Supramolecular Synthesis of Star Polymers

Invited for this month's cover are the collaborating groups of Prof. Dr Takeharu Haino at Hiroshima University (Japan) and Dr Natsumi Nitta at the University of Chicago (USA). The cover picture shows cartoons of miktoarm A8Bn star and graft copolymers formed by molecular recognition of a self-assembled capsule possessing eight polymer chains and guest-terminated and guest-centered polymers. Read the full text of the review at 10.1002/cplu.20240014.

Supramolecular Synthesis of Star Polymers

Supramolecular polymers, in which monomers are assembled via intermolecular interactions, have been extensively studied. The fusion of supramolecular polymers with conventional polymers has attracted the attention of many researchers. In this review article, the recent progress in the construction of supramolecular star polymers, including regular star polymers and miktoarm star polymers, is discussed. The initial sections briefly provide an overview of the conventional classification and synthesis methods for star polymers. Coordination-driven self-assembly was investigated for the supramolecular synthesis of star polymers. Star polymers with multiple polymer chains radiating from metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) have also been described. Particular focus has been placed on the synthesis of star polymers featuring supramolecular cores formed through hydrogen-bonding-directed self-assembly. After describing the synthesis of star polymers based on host-guest complexes, the construction of miktoarm star polymers based on the molecular recognition of coordination capsules is detailed.

Intermediate Color Emission via Nanographenes with Organic Fluorophores

Photoluminescence (PL) color can be tuned by mixing fluorophores emitting the three primary colors in an appropriate ratio. When color tuning is achieved on a single substrate, we can simplify device structures. We demonstrated that nanographenes (NGs), which are graphene fragments with a size of tens of nanometers, could be utilized as carriers of fluorophores. The addition of red- and blue-light-emitting fluorophores on the edge successfully reproduced the purple light. The relative PL intensities of the fluorophores could be regulated by the excitation wavelength, enabling multicolor emission between blue and red light. Owing to the triphenylamine units of the fluorophores, the NGs showed PL enhancement due to aggregation. This characteristic was valuable for the fabrication of solid polymer materials. Specifically, the functionalized NGs can be dispersed into polyvinylidene difluoride. The resultant polymer films emitted red, blue, and purple color. Our study demonstrated the potential applicability of NGs for fluorophore carriers capable of reproducing intermediate colors of light.

Application of Exciton Coupling for Characterization of Nanographene Edge

The structural characterization of nonstoichiometric nanographene (NG)-organic hybrid materials is usually difficult. The number of substituents on the edge and their arrangements are frequently questioned but are difficult to answer. Since the number of functional groups is closely related to the distance between the nearest neighbors (dISD ), the extraction of dISD from spectroscopic data could provide important information on their structural characterization. We show that exciton coupling, which is a theoretical prediction of the absolute structures of discrete molecules, is a possible candidate to address this issue. The comparison of the calculated CD spectra of the chiral chromophores extracted from the model NG edge with the observed edge spectra indicated a dISD of ca. 8 Å; this corresponded to substitution on every other armchair edge. Furthermore, an up-up-down-down alternate orientation was found to be a possible edge structure. Although the procedure was limited to NGs carrying chiral substituents, our method could facilitate the detailed structural characterization of NG-organic hybrid materials.

Application of Exciton Coupling for Characterization of Nanographene Edges

The front cover artwork is provided by Prof. Haino's group at Hiroshima University. The image shows the mirror image circular dichroism spectra of nanographenes carrying chiral chromophores. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/cphc.202300740.

Kinetic Resolution of Secondary Alcohols Catalyzed at the Exterior of Chiral Coordinated Capsules

Confined spaces inside molecular hosts can function as reaction vessels. However, this concept significantly limits the scope of reactants. When the exterior of molecular hosts is used instead, we can ease the restriction because reactants are not necessary to be trapped inside molecular hosts, although studies along this line have not been reported. As a proof-of-concept of enantioselective reactions at the exterior of chiral molecular hosts, we utilized host-guest complexes of enantiomerically enriched Cu-coordinated capsules and guests possessing a catalytic center to realize the kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols. Under suitable reaction conditions, a selectivity factor of 2.6 was realized, demonstrating that the reactions occur at the exterior of the capsules. A series of experiments indicated that the substituents on the 2,2'-bipyridyl arms and the alkyl chains on the lower rim contributed to the enantioselectivity of the reactions.

Molecular Recognition Process in Resorcinarene-based Coordination Capsules

Cu and Ag capsules can take up various organic molecules. Their molecular recognition possibly involves partial dissociation and slippage. We investigated molecular recognition processes in the Cu and Ag capsules by CD and 1 H NMR spectroscopy and employed 4,4'-diacetoxy biphenyl carrying two benzothiadiazole groups as a probe. CD and 1 H NMR measurements reveal that the host-guest complexation proceeds under second-order reactions and that these capsules undergo the partial dissociation to take up the probe in [D1 ]chloroform and [D8 ]THF. The slippage also contributes to host-guest complexation for a Cu capsule that carries p-methoxyphenyl groups on the 2,2'-bipyridiyl arms. DFT calculations suggest that π/π stacking interactions between the electron-rich p-methoxyphenyl group and the electron-poor 2,2'-bipyridyl arm elongate the capsule, allowing the guest to access the cavity without the partial dissociation.

Negative Homotropic Cooperativity in Guest Binding of a Trisporphyrin Double Cleft

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Takeharu Haino at Hiroshima University. The image depicts the host-guest complex of a trisporphyrin double cleft with an electron-deficient aromatic molecule, which shows negative cooperativity in guest binding. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202300107.

Induction of Chirality on Nanographenes

Chirality induction is an important topic in studies of nanographenes (NGs). We report chirality enhancements of NGs through postsynthetic chemical modifications of NGs with pyrene and m-terphenyl groups. These substituents were installed into N-(p-bromophenylethyl)imides on the edges of the NGs with Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra demonstrated that these bulky substituents improved the induced CD signal of the NGs compared to those previously reported and suggested that they induced the opposite chirality. Density functional theory calculations indicated possible edge structures for the NGs and indicated that π/π and CH/π interactions among the neighboring substituents influenced the orientations of the imides. These imides distorted the edges, and the distorted edges eventually generated the chiral environments of the NGs. The interactions among the substituents are, therefore, likely to allow detection of the CD signals in the visible region and induction of the opposite chirality.

Negative Homotropic Cooperativity in Guest Binding of a Trisporphyrin Double Cleft

The negative homotropic allostery of a triple-layered trisporphyrin cleft with two guest binding sites was confirmed. The X-ray crystal structures of the 1:2 host-guest complexes showed that the trisporphyrin accommodated two guest molecules within the cleft via π-π stacking and donor-acceptor interactions. In solution, 1H NMR and Job plots showed 1:2 host-guest complexes. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy were employed to evaluate the binding constants and cooperativities. The guest binding of the trisporphyrin showed negative cooperativity and noncooperativity depending on the structures of the guest molecules. The correlations between the interaction parameters (α) and Hill constants were determined. ITC experiments showed that the host-guest complexation of trisporphyrin with electron-deficient guests incurred an enthalpy penalty in the successive guest binding process. DFT calculations revealed that the first guest binding reduced the electron density of the central porphyrin plane, which led to an energetic penalty that weakened the successive binding process.

Synthesis of Supramolecular A8 Bn Miktoarm Star Copolymers by Host-Guest Complexation

We report a new synthetic method to construct supramolecular A₈ B_n (n=1, 2, 4) miktoarm star copolymers by host-guest complexation between a resorcinarene-based coordination capsule possessing eight polystyrene chains and 4,4-diacetoxybiphenyl guest molecules that retain one, two or four polymethyl acrylate chains. The formation of the supramolecular A₈ B_n (n=1, 2, 4) miktoarm star copolymers was confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed that the miktoarm copolymers were phase-separated in the bulk. The micro-Brownian motion of the A₈ B₄ structure was markedly enhanced in the bulk due to a weak segregation interaction between the immiscible arms.

Substituent-Induced Supramolecular Aggregates of Edge Functionalized Nanographenes

Precisely controlled molecular assemblies often display intriguing morphologies and/or functions arising from their structures. The application of the concept of the self-assembly for controlling the aggregation of nanographenes (NGs) is challenging. The title NGs are those carrying both long alkyl chains and tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzene (TPIB) on the edge. The former group secures the affinity of NGs for organic solvents, and the latter group drives the 1D arrangement of NGs through the interactions between the TPIB units. The concentration-dependent and temperature variable ¹ H NMR, UV-vis, and PL spectra demonstrate the aggregation of NGs in 1,2-dichloroethane, and the aggregation is controllable by the regulation of the solvent polarity. AFM images give the stacked structures of the NGs, and these aggregates turn out to be network polymeric structures at a high concentration. These observations demonstrate that the synergy of the face-to-face interactions between the surfaces and the interactions between the TPIB units are effective for controlling the self-assembly of the NGs.

Effects of Edge Functionalization of Nanographenes with Small Aromatic Systems

Regulation of the physical properties of nanographenes (NGs) by edge functionalization is an active research area. We conducted a computational study of the effects of edge functionalization on the physical properties of NGs. The computed NGs were models of experimentally obtained NGs and composed of a C174 carbon framework with from one to four 3,5-dimethylnaphthalene units on the edge. The effects were assessed structurally, magnetically, and electronically by the least square planarity index, harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity, nucleus-independent chemical shift, and HOMO-LUMO (H-L) gaps. Density functional theory calculations indicated that although the structures of the model NGs were not very sensitive to edge functionalization, the magnetic and electronic properties were. The installed substituents narrowed the H-L gap and induced a redshift of the PL band by π conjugation between NG and the substituent. These results were consistent with the extension of the absorption band and the redshift of the PL bands of the experimentally modified NGs. Furthermore, the calculations confirmed the contribution of the charge transfer character to the absorption spectra.

Computational Studies on the Structures of Nanographenes with Various Edge Functionalities

Computational studies have often been carried out on hydrogen-terminated nanographenes (NGs). These structures are, however, far from those deduced from experimental observations, which have suggested armchair edges with two carboxy groups on the edges as dominant. We conducted computational studies on NGs consisting of C₄₂ , C₆₀ , C₇₈ , C₉₆ , C₁₄₂ , and C₁₇₄ carbon atoms with hydrogen, carboxy, and N-methyl imide-terminated armchair edges. DFT calculations inform distorted basal planes and similar HOMO-LUMO gaps, indicating that the edge oxidation and functionalization do not very influence the electronic structure. Comparison of observed UV-vis spectra of carboxy- and N-octadecyl chain terminated NGs with calculated spectra of model NGs informs the contribution of π-π* transitions on the basal plane to the absorptions in the visible region. A dimeric structure of NG and octadecyl-installed NG demonstrate that both the distorted basal planes and the steric contacts among the functional groups widen the surface-to-surface distance thereby allowing the invasion of solvent molecules between the surfaces. This picture is consistent with the improved solubility of edge-modified NGs.

Supramolecular chiral sensing by supramolecular helical polymers

A tetrakis(porphyrin) with branched side chains self-assembled to form supramolecular helical polymers both in solution and in the solid state. The helicity of the supramolecular polymers was determined by the chirality of solvent molecules, which permitted the polymer chains to be used in chiral sensing.

Lanthanide and Actinide Ion Complexes Containing Organic Ligands Investigated by Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy

A new technique, surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy, was used for the structural investigation of lanthanide (Ln) and actinide (An) complexes containing organic ligands. We synthesized thiol derivatives of organic ligands with coordination sites similar to those of 2-[N-methyl-N-hexanethiol-amino]-2-oxoethoxy-[N',N'-diethyl]-acetamide [diglycolamide (DGA)], Cyanex-272, and N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (TPEN), which have been used for separating Ln and An through solvent extraction. These ligands were attached on a gold surface deposited on an Si prism through S-Au covalent bonds; the gold surface enhanced the IR absorption intensity of the ligands. Aqueous solutions of Ln (Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺, and Tb³⁺) and An (Am³⁺) ions were loaded onto the gold surface to form ion complexes. The IR spectra of the ion complexes were obtained using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflection mode. In this study, we developed a new sample preparation method for SEIRA spectroscopy that enabled us to obtain the IR spectra of the complexes with a small amount of ion solution (5 μL). This is a significant advantage for the IR measurement of radiotoxic Am³⁺ complexes. In the IR spectra of DGA, the band attributed to C═O stretching vibrations at ∼1630 cm^-1 shifted to a lower wavenumber by ∼20 cm^-1 upon complexation with Ln and An ions. Moreover, the amount of the red shift was inversely proportional to the extraction equilibrium constant reported in previous studies on solvent extraction. The coordination ability of DGA toward Ln and An ions could be assessed using the band position of the C═O band. The Cyanex-272- and TPEN-like ligands synthesized in this report also showed noticeable SEIRA signals for Ln and An complexes. This study indicates that SEIRA spectroscopy can be used for the structural investigation of ion complexes and provides a microscopic understanding of selective extraction of Ln and An.

Integration of Nanographenes and Organic Chemistry - Toward Nanographene-based Two-Dimensional Materials

Graphene and its relatives have received considerable attention from the fields of physics and chemistry since the isolation of pristine graphene sheets. Nanographenes (NGs) are graphene fragments that are a few to tens of nanometers in diameter. Compared to graphene and its relatives, such as graphene oxides, NGs can be handled more easily, and their large π surface and oxygen functional groups on the edge allow postsynthetic modifications. The study of NGs is gradually shifting from the development of synthetic procedures to postsynthetic modification. From the structural point of view, NGs can be regarded as two-dimensional carbon polymers. Their unique structures and affinity for organic molecules make NGs excellent scaffolds for two-dimensional materials, which are now an important topic in organic and polymer chemistry. In this conceptual article, we introduce the position of NGs from the perspective of two-dimensional substances and briefly summarize both the structural features of NGs and the effects of functionalization on their physical properties. These are valuable when producing reasonable strategies for their postsynthetic modifications.

Supramolecular Ensembles Formed via Calix[5]arene-Fullerene Host-Guest Interactions

This minireview introduces the research directions for the synthesis of supramolecular fullerene polymers. First, the discovery of host-guest complexes of pristine fullerenes is briefed. We focus on progress in supramolecular fullerene polymers directed by the use of calix[5]arene-fullerene interactions, which comprise linear, networked, helical arrays of fullerenes in supramolecular ensembles. The unique self-sorting behavior of right-handed and left-handed helical supramolecular fullerene arrays is discussed. Thereafter, an extensive investigation of the calix[5]arene-fullerene interaction for control over the chain structures of covalent polymers is introduced.

Host-Guest Complexation of Bisporphyrin Cleft and Electron-Deficient Aromatic Guests

The host-guest complexation of a bisporphyrin cleft with various electron-deficient guest molecules was studied in solution and in the solid-state. X-ray crystal structures of a bisporphyrin cleft with naphthalene dianhydride and 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone reveal that these guest molecules were located within the bisporphyrin cleft and formed ideal π-π stacking interactions in a host-guest ratio of 1:1. Isothermal titration calorimetry determined the binding constants and thermodynamic parameters for the 1:1 host-guest complexations in 1,2-dichloroethane and toluene. Two types of enthalpy-entropy compensation effects were found: (1) The tightly stacked host-guest structures restrict guest movement within the cleft, which results in significant desolvation with large intrinsic entropies. (2) The loosely bound guests maintain their molecular freedom within the bisporphyrin cleft, which leads to less desolvation with small intrinsic entropies. Chiral guest encapsulation directed the clockwise and anticlockwise twisted conformations of the bisporphyrin units, which induced bisignate CDs.

Self-assembly of neutral platinum complexes controlled by thermal inputs

In this report, we describe the self-assembly behavior of neutral platinum complexes in toluene. The platinum complexes were seen to form two different types of assemblies depending on the preparation...

Nanographene - A Scaffold of Two-Dimensional Materials

Substances can be divided into 0D to 3D species based on the number of repeating units (atom, ion, and molecule) and their arrangements in space (point, linear, layer, and solid). Discrete substances belong to 0D species, polymers are examples of 1D species, and molecular crystals are 3D species. Most of the substances belong to one of these species. On the other hand, those categorized into 2D species wherein the repeating units organize a layer are less explored. 2D species have a surface and edges. The incorporation of these structural features into a molecular design can realize multifunctionalized systems that are difficult to achieve by conventional organic synthesis. The development of 2D species is, therefore, the frontier of organic, inorganic, and polymer chemistry. Nanographenes (NGs) are suitable scaffolds for realizing 2D species due to several factors, such as chemical stability and oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface and on the edge, allowing postsynthetic modifications. Our group has utilized NGs with tens of nanometers in diameters for developing 2D species. Carboxy groups on the edge enable us to install various substituents into NGs, offering NG-based functional materials. These studies demonstrate that the integration of NGs with organic chemistry can widen the scope of their applications other than optical materials that are a main application of NGs. We introduce our recent studies on the development of NG-based functional materials realized by postsynthetic modifications. We hope that this account will contribute to the development of the chemistry of 2D species.

Self-sorting behavior in supramolecular fullerene polymerization directed by host-guest complexation between calix[5]arene and C60

We describe self-sorting supramolecular polymerization that uses chiral calix[5]arene hosts and a dumbbell-shaped fullerene guest. In a solution containing the racemic host and the guest, the (S)-host and the (R)-host preferably formed their homomeric complexes to form helical supramolecular fullerene polymers in a self-sorting manner. The self-sorting behavior has been studied using diffusion-ordered ¹H NMR (DOSY) and circular dichroism (CD) studies. The present findings show that it is possible to accomplish controlled supramolecular polymerization.

Resorcinarene-Based Supramolecular Capsules: Supramolecular Functions and Applications

A resorcinarene is a synthetic macrocycle consisting of four resorcinol molecules covalently linked by methylene bridges. The interannular bridges produce a cavitand that has a bowl-shaped structure. We have developed supramolecular capsules through Ag(I) or Cu(I) coordination-driven self-assembly of cavitands possessing 2,2′-bipyridyl arms in their upper rims. The self-assembled capsules accommodate various molecular guests and supramolecular assemblies possessing acetoxy groups. The host–guest chemistry of the molecular capsules has been applied in the fabrication of supramolecular polymers. This account describes recent developments in the supramolecular chemistry of resorcinarene-based coordination capsules and provides a brief history of resorcinarene-based capsules and related capsules.

Solvent-directed formation of helically twisted stacking constructs via self-assembly of tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzene dimers

Ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy)-appended tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzenes were synthesized. The UPy moieties of the tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzenes stably formed self-complementary dimers in solution. The dimers self-assembled to form helically twisted stacking constructs in a process driven by π-π stacking interactions of UPy dimer moieties and dipole-dipole interactions of isoxazole units. Strong association affinity was seen within the stacking constructs compared with the previously reported isoxazole derivatives owing to the auxiliary π-π stacking interaction. Notably, tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzenes showed an environmentally responsive nature. The absorption bands, emission intensities, and sizes of ensembles depended significantly on the mixing ratio of CHCl₃ and methylcyclohexane (MCH). Additionally, sharp on-off switching phenomena were seen in their circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra in response to the mixing ratio of CHCl₃ and MCH. CD and CPL were activated only at a certain mixing ratio of CHCl₃/MCH, thus showing potential for the creation of molecular sensors.

Gas-Phase UV Spectroscopy of Chemical Intermediates Produced in Solution: Oxidation Reactions of Phenylhydrazines by DDQ

In this study, we demonstrated cold gas-phase spectroscopy of chemical intermediates produced in solution. Herein, we combined an electrospray ion source with a T-shaped solution mixer for introducing chemical intermediates in solution into the gas phase. Specifically, the oxidation reaction of 2-(4-nitrophenyl)hydrazinecarboxaldehyde (NHCA) by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) was initiated by mixing the methanol solutions of NHCA and DDQ in the T-shaped mixer, and the chemical species were injected into the vacuum apparatus for ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) spectroscopy. A cationic intermediate was strongly observed at m/z 150 in the mass spectrum, and the UVPD spectrum was observed under cold (∼10 K) gas-phase conditions. The UVPD spectrum showed a strong, broad absorption at ∼38,000 cm^-1, accompanied by a relatively weak component at ∼34,000 cm^-1. These spectral patterns can be ascribed to a diazonium cation intermediate, whose existence has been predicted in a previous study. This report indicates that cold gas-phase UV spectroscopy can be a useful method for identifying the structure of chemical intermediates produced in solution.

Negative Cooperativity in Guest Binding of a Ditopic Self-Folding Biscavitand

A brand-new self-folding biscavitand was synthesized from a feet-to-feet-connected bisresorcinarene. The X-ray crystal structure of the biscaivtand showed that the two cavities are tightly connected with four butylene linkages. The conformationally coupled two cavities accommodated two cationic guests, showing a homotropic negative cooperativity in nonpolar solvents (toluene and chloroform). A polar tetrahydrofuran solvent weakened the cyclic hydrogen bonding interactions of the biscavitand, which resulted in noncooperative guest binding.

Self-assembly of neutral platinum complexes possessing chiral hydrophilic TEG chains

Neutral platinum complexes that possess chiral triethylene glycol (TEG) moieties were synthesized. The platinum complexes formed helically twisted stacked assemblies in chloroform and toluene, which were studied by ¹H NMR, UV/vis spectroscopy, and emission spectroscopy. On the other hand, emissive micellar aggregates were observed in a THF/water mixed solvent. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments revealed that micellar aggregates with a diameter (d) of ≈100 nm emitted strong light, whereas the monomeric form and large aggregates (d > 500 nm) did not show luminescence efficiently. Furthermore, the micellar aggregates were twisted chirally, where the twisted direction was determined by the chirality of the TEG moieties. The assemblies were observed to be solvent responsive, which allows for the modulation of the nanostructure by changing the solvent polarity.