Accordion-like Oscillation of Contracted and Stretched Helices of Polyacetylenes Synchronized with the Restricted Rotation of Side Chains

Stimuli-responsive synthetic helical polymers

Synthetic dynamic helical polymers (supramolecular and covalent) and foldamers share the helix as a structural motif. Although the materials are different, these systems also share many structural properties, such as helix induction or conformational communication mechanisms. The introduction of stimuli responsive building blocks or monomer repeating units in these materials triggers conformational or structural changes, due to the presence/absence of the external stimulus, which are transmitted to the helix resulting in different effects, such as assymetry amplification, helix inversion or even changes in the helical scaffold (elongation, J/H helical aggregates). In this review, we show through selected examples how different stimuli (e.g., temperature, solvents, cations, anions, redox, chiral additives, pH or light) can alter the helical structures of dynamic helical polymers (covalent and supramolecular) and foldamers acting on the conformational composition or molecular structure of their components, which is also transmitted to the macromolecular helical structure.

Modulation of supramolecular chirality by stepwise axial coordination in a nano-size trizinc(ii)porphyrin trimer

Herein, we report a chiral guest's triggered spring-like contraction and extension motions coupled with unidirectional twisting in a novel flexible and 'nano-size' achiral trizinc(ii)porphyrin trimer host upon step-wise formation of 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 4 host-guest supramolecular complexes based on the stoichiometry of the diamine guests for the first time. During these processes, porphyrin CD responses have been induced, inverted, and amplified, and reduced, respectively, in a single molecular framework due to the change in the interporphyrin interactions and helicity. Also, the sign of the CD couplets is just the opposite between R and S substrates which suggests that the chirality is dictated solely by the stereographic projection of the chiral center. Interestingly, the long-range electronic communications between the three porphyrin rings generate trisignate CD signals that provide further information about molecular structures.

The Full Cytosine-Cytosine Base Paring: Self-Assembly and Crystal Structure

The synthesis of self-assembly systems that can mimic partial biological behaviours require ingenious and delicate design. For decades, scientists are committed to exploring new base pairing patterns using hydrogen bonds directed self-assembly of nucleotides. A fundamental question is the adaptive circumstance of the recognition between base pairs, namely, how solvent conditions affect the domain of base pairs. Towards this question, three nucleotide complexes based on 2'-deoxycytidine-5'-monophosphate (dCMP) and cytidine-5'-monophosphate (CMP) were synthesized in different solvents and pH values, and an unusual cytosine-cytosine base paring pattern (named full C : C base pairing) has been successfully obtained. Systematic single crystal analysis and ¹ H NMR titration spectra have been performed to explore factors influencing the formation of base paring patterns. Moreover, supramolecular chirality of three complexes were studied using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in solution and solid-state combined with crystal structure analysis.

2D Hexagonal Assemblies of Amphiphilic Double-Helical Poly(phenylacetylene) Homopolymers with Enhanced Circularly Polarized Luminescence and Chiral Self-Sorting

Two-dimensional (2D) chiral materials have been attracting immense attentions owing to their unique properties. Herein, we successfully developed a unique assembly strategy of amphiphilic homopolymers to construct stable free-standing 2D chiral nanosheets in solution. The amphiphilic poly(phenylacetylene) (PPA) homopolymers bearing the hydrophobic and hydrophilic dendritic side chains adopt a DNA-like double-helical conformation. The regular hexagonal nanosheets were formed in THF/EtOH through nucleation and epitaxial growth. The sizes of the nanosheets can be modulated from nanometers to submillimeters upon varying the ratio of binary solvents, while the thickness is linearly correlated with the molecular weights. The 2D architecture can significantly enhance the CPL of polymers with a high dissymmetry factor ≈0.1. Driven by a discrimination of helical conformation, the PPAs can self-sort into homochiral 2D nanosheets, as directly visualized by using fluorescent microscopy.

Conformational Switch of Arylopeptide: Helix-Helix Transition Based on Side Chain Solvation

Controlling the structural transition between well-defined architectures found in living system is essential in polymer chemistry as well as material science. Herein, the reversible conformational switch of a non-natural polypeptide with an aromatic ring (2,6-naphthalene spacer) on its peptide backbone, referred to as an arylopeptide, between two distinct well-defined helical structures (extended 3₁ -helix and contracted 4₁ -helix) using side chain solvation is demonstrated. The folding selectivity of the arylopeptide and found that the affinity between the solvent and side chains is an essential factor for determining the global structure is investigated. A thermoresponsive arylopeptide bearing oligoether groups (─(CH₂ CH₂ O)₉ CH₃ )) on the side chain is designed, which exhibited unique lower critical solution temperature behavior and converted from the 3₁ to the 4₁ -helix depending on the temperature. Furthermore, the solvent affinity of the entire polymer by combining substituents (─(CH₂ CH₂ O)₃ CH₃ and ─C₁₂ H₂₅ ) with different properties on the side chains to achieve a spring-like expansion-contraction system that allows interconversion between 3₁ - and 4₁ -helices is adjusted.

Photochemical Electrocyclization of Poly(phenylacetylene)s: Unwinding Helices to Elucidate their 3D Structure in Solution

Photochemical electrocyclization of poly(phenylacetylene)s (PPAs) is used for the structural elucidation of a polyene backbone. This method not only allows classification of PPAs in cis-cisoidal (ω₁ <90°) or cis-transoidal structures (ω₁ >90°), but also approximating ω₁ . A PPA solution is illuminated with visible light and monitoring the photochemical electrocyclization of the PPA helix by measuring the ECD spectra at different times. PPAs with a cis-cisoidal structure show a reduction of the ECD signal of at least 50 % before 30 min of irradiation, while cis-transoidal helices need much longer time because the transoidal bond must be isomerized. The different cis-cisoidal and cis-transoidal helices require different times to decrease their ECD signal by 50 % (t_1/2 ), depending on the degree of compression or stretching of the helix, establishing a relationship between the secondary structure adopted by PPA (ω₁ ) and the time required to lose the ECD vinylic signal by light irradiation.

Accordion and layer-sliding motion to produce anomalous thermal expansion behaviour in 2D-coordination polymers

Solvent-free (1) and solvated (2) 2D-coordination polymers have been synthesised by varying the amount of solvent during crystallisation. 1 undergoes a unique accordion motion of 2D zig-zag interwoven layers whereas 2 experiences layer-sliding within 2D layers to produce anomalous thermal expansion behaviour.

Side-Chain-Driven Dual Structural System of Poly-Arylopeptide: Selective Helical Formation Derived from Aromatic Ring Flips on the Backbone

A methodology for producing dual structural systems of macromolecules, which involves flipping the unsymmetrical aromatic rings on the main chain is presented. Previously, we reported a non-natural polypeptide containing an aromatic ring on the peptide backbone, called a poly "arylopeptide". Herein, we used 2,6-naphthalene rings as axially unsymmetrical spacers, which has two geometrical isomers, anti and syn, to create dual structural properties. The miniscule energy difference between the two geometrical isomers can be amplified by incorporating the 2,6-naphthylene units into the polypeptide backbone, which creates a thermodynamic driving force for the formation of two specific global structures (i.e., 3₁-helix or 4₁-helix) biased toward one side geometrical isomer depending on the side chain. Additionally, the 3₁-helix can be switched to the 4₁-helix upon addition of a small amount of additives, indicating a conformational conversion from an identical sequence. The developmental dual helical systems exploit basic molecular geometry and can serve as a design platform for synthetic polymers.

Methoxy-Group Control of Helical Pitch in Stereoregular Poly(2-ethynylmethoxynaphthalene) Prepared by Rhodium Complex Catalyst

The position of the methoxy group in a poly(n-methoxy-2-ethynylnaphthalene) (PnMeO2EN) was found to control the helical pitch of the π-conjugated polymer in the solid state. These PnMeO2ENs were stereoregularly synthesized using an Rh-complex catalyst in ethanol or toluene as the solvent. The helical structure in the solid phase was confirmed by conventional analytical methods, namely diffuse reflective ultraviolet⁻visible light (UV⁻Vis) and Raman spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, and ¹³C cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy, together with molecular mechanics calculations, because the as obtained polymers were insoluble in common solvents. The color of poly(6-methoxy-2-ethynylnaphthalene) (P6MeO2EN) (yellow or red) depended on the polymerization solvent, whereas no such dependency was observed for the yellow-colored P7MeO2EN and P8MeO2EN. The helical structures energetically optimized by molecular mechanics indicate that the red- and yellow-colored P6MeO2ENs form contracted and stretched helices, respectively. Due to the relatively unconstrained rotations of the 6-methoxynaphthyl moieties, the methoxy groups in P6MeO2EN are less sterically hindered along the helical axis. On the contrary, P7MeO2EN and P8MeO2EN have stretched helices due to the considerable steric hindrance imparted by their methoxy groups. The thermal cis-to-trans isomerization of P6MeO2EN in the contracted-helix form required a somewhat higher temperature than that of the stretched helix.

Proposed Mechanism for the High-Yield Polymerization of Oxyethyl Propiolates with Rh Complex Catalyst Using the Density Functional Theory Method

In this study, poly(oxyethyl propiolate)s (POP)s featuring various oxyethylene derivatives are synthesized using a [Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]₂ catalyst. In particular, POPs featuring the normal oxyethylene chain in the side-chain exhibit excellent yields and high molecular weights in methanol and N,N-dimethylformamide at 40 °C, compared with poly(n-alkyl propiolate)s (PnAP)s. The high reactivity of the oxyethyl propiolate (OP) monomers is clarified by considering the time dependences of the polymerization yields of OPs and alkyl propiolates (Aps). Furthermore, the monomer structure and intermediate conformation of the Rh complex are optimized using Density Function theory (DFT) methods (B3LYP/6-31G** and B3LYP/LANL2DZ) and a polymerization mechanism is proposed.

Chiral helical disubstituted polyacetylenes form optically active particles through precipitation polymerization

Preparation of optically active polymer particles constructed by chiral helical disubstituted polyacetylenes via precipitation polymerization.

Chiral nanostructure in polymers under different deposition conditions observed using atomic force microscopy of monolayers: poly(phenylacetylene)s as a case study

Dynamic poly(phenylacetylene)s (PPAs) adopt helical structures with different elongation or helical senses depending on the types of pendants. Hence, a good knowledge of the parameters that define their structures becomes a key factor in the understanding of their properties and functions. Herein, the techniques used for the study of the secondary structure of PPAs using atomic-force microscopy (AFM) are presented, with special attention directed towards the methods used for the preparation of monolayers, and their consequences in the quality of the AFM images. Thus, monolayers formed by drop casting, spin coating followed by crystallization or annealing, Langmuir-Blodgett and Langmuir-Schaefer methods, onto highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) or mica, are described, together with the AFM images and the resulting helical structure obtained for different PPAs. Furthermore, some conclusions are drawn both on the adequacy of the different techniques for the formation of monolayers and on the solid supports utilized to elucidate the secondary structure of different PPAs.

Optically Active Helical Polyacetylene Self-Assembled into Chiral Micelles Used As Nanoreactor for Helix-Sense-Selective Polymerization

Chiral micelles have been drawing ever-increasing attention because of their potentials in mimicking the unique stereochemical effects of enzymes. This article reports on the first success in preparing chiral micelles through self-assembly of helical polyacetylene bearing cholic acid pendants. The micelles were further used as chiral nanoreactor, in which achiral acetylenic monomer smoothly underwent helix-sense-selective polymerization (HSSP). The HSSPs directly established optically active core/shell nanoparticles whose shell and core both were constructed by helical polymers. The shells (or micelles) provided a protective effect for the preferably induced one-handed helical polymer chains in the cores. The present work provides insights into the self-assembly of chiral helical polymers, and also provides a powerful strategy for constructing novel chiral polymer nanoarchitectures.

Supramolecular Helical Systems: Helical Assemblies of Small Molecules, Foldamers, and Polymers with Chiral Amplification and Their Functions

In this review, we describe the recent advances in supramolecular helical assemblies formed from chiral and achiral small molecules, oligomers (foldamers), and helical and nonhelical polymers from the viewpoints of their formations with unique chiral phenomena, such as amplification of chirality during the dynamic helically assembled processes, properties, and specific functionalities, some of which have not been observed in or achieved by biological systems. In addition, a brief historical overview of the helical assemblies of small molecules and remarkable progress in the synthesis of single-stranded and multistranded helical foldamers and polymers, their properties, structures, and functions, mainly since 2009, will also be described.

Controlled Folding, Motional, and Constitutional Dynamic Processes of Polyheterocyclic Molecular Strands

General design principles have been developed for the control of the structural features of polyheterocyclic strands and their effector-modulated shape changes. Induced defined molecular motions permit designed enforcement of helical as well as linear molecular shapes. The ability of such molecular strands to bind metal cations allows the generation of coiling/uncoiling processes between helically folded and extended linear states. Large molecular motions are produced on coordination of metal ions, which may be made reversible by competition with an ancillary complexing agent and fueled by sequential acid/base neutralization energy. The introduction of hydrazone units into the strands confers upon them constitutional dynamics, whereby interconversion between different strand compositions is achieved through component exchange. These features have relevance for nanomechanical devices. We present a morphological and functional analysis of such systems developed in our laboratories.

Helical sense selective domains and enantiomeric superhelices generated by Langmuir-Schaefer deposition of an axially racemic chiral helical polymer

The chiral polymer poly-(R)-1 behaves in solution, despite its chiral pendants, as a dynamic axially racemic (i.e., 1 : 1) mixture of left- and right-handed helices, but its deposition on graphite by a Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) technique leads to a helical sense-selective packing that forms separate enantiomeric domains of left- and right-handed helical chains observed by high resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM). The polymer structure within these domains is very uniform, seldom altered by the presence of reversals, grouped always in contiguous pairs maintaining a single helical sense along the polymer chain. The LS deposition technique has been shown to be crucial to obtain good quality monolayers from poly-(R)-1 and other poly(phenylacetylene)s (PPAs: poly-2, poly-3 and poly-4) with short pendants, where spin coating, drop casting and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) failed, and suggests that this technique could be the method of choice for the preparation of 2D monolayers for high resolution AFM studies of PPAs with short pendants. Key helical parameters (i.e., sense, pitch, packing angle) are easily measured in this way.

Chiral Nanostructures from Helical Copolymer-Metal Complexes: Tunable Cation-π Interactions and Sergeants and Soldiers Effect

Poly(phenylacetylene) (PPA) copolymers containing (R)- or (S)-MPA as minor chiral pendant can be forced to selectively adopt the right- o left-handed helix, in the presence of small amounts of Na(+) or Ag(+) ("Sergeants and Soldiers Effect") by addition of a donor cosolvent. The helical sense depends exclusively on the chiral monomer/donor cosolvent ratio, and this allows a perfect on/off tuning of the helicity of the copolymer. When the amount of the donor cosolvent is low, the metal ion complex is stabilized by a cation-π interaction, which is selectively cleaved when the amount of cosolvent is higher. Macroscopically chiral nanospheres and nanotubes composed by helical copolymers with P or M helical sense are also described. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain the two enantiomeric helical structures (P and M helicities) and the corresponding nanospheres and nanotubes from a single helical copolymer, by controlled activation/deactivation of the Sergeant and Soldiers Effect with a donor cosolvent.

Micelle-provided microenvironment facilitating the formation of single-handed helical polymer-based nanoparticles

Micelles provide microenvironment effects for asymmetric polymerization: an unprecedented methodology for controlling the preferential helicity of synthetic helical polymers.

Influence of a hydrodynamic environment on chain rigidity, liquid crystallinity, absorptivity, and photoluminescence of hydrogen-bonding-assisted helical poly(phenylacetylene)

The chain rigidity, liquid crystallinity, absorptivity, and photoluminescence of a helical poly(phenylacetylene) derivative varied significantly depending on the solvent, owing to the conformational changes based on intramolecular hydrogen bonds.

Helical polymer/Fe3O4 NPs constructing optically active, magnetic core/shell microspheres: preparation by emulsion polymerization and recycling application in enantioselective crystallization

Novel core/shell microspheres showed both optical activity and magneticity, and efficiently induced enantioselective crystallization on threonine with ee of 90%.

Optically Active Porous Materials Constructed by Chirally Helical Substituted Polyacetylene through a High Internal Phase Emulsion Approach and the Application in Enantioselective Crystallization

This article reports the first optically active macroporous materials constructed by helical substituted polyacetylene and prepared by a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) technique. The macroporous (∼3 μm) materials were fabricated simply through polymerization of the continuous phase in HIPEs. The porous structures of the resulting materials can be adjusted by varying the fraction of the dispersed phase. The obtained materials were characterized by regular pore morphology, high porosity, and low density. Circular dichroism and UV-vis absorption spectra demonstrated that the substituted polyacetylene forming the materials adopted chirally helical conformations, which endowed the materials with considerable optical activity. The optically active porous materials were used as chiral inducers and efficiently induced enantioselective crystallization of threonine and alanine racemates. l-Threonine and l-alanine were preferably induced to form crystals from the respective racemic solutions. The prepared materials open a new type of functional chiral materials with potential applications in asymmetric catalysis, chiral resolution, etc.