The sharp structural switch of covalent cages mediated by subtle variation of directing groups

Multiple-stimuli fluorescent responsive metallo-organic helicated cage arising from monomer and excimer emission

Effectively regulating monomer and excimer emission in a singular supramolecular luminous platform is challenging due to high difficulty of precise control over its aggregation and dispersion behavior when subjected to external stimuli. Here, we show a metallo-cage (MTH) featuring a triple helical motif that displays a unique dual emission. It arises from both intramolecular monomer and intermolecular excimer, respectively. The distorted molecular conformation and the staggered stacking mode of MTH excimer are verified through single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. These structural features facilitate the switch between monomer and excimer emission, which are induced by changes in concentration and temperature. Significantly, adjusting the equilibrium between these two states in MTH enables the production of vibrant white light emission in both solution and solid state. Moreover, when combined with a PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) substrate, the resulting thin films can serve as straightforward fluorescence thermometer and thermally activated information encryption materials.

Social Self-Sorting of Quasi-Racemates: A Unique Approach for Dual-Pore Molecular Crystals

Despite recent advances in porous organic molecular crystals, the engineering of dual-pore systems within the intermolecular voids remains a significant challenge. In this study, we have achieved the crystallization-induced social self-sorting of "quasi-racemic" dialdehydes into a macrocyclic imine. X-ray crystallographic analysis unambiguously characterizes the resulting structure as incorporating two quasi-racemate pairs with four diamine molecules. Notably, different alkyl substituents on the quasi-racemates afford two types of one-dimensional pores within the macrocyclic imine crystal. The different adsorption properties of these pores were substantiated through adsorption experiments. An intriguing helical arrangement of guest molecules was observed within one of the pores. This study provides pioneering evidence that the social self-sorting of quasi-racemates offers a new methodology for creating dual-functional supramolecular materials.

Dynamic covalent synthesis

Dynamic covalent synthesis aims to precisely control the assembly of simple building blocks linked by reversible covalent bonds to generate a single, structurally complex, product. In recent years, considerable progress in the programmability of dynamic covalent systems has enabled easy access to a broad range of assemblies, including macrocycles, shape-persistent cages, unconventional foldamers and mechanically-interlocked species (catenanes, knots, etc.). The reversibility of the covalent linkages can be either switched off to yield stable, isolable products or activated by specific physico-chemical stimuli, allowing the assemblies to adapt and respond to environmental changes in a controlled manner. This activatable dynamic property makes dynamic covalent assemblies particularly attractive for the design of complex matter, smart chemical systems, out-of-equilibrium systems, and molecular devices.

Self-Assembly via Condensation of Imine or Its N-Substituted Derivatives

ConspectusCompared to traditionally used irreversible chemical reactions, dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) including imine formation represents a more advanced technique in the preparation of molecules with complex structures and topologies, whose syntheses require the formation of many bonds. By allowing the occurrence of error checking and self-correcting, it is likely that the target molecules with high enough thermodynamic stability could be self-assembled in high or even quantitative yield. Two questions are raised herein. First, it becomes a central problem in self-assembly that how to endow a target product with high enough thermodynamic stability so that it can be produced as the major or the only product within the self-assembly library. Second, the reversible nature of dynamic bonds jeopardizes the intrinsic stability of the products. More specifically, the imine bond which represents the mostly used dynamic covalent bond, is apt to undergo hydrolysis in the presence of water. Developing new approaches to make imine more robust and compatible with water is thus of importance. In this account, we summarized the progress made in our group in the field of self-assembly based on C═N bond formation. In organic solvent where an imine bond is relatively robust, we focus on studying how to enhance the thermodynamic stability of a target molecule by introducing intramolecular forces. These noncovalent interactions either release enthalpy to favor the formation of the target molecule or preorganize the building blocks into specific conformations that mimic the product, so that the entropy loss of the formation of the latter is thus suppressed. In water, which often leads to imine hydrolysis, we developed two strategies to enhance the water-compatibility. By taking advantage of multivalency, namely, multiple bonds are often more robust than a single bond, self-assembly via condensation of imine was performed successfully in water, a solvent that is considered as forbidden zone of imine. Another approach is to replace typical imine with its more robust and water compatible derivatives, namely, either hydrazone or oxime, whose C═N bonds are generally less electrophilic compared to typical imine. With the water-compatible dynamic bonds in hand, a variety topological nontrivial molecules such as catenanes and knots was self-assembled successfully in aqueous media, driven by hydrophobic effect. When the self-assembled molecules in the form of rings and cages were designed for supramolecular purposes, water-compatibility endows a merit that allows the hosts to take advantage of hydrophobic effect to drive host-guest recognition, enabling various tasks to be accomplished, such as separation of guest isomers with similar physical properties, recognition of highly hydrated anions, as well as stabilization of guest dimers.