Hydrogen-bonded molecular capsules are stable in polar media

Multicomponent assembly of cavitand-based polyacylhydrazone nanocapsules

The thermodynamically controlled syntheses of different di-, tetra-, and hexacavitand polyacylhydrazone nanocapsules are reported. [2+4]-, [4+8]-, and [6+12]-nanocapsules assemble upon reacting a tetraformyl cavitand with two equivalents of isophthalic dihydrazide, or terephthalic dihydrazide in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, whereby the building blocks are linked together through 8, 16, or 24 newly formed acylhydrazone bonds. Futhermore, the reaction of the tetraformylcavitands with different trigonal planar trihydrazides, simultaneously leads to the formation of [2+4]- and [6+8]-nanocapsules in varying ratios that depend on the cavitand to trihydrazide ratio and the nature of the cavitand and trihydrazide building blocks. The product ratios are rationalized with the different conformational strain of the acylhydrazone linkages in these nanocapsules. Diffusion NMR experiments with the hexacavitand polyacylhydrazone nanocapsules yield solvodynamic radii that range from 1.6 to 2.5 nm, consistent with estimates from force field calculations, and support, that these capsules have solvent filled, spherical interiors, the sizes of which approaches those of smaller proteins.

Recent advances in hydrogen-bonded hexameric encapsulation complexes

Basic research in the chemistry of hexameric resorcin[4]arenes and pyrogallol[4]arenes during the last decade is reviewed. Applications of NMR methods to determine solution structures, host guest properties and exchange dynamics are discussed. The scientific issue is the behavior of molecules in small spaces; the challenge is to translate this information to practical applications in, say, catalysis or transport.

The inherent structural instability: concentration-dependent transformation of pyrogallarene to pyrogallarene lactones

Pyrogallarene shows concentration-dependent instability in dilute solutions resulting in elimination of two ketene molecules and formation of pyrogallarene lactones. This unexpected phenomenon, which is not observed with resorcinarenes, highlights the significance of the four hydroxyl groups at 2-position for the molecular characteristics of pyrogallarenes.

Silylated melamine and cyanuric acid as precursors for imprinted and hybrid silica materials with molecular recognition properties

Two monotrialkoxysilylated compounds that consist of complementary fragments of melamine (M) and cyanuric acid (CA) have been synthesised. The molecular recognition properties of the M and CA fragments through complementary hydrogen bonds (DAD and ADA; D=donor, A=acceptor) are the key factor used to direct the formation of hybrid silica materials by using a sol-gel process. These materials were synthesised following two methods: First, an organo-bridged silsesquioxane was obtained by the hydrolysis of the two complementary monotrialkoxysilylated melamine and cyanuric acid derivatives, with fluoride ions as a catalyst. The hydrogen-bonding interactions between the two organic fragments are responsible for the formation of the bridging unit. The transcription of the assembly into the hybrid material was characterised and evidenced by solid-state NMR (29Si, 13C) and FTIR spectroscopic experiments. Second, the molecular recognition was exploited to synthesise an imprinted hybrid silica. This material was prepared by co-condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with the monosilylated cyanuric acid derivative (CA) templated by nonsilylated melamine. The melamine template was completely removed by treating the solid material with hydrochloric acid. The reintroduction of the template was performed by treating the resulting material with an aqueous suspension of melamine. These steps were monitored and analysed by several techniques, such as solid-state NMR (29Si, 13C) and FTIR spectroscopic analysis and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms.

Challenges and breakthroughs in recent research on self-assembly

The controlled fabrication of nanometer-scale objects is without doubt one of the central issues in current science and technology. However, existing fabrication techniques suffer from several disadvantages including size-restrictions and a general paucity of applicable materials. Because of this, the development of alternative approaches based on supramolecular self-assembly processes is anticipated as a breakthrough methodology. This review article aims to comprehensively summarize the salient aspects of self-assembly through the introduction of the recent challenges and breakthroughs in three categories: (i) types of self-assembly in bulk media; (ii) types of components for self-assembly in bulk media; and (iii) self-assembly at interfaces.

Water as a Building Block in Solid-State Acetonitrile–Pyrogallol[4]arene Assemblies: Structural Investigations

Under various conditions, water molecules dramatically affect a number of solid-state C-alkylpyrogallol[4]arene assemblies. In the absence of water, hydrogen-bonded hexameric capsules are formed for the C-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and heptyl pyrogallol[4]arenes. Introduction of water to acetonitrile solutions containing C-propyl-C-octylpyrogallol[4]arenes resulted in the formation of markedly different bilayer structures and the structural identification of two new dimer-type motifs.

Octahydroxypyridine[4]arene Self-Assembles Spontaneously To Form Hexameric Capsules and Dimeric Aggregates

In recent years it has been observed that resorcin[4]arenes and pyrogallol[4]arenes form hydrogen-bonded hexameric capsules in nonpolar solvents. In the present study we have used NMR spectroscopy, with an emphasis on diffusion NMR, to investigate the self-assembly and the aggregation mode of solutions of octahydroxypyridine[4]arene (1 b) in chloroform. In spectroscopic studies, the hexameric capsule of C-undecylresorcin[4]arene (2 b) was used as a reference compound and in some cases also as an internal reference. The current diffusion NMR spectroscopy study shows, in contrast to a previous report, that compound 1 b self-assembles spontaneously into hexameric and dimeric aggregates in solutions in chloroform. The (1)H NMR and diffusion NMR spectroscopic studies on a solution of 1 b in CHCl(3) show the presence of new upfield-shifted peaks, which diffuse with the same diffusion coefficient as the hexameric peaks in the spectrum. Therefore, these new upfield-shifted peaks were attributed to encapsulated CHCl(3) molecules. Interestingly, diffusion NMR measurements showed that the addition of trifluoroacetic acid (6.7 equiv), which had no effect on the hexameric capsules of 2 b, led to the disassembly of the hexamer and the dimer of 1 b into its monomers. Therefore, we conclude that compound 1 b self-assembles spontaneously into hexameric capsules in nonpolar organic solvents, as do resorcin[4]arenes 2 b and 2 c and pyrogallol[4]arenes 3 a and 3 b.