Study of amphiphilic polyester micelles by hyper-rayleigh scattering: invertibility and phase transfer

For the first time, hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) of invertible polymeric micellar structures has been measured. HRS measurements on amphiphilic invertible polyesters with alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic fragments were carried out in solvents of differing polarity. The observed strong variation of the HRS signals is attributed to the switching behavior of the polyester micelles in the different solvents. The hyperpolarizabilities and the size of the micelles increased with decreasing polarity of the solvent. Observing the dynamics of the solubilization of an insoluble dye (malachite green) by the invertible polyester in toluene confirmed the possibility to reveal conformational changes in polyester macromolecules by HRS. In contrast to UV measurements which showed a continuous increase in absorbance and indicated overall solubilization of the dye, the HRS signals decreased after approaching a maximum value. The decrease of the HRS signals is attributed to the change of dye molecules' orientation within the micelles due to the change of polymeric conformation in toluene. The results have shown that HRS is sensitive to reorientation and ordering of the macromolecules and might become a powerful tool for studying polymer micellar structures as well as phase transfer processes at the nanoscale.     

Novel amphiphilic macromolecules and their in vitro characterization as stabilized micellar drug delivery systems

A series of amphiphilic macromolecules, amphiphilic scorpion-like macromolecules (AScMs) and amphiphilic star-like macromolecules (ASMs), were evaluated as potential drug delivery systems for intravenous administration. AScMs aggregate to form polymeric micelles; whereas the ASMs have a covalently bound core structure and behave as unimolecular micelles. Four structurally different AScMs and two ASMs were selected for further evaluation focusing on micellar stability and biocompatibility. AScMs were determined to have extremely low cmc values, indicating excellent thermodynamic stability compared to other polymeric micelle systems. Particle sizes of the AScM polymeric micelles and ASM unimolecular micelles were between 10 and 20 nm, and remained constant for up to 3 weeks storages as aqueous solutions at room temperature (approximately 23 degrees C) and 37 degrees C. The dissociation kinetics of the AScM polymeric micelles were slowed relative to small molecule surfactant micelles, again indicating enhanced kinetic stability. With respect to hemolytic activity, AScMs with longer acyl chains were hemolytic; whereas the ASMs had minimal hemolytic activity due to the covalently bound structure. Both ASM unimolecular micelles and AScM polymeric micelles have excellent micellar stability, but the ASMs are more suitable as injectable drug delivery systems due to their low hemolytic activity.     

Nanostructured micellar films formed via layer-by-layer deposition of photoactive polymer

Photoactive nanostructured micellar films were prepared from the amphiphilic copolymer poly(sodium styrenesulfonate- stat-2-vinylnaphthalene) (PSSS- stat-VN) and cationic polyelectrolyte poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) or poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) on quartz and silicon substrates via layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic self-assembly. The macromolecules of this amphiphilic copolymer adopt a coiled micellar conformation in aqueous solution that is preserved in the films as evidenced by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and spectroscopic studies. The hydrophobic domains present in the film can serve as host sites for various organic molecules. The probe molecules reside in those isolated nanosize domains. Their aggregation and quenching of their emission is eliminated. The experiments showed a regular growth of multilayer thickness and the content of solubilized compounds in the films. Thus, a defined amount of the hydrophobic compounds of interest may be introduced into these water-processable polymeric films. Some stratification of the films was induced by the presence of stiff nanoparticle-like micelles. That makes these films an important new material for studies of photoinduced energy and electron transfer.     

Controlling the melting of kinetically frozen poly(butyl acrylate-b-acrylic acid) micelles via addition of surfactant

We have studied the melting of polymeric amphiphilic micelles induced by small-molecule surfactant and explained the results by experimental determination of the interfacial tension between the core of the micelles and the surfactant solutions. Poly(n-butyl acrylate-b-acrylic acid) (PBA-b-PAA) amphiphilic diblock copolymers form kinetically frozen micelles in aqueous solutions. Strong interactions with surfactants, either neutral or anionic [C12E6, C6E4, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)], were revealed by critical micelle concentration (cmc) shifts in specific electrode and surface tension measurements. Since both polymer and surfactant are either neutral or bear negative charges, the attractive interactions are not due to electrostatic interactions. Light scattering, neutron scattering, and capillary electrophoresis experiments showed important structural changes in mixed PBA-b-PAA/surfactant systems. Kinetically frozen micelles of PBA-b-PAA, that are hardly perturbed by concentration, ionization, ionic strength, and temperature stresses, can be disintegrated by addition of small-molecule surfactants. The interfacial energy of the PBA in surfactant solutions was measured by drop shape analysis with h-PBA homopolymer drops immersed in small-molecule surfactant solutions. The PBA/water interfacial energy gammaPBA/H2O of 20 mN/m induces a high energy cost for the extraction of unimers from micelles so that PBA-b-PAA micelles are kinetically frozen. Small-molecule surfactants can reduce the interfacial energy gammaPBA/solution to 5 mN/m. This induces a shift of the micelle-unimer equilibrium toward unimers and leads, in some cases, to the apparent disintegration of PBA-b-PAA micelles. Before total disintegration, polymer/surfactant mixtures are dispersions of polydisperse mixed micelles. Based on core interfacial energy arguments, the disintegration of kinetically frozen polymeric micelles was interpreted by gradual fractionation of objects (polydisperse dispersion mechanism), whereas the disintegration of polymeric micelles in a thermodynamically stable state was interpreted by an exchange between a population of large polymer-rich micelles and a population of small surfactant-rich micelles (bidisperse dispersion mechanism). Finally, in our system and other systems from the literature, interfacial energy arguments could explain why the disintegration of polymer micelles is either partial or total as a function of the surfactant type and concentration and the hydrophobic block molar mass of the polymer.     

Chemical imaging of terrace-based active sites on gold

Scanning tunneling microscopy data of a mixed monolayer comprised of a 40:60 ratio of H8Si8O12 and C6H13-H7Si8O12 clusters on gold are presented. The images display a composite monolayer surface with well-defined domain regions of the individual components. Holes present at face-centered cubic (fcc) sites of the starting Au/H7Si8O12 adsorbate layer indicate the location of active sites for impinging C6H13-H7Si8O12 clusters. Adsorption of a C6H13-H7Si8O12 cluster likely yields a mobile hydrogen atom available to recombine with and desorb an adjacent H8Si8O12 cluster. Hydrogen atom diffusion along substrate [121] directions is the proposed pattern formation mechanism of the mixed monolayer. Imaging of the spherosiloxane cluster domains identifies a novel terrace-based active site located in the fcc regions of the Au(111) 23 x square root3 surface reconstruction.     

Nanostructure protein repellant amphiphilic copolymer coatings with optimized surface energy by Inductively Excited Low Pressure Plasma

Statistically designed amphiphilic copolymer coatings were deposited onto Thermanox, Si wafer, and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) substrates via Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate and diethylene glycol vinyl ether in an Inductively Excited Low Pressure Plasma reactor. Plasma deposited amphiphilic coatings were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Water Contact Angle techniques. The surface energy of the coatings can be adjusted between 12 and 70 mJ/m(2). The roughness of the coatings can be tailored depending on the plasma mode used. A very smooth coating was deposited with a CW (continuous wave) power, whereas a rougher surface with R(a) in the range of 2 to 12 nm was deposited with the PW (pulsed wave) mode. The nanometer scale roughness of amphiphilic PFDA-co-DEGVE coatings was found to be in the range of the size of the two proteins namely BSA and lysozyme used to examine for the antifouling properties of the surfaces. The results show that the statistically designed surfaces, presenting a surface energy around 25 mJ/m(2), present no adhesion with respect to both proteins measured by QCM.     

A double helix is the repeating unit in a luminescent calcium 5-aminoisophthalate supramolecular edifice with water-filled hexagonal channels

Calcium 5-aminoisophthalate {[Ca(AIP)(OH2)4](H2O)} proportional, variant (1), synthesized from Ca(OH)2 and H2AIP, exists as a double helix. Hydrogen-bonding interactions between metal-bound water molecules, carboxylate oxygen, and the -NH2 group result in the formation of a supramolecular assembly, where the double helices are connected to each other to form hexagonal channels filled with water molecules.     

Synthesis, structures and stabilities of thioanisole-functionalised phosphido-borane complexes of the alkali metals

Treatment of the secondary phosphine {(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}PH(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe) with BH(3)·SMe(2) gives the corresponding phosphine-borane {(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}PH(BH(3))(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe) (9) as a colourless solid. Deprotonation of 9 with n-BuLi, PhCH(2)Na or PhCH(2)K proceeds cleanly to give the corresponding alkali metal complexes [[{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}P(BH(3))(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe)]ML](n) [ML = Li(THF), n = 2 (10); ML = Na(tmeda), n = ∞ (11); ML = K(pmdeta), n = 2 (12)] as yellow/orange crystalline solids. X-ray crystallography reveals that the phosphido-borane ligands bind the metal centres through their sulfur and phosphorus atoms and through the hydrogen atoms of the BH(3) group in each case, leading to dimeric or polymeric structures. Compounds 10-12 are stable towards both heat and ambient light; however, on heating in toluene solution in the presence of 10, traces of free phosphine-borane 9 are slowly converted to the free phosphine {(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}PH(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe) (5) with concomitant formation of the corresponding phosphido-bis(borane) complex [{(Me(3)Si)(2)CH}P(BH(3))(2)(C(6)H(4)-2-SMe)]Li (14).     

Flattening a puckered cyclohexasilane ring by suppression of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect

We report the experimental and theoretical characterization of neutral Si(6)X(12) (X = Cl, Br) molecules that contain D(3d) distorted six-member silicon rings due to a pseudo-Jahn-Teller (PJT) effect. Calculations show that filling the intervenient molecular orbitals with electron pairs of adduct suppresses the PJT effect in Si(6)X(12), with the Si(6) ring becoming planar (D(6h)) upon complex formation. The stabilizing role of electrostatic and covalent interactions between positively charged silicon atoms and chlorine atoms of the subject [Si(6)Cl(14)](2-) dianionic complexes is discussed. The reaction of Si(6)Cl(12) with a Lewis base (e.g., Cl(-)) to give planar [Si(6)Cl(14)](2-) dianionic complexes presents an experimental proof that suppression of the PJT effect is an effective strategy in restoring high Si(6) ring symmetry. Additionally, the proposed pathway for the PJT suppression has been proved by the synthesis and characterization of novel compounds containing planar Si(6) ring, namely, [(n)Bu(4)N](2)[Si(6)Cl(12)I(2)], [(n)Bu(4)N](2)[Si(6)Br(14)], and [(n)Bu(4)N](2)[Si(6)Br(12)I(2)]. This work represents the first demonstration that PJT effect suppression is useful in the rational design of materials with novel properties.     

Self‐Assembly and (Hydro)gelation Triggered by Cooperative π–π and Unconventional CH⋅⋅⋅X Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

Weak C? H???X hydrogen bonds are important stabilizing forces in crystal engineering and anion recognition in solution. In contrast, their quantitative influence on the stabilization of supramolecular polymers or gels has thus far remained unexplored. Herein, we report an oligophenyleneethynylene (OPE)‐based amphiphilic Pt^II complex that forms supramolecular polymeric structures in aqueous and polar media driven by π–π and different weak C‐H???X (X=Cl, O) interactions involving chlorine atoms attached to the Pt^II centers as well as oxygen atoms and polarized methylene groups belonging to the peripheral glycol chains. A collection of experimental techniques (UV/Vis, 1D and 2D NMR, DLS, AFM, SEM, and X‐Ray diffraction) demonstrate that the interplay between different weak noncovalent interactions leads to the cooperative formation of self‐assembled structures of high aspect ratio and gels in which the molecular arrangement is maintained in the crystalline state.     

阴离子表面活性剂与聚丙烯酰胺间的相互作用

聚集体;阴离子表面活性剂与聚丙烯酰胺间的相互作用     

Density Functional Investigation of Methanethiol and Dimethyl Sulfide Adsorption on Zeolite

The density functional theory and cluster model methods have been employed to investigate the interactions between methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and zeolites. The molecular complexes formed by adsorption of methanethiol or dimethyl sulfide on silanol H3SiOSi(OH)2OSiH3 with five coordination forms or four coordination forms, and complexes formed by interactions of Bronsted acid sites of bridging hydroxyl H3Si(OH)Al(OH)2OSiH3 with methanethiol or dimethyl sulfide have been investigated. Full optimization and frequency analysis of all cluster models have been carried out using the B3LYP hybrid method at 6-31 G (d,p) basis set level for hydrogen, silicon, aluminum, oxygen, carbon, and sulfur atoms. The structures and energy changes of different coordination forms between methanethiol and H3Si(OH)Al(OH)2OSiH3, dimethyl sulfide and H3Si(OH)Al(OH)2OSiH3, methanethiol and H3SiOSi(OH)2OSiH3, dimethyl sulfide and H3SiOSi(OH)2OSiH3 complexes have been comparatively studied. The calculated results showed the nature of interactions that led to the formation of all complexes was van der Waals force confirmed by an insignificant change of geometric structures and properties. The conclusions that methanethiol and dimethyl sulfide molecules were adsorbed on bridging hydroxyl group prior to silanol group were obtained on the basis of adsorption heat, the most stable adsorption models of a 6 ring structure for interaction between bridging hydroxyl and methanethiol, and a 7 ring structure for interaction between bridging hydroxyl and dimethyl sulfide.     

Energy density analysis of cluster size dependence of surface-molecule interactions: H2, C2H2, C2H4, and CO adsorption onto Si(100)-(2x1) surface

Adsorption of H2, C2H2, C2H4, and CO onto a Si(100)-(2x1) surface has been treated theoretically using Si(12n - 3)H(8n + 4) (n = 1-4) clusters. The energy density analysis (EDA) proposed by Nakai has been adopted to examine surface-molecule interactions for different cluster sizes. EDA results for the largest model cluster Si45H36 have shown that the adsorption-induced energy density variation in Si atoms decays with distance from the adsorption site. Analysis of this decay, which can be carried out using the EDA technique, is important because it enables verification of the reliability of the model cluster used. In the cases of H2, C2H2, C2H4, and CO adsorption onto the Si(100)-(2x1) surface, it is found that at least a Si21H20 cluster is necessary to treat the surface-molecule interaction with chemical accuracy.     

Structural and optical properties of passivated silicon nanoclusters with different shapes: a theoretical investigation

Optimized geometries and electronic structures of hydrogenated silicon nanoclusters, which include the Td and Ih symmetries, have been generated by using the semiempirical AM1 and PM3 methods, the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP method with the 6-31G(d) and LANL2DZ basis sets from the Gaussian 03 package, and the local density functional approximation (LDA), which is implemented in the SIESTA package. The calculated diameters for these Td symmetric hydrogenated silicon nanoclusters are in the range from 6.61 A (Si5H12) to 23.24 A (Si281H172). For the Ih symmetry, we calculated Si20H20 and Si100H60 nanoclusters only. Theoretically, the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is size dependent. The calculated energy gap decreases (Si5H12: 7.65 eV to Si281H172: 3.06 eV) while the diameter of silicon nanocluster increases. By comparing different calculated results, we concluded that the calculated energy gap by B3LYP/6-31G(d)//LDA/SIESTA is close to that from experiment and that the LDA/SIESTA result underestimates the experimental value. On the contrary, the AM1 and PM3 results overestimate the experimental results. For investigation of the optical properties of Si nanoclusters as a function of surface passivation, we carried out a B3LYP/6-31G(d)//LDA/SIESTA calculation of the Si35 and Si47 core clusters with full alkyl-, OH-, NH2-, CH2NH2-, OCH3-, SH-, C3H6SH-, and CN- passivations. The calculated optical properties of alkyl passivated Si35 nanoclusters (Si35(CH3)36, Si35(C2H5)36, and Si35(C3H7)36) are close to one another and are higher than those of oxide, nitride, and sulfide passivated Si 35 clusters. In conclusion, the alkyl passivant affects weakly the calculated optical gaps, and the electron-withdrawing passivants generate a red-shift in the energy gap of silicon nanoclusters. A size-dependent effect is also observed for these passivated Si nanoclusters.     

DLVO and steric contributions to bacterial deposition in media of different ionic strengths

The deposition of eight bacterial strains on Teflon and glass in aqueous media with ionic strengths varying between 0.0001 and 1 M was measured and interpreted. Two types of interactions were considered: (1) those described by the DLVO theory, which comprise van der Waals attraction and electrostatic repulsion (bacteria and surfaces are both negatively charged); and (2) steric interactions between the outer cell surface macromolecules and the substrata. As a trend, at low ionic strength (<0.001 M), deposition is inhibited by DLVO-type electrostatic repulsion, but at high ionic strength (≥0.1 M) it is dominated by steric interactions. The ionic strength at which the transition from the DLVO-controlled to the sterically controlled deposition occurs, is determined by the extension of the macromolecules into the surrounding medium, which varied between 5 and 100 nm among the bacterial strains studied. The steric interactions either promote deposition by bridging or inhibit it by steric repulsion. Between Teflon and hydrophobic bacteria, bridging is generally observed. The surface of one bacterial strain contains amphiphilic macromolecules that form bridges with Teflon but induce steric repulsion on glass. The presence of highly polar anionic polysaccharide coatings on the cell impedes attachment on both glass and Teflon. For practice, the general conclusion is that the deposition of most bacteria is: (1) strongly inhibited by DLVO-type electrostatic repulsion in aqueous environments of low ionic strength such as rain water, streams and lakes; (2) controlled by DLVO and/or steric interactions in systems as domestic waste waters and saliva; and (3) determined by steric interactions only in more saline environments as milk, urine, blood and sea water.     

Anti-biofouling properties of comblike block copolymers with amphiphilic side chains

Surfaces of novel block copolymers with amphiphilic side chains were studied for their ability to influence the adhesion of marine organisms. The surface-active polymer, obtained by grafting fluorinated molecules with hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks to a block copolymer precursor, showed interesting bioadhesion properties. Two different algal species, one of which adhered strongly to hydrophobic surfaces, and the other, to hydrophilic surfaces, showed notably weak adhesion to the amphiphilic surfaces. Both organisms are known to secrete adhesive macromolecules, with apparently different wetting characteristics, to attach to underwater surfaces. The ability of the amphiphilic surface to undergo an environment-dependent transformation in surface chemistry when in contact with the extracellular polymeric substances is a possible reason for its antifouling nature. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) was used, in a new approach based on angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to determine the variation in chemical composition within the top few nanometers of the surface and also to study the surface segregation of the amphiphilic block. A mathematical model to extract depth-profile information from the normalized NEXAFS partial electron yield is developed.     

两亲无规聚合物的聚集行为及其与非离子表面活性剂的相互作用

以2-丙烯酰胺基-十二烷基磺酸(AMC12S)与2-丙烯酰胺基-2-甲基丙磺酸(AMPS)进行无规共聚,合成了含AMC12S摩尔分数(X)较高(X=0.1,0.3,0.5)的一系列两亲聚合物.采用稳态荧光及动态光散射技术对聚合物在水溶液中的聚集行为及其与三种非离子表面活性剂(HO(CH2CH2O)10C12H25(C12E10)、HO(CH2CH2O)20C12H25(C12E20)和HO(CH2CH2O)40C12H25(C12E40))的相互作用进行了研究,并考察了X对聚集行为的影响以及表面活性剂亲水基团长度对相互作用的影响.随着X的增大,聚合物的临界聚集浓度(CAC)明显减小,X=0.5时聚合物的CAC低达0.0039g·L-1.聚集体的流体力学半径(Rh)都大于26nm,并随着聚合物浓度的升高而增大,说明聚合物分子主要以分子间的聚集方式聚集,形成多分子聚集体.随X的增大,聚集体Rh减小,同时Rh随聚合物浓度升高而增大的幅度减小,说明聚集体结构变得更加紧实.表面活性剂与聚合物之间存在很强的相互作用,在混合溶液中表面活性剂浓度达到临界胶束浓度(CMC)左右时聚合物聚集体开始解离,形成混合聚集体.亲水基团长度增长,表面活性剂对聚合物聚集体的解离能力随之增强.C12E40与X=0.5的聚合物形成的混合聚集体Rh为6.8nm,与C12E40自身形成的聚集体尺寸相当.     

Synthesis,structure, and reactivity of sp carbon chains with bis(phosphine) pentafluorophenylplatinum endgroups: butadiynediyl (C4) through hexadecaoctaynediyl (C16) bridges,and beyond

The reaction of trans-[(C(6)F(5))(p-tol(3)P)(2)PtCl] (PtCl) and butadiyne (cat. CuI, HNEt(2)) gives trans-[(C(6)F(5))(p-tol(3)P)(2)Pt(Ctbond;C)(2)H] (PtC(4)H, 81 %), which reacts with excess HC(triple bond)CSiEt(3) under Hay coupling conditions (O(2), cat. CuCl/TMEDA, acetone) to yield PtC(6)Si (53 %). A solution of PtC(6)Si in acetone is treated with wet nBu(4)NF to generate PtC(6)H. The addition of ClSiMe(3) (F(-) scavenger) and then excess HC(triple bond)CSiEt(3) under Hay conditions gives PtC(8)Si (39 %). Hay homocouplings of PtC(4)H, PtC(6)H, and PtC(8)H (generated in situ analogously to PtC(6)H) yield PtC(8)Pt, PtC(12)Pt, and PtC(16)Pt (97-92 %). Reactions of PtC(4)H and PtC(6)H with PtCl (cat. CuCl, HNEt(2)) give PtC(4)Pt and PtC(6)Pt (69 %, 34 %). The attempted conversion of PtC(8)H to PtC(10)Si affords mainly PtC(16)Pt, with traces of PtC(20)Pt and PtC(24)Pt. The complexes PtC(x)Pt are exceedingly stable (dec pts 234 to 288 degrees C), and Et(3)P displaces p-tol(3)P to give the corresponding compounds Pt'C(8)Pt' and Pt'C(12)Pt' (94-90 %). The effect of carbon chain lengths upon IR nu(C(triple bond)C) patterns (progressively more bands), UV/Vis spectra (progressively red-shifted and more intense bands with epsilon >600 000 M(-1) cm(-1)), redox properties (progressively more difficult and less reversible oxidations), and NMR values are studied, and analyzed with respect to the polymeric sp carbon allotrope "carbyne". The crystal structure of PtC(12)Pt shows a dramatic, unprecedented degree of chain bending, whereas the chains in PtC(8)Pt, Pt'C(12)Pt', and PtC(16)Pt are nearly linear.     

Effect of interfacial molecular recognition of non-surface-active species on the main characteristics of monolayers

Recent progress in studies of the main characteristics of supramolecular assemblies formed by interfacial molecular recognition between an amphiphilic monolayer and a non-surface-active species, which is dissolved in the aqueous subphase, by complementary hydrogen bonding and/or electrostatic interaction at the air-water interface is reviewed. Systems consisting of an amphiphilic melamine-type monolayer and an pyrimidine derivative dissolved in the aqueous subphase are representative model systems for molecular recognition on the basis of complementary hydrogen bonding. Most of the studies have been performed with 2,4-di(n-undecylamino)-6-amino-1,3,5-triazine (2C11H23-melamine) monolayers as host component and thymine, uracil or barbituric acid as dissolved non-surface-active pyrimidine derivatives. The combination of surface pressure studies with Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) imaging and Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) measurements is optimal for the characterization of the change in structure and phase behavior at the interfacial recognition process. The molecular recognition of all pyrimidine derivatives dissolved in the aqueous subphase changes drastically and in a specific way the characteristic features (pi-A isotherms, morphology of the condensed phase domains) of the 2C11H23-melamine monolayer. The small condensed phase domains of the pure 2C11H23-melamine monolayer are compact without an inner texture. The monolayers of the supramolecular 2C11H23-melamine entities with thymine or uracil form specifically well-shaped condensed phase domains with an inner alkyl chain texture essentially oriented parallel to the periphery. The completely different morphology of the 2C11H23-melamine-barbituric acid monolayers is characterized by the formation of large homogeneous areas of condensed phase that transfer at smaller areas per molecule to a homogeneous condensed monolayer. The striking differences in the main characteristics between the supramolecular entities are related to their different chemical structures: complementary hydrogen bonding of two thymine or uracil molecules by one 2C11H23-melamine molecule and a linearly extended hydrogen bonding network between 2C11H23-melamine and barbituric acid. The high values of hydrogen bonding energy obtained by quantum chemical calculations on the basis of the semi-empirical PM3 method state the high stability of the supramolecular entities. The GIXD results reveal that the formation of hydrogen-bond based superstructures between the polar head groups of the amphiphilic 2C11H23-melamine monolayer and the non-surface-active pyrimidine derivatives gives rise only to quantitative changes in the two-dimensional lattice structure of the alkyl chains. The alternative possibility to construct interfacial molecular recognition systems on the basis of acid-base interaction is demonstrated by the experimental results obtained by molecular recognition of the heptadecyl-benzamidinium chloride monolayers with dissolved non-surface-active phenylacetate ions. The formation of supramolecular assemblies causes also drastical changes of the surface features in these systems. Here, the development of a substructure in the condensed phase domains consisting of long filigree strings and the favoured formation of bilayers overgrowing the strings indicates a linearly extended amidinium-carboxylate interfacial structure of the base and acid component in alternating sequence.     

Controlled aggregation of heterometallic nanoscale Cu12Ln6 clusters (Ln = Gd(III) or Nd(III)) into 2D coordination polymers

Discrete dinuclear and polymeric heterometallic copper(II)-lanthanide(III) complexes have been synthesized upon variation of pH and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Reactions of the ligand Htza (tetrazole-1-acetic acid) with copper(II) and lanthanide(III) salts gave dinuclear [CuLn(tza)4(H2O)5Cl] complexes at the low pH of 3.5 and 2D heterometallic coordination polymers with high-nuclearity [{Cu2(OH)2}2{Cu12Ln6(mu3-OH)24(Cl)(1/2)(NO3)(1/2)(tza)12(H2O)18}](NO3)(9).8H2O (Ln = Gd or Nd) at a higher pH of 6.6. The acidity of the reaction solution can cause drastic changes in the structures of the products. In the dinuclear complexes, each pair of adjacent dinuclear molecules is linked through hydrogen bonds and pi-pi stacking interactions, and the whole structure is a hydrogen-bonded three-dimensional cubic net. In the coordination polymers, the connecting nodes are [Cu12Ln6] units, which are interconnected by [Cu2O2] units into two-dimensional structures. Magnetic studies exhibit the existence of weak exchange interactions between the Cu(II) and Ln(III) ions bridged by carboxylate and hydroxy ligands.