Synthetically encoded complementary oligomers

Creating the next generation of advanced materials will require controlling molecular architecture to a degree typically achieved only in biopolymers. Sequence-defined polymers take inspiration from biology by using chain length and monomer sequence as handles for tuning structure and function. These sequence-defined polymers can assemble into discrete structures, such as molecular duplexes, via reversible interactions between functional groups. Selectivity can be attained by tuning the monomer sequence, thereby creating the need for chemical platforms that can produce sequence-defined polymers at scale. Developing sequence-defined polymers that are specific for their complementary sequence and achieve their desired binding strengths is critical for producing increasingly complex structures for new functional materials. In this Review Article, we discuss synthetic platforms that produce sequence-defined, duplex-forming oligomers of varying length, strength and association mode, and highlight several analytical techniques used to characterize their hybridization.

Discrete boronate ester ladders from the dynamic covalent self-assembly of oligo(phenylene ethynylene) derivatives and phenylenebis(boronic acid)

Reversible boronate ester chemistry enables the controlled, dynamic self-assembly of olig(phenylene ethynylene)s into highly conjugated ladder frameworks.

Sugar-boronate ester scaffold tethered pyridyl-imine palladium(ii) complexes: synthesis and their in vitro anticancer evaluation

The anticancer activity of sugar-boronate ester containing palladium(ii) complexes is reported.

Self-assembly and recognition properties of a tetraanionic macrocyclic boronate ester in aqueous medium

A tetraanionic [2 + 2] boronate ester macrocycle is self-assembled in water containing 0–5% vol DMSO and binds efficiently various cationic guests including R₄N⁺ cations, choline, acetylcholine, 1-methylnicotinamide and an alkaloid berberine.

Rational synthesis of bis(hexyloxy)-tetra(hydroxy)-triphenylenes and their derivatives

The synthesis of three new tetra(hydroxy)-triphenylene derivatives and their use as platforms for rationally designed, mixed-substituent triphenylene derivatives is described.