Two-Dimensional Supramolecular Polymers Embodying Large Unilamellar Vesicles in Water

A Versatile Assembly Approach toward Multifunctional Supramolecular Poly(Ionic Liquid) Nanoporous Membranes in Water

Hydrogen (H)-bonding-integration of multiple ingredients into supramolecular polyelectrolyte nanoporous membranes in water, thereby achieving tailor-made porous architectures, properties, and functionalities, remains one of the foremost challenges in materials chemistry due to the significantly opposing action of water molecules against H-bonding. Herein, a strategy is described that allows direct fusing of the functional attributes of small additives into water-involved hydrogen bonding assembled supramolecular poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) nanoporous membranes (SPILMs) under ambient conditions. It discloses that the pore size distributions and mechanical properties of SPILMs are rationally controlled by tuning the H-bonding interactions between small additives and homo-PIL. It demonstrates that, benefiting from the synergy of multiple noncovalent interactions, small dye additives/homo-PIL solutions can be utilized as versatile inks for yielding colorful light emitting films with robust underwater adhesion strength, excellent stretchability, and flexibility on diverse substrates, including both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. This system provides a general platform for integrating the functional attributes of a diverse variety of additives into SPILMs to create multifunctional and programmable materials in water.

Enantioselective Construction of Modular and Asymmetric Baskets

The precise positioning of functional groups about the inner space of abiotic hosts is a challenging task and of interest for developing more effective receptors and catalysts akin to those found in nature. To address it, we herein report a synthetic methodology for preparing basket-like cavitands comprised of three different aromatics as side arms with orthogonal esters at the rim for further functionalization. First, enantioenriched A (borochloronorbornene), B (iodobromonorbornene), and C (boronorbornene) building blocks were obtained by stereoselective syntheses. Second, consecutive A-to-B and then AB-to-C Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) couplings were optimized to give enantioenriched ABC cavitand as the principal product. The robust synthetic protocol allowed us to prepare (a) an enantioenriched basket with three benzene sides and each holding either tBu, Et, or Me esters, (b) both enantiomers of a so-called "spiral staircase" basket with benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene groups surrounding the inner space, and (c) a photo-responsive basket bearing one anthracene and two benzene arms.

Glutaconaldehyde as an Alternative Reagent to the Zincke Salt for the Transformation of Primary Amines into Pyridinium Salts

In the presence of amines, the degradation of glutaconaldehyde in acidic medium can be prevented. By exploitation of this behavior, primary amines are transformed into their corresponding pyridinium salts, including those substrates that remain unreactive toward the Zincke salt, which is the reagent typically used to perform this transformation. The use of glutaconaldehyde also allows control of the nature of the counterion of the pyridinium with no need for additional salt metathesis reaction.

On the encapsulation and assembly of anticancer drugs in a cooperative fashion

In this study, we report the remarkable recognition and assembly characteristics of D 3h symmetric basket 1 6- containing two adjoining and nonpolar cavities with six biocompatible GABA residues at their northern and southern termini. From the results of experimental (1H NMR, fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopies) and computational (MM-MC/OPLS3e) investigations, we deduced that hexaanionic 1 6- captured two molecules of anticancer drug doxorubicin 2 + in water and accommodated them in its two deep cavities. The formation of stable 1 6-⊂2 2 2+ (K a = 3 × 1012 M-2) was accompanied by the exceptional homotopic cooperativity (α = 4K 2/K 1 = 112) in which K 1 = 3.2 ± 0.8 × 105 M-1 and K 2 = 9 ± 1 × 106 M-1. Furthermore, bolaamphiphilic 1 6-⊂2 2 2+ assembled into spherical nanoparticles (DLS, cryo-TEM and TEM) possessing 41% drug loading. The preorganization of abiotic receptor 1 6- and its complementarity to 2 + have been proposed to play a part in the positive cooperativity in which ten favorable noncovalent contacts (i.e. hydrogen bonds, salt bridges, C-H···π and π-π contacts) are formed between doxorubicin and the dual-cavity host. In the case of topotecan 3 +, however, the absence of multiple and favorable basket⊂drug interactions resulted in the predominant formation of a binary 1 6- ⊂ 3 + complex (K 1 = 2.12 ± 0.01 × 104 M-1) and the negative homotopic allostery (α ≪ 1). To summarize, our study lays out a roadmap for creating a family of novel, accessible and multivalent hosts capable of complexing anticancer agents in a cooperative manner. As basket⊂drug complexes organize into highly loaded nanoparticles, the reported soft material is amenable to the bottom-up construction of stimuli-responsive nanomedicine capable of effective scavenging and/or delivery of drugs.

Transformative Supramolecular Vesicles Based on Acid-Degradable Acyclic Cucurbit[n]uril and a Prodrug for Promoted Tumoral-Cell Uptake

Smart supramolecular vesicles constructed by host-guest interactions between "acid-degradable" acyclic cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) and a doxorubicin prodrug are reported. "Acid-degradable" acyclic CB[n] is a high-affinity host for several common antitumor drugs, and its degradation leads to a more dramatic decrease in binding affinity than that observed for "acid-sensitive" hosts. Supramolecular complexation between acid-degradable acyclic CB[n] and a doxorubicin prodrug resulted in the formation of negatively charged supramolecular vesicles. The prodrug strategy allowed doxorubicin to be conjugated to vesicles in a stable manner with a high drug-loading ratio of 20 %. The resulting supramolecular vesicles were responsive to tumor acidity (pH 6.5). Induced by mildly acidic conditions (pH 6.5-5.5), acid-degradable acyclic CB[n] could be degraded, and this led to a vesicle-to-micelle transition to form positively charged micelles. This transition resulted in a pH-dependent change in size and surface charge, which improved tumoral-cell uptake for doxorubicin.

Photo-induced formation of organic nanoparticles possessing enhanced affinities for complexing nerve agent mimics

Organic nanoparticles, composed of molecular baskets, could act as nanocarriers for selective “mopping” of toxic CWAs or pesticides, after being assembled by a light stimulus.

Dynamic light scattering studies of the effects of salts on the diffusivity of cationic and anionic cavitands

Although alkali halide salts play key roles in all living systems, the physical models used to describe the properties of aqueous solutions of salts do not take into account specific ion–ion interactions. To identify specific ion–ion interactions possibly contributing to the aggregation of proteins, we have used dynamic light scattering (DLS) to probe the aggregation of charged cavitands. DLS measurements of negatively charged 1 in the presence of a range of alkali metal halides reveal no significant aggregation of host 1 as a function of the nature of the cation of the added salt. Only at high concentrations could trace amounts of aggregation be detected by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Contrarily, 1 was readily aggregated and precipitated by ZnCl₂. In contrast, although fluoride and chloride did not induce aggregation of positively charged host 2, this cavitand exhibited marked aggregation as a function of bromide and iodide concentration. Specifically, bromide induced small but significant amounts of dimerization, whilst iodide induced extreme aggregation. Moreover, in these cases aggregation of host 2 also exhibited a cationic dependence, with an observed trend Na⁺ > Li⁺ > K⁺ ≈ Cs⁺. In combination, these results reveal new details of specific ion pairings in aqueous solution and how this can influence the properties of dissolved organics.

Molecular modelling of supramolecular one dimensional polymers

Supramolecular polymers exemplify the need to employ several computational techniques to study processes and phenomena occuring at varied length and time scales. Electronic processes, conformational and configurational excitations of small aggregates of chromophoric molecules, solvent effects under realistic thermodynamic conditions and mesoscale morphologies are some of the challenges which demand hierarchical modelling approaches. This review focusses on one-dimensional supramolecular polymers, the mechanism of self-assembly of monomers in polar and non-polar solvents and properties they exhibit. Directions for future work are as well outlined.

Two-dimensional light-emitting materials: preparation, properties and applications

We review the recent development in two-dimensional (2D) light-emitting materials and describe their preparation methods, optical/optoelectronic properties and applications.

Multivalent and Photoresponsive Assembly of Dual-Cavity Baskets in Water

Large unilamellar vesicles [1]_n , composed of bolaamphiphilic baskets 1, were found to complex photoresponsive guest 3 and divalent 4 to, respectively, give stable vesicular assemblies [1₂ -3]_n and [1₂ -4₃ ]_n . With the assistance of ¹ H NMR spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering, it was deduced that [1₂ -3]_n vesicles comprise ternary [1₂ -3] organized into a curved membrane in which a pair of baskets entraps a laterally positioned dicationic 3. In the case of [1₂ -4₃ ]_n vesicles, however, the spectroscopic results suggest that three guest molecules 4 insert vertically between four baskets 1 to give pentanary [1₂ -4₃ ] packed into the membrane of [1₂ -4₃ ]_n . Importantly, nanostructured [1₂ -3]_n and [1₂ -4₃ ]_n retain rhodamine B (RhB) in their reservoir (fluorescence microscopy) and can be switched from one into another using UV light, with a disproportionate release of RhB dye. The reported complexes, organized into photoresponsive capsular materials, are rather unprecedented, demonstrating the potential of multivalency for creating functional structures of great interest in the areas of catalysis and delivery.