Supramolecular gelator based on a [c2]daisy chain rotaxane: efficient gel-solution transition by ring-sliding motion

Exploring the Impact of Ring Mobility on the Macroscopic Properties of Doubly Threaded Slide-Ring Gel Networks

The integration of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) into polymeric materials has led to the development of mechanically interlocked polymers (MIPs). One class of MIPs that have gained attention in recent years are slide-ring gels (SRGs), which are generally accessed by crosslinking rings on a main-chain polyrotaxane. The mobility of the interlocked crosslinking moieties along the polymer backbone imparts enhanced properties onto these networks. An alternative synthetic approach to SRGs is to use a doubly threaded ring as the crosslinking moiety, yielding doubly threaded slide-ring gel networks (dt-SRGs). In this study, a photo-curable ligand-containing thread was used to assemble a series of metal-templated pseudo[3]rotaxane crosslinkers that allow access to polymer networks that contain doubly threaded interlocked rings. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of these dt-SRGs with varying size of the ring crosslinking moieties were investigated and compared to an entangled gel (EG) prepared by polymerizing the metal complex of the photo-curable ligand-containing thread, and a corresponding covalent gel (CG). Relative to the EG and CG, the dt-SRGs exhibit enhanced swelling behavior, viscoelastic properties, and stress relaxation characteristics. In addition, the macroscopic properties of dt-SRGs could be altered by "locking" ring mobility in the structure through remetalation, highlighting the impact of the mobility of the crosslinks.

Solvent effects on the motion of a crown ether/amino rotaxane

Solvents have been recognized as a significant factor for modulating the shuttle of rotaxanes and regulating their functions regarding molecular machines by a lot of published studies. The mechanism of the effects of solvents on the motion of crown ether/amino rotaxanes, however, remains unclear. In this work, a rotaxane, formed by dibenzo-24-crown-8 (C[8]) and a dumbbell-shaped axle with two positively charged amino groups, was investigated at the atom level. Two-dimensional free-energy landscapes characterizing the conformational change of C[8] and the shuttling motions in chloroform and water were mapped. The results indicated that the barriers in water were evidently lower than those in chloroform. By analyzing the trajectories, there was no obvious steric effect during shuttling. Instead, the main driving force of shuttling was verified from electrostatic interactions, especially strong hydrogen bonding interactions between the axle and water, which resulted in the fast shuttling rate of the rotaxane. All in all, the polarity and hydrogen bond-forming ability of solvents are the main factors in affecting the shuttling rate of a crown ether/amino rotaxane. In addition, C[8] would adopt S-shaped conformations during shuttling except for situating in the amino sites with C-shaped ones adopted due to π-π stacking interactions. The results of this research improve the comprehension of the solvent modulation ability for shuttling in crown ether-based rotaxanes and illustrate the effects of structural modifications on motions. These new insights are expected to serve the efficient design and construction of molecular machines.

Post-Synthetic Macrocyclization of Rotaxane Building Blocks

Although not often encountered, cyclic interlocked molecules are appealing molecular targets because of their restrained tridimensional structure which is related to both the cyclic and interlocked shapes. Interlocked molecules such as rotaxane building blocks may be good candidates for post-synthetic intramolecular cyclization if the preservation of the mechanical bond ensures the interlocked architecture throughout the reaction. This is obviously the case if the modification does not involve the cleavage of either the macrocycle's main chain or the encircled part of the axle. However, among the post-synthetic reactions, the chemical linkage between two reactive sites belonging to embedded elements of rotaxanes still consists of an underexploited route to interlocked cyclic molecules. This Review lists the rare examples of macrocyclization through chemical connection between reactive sites belonging to a surrounding macrocycle and/or an encircled axle of interlocked rotaxanes.

Self-Assembly and Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Achiral Pyrene-Adamantane Conjugates by Selective Inclusion with Cyclodextrins

The interaction between guest chromophores or lumiphores with host chiral cavity and their induced chirality is an important topic in supramolecular chemistry. Kodaka and Harata proposed a rule to explain the induced circular dichroism of the guest chromophores by host cyclodextrins. However, it remains unknown how a circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) signal will change when the lumiphores interacted with cyclodextrins in different modes. Here, we designed an achiral pyrene-adamantane conjugated guest molecule, N-(pyren-1-yl)adamantane-1-carboxamide (ACNP), and investigated its interactions with α/β/γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) and its induced CPL. Depending on the size match of the pyrene, adamantine with different cyclodextrins, distinct performance was observed. While α-CD could not induce a CPL signal of ACNP, β-CD could induce CPL in two modes, through adamantyl or direct pyrenyl induction, which could produce a CPL signal with opposite signs. γ-CD could always induce a negative CPL signal. Therefore, a rule of induced CPL of lumiphores by cyclodextrins can be proposed.

Cyclodextrin-Based [c2]Daisy Chain Rotaxane Insulating Two Diarylacetylene Cores

A [c2]daisy chain rotaxane with two diarylacetylene cores was efficiently synthesized in 53 % yield by capping a C₂ -symmetric pseudo[2]rotaxane composed of two diarylacetylene-substituted permethylated α-cyclodextrins (PM α-CDs) with aniline stoppers. The maximum absorption wavelength of the [c2]daisy chain rotaxane remained almost unchanged in various solvents, unlike that of the stoppered monomer, indicating that the two independent diarylacetylene cores were insulated from the external environment by the PM α-CDs. Furthermore, the [c2]daisy chain rotaxane exhibited fluorescence emission derived from both diarylacetylene monomers and the excimer, which implies that the [c2]daisy chain structure can undergo contraction and extension. This is the first demonstration of a system in which excimer formation between two π-conjugated molecules within an isolated space can be controlled by the unique motion of a [c2]daisy chain rotaxane.

Controlled Sol-Gel and Diversiform Nanostructure Transitions by Photoresponsive Molecular Switching of Tetraphenylethene- and Azobenzene-Functionalized Organogelators

The implementation of stimuli-responsive materials with dynamically controllable features has long been an important objective that challenges chemists in the materials science field. We report here the synthesis and characterization of [2]rotaxanes (R1 and R1-b) with a molecular shuttle and photoresponsive properties. Axles T1 and T1-b were found to be highly efficient and versatile organogelators toward various nonpolar organic solvents, especially p-xylene, with critical gelation concentrations as low as 0.67 and 0.38 w/v %, respectively. The two molecular stations of switchable [2]rotaxanes (R1 and R1-b) can be revealed or concealed by t-butylcalix[4]arene macrocycle, thus inhibiting the gelation processes of the respective axles T1 and T1-b through the control of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. The sol-gel transition of axles T1 and T1-b could be achieved by the irradiation of UV-visible light, which interconverted between the extended and contracted forms. Interestingly, the morphologies of organogels in p-xylene, including flakes, nanobelts, fibers, and vesicles depending on the molecular structures of axles T1 and T1-b, were induced by UV-visible light irradiation. Further studies revealed that acid-base-controllable and reversible self-assembled nanostructures of these axle molecules were mainly constructed by the interplay of multi-noncovalent interactions, such as intermolecular π-π stacking, CH-π, and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. Surprisingly, our TPE molecular systems (R1, R1-b, T1, and T1-b) are nonemissive in their aggregated states, suggesting that not only fluorescence resonance energy transfer but also aggregation-caused quenching may have been functioning. Finally, the mechanical strength of these organogels in various solvents was monitored by rheological experiments.

Design of Collective Motions from Synthetic Molecular Switches, Rotors, and Motors

Precise control over molecular movement is of fundamental and practical importance in physics, biology, and chemistry. At nanoscale, the peculiar functioning principles and the synthesis of individual molecular actuators and machines has been the subject of intense investigations and debates over the past 60 years. In this review, we focus on the design of collective motions that are achieved by integrating, in space and time, several or many of these individual mechanical units together. In particular, we provide an in-depth look at the intermolecular couplings used to physically connect a number of artificial mechanically active molecular units such as photochromic molecular switches, nanomachines based on mechanical bonds, molecular rotors, and light-powered rotary motors. We highlight the various functioning principles that can lead to their collective motion at various length scales. We also emphasize how their synchronized, or desynchronized, mechanical behavior can lead to emerging functional properties and to their implementation into new active devices and materials.

Photo-Powered Collapse of Supramolecular Polymers Based on an Overcrowded Alkene Switch

A supramolecular polymer was constructed from a light-driven overcrowded alkene switch modified with two alkylated gallic acid amide pendants (MSP-1). Upon UV irradiation, stable MSP-1 isomerized into unstable MSP-2, which induced the effective collapse of well-defined cross-linked supramolecular polymers, and the reassembly can be realized by aging at low temperature.

Dynamic Adaptive Two-Dimensional Supramolecular Assemblies for On-Demand Filtration

The construction of synthetic two-dimensional (2D) materials designates a pathway to the versatile chemical functionality by spatial control. However, current 2D materials with intelligence of stimuli-responsibility and adaptiveness have been unfledged. The approach reported here uses a supramolecular strategy to achieve the dynamic non-covalent self-assembly of a rationally designed small molecule monomer, producing large-area, ultra-thin, porous 2D supramolecular assemblies, which are solution-processable in aqueous solution. Importantly, the 2D supramolecular assemblies exhibit distinct adaptive capability to automatically regulate their network density and pore diameters in response to environmental temperature change, which could be developed into an "on-demand" filtration application for nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the 2D supramolecular assemblies can also perform reversible degradation/reformation by photo-irradiation. Our results not only show the simplicity, reliability, and effectiveness of supramolecular strategies in the construction of 2D materials with practical sizes, but also push the dynamic alterability and adaptation features from supramolecular assemblies toward 2D materials.

•

2D supramolecular assemblies combine large area, nano-thickness and water solubility

•

The 2D assemblies can perform reversible expansion/contraction to tune pore sizes

•

The 2D material can be used for on-demand nanoparticles filtration

A supramolecular network derived by rotaxane tethering three ureido pyrimidinone groups

A rotaxane-cross-linked supramolecular network with good mechanical properties resulting from a trifunctional [2]rotaxane via intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions.

Towards a hexa-branched [7]rotaxane from a [3]rotaxane via a [2+2+2] alkyne cyclotrimerization process

Herein we report a facile synthetic route for the preparation of a hexa-branched [7]rotaxane by using Co-catalyzed [2+2+2] alkyne cyclotrimerization from a [3]rotaxane.