Enhanced gelation property due to intra-molecular hydrogen bonding in a new series of bis(amino acid)-functionalized pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide organogelators

One-Pot Cyclization to Large Peptidomimetic Macrocycles by In Situ-Generated β-Turn-Enforced Folding

Macrocycles have been targets of extensive synthetic efforts for decades because of their potent molecular recognition and self-assembly capabilities. Yet, efficient syntheses of macrocyclic molecules via irreversible covalent bonds remain challenging. Here, we report an efficient approach to large peptidomimetic macrocycles by using the in situ-generated β-turn structural motifs afforded in the amidothiourea moieties from the early steps of the reaction of 2 molecules of bilateral amino acid-based acylhydrazine with 2 molecules of diisothiocyanate. Four chiral and achiral peptidomimetic large macrocycles were successfully synthesized in high yields of 45-63% in a feasible one-pot reaction under sub-molar concentration conditions and were purified by simple filtration. X-ray crystallographic characterization of three macrocycles reveals an important feature that their four β-turn structures, each maintained by four 10-membered intramolecular hydrogen bonds, alternatively network the four aromatic arms. This affords an interesting conformation switching mode upon anion binding. Binding of SO₄^2- to 1L or 1D that contains 4 alanine residues (with the lowest steric hinderance among the macrocycles) leads to an inside-out structural change of the host macrocycle, as confirmed by the X-ray crystal structure of 1L-SO₄^2- and 1D-SO₄^2- complexes, accompanied by an inversion of the CD signals. On the basis of the strong sulfate affinity of the macrocycles, we succeeded in the removal of sulfate anions from water via a macrocycle-mediated liquid-liquid extraction method. Our synthetic protocol can be easily extended to other macrocycles of varying arms and/or chiral amino acid residues; thus, a variety of structurally and functionally diverse macrocycles are expected to be readily made.

Novel liquid crystalline organogelators based on terephthalic acid and terephthalaldehyde derivatives: properties and promotion through the formation of halogen bonding

Terephthalic acid-based aromatic amides A1 and A2 and a terephthalaldehyde Schiff-base SB are synthesized, allowing stable gelation with numerous types of organic solvents.

Photochromic, organogelating and self-sorting behaviour of di-(dithienylethene) derivatives

They wouldn't mix! – Narcissistic self-sorting was found to exist in a 1 : 1 mixture of the two photoisomers of a di-(dithienylethene)-containing organgelator.

Non-covalent assembly of poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/triethylamine microcapsules with ionic strength-responsiveness and auto-fluorescence

Ionic strength-responsive microcapsules with auto-fluorescence were fabricated by incubation of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)-doped CaCO₃ particles in triethylamine (Et₃N), followed by core removal using HCl. Based on the combination of hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding, PAH and Et₃N formed a complex with a molar ratio of 3:1 (repeating unit of PAH: Et₃N). The as-prepared capsules showed extraordinary stability against 1M HCl, 1M NaOH and 6M urea solutions, and could swell or shrink reversibly in response to the ionic strength. Furthermore, the capsules possessed auto-fluorescence, allowing easily tracking of capsules during applications. Such interaction may be expanded to formation of stimuli-responsive multilayer films and other colloidal particles.

Synthesis and properties of polyurethane urea with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide moieties in their structure

The inclusion of 2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide into polyurethanes structure strongly influenced their morphology, surface and thermo-mechanical properties. The 2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide units adopt syn-syn conformations into polyurethane matrix.

Transition from low molecular weight non-gelating oligo(amide-triazole)s to a restorable, halide-responsive poly(amide-triazole) supramolecular gel

Switching between non-gelating and gelating polymer: the cation vs anion game.

Isomeric effect in the self-assembly of pyridine-containing L-glutamic lipid: substituent position controlled morphology and supramolecular chirality

Three isomeric pyridine-containing l-glutamic lipids formed organogels in DMSO and self-assembled into different nanostructures of nanofiber, twist and nanotube depending on the substituent position in the pyridine ring.

Evidence of intercolumnar π-π stacking interactions in amino-acid-based low-molecular-weight organogels

A comparative IR and NMR study of two low-molecular-weight organogels (LMWGs) based on aminoacid derivatives let us point out the hierarchy of the gelation assembly process. Different association states of corresponding organogelator molecules can be observed leading to the supramolecular organization of gel. A first hydrogen bond network of gelators leads to the formation of "head-to-tail" stacking-up, which can be assembled afterward one to the other by π-π stacking interactions. These small supramolecular aggregates (incipient precursor) are still visible in NMR spectra, and they represent, for example, 36% of the total amount of gelator in the case of the L-phenylalanine derivative (gelator 1) at 1 wt % in toluene. Finally, in the last step, the incipient precursor tends to form the expected 3D fibrillar network responsible for the gelation phenomenon. Temperature-dependent IR and NMR experiments allowed us to identify these different states clearly.

Expanding the gelation properties of valine-based 3,5-diaminobenzoate organogelators with N-alkylurea functionalities

A new family of valine-containing 3,5-diaminobenzoate derivatives 2 with N-alkylurea moieties attached to the valine moieties was prepared. By appending these two new N-alkylurea chains to the molecular structure, their organogelating properties were extended from only aromatic solvents, to a wide range of other types of solvents such as alicyclic hydrocarbons, alcohols and polar solvents such as DMSO and DMF. It was also found that a longer N-alkylurea chain conferred improved gelation power and higher thermal stability as compared to those of the shorter ones.