Hydrogen-Bond Engineering in Supramolecular Polymers: Polarity Influence on the Self-Assembly of Benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides

Anti-Entropy Aggregation of Minority Groups in Polymers: Design and Applications

Minority groups are non-repeating units with very low content that inevitably exist in polymers. Typically, these minority groups are easily surrounded by the majority of repeating units and randomly dispersed, maximizing the entropy of minority groups. In the concept, anti-entropy aggregation (AEA) of minority groups is described, and different pathways are outlined. They are polymer crystallization-driven AEA, supramolecular interaction-induced AEA, phase separation-confined AEA, and hierarchical interactions-driven AEA. Typical applications of AEA materials are also presented, including fluorescence probes, self-healing materials, ion transporting regulation, and osmotic energy conversion. The concept of AEA is expected to inspire the fabrication of novel functional systems.

Direct Participation of Solvent Molecules in the Formation of Supramolecular Polymers

This article reports supramolecular polymerization of two bis-amide functionalized naphthalene-diimide (NDI) building blocks (NDI-L and NDI-C) in two solvents, namely n-heptane (Hep) and methylcyclohexane (MCH). NDI-L and NDI-C differ only by the peripheral hydrocarbon wedges, consisting of linear C7 chains or cyclic methylcyclohexane rings, respectively. UV/Vis and FTIR spectroscopy studies reveal distinct internal order and H-bonding pattern for NDI-L and NDI-C aggregates irrespective of the solvent system, indicating the dominant role of the intrinsic packing parameters of the individual building block, possibly influenced by the peripheral steric crowding. However, NDI-L produces a significantly stronger gel in Hep compared to MCH as evident from the rheological and thermal properties. In contrast, NDI-C exhibits a clear preference for MCH, producing gel with moderate strength but in Hep it fails to produce 1D morphology or gelation. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies corroborate with the experimental observation and provide the rationale for the observed solvent-shape effect by revealing a quantitative estimate regarding the thermodynamics of self-assembly in these four combinations. Such clear-cut shape-matching effect (between the peripheral hydrocarbon wedge and the solvent system) unambiguously support a direct participation of the solvent molecules during supramolecular polymerization and presence of a closely-adhered solvent shell around the supramolecular polymers, similar to the first layer of water molecules around the protein surface. Solvent induced CD experiments support this hypothesis as induced CD band was observed only from a chiral co-solvent of matching shape. This is reconfirmed by the higher de-solvation temperature of the shape-matching NDI/solvent system combination compared to the shape mis-match combination in variable temperature UV/Vis experiments, revealing transformation to a different aggregate at higher temperatures rather than disassembly to the monomer for all four combinations.

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Measurements in Polymer Science: A Review

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a non-invasive characterization method for studying molecular structures and dynamics, providing high spatial resolution at nanometer scale. Over the past decades, FRET-based measurements are developed and widely implemented in synthetic polymer systems for understanding and detecting a variety of nanoscale phenomena, enabling significant advances in polymer science. In this review, the basic principles of fluorescence and FRET are briefly discussed. Several representative research areas are highlighted, where FRET spectroscopy and imaging can be employed to reveal polymer morphology and kinetics. These examples include understanding polymer micelle formation and stability, detecting guest molecule release from polymer host, characterizing supramolecular assembly, imaging composite interfaces, and determining polymer chain conformations and their diffusion kinetics. Finally, a perspective on the opportunities of FRET-based measurements is provided for further allowing their greater contributions in this exciting area.

How Substitution Combines with Non-Covalent Interactions to Modulate 1,4-Naphthoquinone and Its Derivatives Molecular Features-Multifactor Studies

Substitution is well-known to modulate the physico-chemical properties of molecules. In this study, a combined, multifactor approach was employed to determine a plethora of substitution patterns using –Br and –O-H in 1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives. On the basis of classical Density Functional Theory (DFT), 25 models divided into three groups were developed. The first group contains 1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives substituted only by –Br. The second group consists of compounds substituted by –Br and one –O-H group. As a result of the substitution, an intramolecular hydrogen bond was formed. The third group also contains –Br as a substituent, but two –O-H groups were introduced and two intramolecular hydrogen bonds were established. The simulations were performed at the ωB97XD/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory. The presence of substituents influenced the electronic structure of the parent compound and its derivatives by inductive effects, but it also affected the geometry of the 2 and 3 groups, due to the intramolecular hydrogen bonding and the formation of a quasi-ring/rings. The static DFT models were applied to investigate the aromaticity changes in the fused rings based on the Harmonic Oscillator Model of Aromaticity (HOMA). The OH stretching was detected for the compounds from groups 2 and 3 and further used to find correlations with energetic parameters. The evolution of the electronic structure was analyzed using Hirshfeld atomic charges and the Substituent Active Region (cSAR) parameter. The proton reaction path was investigated to provide information on the modulation of hydrogen bridge properties by diverse substitution positions on the donor and acceptor sides. Subsequently, Car–Parrinello Molecular Dynamics (CPMD) was carried out in the double-bridged systems (group 3) to assess the cooperative effects in double –O-H-substituted systems. It was determined that the –O-H influence on the core of the molecule is more significant than that of –Br, but the latter has a major impact on the bridge dynamics. The competitive or synergic effect of two –Br substituents was found to depend on the coupling between the intramolecular hydrogen bridges. Thus, the novel mechanism of a secondary (cooperative) substituent effect was established in the double-bridged systems via DFT and CPMD results comparison, consisting of a mediation of the bromine substitutions’ influence by the cooperative proton transfer events in the hydrogen bridges.

Naphthazarin Derivatives in the Light of Intra- and Intermolecular Forces

Our long-term investigations have been devoted the characterization of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in cyclic compounds. Our previous work covers naphthazarin, the parent compound of two systems discussed in the current work: 2,3-dimethylnaphthazarin (1) and 2,3-dimethoxy-6-methylnaphthazarin (2). Intramolecular hydrogen bonds and substituent effects in these compounds were analyzed on the basis of Density Functional Theory (DFT), Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2), Coupled Clusters with Singles and Doubles (CCSD) and Car-Parrinello Molecular Dynamics (CPMD). The simulations were carried out in the gas and crystalline phases. The nuclear quantum effects were incorporated a posteriori using the snapshots taken from ab initio trajectories. Further, they were used to solve a vibrational Schrödinger equation. The proton reaction path was studied using B3LYP, ωB97XD and PBE functionals with a 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. Two energy minima (deep and shallow) were found, indicating that the proton transfer phenomena could occur in the electronic ground state. Next, the electronic structure and topology were examined in the molecular and proton transferred (PT) forms. The Atoms In Molecules (AIM) theory was employed for this purpose. It was found that the hydrogen bond is stronger in the proton transferred (PT) forms. In order to estimate the dimers' stabilization and forces responsible for it, the Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT) was applied. The energy decomposition revealed that dispersion is the primary factor stabilizing the dimeric forms and crystal structure of both compounds. The CPMD results showed that the proton transfer phenomena occurred in both studied compounds, as well as in both phases. In the case of compound 2, the proton transfer events are more frequent in the solid state, indicating an influence of the environmental effects on the bridged proton dynamics. Finally, the vibrational signatures were computed for both compounds using the CPMD trajectories. The Fourier transformation of the autocorrelation function of atomic velocity was applied to obtain the power spectra. The IR spectra show very broad absorption regions between 700 cm-1-1700 cm-1 and 2300 cm-1-3400 cm-1 in the gas phase and 600 cm-1-1800 cm-1 and 2200 cm-1-3400 cm-1 in the solid state for compound 1. The absorption regions for compound 2 were found as follows: 700 cm-1-1700 cm-1 and 2300 cm-1-3300 cm-1 for the gas phase and one broad absorption region in the solid state between 700 cm-1 and 3100 cm-1. The obtained spectroscopic features confirmed a strong mobility of the bridged protons. The inclusion of nuclear quantum effects showed a stronger delocalization of the bridged protons.

Tuning the nature and stability of self-assemblies formed by ester benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxamides: the crucial role played by the substituents

As the benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) moiety is commonly used as the central assembling unit for the construction of functionalized supramolecular architectures, strategies to tailor the nature and stability of BTA assemblies are needed. The assembly properties of a library of structurally simple BTAs derived from amino dodecyl esters (ester BTAs, 13 members) have been studied, either in the bulk or in cyclohexane solutions, by means of a series of analytical methods (NMR, DSC, POM, FT-IR, UV-Vis, CD, ITC, high-sensitivity DSC, SANS). Two types of hydrogen-bonded species have been identified and characterized: the expected amide-bonded helical rods (or stacks) that are structurally similar to those formed by BTAs with simple alkyl side chains (alkyl BTAs), and ester-bonded dimers in which the BTAs are connected by means of hydrogen bonds linking the amide N-H and the ester C[double bond, length as m-dash]O. MM/MD calculations coupled with simulations of CD spectra allow for the precise determination of the molecular arrangement and of the hydrogen bond pattern of these dimers. Our study points out the crucial influence of the substituent attached on the amino-ester α-carbon on the relative stability of the rod-like versus dimeric assemblies. By varying this substituent, one can precisely tune the nature of the dominant hydrogen-bonded species (stacks or dimers) in the neat compounds and in cyclohexane over a wide range of temperatures and concentrations. In the neat BTAs, stacks are stable up to 213 °C and dimers above 180 °C whilst in cyclohexane stacks form at c* > 3 × 10^-5 M at 20 °C and dimers are stable up to 80 °C at 7 × 10^-6 M. Ester BTAs that assemble into stacks form a liquid-crystalline phase and yield gels or viscous solutions in cyclohexane, demonstrating the importance of controlling the structure of these assemblies. Our systematic study of these structurally similar ester BTAs also allows for a better understanding of how a single atom or moiety can impact the nature and stability of BTA aggregates, which is of importance for the future development of functionalized BTA supramolecular polymers.

Supramolecular polymerisation in water; elucidating the role of hydrophobic and hydrogen-bond interactions

Understanding the self-assembly of small molecules in water is crucial for the development of responsive, biocompatible soft materials. Here, a family of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) derivatives that comprise a BTA moiety connected to an amphiphilic chain is synthesised with the aim to elucidate the role of hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions in the self-assembly of these BTAs. The amphiphilic chain consists of an alkyl chain with a length of 10, 11, or 12 methylene units, connected to a tetraethylene glycol (at the periphery). The results show that an undecyl spacer is the minimum length required for these BTAs to self-assemble into supramolecular polymers. Interestingly, exchange studies reveal only minor differences in exchange rates between BTAs containing undecyl or dodecyl spacers. Additionally, IR spectroscopy provides the first experimental evidence that hydrogen-bonding is operative and contributes to the stabilisation of the supramolecular polymers in water.

Strategies to create hierarchical self-assembled structures via cooperative non-covalent interactions

Cooperative phenomena are common processes involved in the hierarchical self-assembly of multiple systems in nature, such as the tobacco mosaic virus and a cell's cytoskeleton. Motivated by the high degree of order exhibited by these systems, a great deal of effort has been devoted in the past two decades to design hierarchical supramolecular polymers by combining different classes of cooperative interactions. In this review, we have classified the field of supramolecular polymers depending on the cooperative non-covalent forces driving their formation, with particular emphasis on recent examples from literature. We believe that this overview would help scientists in the field to design novel self-assembled systems with improved complexity and functionalities.

Bottom-Up Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Chiral Porphyrins through Coordination and Hydrogen Bonds

A series of chiral synthetic compounds is reported that shows intricate but specific hierarchical assembly because of varying positions of coordination and hydrogen bonds. The evolution of the aggregates (followed by absorption spectroscopy and temperature-dependent circular dichroism studies in solution) reveal the influence of the proportion of stereogenic centers in the side groups connected to the chromophore ring in their optical activity and the important role of pyridyl groups in the self-assembly of these chiral macrocycles. The optical activity spans 2 orders of magnitude depending on composition and constitution. Two of the aggregates show very high optical activity even though the isolated chromophores barely give a circular dichroism signal. Molecular modeling of the aggregates, starting from the pyridine-zinc(II) porphyrin interaction and working up, and calculation of the circular dichroism signal confirm the origin of this optical activity as the chiral supramolecular organization of the molecules. The aggregates show a broad absorption range, between approximately 390 and 475 nm for the transitions associated with the Soret region alone, that spans wavelengths far more than the isolated chromophore. The supramolecular assemblies of the metalloporphyrins in solution were deposited onto highly oriented pyrolitic graphite in order to study their hierarchy in assembly by atomic force microscopy. Zero and one-dimensional aggregates were observed, and a clear dependence on deposition temperature was shown, indicating that the hierarchical assembly took place largely in solution. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy images of porphyrins and metalloporphyrins precipitated under out-of-equilibrium conditions showed the dependence of the number and position of chiral amide groups in the formation of a fibrillar nanomaterial. The combination of coordination and hydrogen bonding in the complicated assembly of these molecules-where there is a clear hierarchy for zinc(II)-pyridyl interaction followed by hydrogen-bonding between amide groups, and then van der Waals interactions-paves the way for the preparation of molecular materials with multiple chromophore environments.

Influence of the molecular structure and morphology of self-assembled 1,3,5-benzenetrisamide nanofibers on their mechanical properties

The influence of molecular structure on the mechanical properties of self-assembled 1,3,5-benzenetrisamide nanofibers is investigated. Three compounds with different amide connectivity and different alkyl substituents are compared. All the trisamides form well-defined fibers and exhibit significant differences in diameters of up to one order of magnitude. Using nanomechanical bending experiments, the rigidity of the nanofibers shows a difference of up to three orders of magnitude. Calculation of Young's modulus reveals that these differences are a size effect and that the moduli of all systems are similar and in the lower GPa range. This demonstrates that variation of the molecular structure allows changing of the fibers' morphology, whereas it has a minor influence on their modulus. Consequently, the stiffness of the self-assembled nanofibers can be tuned over a wide range--a crucial property for applications as versatile nano- and micromechanical components.

Network Formation in an Orthogonally Self-Assembling System

Many supramolecular motifs self-assemble into nanorods, forming the basis of the mechanical properties of supramolecular polymers. When integrated as end-caps in a bifunctional telechelic polymer, the motifs can phase segregate into the same or into another nanorod. In the latter case, a functional cross-link is formed by the bridging chain that strengthens the polymer network. This study introduces a supramolecular polymeric system that consists of two different nanorod forming supramolecular motifs. When end-capped to monofunctional polymers, these supramolecular motifs self-assemble in an orthogonal fashion in two separate types of noncross-linked nanorods, resulting in a viscous liquid lacking macroscopic properties. The addition of 15 mol % of an α,ω-telechelic polymer containing both supramolecular motifs, each on one end, transforms this viscous sticky liquid to a solid material with elastomeric properties due to network formation between the two types of nanorods.

Formation of linear supramolecular polymers that is based on host-guest assembly in water

Cucurbit[n]urils (n = 7, 8) and thiazole orange (TO) dyes in aqueous media were found to form host-guest inclusions in different stoichiometries. Supramolecular structures and linear supramolecular polymers were observed through the hydrophobic effect and π-π interactions in aqueous solution.