Manipulation of Hierarchical Chiral Self-assembly and Anion Recognition by Supramolecular Systems of β-Glucopyranoside, Pillar[5]arenes, and Polyoxometalates

Hierarchical chiral structures have broad applications in optical devices, asymmetric catalysis, and biological systems. The delicate balance of various interactions are key to the self-assembly of chiral structures. Herein, a ternary co-assembly consisting of cationic pillar[5]arenes (P5As), anionic β-glucopyranoside (βGlcD/βGlcL), and Anderson-type polyoxometalates (POMs) were constructed. Through adjusting the stoichiometry of βGlcD, the assemblies were effectively controlled to form hierarchical nano-leaf assemblies with twisted nanoribbons in a homochiral direction. The co-assemblies exhibit strong Cotton effects, and successfully induced the chirality of Anderson-type POMs. More interestingly, by changing the central metal in Anderson-type POMs (XMo6 O24 3- (X=Cr, Al, and Ga)), even though the three clusters have the same numbers of charge and size, the hierarchical chirality of the related assemblies varied in the morphology of the assemblies and the Cotton effect in the CD spectra. Results in theoretical calculations and ITC titration indicates that the tiny difference in long-range electrostatic interaction would result in the anion recognition of POMs, modulated by βGlcD through host-guest inclusion and hydrogen bonding in the assembly process.

Constructing chiral polyoxometalate assemblies via supramolecular approaches

Polyoxometalates (POMs), as a typical class of discrete metal oxide clusters that are known in inorganic and structural chemistry since long, have displayed more and more interesting applications over recent years. However, in comparison to the chemical synthesis, the photochemical, electrochemical, and magnetic properties, the structural asymmetry, and relative characteristic investigations arising therefrom are far behind even if they are very important for functional materials, especially in solution systems. One of the main reasons is that it is hard to control and maintain a stable chiral state of POMs to carry out further corresponding performances. Aiming to overcome these disadvantages, the main concerns of this review are to discuss the generation of the chirality for discrete metal oxide clusters, chirality transfer via a supramolecular approach, chirality amplification in self-assemblies, and the related functional properties such as photochromism, catalysis, and bioactivities in solutions. Considering that some previous reviews dealt with chiral structures and packing architectures in the crystalline solids of POMs, this article only concentrates on the induced chirality and material properties in solution systems, which have been more active recently but no review article has been involved in this interesting area.

Self-assembly of thiolate-protected silver coordination polymers regulated by POMs

Two polyoxometalate (POM)-based thiolate-protected silver coordination polymers were obtained using different Lindquist-type POM precursors under the same conditions. [Ag10(StBu)6(CH3CN)8(Mo6O19)2·2CH3CN]n (abbreviated as Ag10-Mo6) was observed to feature chain-like structures containing Ag10 clusters linked by [Mo6O19]2- anions through Ag-O bonds and to exhibit unprecedented green photoluminescence at room temperature. Interestingly, [Ag18(StBu)12(CH3CN)5(Mo6O19)2·Mo6O19·2CH3CN]n (abbreviated as Ag18-Mo6) was found to contain 20-membered cycle-Ag10S10 each with a diameter of approximately 11.382 Å and constructed from alternating silver and sulfur atoms and interconnected into an elegant Ag-S sheet by interstitial the Ag3StBu and AgCH3CN motifs, and to also contain [Mo6O19]2- counter ions filling in the spaces made by the cycle-Ag10S10 and strengthening the structure by forming Ag-O bonds. Such a stacking structure for thiolate-protected silver compounds has not been previously reported.

Application of temperature-controlled chiral hybrid structures constructed from copper(ii)-monosubstituted Keggin polyoxoanions and copper(ii)-organoamine complexes in enantioselective sensing of tartaric acid

Temperature usually occupies a crucial position in the construction of chiral compounds. By controlling the temperature of the reaction system, chiral and non-chiral compounds can be designed and synthesized. Given the above, three new chiral and non-chiral compounds based on copper(ii) monosubstituted polyoxoanions and Cu(en) complexes (en = ethylenediamine), d/l-[Cu(H₂O)(en)₂]₂{[Cu(H₂O)₂(en)][SiCuW₁₁O₃₉]}·5H₂O (1, d-1 and l-1) and [Cu(H₂O)(en)₂]{[Cu(en)₂]₂[SiCuW₁₁O₃₉]}·2.5H₂O (2), were successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The main synthesis conditions of compound 1 (d-1 and l-1) and compound 2 are the same, however, the only difference is that the reaction temperatures are 80 °C and 140 °C, respectively. What's more, compounds 1 and 2 can form a 1D chiral chain by Cu–O and W/Cu–O–W/Cu bonds, respectively, and further obtain a 3D-supramolecular framework through hydrogen bonding interaction. Meanwhile, due to the asymmetry of chiral compound 1, optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) was used to investigate the second-order nonlinear optical effect and it was found that the observed SHG efficiency of compound 1 is 0.3 times that of urea. To further investigate the chiral properties, d-1 and l-1 were used in the electrochemical enantioselective sensing of d-/l-tartaric acid (d-/l-tart) molecules, respectively, which demonstrates that d-1 and l-1 have a good application prospect in sensing chiral substances.

A pair of temperature-controlled chiral compounds, d- and l-[Cu(en)₂(H₂O)]₂{[Cu(en)(H₂O)₂][SiCuW₁₁O₃₉]}·5H₂O (en = ethanediamine) are isolated by hydrothermal method, having a good application prospect in sensing d-/l-tartaric acid.

From achiral to helical bilayer self-assemblies of a 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triphenol-grafted polyanionic cluster: countercation and solvent modulation

An organic-component grafted polyanionic cluster performs assembly structures from regular head to tail bilayer to inverse helical packing upon solvent polarity and counterions.

Multi-stimuli-responsive induced chirality of polyoxometalates in natural polysaccharide hydrogels

Multi-stimuli-responsive induced circular dichroism of polyoxometalates was realized in natural polysaccharide hydrogels. The extrinsic chiral factors rather than the intrinsic chirality of the polyoxometalates were dominant in κ-carrageenan hydrogel hybrids.

Induced chirality and reversal of phosphomolybdate cluster via modulating its interaction with cyclodextrins

Direct-induced chirality of a metal–oxide cluster by cyclodextrins was realized and the reversals of the induced Cotton signals were modulated by introducing a competitive guest and/or substituting by different cyclodextrins.

Controlled chiral electrochromism of polyoxometalates incorporated in supramolecular complexes

Switchable induced chiral electrochromism of achiral polyoxometalates in a ternary supramolecular system, integrated by host–guest recognition and electrostatic interaction, is realized by controlling the electrochemical redox process in aqueous solution.