Introducing Chirality into Nonionic Dendritic Amphiphiles and Studying Their Supramolecular Assembly

Chiral head groups have been introduced into water‐soluble hydroxyl‐terminated nonionic amphiphiles and the impact of the head group stereochemistry on the supramolecular ultrastructures has been studied. Enantiomeric isomers were compared with the achiral meso form and the racemic mixture by means of cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Structurally, all amphiphiles are composed of the first‐generation hydrophilic polyglycerol head group coupled to a single hydrophobic hexadecyl chain through an amide linkage and diaromatic spacer. The enantiomers aggregate to form twisted ribbons with uniform handedness, whereas the meso stereoisomer and racemic mixture produce elongated assemblies, namely, tubules and platelets, but without a chiral ultrastructure. Simulations on the molecular packing geometries of the stereoisomers indicate different preferential assembly routes that explain the individual supramolecular aggregation behavior.     

Self‐Assembly of Fivefold‐Symmetric Molecules on a Threefold‐Symmetric Surface

Buckybowls : The adsorption of penta‐tert‐butylcorannulene, a molecule with fivefold symmetry, on Cu(111), a surface with threefold symmetry, is investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy complemented by structure calculations. The symmetry mismatch is resolved by the formation of threefold‐symmetric subunits consisting of three molecules, which combine with single molecules to form a nearly perfect filling of the plane (see picture).

     

Self‐Assembly of Pyridinium‐Tailored Anthracene Amphiphiles into Supramolecular Hydrogels

The mixing of a polyacid cross‐linker with a pyridinium‐functionalized anthracene amphiphile afforded a supramolecular hydrogel through a self‐assembly process that was primarily driven by π‐stacking and electrostatic interactions.     

Importance of the Anchor Group Position (Para versus Meta) in Tetraphenylmethane Tripods: Synthesis and Self‐Assembly Features

The efficient synthesis of tripodal platforms based on tetraphenylmethane with three acetyl‐protected thiol groups in either meta or para positions relative to the central sp³ carbon for deposition on Au (111) surfaces is reported. These platforms are intended to provide a vertical arrangement of the substituent in position 4 of the perpendicular phenyl ring and an electronic coupling to the gold substrate. The self‐assembly features of both derivatives are analyzed on Au (111) surfaces by low‐temperature ultra‐high‐vacuum STM, high‐resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and reductive voltammetric desorption studies. These experiments indicated that the meta derivative forms a well‐ordered monolayer, with most of the anchoring groups bound to the surface, whereas the para derivative forms a multilayer film with physically adsorbed adlayers on the chemisorbed para monolayer. Single‐molecule conductance values for both tripodal platforms are obtained through an STM break junction experiment.     

Chaotropic‐Anion‐Induced Supramolecular Self‐Assembly of Ionic Polymeric Micelles

Traditional micelle self‐assembly is driven by the association of hydrophobic segments of amphiphilic molecules forming distinctive core–shell nanostructures in water. Here we report a surprising chaotropic‐anion‐induced micellization of cationic ammonium‐containing block copolymers. The resulting micelle nanoparticle consists of a large number of ion pairs (≈60 000) in each hydrophobic core. Unlike chaotropic anions (e.g. ClO₄^?), kosmotropic anions (e.g. SO₄^2?) were not able to induce micelle formation. A positive cooperativity was observed during micellization, for which only a three‐fold increase in ClO₄^? concentration was necessary for micelle formation, similar to our previously reported ultra‐pH‐responsive behavior. This unique ion‐pair‐containing micelle provides a useful model system to study the complex interplay of noncovalent interactions (e.g. electrostatic, van der Waals, and hydrophobic forces) during micelle self‐assembly.     

A Trimer of Ultrafast Nanomotors: Synthesis,Photochemistry and Self‐Assembly on Graphite

Lightning quick! A new ultrafast light‐driven molecular motor was developed, which was readily incorporated into a larger trimeric system. The trimer of these motors was studied with STM and at the interface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and 1‐phenyloctane the molecules form stable arrays in which the chirality of the trimer is expressed on both the molecular and the supramolecular level (see figure).

     

Imine‐Based Architectures at Surfaces and Interfaces: From Self‐Assembly to Dynamic Covalent Chemistry in 2D

Within the last two decades, dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) has emerged as an efficient and versatile strategy for the design and synthesis of complex molecular systems in solution. While early examples of supramolecularly assisted covalent synthesis at surfaces relied strongly on kinetically controlled reactions for post‐assembly covalent modification, the DCC method takes advantage of the reversible nature of bond formation and allows the generation of the new covalently bonded structures under thermodynamic control. These structurally complex architectures obtained by means of DCC protocols offer a wealth of solutions and opportunities in the generation of new complex materials that possess sophisticated properties. In this focus review we examine the formation of covalently bonded imine‐based discrete nanostructures as well as one‐dimensional (1D) polymers and two‐dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) physisorbed on solid substrates under various experimental conditions, for example, under ultra‐high vacuum (UHV) or at the solid–liquid interface. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to gain insight, with a sub‐nanometer resolution, into the structure and properties of those complex nanopatterns.     

Self‐Assembly of Tyrosine into Controlled Supramolecular Nanostructures

In the context of designing novel amino acid nanostructures, the capacity of tyrosine alone to form well‐ordered structures under different conditions was explored. It was observed that Tyr can self‐assemble into well‐defined morphologies when deposited onto surfaces for transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The influence of various parameters that can modulate the self‐assembly process, including concentration of the amino acid, aging time, and solvent, was studied. Different supramolecular architectures, including nanoribbons, branched structures, and fern‐like arrangements were also observed.     

Torands Revisited: Metal Sequestration and Self‐Assembly of Cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline Hexaaza Macrocycles

A series of novel toroidal cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline macrocycles with an unusual hexaaza cavity are reported. Nickel‐mediated Yamamoto aryl–aryl coupling was found to be a versatile tool for the cyclotrimerization of functionalized 1,10‐phenathroline precursors. Due to the now improved processability, both liquid‐crystalline behavior in the bulk phase and two‐dimensional self‐assembly at the molecular level could be studied, for the first time, for a torand system. The macrocycles exhibited a strong affinity for the complexation of different metal cations, as evidenced by MALDI‐TOF analysis and spectroscopic methods. Experimental results were correlated to an extensive computational study of the cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline cavity and its binding mode for metal cations. Due to the combination of several interesting features, toroidal macrocycles may find future applications in the field of ion and charge transport through molecular channels, as well as for chemical sensing and molecular writing in surface‐confined monolayers under STM conditions.