A mutually stabilized host-guest pair

Light-induced twisting, untwisting, and retwisting of aromatic polyamides: an interplay between the induced chirality and the co-facial π-stacking interactions

The ability of proteins to undergo conformational changes in response to varying environmental conditions has inspired chemists to devise smart materials that can achieve comparable functions. Oligopeptides, which are simplified versions of proteins, have demonstrated the ability to undergo conformational changes in response to stimuli, transitioning between two ordered structures: helix and sheet. In contrast, such conformational transitions in non-peptidic synthetic polymers are generally limited to order-disorder transitions, specifically shifting between helix and coil states. This report presents a novel approach in which we designed a periodically functionalized aromatic polyamide that exhibits the conformational dynamicity between two order structures (helix ↔ pleated-sheet ↔ helix). The enantiopure pendants of this aromatic polyamide induce a helical structure into the achiral polyamide backbones. At the same time, incorporating the guest molecule enhances the co-facial π-stacking and mediates a conformational transition from a helix to a pleated sheet-like structure. Subsequently, we employed photoresponsive merocyanine as the planar guest molecule, which served as a reversible conformational switch for this aromatic polyamide. The planer merocyanine induces the host-guest complex with this polymer and transforms the helical structure of polyamides into a pleated sheet-like structure. When exposed to visible light, the planar merocyanine changes into a non-planar spyropyran, which breaks apart the host-guest complex and effectively restores the helical structure of aromatic polyamides. Therefore, we present an intriguing demonstration of the twisting, untwisting, and retwisting of aromatic polyamides by balancing two key interactions, such as co-facial π-stacking along the aromatic polyamide backbone and the helical induction from the grafted enantiopure residues.

Organic Cage Encapsulated Within Metal Cluster-Based Open Frameworks: A Single-Crystal Host-in-Host Material with Inter-Host Charge Cooperation

Integrating dissimilar building units of discrete organic cages and inorganic clusters into single-crystal supramolecular frameworks with tailored architectures and synergistic functions presents a significant challenge. Here, we presented our discovery of achieving such hybrids through electrostatically driven self-assembly of cationic ammonium organic cages with anionic lead iodide clusters. Notably, by carefully modulating the size, shape, and composition of cationic organic cages, we have constructed an integrated porous host-in-host architecture. In this system, the internal cationic cage snugly resided, encapsulated within the external network constructed from anionic lead iodide clusters. This unique nested hierarchy showcased enhanced interhost interactions facilitated by electrostatic forces, which intricately tailored the electronic structure of the outer lead iodide moiety. As a result, the hybrid demonstrated distinguished photophysical properties, including efficient oxygen activation and enhanced photothermal conversion capability, as confirmed by comprehensive experimental and theoretical analyses. The critical role of interhost electrostatic interactions was further demonstrated through a systematic comparison with a structurally similar host-in-host architecture comprising lead iodide clusters and neutral amine cages. Furthermore, the integrated and compartmentalized dual-host served as spatially isolated dual active sites for cascade reactions, exhibiting 33-47-folds enhancement in activity compared to structural counterparts lacking charge cooperation.

Construction of stable porous organic cages: from the perspective of chemical bonds

Porous organic cages (POCs) are constructed from purely organic synthons by covalent linkages with intrinsic cavities and have shown potential applications in many areas. However, the majority of POC synthesis methods reported thus far have relied on dynamically reversible imine linkages, which can be metastable and unstable under humid or harsh chemical conditions. This instability significantly hampers their research prospects and practical applications. Consequently, strategies to enhance the chemical stability of POCs by modifying imine bonds and developing robust covalent linkages are imperative for realizing the full potential of these materials. In this review, we aim to highlight recent advancements in synthesizing chemical-stable POCs through these approaches and their associated applications. Additionally, we propose further strategies for creating stable POCs and discuss future opportunities for practical applications.

Spheroid models to elaborate the broken symmetry and equivalent volume of molecules in crystalline phase

Dense packing of particles has provided powerful models to elaborate the important structural features of matter in various systems such as liquid, glassy, and crystalline phases. The simplest sphere packing models can represent and capture salient properties of the building blocks for covalent, metallic, and ionic crystals; it, however, becomes insufficient to reflect the broken symmetry of the commonly anisotropic molecules in molecular crystals. Here, we develop spheroid models with a minimal degree of anisotropy, which serve as a simple geometrical representation for a rich spectrum of molecules-including both isotropic and anisotropic, convex and concave ones-in crystalline phases. Our models are determined via an inverse packing approach: Given a molecular crystal, an optimal spheroid model is constructed using a contact diagram, which depicts the packing relationship between neighboring molecules within the crystal. The spheroid models are capable of accurately capturing the broken symmetry and characterizing the equivalent volume of molecules in the crystalline phases. Moreover, our model retrieves such molecular information from low-quality x-ray diffraction data with poorly resolved structures, and by using soft spheroids, it can also describe the packing behavior in cocrystals.

Light-Driven Membrane Assembly, Shape-Shifting, and Tissue Formation in Chemically Responsive Synthetic Cells

Living systems create remarkable complexity from a limited repertoire of biological building blocks by controlling assembly dynamics at the molecular, cellular, and multicellular level. An open question is whether simplified synthetic cells can gain similar complex functionality by being driven away from equilibrium. Here, we describe a dynamic synthetic cell system assembled using artificial lipids that are responsive to both light and chemical stimuli. Irradiation of disordered aggregates of lipids leads to the spontaneous emergence of giant cell-like vesicles, which revert to aggregates when illumination is turned off. Under irradiation, the synthetic cell membranes can interact with chemical building blocks, remodeling their composition and forming new structures that prevent the membranes from undergoing retrograde aggregation processes. The remodeled light-responsive synthetic cells reversibly alter their shape under irradiation, transitioning from spheres to rodlike shapes, mimicking energy-dependent functions normally restricted to living materials. In the presence of noncovalently interacting multivalent polymers, light-driven shape changes can be used to trigger vesicle cross-linking, leading to the formation of functional synthetic tissues. By controlling light and chemical inputs, the stepwise, one-pot transformation of lipid aggregates to multivesicular synthetic tissues is feasible. Our results suggest a rationale for why even early protocells may have required and evolved simple mechanisms to harness environmental energy sources to coordinate hierarchical assembly processes.

Exploring π-π interactions and electron transport in complexes involving a hexacationic host and PAH guest: a promising avenue for molecular devices

Single isolated molecules and supramolecular host-guest systems, which consist of π-π stacking interactions, are emerging as promising building blocks for creating molecular electronic devices. In this article, we have investigated the noncovalent π-π interaction and intermolecular electron charge transport involved in a series of host-guest complexes formed between a cage-like host (H6+) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) guests (G1-G7) using different quantum chemical approaches. The host (H6+) consists of two triscationic π-electron-deficient trispyridiniumtriazine (TPZ3+) units that are bridged face-to-face by three ethylene-triazole-ethylene. Our theoretical calculations show that the perylene and naphthalene inclusion complexes G7⊂H and G1⊂H have the highest and lowest interaction energies, respectively. In addition, energy decomposition analysis (EDA) indicated that the dispersion interaction term, ΔEdisp, significantly contributes to the host-guest interaction and is correlated with the existence of π-π van der Waals interaction. Using the nonequilibrium Greens function (NEGF) method in combination with density functional theory (DFT), the current-voltage (I-V) curves of the complexes were estimated. The conductance values increased when the guests were embedded inside the host cavity. Notably, the complex G7⊂H has the maximum conductance value. Overall, this study provided the electron transport of the PAH inclusion host-guest complex through π-π interaction and provided a direction for the fabrication of future supramolecular molecular devices.

Porphyrin-Based Multicomponent Metallacage: Host-Guest Complexation toward Photooxidation-Triggered Reversible Encapsulation and Release

The development of supramolecular hosts with effective host-guest properties is crucial for their applications. Herein, we report the preparation of a porphyrin-based metallacage, which serves as a host for a series of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The association constant between the metallacage and coronene reaches 2.37 × 107 M-1 in acetonitrile/chloroform (ν/ν = 9/1), which is among the highest values in metallacage-based host-guest complexes. Moreover, the metallacage exhibits good singlet oxygen generation capacity, which can be further used to oxidize encapsulated anthracene derivatives into anthracene endoperoxides, leading to the release of guests. By employing 10-phenyl-9-(2-phenylethynyl)anthracene whose endoperoxide can be converted back by heating as the guest, a reversible controlled release system is constructed. This study not only gives a type of porphyrin-based metallacage that shows desired host-guest interactions with PAHs but also offers a photooxidation-responsive host-guest recognition motif, which will guide future design and applications of metallacages for stimuli-responsive materials.

Cagearenes: synthesis, characterization, and application for programmed vapor release

Here, we announce the establishment of a new family of organic molecular cages, named cagearenes, by taking advantage of a versatile strategy. These cagearenes were prepared via the Friedel–Crafts reaction by condensing two equivalents of a precursor bearing three 1,4-dimethoxybenzene groups and three equivalents of formaldehyde. Two cages, namely cagearene-1 and cagearene-2, are obtained and well characterized. The cagearene-1 solid exhibits the ability to adsorb benzene vapour from an equimolar benzene/cyclohexane mixture with a purity of 91.1%. Then, the adsorbed benzene molecules can be released from the cage at a relatively lower temperature, namely 70 °C, as a consequence of which, cyclohexane with a high purity was left within the cage solid. Heating the cage solid further at 130 °C led to the production of cyclohexane with a purity up to 98.7%. As inferred from the single crystal structures and theoretical calculations, the ability of the cage in programmed release of benzene and cyclohexane results from the different binding modes of these two guests.

Two organic cages, cagearene-1 and cagearene-2, are prepared. The cagearene-1 solid selectively absorbs benzene vapor from a benzene/cyclohexane mixture and is used to achieve temperature-controlled programmed vapor release.

Reticular Chemistry in the Construction of Porous Organic Cages

Reticular chemistry offers the possibility of systematic design of porous materials with different pores by varying the building blocks, while the emerging porous organic cage (POC) system remains generally unexplored. A series of new POCs with dimeric cages with odd-even behaviors, unprecedented trimeric triangular prisms, and the largest recorded hexameric octahedra have been prepared. These POCs are all constructed from the same tetratopic tetraformylresorcin[4]arene cavitand by simply varying the diamine ligands through Schiff-base reactions and are fully characterized by X-ray crystallography, gas sorption measurements, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The odd-even effects in the POC conformation changes of the [2 + 4] dimeric cages have been confirmed by density functional theory calculations, which are the first examples of odd-even effects reported in the cavitand-based cage system. Moreover, the "V" shape phenylenediamine linkers are responsible for the novel [3 + 6] triangular prisms. The window size and environment can be easily functionalized by different groups, providing a promising platform for the construction of multivariate POCs. Use of linear phenylenediamines led to record-breakingly large [6 + 12] truncated octahedral cages, the maximum inner cavity diameters and volumes of which could be readily modulated by increasing the spacer length of the phenylenediamine linkers. This work can lead to an understanding of the self-assembly behaviors of POCs and also sheds light on the rational design of POC materials for practical applications.