Periodically Grafted Amphiphilic Copolymers: Nonionic Analogues of Ionenes

Probing Polymer Chain Folding in Solution Using Second Harmonic Light Scattering

Periodically grafted amphiphilic copolymers (PGACs) were earlier shown by us to adopt a zigzag folded conformation in the solid state, which enabled the backbone and pendant segments to segregate and occupy alternate layers in a lamellar structure. The conformational transition from a random coil to a zigzag folded chain in solution is an interesting problem, which is largely unexplored. To examine this, an orthogonally clickable parent polyester was sequentially clicked with two types of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments: one is a simple PEG and the other is a PEG that carries a dipolar chromophore. These two hydrophilic PEG segments, installed in a periodic and alternating fashion along the hydrocarbon-rich (HC) polyester backbone, ensure that the Janus folded chains are formed upon folding and carry chromophoric dipoles oriented along the same direction, thereby generating a large net dipole. The folding-induced alignment of chromophores in solution was followed using second harmonic light scattering (SHLS), wherein the intensity of the frequency-doubled scattered light (I_2ω) is measured. Folding was induced by adding a polar solvent, like methanol, to a chloroform solution of the polymer; methanol desolvates the HC backbone but solubilizes the pendant PEG segments, thus inducing folding. The second harmonic intensity (I_2ω) increased initially with methanol concentration and then saturated; in contrast, I_2ω remained invariant with the solvent composition in the case of an analogous model chromophore. Furthermore, in a model PGAC carrying chromophore-bearing PEG segments on every repeat unit, I_2ω decreased with increasing methanol composition, revealing the formation of a centrosymmetric folded chain, wherein the chromophoric dipoles on either side cancel each other. Thus, this study clearly reveals that the zigzag chain folding of PGACs can be induced by a segment-selective solvent, resulting in the rather elusive directional ordering of chromophoric dipoles in solution.

Main-chain liquid crystalline polymers bearing periodically grafted folding elements

Inclusion of non-mesogenic pendant segments, such as alkyl, PEG and fluoroalkyl, at periodic intervals along the backbone of main-chain LCPs, that contain flexible spacers, provides an interesting alternative to control the mesophase structure and the layer periodicity.

Precise control of grafting density in periodically grafted amphiphilic copolymers: an alternate strategy to fine-tune the lamellar spacing in the sub-10 nm regime

By exactly locating pendant PEG550 segments at varying intervals along a hydrocarbon-rich polyester backbone, the lamellar dimension has been precisely tuned.

De-symmetrizing periodically grafted amphiphilic copolymers: design, synthesis and generation of Janus folded chains

The mutual immiscibility between the three segments, namely backbone HC, and pendant PEG and FC segments, causes zigzag folding of the polymer such that FC segments lie on one side and PEG on the other, thereby generating Janus-type folded chains.

Mass spectrometry-directed structure elucidation and total synthesis of ultra-long chain (O-acyl)-ω-hydroxy fatty acids

The (O-acyl)-ω-hydroxy FAs (OAHFAs) comprise an unusual lipid subclass present in the skin, vernix caseosa, and meibomian gland secretions. Although they are structurally related to the general class of FA esters of hydroxy FAs (FAHFAs), the ultra-long chain (30-34 carbons) and the putative ω-substitution of the backbone hydroxy FA suggest that OAHFAs have unique biochemistry. Complete structural elucidation of OAHFAs has been challenging because of their low abundance within complex lipid matrices. Furthermore, because these compounds occur as a mixture of closely related isomers, insufficient spectroscopic data have been obtained to guide structure confirmation by total synthesis. Here, we describe the full molecular structure of ultra-long chain OAHFAs extracted from human meibum by exploiting the gas-phase purification of lipids through multi-stage MS and novel multidimensional ion activation methods. The analysis elucidated sites of unsaturation, the stereochemical configuration of carbon-carbon double bonds, and ester linkage regiochemistry. Such isomer-resolved MS guided the first total synthesis of an ultra-long chain OAHFA, which, in turn, confirmed the structure of the most abundant OAHFA found in human meibum, OAHFA 50:2. The availability of a synthetic OAHFA opens new territory for future investigations into the unique biophysical and biochemical properties of these lipids.

Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocene Based Hemicages

We present a series of tripodal ligands L1-3, which fold into hemicages C1-3 by using coordination-driven dynamic combinational chemistry. The identities of these hemicages were characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹H-¹H COSY, DOSY, and ESI-TWIM-MS. Free rotation of the ferrocene structural units in the ligands affords an adaptable directionality, which is essential for the construction of these hemicages. Encapsulation of adamantane by C2 indicates the presence of a well-defined inner cavity as the binding pocket.

Asymmetric Fullerene Nanosurfactant: Interface Engineering for Automatic Molecular Alignments

Since the molecular self-assembly of nanomaterials is sensitive to their surface properties, the molecular packing structure on the surface is essential to build the desired chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials. Here, a new nanosurfactant is proposed for the automatic construction of macroscopic surface alignment layer for liquid crystal (LC) molecules. An asymmetric nanosurfactant (C₆₀ NS) consisted of mesogenic cyanobiphenyl moieties with flexible alkyl chains and a [60]fullerene nanoatom is newly designed and precisely synthesized. The C₆₀ NS directly introduced in the anisotropic LC medium is self-assembled into the monolayered protrusions on the surface because of its amphiphilic nature originated by asymmetrically programmed structural motif of LC-favoring moieties and LC-repelling groups. The monolayered protrusions constructed by the phase-separation and self-assembly of asymmetric C₆₀ NS nanosurfactant in the anisotropic LC media amplify and transfer the molecular orientational order from surface to bulk, and finally create the automatic vertical molecular alignment on the macroscopic length scale. The asymmetric C₆₀ NS nanosurfactant and its self-assembly described herein can offer the direct guideline of interface engineering for the automatic molecular alignments.

Three-Legged 2,2'-Bipyridine Monomer at the Air/Water Interface: Monolayer Structure and Reactions with Ni(II) Ions from the Subphase

The behavior of compound 2 [1,3,5-tri(2,2'-bipyridin-5-yl)benzene] with three bipyridine units arranged in a star geometry is investigated in the presence and absence of Ni(ClO₄)₂. Its properties at the air-water interface as well as after transfer onto a solid substrate are studied by several techniques including Brewster angle microscopy, X-ray reflectivity, neutron reflectivity, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy combined with optical microscopy. It is found that compound 2 within the monolayers formed stays almost vertical at the interface and that at high Ni²⁺/2 (Ni²⁺/2 = 4000, 20'000) ratios two of the three bipyridine units of 2 are complexed, resulting in supramolecular sheets that are likely composed of arrays of linear metal-organic complexation polymers.

Control of optical and electrical properties of nanosheets by the chemical structure of the turning point in a foldable polymer

Oligomers of tetra(ethylene glycol)-disubstituted phenyl-capped bithiophene (Ph2TPh) linked by catechol and resorcinol were prepared. Catechol and resorcinol link the monomers via the ortho- and meta-positions of the benzene ring, respectively, and function as turning points in the folding process of the polymer. It was confirmed that the ortho-linked 8mer (o-8mer) and meta-linked 8mer (m-8mer) could form nanosheets through the self-assembly of folded polymers in o-dichlorobenzene. We confirmed that the arrangement of thiophene units inside the nanosheets was controllable by changing the chemical structure of the turning point. The different arrangements of the Ph2TPh units led to changes in other physical properties such as UV-Vis absorption, nanosheet thickness and charge carrier transport. The absorption spectrum of the o-8mer nanosheets suggested that the Ph2TPh units are arranged vertical to the lateral direction of the nanosheets. On the other hand, the Ph2TPh units in the m-8mer nanosheets were considered to have a tilted orientation. The change in the Ph2TPh tilt angle inside the nanosheets was supported by the different thicknesses of the o-8mer and m-8mer nanosheets. The relationship between the absorption spectrum and Ph2TPh unit arrangement was discussed based on the DFT calculation. Intrinsic charge carrier transport properties were evaluated by a noncontact microwave-based method. The o-8mer nanosheets showed higher conductivity than the m-8mer and triazole-linked-8mer nanosheets. The lifetime of charge carriers in the nanosheet was longer than that in the lamellar structure of the drop-cast film.

The Organic Flatland-Recent Advances in Synthetic 2D Organic Layers

Ultrathin, 2D organic layers of sub-ten nanometer thicknesses and high aspect ratios have received a great deal of attention for their graphene-like topological features and emerging properties. Rational synthetic strategies have led to the realization of periodic 2D layers with unprecedented structural precision. Herein, recent progress on the synthesis of 2D organic layers, including methods based on both non-covalent and covalent interactions, is summarized, and potential applications are highlighted. Such 2D organic nanostructures have a brilliant future as prospective multifunctional materials, showing great promise as platforms for engineering novel optoelectronic, interfacial, and bioactive properties.

Periodically Grafted Amphiphilic Copolymers: Effects of Steric Crowding and Reversal of Amphiphilicity

Two series of periodically clickable polyesters were prepared; one of them carries alkylene segments along its backbone, whereas the other carries poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments. These polyesters were clicked with either MPEG-350 azide or docosyl (C22) azide to yield periodically grafted amphiphilic copolymers (PGACs) carrying either flexible hydrophilic or crystallizable hydrophobic backbone segments. The immiscibility between hydrocarbon and PEG segments causes both of these systems to fold in either a zigzag or hairpin-like conformation; the hairpin-like conformation appears to be preferred when flexible PEG segments are present in the backbone. The folded chains further reorganize in the solid state to develop a lamellar morphology that permits the collocation of the PEG and hydrocarbon (HC) segments within alternate domains; evidence for the self-segregation was gained from DSC, SAXS, and AFM studies. SAXS studies revealed the formation of an extended lamellar structure, whereas AFM images showed uniform layered morphology with layer heights that matched reasonably well with the interlamellar spacing obtained from the SAXS study. Labeling one representative PGAC, carrying crystallizable long alkylene segments in the backbone and pendant PEG-350 side chains, with a small mole fraction of pyrene fluorophore permitted the examination of the conformational transition that occurs upon going from a good to a poor solvent; this single-chain folded conformation, we postulate, is the intermediate that organizes into the lamellar morphology.

Effect of polymerization on hierarchical self-assembly into nanosheets

The oligomers consisting of phenyl-capped bithiophene and tetra(ethylene glycol)s linked by azide-alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition were synthesized. The relationship between the degree of polymerization and self-assembling ability was investigated in o-dichlorobenzene and dimethyl sulfoxide. From the absorption spectrum, it was confirmed that the critical degree of polymerization (CDP) for thiophene unit aggregation was 4. The morphology of the aggregated product was observed by atomic force microscopy. The oligomers 4mer and 5mer could not self-assemble into well-defined structures due to the weak driving force for the self-assembly. In the cases of 6mer and 7mer, aggregates with nonwell-defined and nanosheet structures coexisted. In the cases of 8mer and 9mer, the nanosheet was the main product. The critical point between 7mer and 8mer could be confirmed by different aggregation behaviors in the cooling process of the solution (nonsigmoidal and sigmoidal). In the cases of 8mer and 9mer, polymer folding prior to intermolecular self-assembly, which was supported by sigmoidal aggregation behavior, leads to the nanosheet formation. On the contrary, shorter oligomers than 8mer experience intermolecular aggregation prior to intramolecular polymer folding, which was supported by the nonsigmoidal aggregation behavior. This is the first report to prove the existence of CDP for folded polymer nanosheet formation which requires hierarchical self-assembly, i.e., polymer folding followed by intermolecular self-assembly.

Hydrogen-bonding-induced chain folding and vesicular assembly of an amphiphilic polyurethane

We have reported synthesis and vesicular assembly of a novel amphiphilic polyurethane with hydrophobic backbone and hydrophilic pendant carboxylic acid groups which were periodically grafted to the backbone via a tertiary amine group. In aqueous medium the polymer chain adopted a folded conformation which was stabilized by intrachain H-bonding among the urethane groups. Such a model was supported by concentration and solvent-dependent FT-IR, powder XRD, and urea-mediated "denaturation" experiments. Folded polymer chains further formed vesicular assembly which was probed by dynamic light scattering, TEM, AFM, SEM, and fluorescence microscopic studies, and dye encapsulation experiments. pH-dependent DLS and fluorescence microscopic studies revealed stable polymersome in entire tested pH window of 3.5-11.0. Zeta potential measurements showed a negatively charged surface in basic pH while a charge-neutral surface in neutral and acidic pH. MTT assay with CHO cell line indicated good cell viability.