202203783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Matern
- WWU Münster: Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat Munster Organisch-Chemisches Institut GERMANY
| | - Zulema Fernandez
- WWU Münster: Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat Munster Organisch-Chemisches Institut GERMANY
| | - Nils Bäumer
- WWU Münster: Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat Munster Organisch-Chemisches Institut GERMANY
| | - Gustavo Fernandez
- WWU Münster Organisch-Chemisches Institut Correnstraße, 4ß 48149 Münster GERMANY
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Koch M, Saphiannikova M, Guskova O. Columnar Aggregates of Azobenzene Stars: Exploring Intermolecular Interactions, Structure, and Stability in Atomistic Simulations. Molecules 2021; 26:7598. [PMID: 34946680 PMCID: PMC8703797 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26247598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a simulation study of supramolecular aggregates formed by three-arm azobenzene (Azo) stars with a benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) core in water. Previous experimental works by other research groups demonstrate that such Azo stars assemble into needle-like structures with light-responsive properties. Disregarding the response to light, we intend to characterize the equilibrium state of this system on the molecular scale. In particular, we aim to develop a thorough understanding of the binding mechanism between the molecules and analyze the structural properties of columnar stacks of Azo stars. Our study employs fully atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to model pre-assembled aggregates with various sizes and arrangements in water. In our detailed approach, we decompose the binding energies of the aggregates into the contributions due to the different types of non-covalent interactions and the contributions of the functional groups in the Azo stars. Initially, we investigate the origin and strength of the non-covalent interactions within a stacked dimer. Based on these findings, three arrangements of longer columnar stacks are prepared and equilibrated. We confirm that the binding energies of the stacks are mainly composed of π-π interactions between the conjugated parts of the molecules and hydrogen bonds formed between the stacked BTA cores. Our study quantifies the strength of these interactions and shows that the π-π interactions, especially between the Azo moieties, dominate the binding energies. We clarify that hydrogen bonds, which are predominant in BTA stacks, have only secondary energetic contributions in stacks of Azo stars but remain necessary stabilizers. Both types of interactions, π-π stacking and H-bonds, are required to maintain the columnar arrangement of the aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Koch
- Institute Theory of Polymers, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Marina Saphiannikova
- Institute Theory of Polymers, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
- Dresden Center for Computational Materials Science (DCMS), Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Olga Guskova
- Institute Theory of Polymers, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
- Dresden Center for Computational Materials Science (DCMS), Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
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