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Wu W, Chen K, Yu H, Zhu J, Feng Y, Wang J, Huang X, Li L, Hao H, Wang T, Wang N, Naumov P. Trimodal operation of a robust smart organic crystal. Chem Sci 2024; 15:9287-9297. [PMID: 38903221 PMCID: PMC11186328 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc02152e] [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: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe a dynamic crystalline material that integrates mechanical, thermal, and light modes of operation, with unusual robustness and resilience and a variety of both slow and fast kinematic effects that occur on very different time scales. In the mechanical mode of operation, crystals of this material are amenable to elastic deformation, and they can be reversibly morphed and even closed into a loop, sustaining strains of up to about 2.6%. Upon release of the external force, the crystals resume their original shape without any sign of damage, demonstrating outstanding elasticity. Application of torque results in plastic twisting for several rotations without damage, and the twisted crystal can still be bent elastically. The thermal mode of operation relies on switching the lattice at least several dozen times. The migration of the phase boundaries depends on the crystal habit. It can be precisely controlled by temperature, and it is accompanied by both slow and fast motions, including shear deformation and leaping. Parallel boundaries result in a thermomechanical effect, while non-parallel boundaries result in a thermosalient effect. Finally, the photochemical mode of operation is driven by isomerization and can be thermally reverted. The structure of the crystal can also be switched photochemically, and the generation of a bilayer induces rapid bending upon exposure to ultraviolet light, an effect that further diversifies the mechanical response of the material. The small structural changes, low-energy and weak intramolecular hydrogen bonds, and shear deformation, which could dissipate part of the elastic energy, are considered to be the decisive factors for the conservation of the long-range order and the extraordinary diversity in the response of this, and potentially many other dynamic crystalline materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Wu
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
| | - Kui Chen
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
| | - Hui Yu
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
| | - Jiaxuan Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
| | - Yaoguang Feng
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
| | - Jingkang Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- China State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University 300072 China
| | - Xin Huang
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- China State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University 300072 China
| | - Liang Li
- Smart Materials Lab, New York University Abu Dhabi PO Box 129188 Abu Dhabi UAE
- Department of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi PO Box 38044 Abu Dhabi UAE
| | - Hongxun Hao
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- China State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University 300072 China
| | - Ting Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- China State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University 300072 China
| | - Na Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- China State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University 300072 China
| | - Panče Naumov
- Smart Materials Lab, New York University Abu Dhabi PO Box 129188 Abu Dhabi UAE
- Center for Smart Engineering Materials, New York University Abu Dhabi PO Box 129188 Abu Dhabi UAE
- Research Center for Environment and Materials, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts Bul. Krste Misirkov 2 MK-1000 Skopje Macedonia
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Design Institute, New York University 100 Washington Square East New York NY 10003 USA
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2
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Yu C, Jiang X, Al-Handawi MB, Naumov P, Li L, Yu Q, Wang G. Bending, Twisting, and Propulsion of Photoreactive Crystals by Controlled Gas Release. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202403397. [PMID: 38530916 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202403397] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The rapid release of gas by a chemical reaction to generate momentum is one of the most fundamental ways to elicit motion that could be used to sustain and control the motility of objects. We report that hollow crystals of a three-dimensional supramolecular metal complex that releases gas by photolysis can propel themselves or other objects and advance in space when suspended in mother solution. In needle-like regular crystals, the reaction occurs mainly on the surface and results in the formation of cracks that evolve due to internal pressure; the expansion on the cracked surface of the crystal results in bending, twisting, or coiling of the crystal. In hollow crystals, gas accumulates inside their cavities and emanates preferentially from the recess at the crystal terminus, propelling the crystals to undergo directional photomechanical motion through the mother solution. The motility of the object which can be controlled externally to perform work delineates the concept of "crystal microbots", realized by photoreactive organic crystals capable of prolonged directional motion for actuation or delivery. Within the prospects, we envisage the development of a plethora of light-weight, efficient, autonomously operating robots based on organic crystals with high work capacity where motion over large distances can be attained due to the large volume of latent gas generated from a small volume of the crystalline solid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjiao Yu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Xiaofan Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Marieh B Al-Handawi
- Smart Materials Lab, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box, 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Panče Naumov
- Smart Materials Lab, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box, 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Smart Engineering Materials, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box, 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Research Center for Environment and Materials, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Bul. Krste Misirkov 2, MK-1000, Skopje, Macedonia
- Molecular Design Institute, Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Liang Li
- Smart Materials Lab, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box, 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, PO Box, 38044, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Qi Yu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Guoming Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Shandong, 266071, China
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Bhandary S, Beliš M, Shukla R, Bourda L, Kaczmarek AM, Van Hecke K. Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Photosynthesis of Supramolecular Organoboron Polymers with Dynamic Effects. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:8659-8667. [PMID: 38407928 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The solid-state synthesis of single-crystalline organic polymers, having functional properties, remains an attractive and developing research area in polymer chemistry and materials science. However, light-triggered topochemical synthesis of crystalline polymers comprising an organoboron backbone has not yet been reported. Here, we describe an intriguing example of single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) rapid photosynthesis (occurs on a seconds-scale) of two structurally different linear organoboron polymers, driven by environmentally sustainable visible/sun light, obtained from the same monomer molecule. A newly designed Lewis acid-base type molecular B ← N organoboron adduct (consisting of an organoboron core and naphthylvinylpyridine ligands) crystallizes in two solid-state forms featuring the same chemical structure but different 3D structural topologies, namely, monomers 1 and 2. The solvate molecule-free crystals of 1 undergo topochemical photopolymerization via an unusual olefin-naphthyl ring [2 + 2] cyclization to yield the single crystalline [3]-ladderane polymer 1P growing along the B ← N linkages, accompanied by instantaneous and violent macroscopic mechanical motions or photosalient effects (such as bending-reshaping and jumping motions). In contrast, visible light-harvesting single crystals of 2 quantitatively polymerize to a B ← N bond-stabilized polymer 2P in a SCSC fashion owing to the rapid [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction among olefin double bonds. Such olefin bonds in the crystals of 2 are suitably preorganized for photoreaction due to the presence of solvate molecules in the crystal packing. Single crystals of 2 also show photodynamic jumping motions - in response to visible light but in a relatively slower fashion than the crystals of 1. In addition to SCSC topochemical polymerization and dynamic motions, both monomer crystals and their single-crystalline polymers feature green emissive and short-lived room-temperature phosphorescence properties upon excitation with visible-light wavelength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhrajyoti Bhandary
- XStruct, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-Building S3, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Marek Beliš
- XStruct, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-Building S3, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Rahul Shukla
- Department of Chemistry (NCI Lab), GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam 530045, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Laurens Bourda
- XStruct, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-Building S3, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Anna M Kaczmarek
- NanoSensing Group, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-Building S3, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Kristof Van Hecke
- XStruct, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-Building S3, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
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Khazeber R, Kana GS, Sureshan KM. Massive Molecular Motion in Crystal Leads to an Unexpected Helical Covalent Polymer in a Solid-state Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202316513. [PMID: 38224551 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202316513] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
We designed a proline-derived monomer with azide and alkene functional groups to enable topochemical ene-azide cycloaddition (TEAC) polymerization. In its crystal, the monomer forms supramolecular helices along the 'a' axis through various non-covalent interactions. Along the 'c' axis, the molecules arrange themselves head-to-tail in a wave-like pattern, positioning the azide and alkene groups of adjacent molecules in close proximity and anti-parallel orientation, complying with Schmidt's criteria for topochemical reaction. This prearranged configuration was expected to facilitate smooth topochemical polymerization, resulting in a 1,4-triazoline-linked polymer. Upon heating, the monomer underwent TEAC polymerization in a remarkable single-crystal-to-single-crystal fashion, but, to our surprise, it yielded an unexpected covalent helical polymer linked by 1,5-disubstituted triazoline units. Remarkably, the crystal avoids the ready-to-react arrangement for polymerization, but connects monomer molecules within the supramolecular helix through the cycloaddition of azide and alkene groups, even though they are not in close proximity nor in the expected orientation. This unexpected path, involving a substantial 134° rotation of the alkene group, yields hitherto unknown 1,5-disubstituted triazoline product regiospecifically. This study serves as a cautionary reminder that relying solely on topochemical postulates for predicting reactivity can sometimes be misleading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravichandran Khazeber
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - Gautham S Kana
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - Kana M Sureshan
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
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Chen B, Jäkle F. Boron-Nitrogen Lewis Pairs in the Assembly of Supramolecular Macrocycles, Molecular Cages, Polymers, and 3D Materials. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202313379. [PMID: 37815889 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202313379] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Covering an exceptionally wide range of bond strengths, the dynamic nature and facile tunability of dative B-N bonds is highly attractive when it comes to the assembly of supramolecular polymers and materials. This Minireview offers an overview of advances in the development of functional materials where Lewis pairs (LPs) play a key role in their assembly and critically influence their properties. Specifically, we describe the reversible assembly of linear polymers with interesting optical, electronic and catalytic properties, discrete macrocycles and molecular cages that take up diverse guest molecules and undergo structural changes triggered by external stimuli, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with intriguing interlocked structures that can embed and separate gases such as CO2 and acetylene, and soft polymer networks that serve as recyclable, self-healing, and responsive thermosets, gels and elastomeric materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beijia Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University-Newark, 73 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Frieder Jäkle
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University-Newark, 73 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
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