Controlled supramolecular oligomerization of C3-symmetrical molecules in water: the impact of hydrophobic shielding

The supramolecular oligomerization of three water-soluble C(3)-symmetrical discotic molecules is reported. The compounds all possess benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide cores and peripheral Gd(III)-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) moieties, but differ in their linker units and thus in their propensity to undergo secondary interactions in H(2)O. The self-assembly behavior of these molecules was studied in solution using circular dichroism, UV/Vis spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The aggregation concentration of these molecules depends on the number of secondary interactions and on the solvophobic character of the polymerizing moieties. Hydrophobic shielding of the hydrogen-bonding motif in the core of the discotic is of paramount importance for yielding stable, helical aggregates that are designed to be restricted in size through anti-cooperative, electrostatic, repulsive interactions.     

Recognition-induced polymersomes: structure and mechanism of formation

Random polystyrene copolymers grafted with complementary recognition elements were combined in chloroform producing vesicular aggregates, that is, recognition-induced polymersomes (RIPs). Reflection interference contrast microscopy (RICM) in solution, coupled with optical microscopy (OM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) on solid substrates, were used to determine the wall thickness of the RIPs. Rather than a conventional mono- or bilayer structure (approximately 10 or approximately 20 nm, respectively) the RIP membrane was 43+/-7 nm thick. Structural arrangement of the polymer chains on the RIP wall were characterized by using angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS). The interior portion of the vesicle membrane was found to be more polar, containing more recognition units, than the exterior part. This gradient suggests that a rapid self-sorting of polymers takes place during the formation of RIPs, providing the likely mechanism for vesicle self-assembly.     

Effect of External Electric Field on H‐Bonding and π‐Stacking Interactions in Guanine Aggregates

The structure and electronic properties of guanine oligomers and π stacks of guanine quartets (G‐quartets) with circulene are investigated under an external field through first‐principles calculations. An electric field induces nonplanarity in the guanine aggregates and also leads to an increase in the H‐bond distances. The calculations reveal that the binding energy of the circulenes with G‐quartets increases on application of an electric field along the stacking direction. The HOMO–LUMO gap decreases substantially under the influence of an external field. The contribution of a simple dipole–dipole interaction to the stability of the stacked system is also analyzed. The electric field along the perpendicular axis increases the dipole moments of the guanine dimer, trimer, and quartet. Such an increase in the dipole moment facilitates stacking with circulenes. The stability of G‐quartet–circulene π stacks depends on the phase of the dipole moment (in‐phase or out‐of‐phase) induced by an external electric field. The stability of stacks of bowl‐shaped circulenes with G‐quartets depends on the direction of the applied field.     

Dimeric capsules with a nanoscale cavity for [60]fullerene encapsulation

The acid-assisted and guest-induced formation of superstructures was achieved by the addition of haloacetic acids to a toluene solution of the resorcin[4]arene derivatives 1 and [60]fullerenes. The formation of dimeric superstructures that encapsulated a nanosized guest molecule was observed when appropriate acids, such as haloacetic acids, and suitable guest molecules, such as [60]fullerenes, were co-added to a toluene solution of cavitand 1 that has four pyridine units, whereas a complicated equilibrium between several species was detected without [60]fullerenes, and the formation of discrete superstructures was not monitored in the absence of haloacetic acids. The spectroscopic data indicate that the formed [60]fullerene-encapsulated complexes have the structure of 2. These complexes are self-assembled through pyridinium-anion-pyridinium interactions and by pi-pi and van der Waals interactions. The rate of decomplexation of 2 is estimated to be 3.1 s(-1) from a 2D exchange NMR spectrum. The [60]fullerene encapsulation process can be controlled by modifying the amounts of acids used, changing the temperature of the system, altering the ratio of acid/base, and even through varying the solvent polarity. Moreover, the fluorescence spectra show band-narrowing spectral changes and a retardation of the relaxation characteristics of isolated and isotropic [60]fullerenes, which indicates that the environmental change around [60]fullerene is induced upon its encapsulation.     

Hierarchical self-assembly of a bow-shaped molecule bearing self-complementary hydrogen bonding sites into extended supramolecular assemblies

The bow-shaped molecule 1 bearing a self-complementary DAAD-ADDA (D=donor A=acceptor) hydrogen-bonding array generates, in hydrocarbon solvents, highly ordered supramolecular sheet aggregates that subsequently give rise to gels by formation of an entangled network. The process of hierarchical self-assembly of compound 1 was investigated by the concentration and temperature dependence of UV-visible and (1)H NMR spectra, fluorescence spectra, and electron microscopy data. The temperature dependence of the UV-visible spectra indicates a highly cooperative process for the self-assembly of compound 1 in decaline. The electron micrograph of the decaline solution of compound 1 (1.0 mM) revealed supramolecular sheet aggregates forming an entangled network. The selected area electronic diffraction patterns of the supramolecular sheet aggregates were typical for single crystals, indicative of a highly ordered assembly. The results exemplify the generation, by hierarchical self-assembly, of highly organized supramolecular materials presenting novel collective properties at each level of organization.     

Evaluating the COSMO‐RS Method for Modeling Hydrogen Bonding in Solution

The ability of the Conductor‐like Screening Model for Realistic Solvation (COSMO‐RS) computational method to model hydrogen bond (HB) formation in solution is examined by comparing computational data with experimental data from literature. This is the first study of this kind where mixed solvents are also involved. Hydrogen bond formation is examined between neutral molecules, between acids and their anions, and between various anion receptor molecules and different anions in a number of aprotic solvents. HB formation equilibrium constants, the corresponding Gibbs’ free energies and, when available from the literature, enthalpies were calculated. The supermolecule (SM) approach and the contact probability (CP) approach were used. Both in the case of the SM and CP approach, good to very good correlations between the experiment and computations are found for complexes formed from neutral species, enabling quantitative predictions. When the HB acceptor is an anion, the correlations are poor and in some cases even qualitative predictions fail.     

Organic chlorine as a hydrogen-bridge acceptor: evidence for the existence of intramolecular O--H...Cl--C interactions in some gem-alkynols

The acceptor capabilities of "organic" halogen, CX (X=F, Cl, Br, I), with respect to hydrogen bonding are controversial, and unactivated organic chlorine is generally deemed to be a poor acceptor. Hydrogen bridges of the type O--H...Cl--C are uncommon and occur mainly in an intramolecular situation when the donor group is sterically hindered, so that the formation of intermolecular interactions is difficult. In this paper, intramolecular O--H...Cl--C interactions in a series of chloro-substituted gem-alkynols are studied. We describe various features of this interaction using crystallographic, spectroscopic and computational methods. The O--H...Cl--C interaction occurs in five of the six compounds under consideration here (CDDA, 14DDDA, 15DDDA, 18DDDA, 15MKA). Solution (1)H NMR spectroscopy shows that the interaction is intramolecular and that it is a true hydrogen bond. DFT calculations give a stabilisation energy around 4.0 kcal mol(-1). In the crystal structures of the compounds studied, the intramolecular O--H...Cl--C interactions fit into the overall scheme of cooperative interactions. These structures may be derived from that of the unsubstituted compound DDA by means of synthon exchange and the O--H...Cl--C interaction fares surprisingly well in the presence of competing stronger acceptors. The crystal structures show an unusual degree of modularity for compounds that generally form interactions that are weak and variable. It is noteworthy that the so-called "weak" acceptor, organic chlorine, is able to sustain a good intramolecular hydrogen bridge that is of an attractive and stabilizing nature and which is of potential importance in crystal engineering and supramolecular chemistry.     

Topological classification and supramolecular chirality of 21-helical ladder-type hydrogen-bond networks composed of primary ammonium carboxylates: bundle control in 21-helical assemblies

The supramolecular chirality of 1D ladder-type hydrogen-bond networks composed of primary ammonium carboxylates was determined based on topological considerations. Chirality in such networks is based on the absolute configuration of the primary ammonium cation, which arises from discrimination between the two oxygen atoms of the carboxylate anion. The configurations of the cations and anions generate topological diversity in the networks, which are classified into six subgroups. In the Cambridge Structural Database, salts based on ladder type 1 constitute over 70 % of salts with a 1D-ladder-type network. Ladder type 1, based on a 2(1)-axis, is not superimposable on its mirror image, which leads to the first definition of right- or left-handedness of 2(1)-helicity on the basis of supramolecular tilt chirality. Helical assemblies of 2(1)-type with triaxial chirality can be assembled in various ways to yield chiral bundles and crystals. On the basis of these considerations, we constructed clay mimic structures with several bundle patterns by connecting the hydrogen-bond networks by using bifunctional molecules. These results open up the possibility of in-depth crystal engineering based on hydrogen-bond topology.     

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.     

Self‐Assembly of a Highly Organized,Hexameric Supramolecular Architecture: Formation,Structure and Properties

Two derivatives, ³ L and ⁹ L , of a ditopic, multiply hydrogen‐bonding molecule, known for more than a decade, have been found, in the solid state as well as in solvents of low polarity at room temperature, to exist not as monomers, but to undergo a remarkable self‐assembly into a complex supramolecular species. The solid‐state molecular structure of ³ L , determined by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, revealed that it forms a highly organized hexameric entity ³ L ₆ with a capsular shape, resulting from the interlocking of two sets of three monomolecular components, linked through hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The complicated ¹H NMR spectra observed in o‐dichlorobenzene (o‐DCB) for ³ L and ⁹ L are consistent with the presence of a hexamer of D₃ symmetry in both cases. DOSY measurements confirm the hexameric constitution in solution. In contrast, in a hydrogen‐bond‐disrupting solvent, such as DMSO, the ¹H NMR spectra are very simple and consistent with the presence of isolated monomers only. Extensive temperature‐dependent ¹H NMR studies in o‐DCB showed that the L ₆ species dissociated progressively into the monomeric unit on increasing th temperature, up to complete dissociation at about 90 °C. The coexistence of the hexamer and the monomer indicated that exchange was slow on the NMR timescale. Remarkably, no species other than hexamer and monomer were detected in the equilibrating mixtures. The relative amounts of each entity showed a reversible sigmoidal variation with temperature, indicating that the assembly proceeded with positive cooperativity. A full thermodynamic analysis has been applied to the data.     

Self-assembly of folic acid derivatives: induction of supramolecular chirality by hierarchical chiral structures

Hierarchical chiral structures made up of dendritic oligo(L- or D-glutamic acid) moieties of folic acid derivatives induce supramolecular chirality in the self-assembled columnar structures of the folic acids. These folic acids self-assemble through the intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the pterin rings to form disklike tetramers. In the neat states, the stacked tetramers form thermotropic hexagonal columnar phases over wide temperature ranges, including room temperature. Addition of alkali metal salts induces chirality in the columnar phases. In dilute solution states in a relatively polar solvent (chloroform), the folic acid derivatives form non-chiral, self-assembled structures. In the presence of sodium triflate, the folic acid forms chiral columnar assemblies through the oligo(L-glutamic acid) moiety, similar to those formed in the liquid-crystalline (LC) states. The enantiomer of the folic acid induces columnar assemblies with reversed helicity. In the case of the diastereomer, no induced helicity is observed. Application of an apolar solvent (dodecane) drives the folic acid derivatives to form chiral assemblies in the absence of ions. In this case, lipophilic interactions promote nanophase segregation, which enhances the formation of chiral columns. Interestingly, the chiral supramolecular structure of the diastereomer induces the most intense circular dichroism. In both cases, the molecular chirality in the oligo(glutamate) moieties yields supramolecular chirality of the folic acids that self-assemble through cooperative molecular interactions.     

Control of hydrogen bond strengths through push-pull effects triggered by a remote reaction center: a theoretical study

In an effort to manipulate the bond strengths of hydrogen bonds, we have studied a three-component chemical system consisting of a reaction center, a conjugated bridge, and a hydrogen-bonding site. Protonation of the reaction center triggers intramolecular charge transfer from the hydrogen-bonding site, altering its affinity to bind to an acceptor. Previously, we had found that this communication (signal transduction) between the reaction center and the hydrogen-bonding site does not necessarily die out with increasing length of the conjugated bridge. In certain cases, this signal transduction is maintained-and even amplified-over long distances (I. Chao, T.-S. Hwang, Angew. Chem. 2001, 113, 2775-2777; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001, 40, 2703-2705). In this study we report the results of an extensive theoretical investigation of this problem to provide insights into this intriguing phenomenon. In the systems we investigated it was found that the push-pull process between the hydrogen-bonding site and the protonatable reaction center was mediated with the greatest facility by conjugated bridges with low-lying pi and pi* orbitals.     

Highly Sensitive Magnetic Effects Induced by Hydrogen‐Bonding Interactions in a High‐Spin Metallosupramolecular Fe4II [2×2] Grid‐Type Complex

A sensitive magnetic nanoprobe : Hydrogen‐bonding interactions are reflected with great sensitivity in the ¹H NMR spectra of a high‐spin multinuclear Fe₄^II [2×2] grid‐type complex (see scheme) and the measured shifts can be used to evaluate the hydrogen‐bond donating ability. The grid complex also represents a prototype of a very sensitive magnetic nanoreceptor for the detection of very small changes around a magnetic center.

     

Rational Modification of the Hierarchy of Intermolecular Interactions in Molecular Crystal Structures by Using Tunable Halogen Bonds

A family of 16 isomolecular salts (3‐XpyH)₂[MX′₄] (3‐XpyH=3‐halopyridinium; M=Co, Zn; X=(F), Cl, Br, (I); X′=Cl, Br, I) each containing rigid organic cations and tetrahedral halometallate anions has been prepared and characterized by X‐ray single crystal and/or powder diffraction. Their crystal structures reflect the competition and cooperation between non‐covalent interactions: N? H???X′? M hydrogen bonds, C? X???X′? M halogen bonds and π–π stacking. The latter are essentially unchanged in strength across the series, but both halogen bonds and hydrogen bonds are modified in strength upon changing the halogens involved. Changing the organic halogen (X) from F to I strengthens the C? X???X′? M halogen bonds, whereas an analogous change of the inorganic halogen (X′) weakens both halogen bonds and N? H???X′? M hydrogen bonds. By so tuning the strength of the putative halogen bonds from repulsive to weak to moderately strong attractive interactions, the hierarchy of the interactions has been modified rationally leading to systematic changes in crystal packing. Three classes of crystal structure are obtained. In type A (C? F???X′? M) halogen bonds are absent. The structure is directed by N? H???X′? M hydrogen bonds and π‐stacking interactions. In type B structures, involving small organic halogens (X) and large inorganic halogens (X′), long (weak) C? X???X′? M interactions are observed with type I halogen–halogen interaction geometries (C? X???X′ ≈ X???X′? M ≈155°), but hydrogen bonds still dominate. Thus, minor but quite significant perturbations from the type A structure arise. In type C, involving larger organic halogens (X) and smaller inorganic halogens (X′), stronger halogen bonds are formed with a type II halogen–halogen interaction geometry (C? X???X′ ≈180°; X???X′? M ≈110°) that is electrostatically attractive. The halogen bonds play a major role alongside hydrogen bonds in directing the type C structures, which as a result are quite different from type A and B.     

Hydrogen bonding and dynamic behaviour in crystals and polymorphs of dicarboxylic-diamine adducts: a comparison between NMR parameters and X-ray diffraction studies

Fumaric, malonic, maleic, and hydromuconic (HOOCCH2(CH)2CH2COOH) acids were used to prepare a series of hydrogen-bonded adducts or salts, depending on whether acid-base proton transfer takes place, with the dibase [N(muCH2CH2)3N] in various stoichiometric ratios. The resulting compounds have been investigated by using the 1H MAS, 15N, and 13C cross polarisation magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) methods and discussed in relation to X-ray diffraction studies to ascertain the nature of the O-HO, NH-O, and N+-HO- hydrogen bonds between the various species. In addition, two polymorphic forms of the malonic compound and a hydrate in the maleic case were examined. We also present the correlations between the chemical shifts of the hydrogen-bonded protons and those from the proton transfer reaction (acid-to-base) with the heavy atom distances. The dynamic behaviour in the solid-state of the [N(muCH2CH2)3N] adducts with fumaric 2:1, maleic 1:1 hydrate, and hydromuconic acids, and a malonate 2:1 polymorph adduct have been investigated by using variable-temperature 1H spin-lattice relaxation times. A substantial agreement between the activation energies obtained from fitting the T1 data and the results of potential energy barrier calculations demonstrates that the facile reorientation of the [N(muCH2CH2)3N] molecule occurs in several of the adducts.