Hydrogen‐Bonding Induced Alternate Stacking of Donor (D) and Acceptor (A) Chromophores and their Supramolecular Switching to Segregated States

This paper reports comprehensive studies on the mixed assembly of bis‐(trialkoxybenzamide)‐functionalized dialkoxynaphthalene (DAN) donors and naphthalene‐diimide (NDI) acceptors due the cooperative effects of hydrogen bonding, charge‐transfer (CT) interactions, and solvophobic effects. A series of DAN as well as NDI building blocks have been examined (wherein the relative distance between the two amide groups in a particular chromophore is the variable structural parameter) to understand the structure‐dependent variation in mode of supramolecular assembly and morphology (organogel, reverse vesicle, etc.) of the self‐assembled material. Interestingly, it was observed that when the amide functionalities are introduced to enhance the self‐assembly propensity, the mode of co‐assembly among the DAN and NDI chromophores no longer remained trivial and was dictated by a relatively stronger hydrogen‐bonding interaction instead of a weak CT interaction. Consequently, in a highly non‐polar solvent like methylcyclohexane (MCH), although kinetically controlled CT‐gelation was initially noticed, within a few hours the system sacrificed the CT‐interaction and switched over to the more stable self‐sorted gel to maximize the gain in enthalpy from the hydrogen‐bonding interaction. In contrast, in a relatively less non‐polar solvent such as tetrachloroethylene (TCE), in which the strength of hydrogen bonding is inherently weak, the contribution of the CT interaction also had to be accounted for along with hydrogen bonding leading to a stable CT‐state in the gel or solution phase. The stability and morphology of the CT complex and rate of supramolecular switching (from CT to segregated state) were found to be greatly influenced by subtle structural variation of the building blocks, solvent polarity, and the DAN/NDI ratio. For example, in a given D–A pair, by introducing just one methylene unit in the spacer segment of either of the building blocks a complete change in the mode of co‐assembly (CT state or segregated state) and the morphology (1D fiber to 2D reverse vesicle) was observed. The role of solvent polarity, structural variation, and D/A ratio on the nature of co‐assembly, morphology, and the unprecedented supramolecular‐switching phenomenon have been studied by detail spectroscopic and microscopic experiments in a gel as well as in the solution state and are well supported by DFT calculations.     

Chiral induction by helical neighbour: spectroscopic visualization of macroscopic-interaction among self-sorted donor and acceptor π-stacks

Supramolecular induction of chirality to a π-stacked dialkoxynaphthalene (DAN)-fiber (made of achiral building blocks) from a neighbouring helical naphthalenediimide (NDI)-fiber is reported. CD-studies helped in understanding the nature of co-assembly in the donor-acceptor chromophore mixture from molecular to macroscopic scale.     

Hydrogen-bonding-mediated vesicular assembly of functionalized naphthalene-diimide-based bolaamphiphile and guest-induced gelation in water

This paper describes the spontaneous vesicular assembly of a naphthalene-diimide (NDI)-based non-ionic bolaamphiphile in aqueous medium by using the synergistic effects of π-stacking and hydrogen bonding. Site isolation of the hydrogen-bonding functionality (hydrazide), a strategy that has been adopted so elegantly in nature, has been executed in this system to protect these moieties from the bulk water so that the distinct role of hydrogen bonding in the self-assembly of hydrazide-functionalized NDI building blocks could be realized, even in aqueous solution. Furthermore, the electron-deficient NDI-based bolaamphiphile could engage in donor-acceptor (D-A) charge-transfer (CT) interactions with a water-insoluble electron-rich pyrene donor by virtue of intercalation of the latter chromophore in between two NDI building blocks. Remarkably, even when pyrene was located between two NDI blocks, intermolecular hydrogen-bonding networks between the NDI-linked hydrazide groups could be retained. However, time-dependent AFM studies revealed that the radius of curvature of the alternately stacked D-A assembly increased significantly, thereby leading to intervesicular fusion, which eventually resulted in rupturing of the membrane to form 1D fibers. Such 2D-to-1D morphological transition produced CT-mediated hydrogels at relatively higher concentrations. Instead of pyrene, when a water-soluble carboxylate-functionalized pyrene derivative was used as the intercalator, non-covalent tunable in-situ surface-functionalization could be achieved, as evidenced by the zeta-potential measurements.     

Hydrogen‐Bonding‐Mediated Vesicular Assembly of Functionalized Naphthalene–Diimide‐Based Bolaamphiphile and Guest‐Induced Gelation in Water

This paper describes the spontaneous vesicular assembly of a naphthalene–diimide (NDI)‐based non‐ionic bolaamphiphile in aqueous medium by using the synergistic effects of π‐stacking and hydrogen bonding. Site isolation of the hydrogen‐bonding functionality (hydrazide), a strategy that has been adopted so elegantly in nature, has been executed in this system to protect these moieties from the bulk water so that the distinct role of hydrogen bonding in the self‐assembly of hydrazide‐functionalized NDI building blocks could be realized, even in aqueous solution. Furthermore, the electron‐deficient NDI‐based bolaamphiphile could engage in donor–acceptor (D–A) charge‐transfer (CT) interactions with a water‐insoluble electron‐rich pyrene donor by virtue of intercalation of the latter chromophore in between two NDI building blocks. Remarkably, even when pyrene was located between two NDI blocks, intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding networks between the NDI‐linked hydrazide groups could be retained. However, time‐dependent AFM studies revealed that the radius of curvature of the alternately stacked D–A assembly increased significantly, thereby leading to intervesicular fusion, which eventually resulted in rupturing of the membrane to form 1D fibers. Such 2D‐to‐1D morphological transition produced CT‐mediated hydrogels at relatively higher concentrations. Instead of pyrene, when a water‐soluble carboxylate‐functionalized pyrene derivative was used as the intercalator, non‐covalent tunable in‐situ surface‐functionalization could be achieved, as evidenced by the zeta‐potential measurements.     

Visualization of various supramolecular assemblies of oligo(para-phenylenevinylene)-melamine and perylene bisimide

A melamine derivative has been covalently equipped with two oligo(para-phenylenevinylene) (OPV) chromophores. This procedure yields a bifunctional molecule with two hydrogen-bonding arrays available for complementary binding to perylene bisimide derivatives. Depending on the solvent, hydrogen-bonded trimers, tetramers, and dimers on a graphite surface are observed for pure OPV-melamine by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Upon the addition of perylene bisimide, linear tapes of perylene bisimide, 12-membered rosettes that consist of alternating hydrogen-bonded OPV-melamine and perylene bisimide moieties are visualized. These results provide direct evidence for the possible modes of hydrogen bonding within a supramolecular co-assembly in solution. Subsequently, the optical properties of pure OPV-melamine and co-assemblies with a perylene bisimide derivative were characterized in solution. In an apolar solvent, OPV-melamine self-assembles into chiral superstructures. Disassembly into molecularly dissolved species is reversibly controlled by concentration and temperature. Complementary hydrogen bonding to a perylene bisimide derivative in an apolar solvent yields multicomponent, pi-stacked dye assemblies of enhanced stability that are characterized by fluorescence quenching of the constituent chromophores. Titration experiments reveal that a mixture of hydrogen-bonded oligomers is present in solution, rather than a single discrete assembly. The solution experiments are consistent with the STM results, which revealed various supramolecular assemblies. Our system is likely not to be optimally programmed to obtain a discrete co-assembled structure in quantitative yield.     

Co-Assembly between Fmoc Diphenylalanine and Diphenylalanine within a 3D Fibrous Viscous Network Confers Atypical Curvature and Branching

Supramolecular polymer co-assembly is a useful approach to modulate peptide nanostructures. However, the co-assembly scenario where one of the peptide building blocks simultaneously forms a hydrogel is yet to be studied. Herein, we investigate the co-assembly formation of diphenylalanine (FF), and Fmoc-diphenylalanine (FmocFF) within the 3D network of FmocFF hydrogel. The overlapping peptide sequence between the two building blocks leads to their co-assembly within the gel state modulating the nature of the FF crystals. We observe the formation of branched microcrystalline aggregates with an atypical curvature, in contrast to the FF assemblies obtained from aqueous solution. Optical microscopy reveal the sigmoidal kinetic growth profile of these aggregates. Microfluidics and ToF-SIMS experiments exhibit the presence of co-assembled structures of FF and FmocFF in the crystalline aggregates. Molecular dynamics simulation was used to decipher the mechanism of co-assembly formation.     

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.     

PET suppression of acridinedione dyes by urea derivatives in water and methanol

Spectroscopic investigations involving the interaction of acridinedione dyes with urea and its derivatives in water and methanol were carried out by absorption, steady-state fluorescence, and time-resolved fluorescence measurements. The hydrogen-bonding properties of urea and derivatives in aqueous solutions are found to be distinctly different from those observed in methanol. Urea, which can serve both as a hydrogen bond donor as well as an acceptor and has a unique hydrogen-bonding feature, helps in studying urea interaction with fluorophores in aqueous solutions, micelles, and alcohol. In our studies, we have used acridinedione dyes as the probe. We report that the hydrophobic interaction of urea with dye predominates by weakening of the hydrogen-bonding interaction of the solvent and urea derivatives with increase in the hydrophobicity of urea derivatives. In methanol, the hydrogen bonding between solvent and urea derivatives predominating over the hydrophobicity of the urea derivatives is observed. The presence of alkyl group substitution in the N-H moiety with a function of increasing concentration resulting in the creation of a more favorable hydrophobic environment to the dye molecule to reside in the hydrophobic shell phase rather than in the bulk aqueous phase is illustrated. The hydrophobic interaction of dye with urea in aqueous solution predominates because of the weakening of the hydrogen bonding of the solvent and urea derivatives, and the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process is used as a marker to identify the hydrophobic interaction illustrated in our studies.     

Stimuli‐Responsive Self‐Assembly of a Naphthalene Diimide by Orthogonal Hydrogen Bonding and Its Coassembly with a Pyrene Derivative by a Pseudo‐Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer Interaction

A naphthalene diimide (NDI) building block containing hydrazide (H1) and hydroxy (H2) groups self‐assembled into a reverse‐vesicular structure in methylcyclohexane by orthogonal H‐bonding and π‐stacking. At an elevated temperature (LCST=43 °C), destruction of the assembled structure owing to selective dissociation of H2–H2 H bonding led to macroscopic precipitation. Further heating resulted in homogeneous redispersion of the sample at 70 °C (UCST) and the formation of a reverse‐micellar structure. In the presence of a pyridine (H3)‐functionalized pyrene (PY) donor, a supramolecular dyad (NDI–PY) was formed by H2–H3 H‐bonding. Slow transformation into an alternate NDI–PY stack occurred by a folding process due to the charge‐transfer interaction between NDI and PY. The mixed NDI–PY assembly exhibited a morphology transition from a reverse micelle (with a NDI–PY mixed‐stack core) below the LCST to another reverse micelle (with a NDI core) above the UCST via a “denatured” intermediate.     

Syntheses, structures, and properties of tetrakis(mu-acetato)dirhodium(II) complexes with axial pyridine nitrogen donor ligands with or without assistance of hydrogen bonds

Eight adducts of Rh2(O2CCH3)4 with axial pyridine derivatives that contain hydrogen-bonding amino and/or steric methyl substituents in the 2- and 6-positions have been prepared and examined by electronic absorption and 1H NMR spectroscopy in solution and by elemental, IR, thermogravimetric, and X-ray diffraction analyses in the solid state. The results indicated that strong hydrogen bonding interactions between Rh2(O2CCH3)4 and axially coordinated pyridine derivatives with a 2- or 6-amino group occur in both solution and the solid state and contribute to the higher thermal stability of the molecular assembly of dirhodium complexes. It was demonstrated that such a combination of coordinate and hydrogen bonds is useful as a building tool in designing and constructing new organic-inorganic hybridized compounds and supramolecular architectures.     

A MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF POLY（DIVINYLBENZENE-co-ACRYLIC ACID） IN CROSSLINKING PRECIPITATION POLYMERIZATION

Divinylbenzene-80 （DVB-80） and polar monomer acrylic acid （AA） having hydrogen bonding at a total monomer loading of 5 vol% were precipitated-copolymerized in a variety of organic solvents with 2,2＇-azobis（isobutyronitrile） （AIBN） as initiator. The experiments were investigated from a two-dimensional matrix, i.e., the actual crosslinking degree of DVB varying from 0 to 80% and the solvent composition varying from 0 to 100% of toluene mixture with acetonitrile, when the mixture of acetonitrile and toluene was used as the reaction solvent. Under various reaction conditions, six distinct morphologies including soluble polymers, swellable microgels, coagulum, irregular microparticles, and nano-/micrometer microspheres were formed and the structures of these polymer architectures were described. A morphological map was utilized to discuss the effects of both crosslinking degree of DVB and composition of solvent on the transitions between morphology domains. The results demonstrated that the microspheres are formed by an internal contraction due to the marginal solvency of the continuous phase and the crosslinking of the polymer network through the covalent bonding from DVB as well as the interchain hydrogen-bonding between the carboxylic acid units.     

Morphology-tunable and photoresponsive properties in a self-assembled two-component gel system

Photoresponsive C3-symmetrical trisurea self-assembling building blocks containing three azobenzene groups (LC10 and LC4) at the rim were designed and synthesized. By introducing a trisamide gelator (G18), which can self-aggregate through hydrogen bonds of acylamino moieties to form a fibrous network, the mixture of LC10 (or LC4) and G18 forms an organogel with coral-like supramolecular structure from 1,4-dioxane. The cooperation of hydrogen bonding and the hydrophobic diversity between these components are the main contributions to the specific superstructure. The two-component gel exhibits reversible photoisomerization from trans to cis transition without breakage of the gel state.     

Mixed-mode retention mechanism for (-)-epigallocatechin gallate on a 12% cross-linked agarose gel media

The adsorption behaviour of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenolic substance in green tea extracts, on the cross-linked agarose gel Superose 12 HR 10/30, has been studied using a variety of solvent systems and shown to be based on a mixture of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. The hydrogen bonding was studied in acetonitrile in the presence of different co-solvents possessing varying hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and/or hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) characteristics. The HBA-value of the co-solvent had the highest effect whereas the HBD-value played a subordinate role. Retention due to hydrophobic interaction could be demonstrated when mobile phases containing high water content were applied. The retention of EGCG, and its analogues (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) and (-)-catechin (C) were thus shown to be dependent on the polarity of the organic modifiers added. However, the elution order of EGC and C, was inversed to that observed in reversed phase chromatography, indicating that some hydrogen bonding was still in effect. The retardation of EGCG in the presence of a wide concentration range of acetonitrile in water confirmed the interpretation that the retention mechanism is of mixed-mode character based on both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction.     

More than Meets the Eye: Conformational Switching of a Stacked Dialkoxynaphthalene–Naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide (DAN–NDI) Foldamer to an NDI–NDI Fibril Aggregate

The thermally induced conformational switching of a stacked dialkxoynaphthalene–naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide (DAN–NDI) amphiphilic foldamer to an NDI–NDI fibril aggregate is described. The aggregated fibril structures were explored by UV/Vis, circular dichroism (CD), atomic‐force microscopy (AFM), and TEM techniques. Our findings indicate that the aromatic DAN–NDI interactions of the original foldamer undergoes transformation to a fibrillar assembly with aromatic NDI–NDI stacked interactions. These structural insights could help inform new molecular designs and increase our understanding of fibrillar assembly and aggregation process in aqueous solution.     

Tunable Crystallinity and Charge Transfer in Two‐Dimensional G‐Quadruplex Organic Frameworks

DNA G‐quadruplex structures were recently discovered to provide reliable scaffolding for two‐dimensional organic frameworks due to the strong hydrogen‐bonding ability of guanine. Herein, 2,7‐diaryl pyrene building blocks with high HOMO energies and large optical gaps are incorporated into G‐quadruplex organic frameworks. The adjustable substitution on the aryl groups provides an opportunity to elucidate the framework formation mechanism; molecular non‐planarity is found to be beneficial for restricting interlayer slippage, and the framework crystallinity is highest when intermolecular interaction and non‐planarity strike a fine balance. When guanine‐functionalized pyrenes are co‐crystallized with naphthalene diimide, charge‐transfer (CT) complexes are obtained. The photophysical properties of the pyrene‐only and CT frameworks are characterized by UV/Vis and steady‐state and time‐resolved photoluminescence spectroscopies, and by EPR spectroscopy for the CT complex frameworks.     

Self-assembly of two-component peptidic dendrimers: dendritic effects on gel-phase materials

The self-assembly of diaminododecane solubilised by different dendritic peptides, possessing increasing levels of dendritic branching, was investigated. The dendritic peptides were based on l-lysine building blocks and were of first, second and third generation, containing one, three and seven amino acid repeat units respectively. By applying these structures as potential gelator units, the dendritic effect on gelation was investigated. The degree of structuring was modulated, with the dendritic peptide controlling the aggregate morphology and the ability of the self-assembled state to manifest itself macroscopically as gelation. First generation gelator units (G1) did not induce macroscopic gelation with diaminododecane under any conditions, whilst those self-assemblies based on second (G2) and third (G3) generation branches did form gel-phase materials. Furthermore, gel-phase materials based on G2 exhibited optimum gelation behaviour compared to those based on G3(in terms of the thermal strength of the materials). Circular dichroism showed that the dendritic effect, programmed in at the molecular level, is directly related to the degree of chiral organisation within the self-assembled state. The dendritic generation of the peptide controls the pattern of amide-amide hydrogen bonding in terms of binding strength and alignment as determined using NMR methods. The mode of self-assembly can be qualitatively rationalised in terms of an attractive enthalpic interaction (i.e., amide-amide hydrogen bonding), a repulsive interaction (i.e., steric interactions between dendritic peptides) and an entropic term related to the hierarchical organisation of the gelator building blocks. It is argued that the balance between these factors determines the nature of the dendritic effect.     

Programmed hyperhelical supramolecular assembly of nickel phthalocyanine bearing enantiopure 1-(p-tolyl)ethylaminocarbonyl groups

The present paper reports uniqueness of a simple, programmed design of disk-shaped homochiral nickel phthalocyanine (Pc) molecules bearing four enantiomerically pure 1-(p-tolyl)ethylaminocarbonyl groups at their peripheral positions, (Pc-(R) and Pc-(S)), and their controlled self-organization into mesoscopic supramolecular helical fibers with a preferential handedness in solution and onto solid surfaces. A combination of four fundamental intermolecular interactions, including quadruple hydrogen bonding, pi-pi stacking, homochiral interactions of the enantiopure bulky aralkyl entities, and noncoordinating nature of nickel ion of the Pc molecules afforded a high thermal stability of the Pc self-assembly in chloroform (CHCl(3)), tetrahydrofuran, and o-dichlorobenzene and onto hydrophilic mica and hydrophobic HOPG surfaces. A higher-ordered helical self-assembly of Pc disks was observed in these solutions (approximately 200 Pc molecules), while the self-assembly was completely dissociated into monomeric species in N,N-dimethylformamide due to a loss of hydrogen-bonding interactions between Pc molecules. Supramolecular chirality in the hierarchical self-assembly of Pc molecules originated from the presence of (R)- or (S)-chiral centers in the peripheral tails, which rotate noncovalently linked molecular building blocks to effectively form the helical architectures. The helical Pc nanofibers dissolved in CHCl(3), estimated to be ca. 70 nm from peak molecular weight obtained by SEC analysis, acts as a building block for higher-order helical fibers (ca. 1 microm) at single molecular level on the solid surfaces, as demonstrated by the dynamic force mode atomic force microscopy. Regardless of hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates, the interaction between these Pc molecules and the solid surfaces could not affect the morphology of helical assemblies, indicating a unique robustness of these assemblies.     

Triple hydrogen bonds direct crystal engineering of metal-assembled complexes: the effect of a novel organic-inorganic module on supramolecular structure

Novel triply hydrogen bonded suprastructures based on [M(tdpd)2(L)2]2- (H2tdpd=1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-5,6-dioxo-2,3-pyrazinedicarbonitrile, L=solvent) and melamine-analogous cations have been synthesized and characterized. The use of anions containing two AAA sets from [M(tdpd)2(L)2]2- together with cations containing one DDD set (A=hydrogen-bond acceptor, D=hydrogen-bond donor) leads to the formation of complementary triply hydrogen bonded modules in the solid state. In all cases, the building module is further extended via additional hydrogen-bonding interactions to produce a tape, and tapes are assembled into sheets. These results show that a hydrogen-bonded module consisting of different kinds of building blocks, one of which is a metal complex that includes hydrogen-bond acceptor sites and the other is a hydrogen-bond donor molecule, will be attractive for constructing metal-containing supramolecular systems by the self-assembly technique.     

Competitive hydrogen bonding and self‐assembly in poly(2‐vinyl pyridine)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) blends

Blends of poly(2‐vinyl pyridine)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (P2VP‐b‐PMMA) and poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) (phenoxy) were prepared by solvent casting from chloroform solution. The specific interactions, phase behavior and nanostructure morphologies of these blends were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this block copolymer/homopolymer blend system, it is established that competitive hydrogen bonding exists as both blocks of the P2VP‐b‐PMMA are capable of forming intermolecular hydrogen bonds with phenoxy. It was observed that the interaction between phenoxy and P2VP is stronger than that between phenoxy and PMMA. This imbalance in the intermolecular interactions and the repulsions between the two blocks of the diblock copolymer lead to a variety of phase morphologies. At low phenoxy concentration, spherical micelles are observed. As the concentration increases, PMMA begins to interact with phenoxy, leading to the changes of morphology from spherical to wormlike micelles and finally forms a homogenous system. A model is proposed to describe the self‐assembled nanostructures of the P2VP‐b‐PMMA/phenoxy blends, and the competitive hydrogen bonding is responsible for the morphological changes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1894–1905, 2009