Anion-responsive supramolecular gels

Supramolecular gels that change their state or structure in response to anion stimuli have been highlighted. Only a few examples exist of such supramolecular gels, the structures and properties of which can be controlled and modulated by interactions with anions. To form anion-responsive dimensionally-controlled organized structures, the constituent low-molecular-weight gelator molecules must act as anion receptors by possessing one or more of van der Waals interaction units (aliphatic chains), stacking pi planes, hydrogen-bonding sites, and metal-coordination units. This Concept focuses on the gelation and transition behaviors of amide- and urea-based anion-stimulated systems, metal-coordinated systems, and novel acyclic pi-conjugated oligopyrroles that act as "molecular flippers."     

Fabrication of palladium nanoparticles as effective catalysts by using supramolecular gels

Two-component supramolecular gels were made through self-assembly of tetrazolyl derivatives and Pd(OAc)₂. The robust gels indicated high storage modulus(>10,000 Pa) and loss modulus, which were studied by rheological measurements. The formed Pd nanoparticles(~9 nm) obtained during the formation of the gel showed effective catalytic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene and could be recovered and reused without loss of activity.     

Anions bonded on the supramolecular hydrogel surface as the growth center of biominerals

In this work, a supramolecular hydrogel formed from N,N',N'-tris(3-pyridyl)-trimesic amide was reported to serve as the matrix for the growth of biominerals. The organic hydrogel scaffold contains nitrogen heterocyclic ring and amide groups that can bind anions of the mineral (specially here, carbonate ions and phosphate ions) through hydrogen bonding interactions and act as the biomineralization active sites for growing biominerals. Calcium carbonate nucleated on the site of the hydrogel fiber where carbonate ions bonded and left obvious hydrogel fiber prints on the obtained product. Calcium phosphate grew into curved platelike nanostructures along the hydrogel fibrous network. XRD pattern and FT-IR spectra confirmed the formation of minerals on the hydrogel. The results indicate that the hydrogen bonding interaction can provide strong enough binding force for the growth of the minerals on organic scaffolds. Our finding extends the organic scaffolds into biodegradable small molecule hydrogels and also extends the growth centers of the minerals from conventional carboxylate groups binding Ca(2+) to amide and pyridyl groups binding PO(4)(3-).     

Modulating the properties of quadruple hydrogen bonded supramolecular polymers by photo-cross-linking between the coumarin moieties

Novel linear supramolecular polymers were successfully constructed by self-assemblies of coumarin-bridged bifunctional UPy derivative.Benefitting from the photodimerization ability of the coumarin moieties,the linear supramolecular polymers could form the large three-dimensional polymer networks upon UV light irradiation via photo-cross-linking,which provides a viable and alternative procedure to modulate the properties of supramolecular polymers.     

Recent advances in biocompatible supramolecular assemblies for biomolecular detection and delivery

Inspired by sophisticated biological structures and their physiological processes,supramolecular chemistry has been developed for understanding and mimicking the behaviors of natural species. Through spontaneous self-assembly of functional building blocks,we are able to control the structures and regulate the functions of resulting supramolecular assemblies.Up to now,numerous functional supramolecular assemblies have been constructed and successfully employed as molecular devices, machines and biological diagnostic platforms.This review will focus on molecular structures of functional molecular building blocks and their assembled superstructures for biological detection and delivery.     

Selective recognition of sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide by diaza-crown ether-capped Zn-porphyrin receptors in polar solvents

Two new ditopic porphyrin receptors Zn1, incorporating a diaza-15-crown-5 unit, and Zn2, incorporating a diaza-18-crown-6 unit, have been prepared and characterized. UV-vis study in polar methanol has revealed that Zn1 is able to selectively recognize sodium cyanide over potassium cyanide (the ratio of their binding constant is ca. 56), whereas Zn2 exhibits a higher binding affinity for potassium cyanide over sodium cyanide (the ratio of their binding constant is ca. 12). In contrast, both receptors display substantially weaker binding affinity for sodium thiocyanate and potassium thiocyanate presumably due to a monotopic binding fashion.     

Ammonium boranes for the selective complexation of cyanide or fluoride ions in water

With the recognition of aqueous fluoride and cyanide ions as an objective, we have investigated the anion binding properties of two isomeric ammonium boranes, namely [p-(Mes2B)C6H4(NMe3)]+ ([1]+) and [o-(Mes2B)C6H4(NMe3)]+ ([2]+). These cationic boranes, which could be obtained by reaction of the known 4- and 2-dimesitylboryl-N,N-dimethylaniline with MeOTf, have been investigated both experimentally and computationally. They both react with fluoride and cyanide ions in organic solvents to afford the corresponding fluoroborate/ or cyanoborate/ammonium zwitterions 1F, 1CN, 2F, and 2CN. In aqueous solution, however, these cationic boranes behave as remarkably selective receptors. Indeed, [1]+ only complexes cyanide ions while [2]+ only complexes fluoride ions. In H2O/DMSO 60:40 vol (HEPES 6 mM, pH 7), the cyanide binding constant of [1]+ and the fluoride binding constant of [2]+ are respectively equal to 3.9 (+/-0.1) x 108 and 910 (+/-50) M-1. Structural and computational studies indicate that both steric and electronic effects contribute to the unusual selectivity displayed by these cationic boranes. Owing to favorable Coulombic effects, the para-derivative [1]+ has a very high affinity for cyanide; yet these effects are not sufficiently intense to allow complexation of the more efficiently hydrated and less basic fluoride anion. In the case of the ortho-derivative [2]+, the proximity of the ammonium moiety leads to an increase in the Lewis acidity of the boron center thus making fluoride binding possible. However, steric effects prevent cyanide coordination to the boron center of [2]+. Finally, cation [1]+ and [2]+ bind their dedicated anions reversibly and show a negligible response in the presence of other common anions including Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3-, OAc-, H2PO4-, and HSO4-.     

An investigation of the complexation properties of cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) in water

This article reports the characterization of pseudorotaxanes fabricated from cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) 1, and 1,4-dialkyloxyphenyl derivative 2 or 1,5-dialkyloxynaphthalene derivative 3 in water. Addition of competing guest 3 to 1.2 or the electrochemical reduction of the cyclophane of 1.3 results in a dethreading of the original pseudorotaxane architecture.     

Investigation of the origin of selectivity in cavitand-based supramolecular sensors

The sensing properties of functionalized cavitands have been studied by thin-film coating TMSR chemical sensors and by measuring their responses towards model analytes. We studied the relationship between the sensor performance, in terms of sensitivity and selectivity, and the molecular recognition properties of the cavitands. The Langmuir-like shape of the adsorption isotherm, obtained in the case of short-chain alcohols, demonstrated that selective binding can be achieved by the synergistic interactions of the cavity and the bridging PO(in) groups. In the absence of these substituents, the peripheral alkyl chains necessary for the formation of highly permeable thin films attenuate the cavity effect because of nonspecific dispersion interactions. This completely overrides the response originating from molecular recognition. The same effect is observed when the PO groups are oriented outward from the cavity. The use of multivariate chemometrics and the study of the correlations between sensors sensitivity and analyte properties provided further evidence of molecular recognition phenomena, whose intensity is enhanced by the permanent free volume created by the rigid cavity surrounding the PO(in) group.     

Inclusion of water by a crown amide. First crystal structure of a respective host-guest combination

Crown amide (1) forms a stoicheiometric 1:1 inclusion complex with water, the X-ray crystal structure of which is reported. Crystals of1 · H₂O are triclinic, space groupP1, witha=7.503(1),b=11.394(3),c=13.443(2) Å, =107.066(18), =96.627(10), =106.377(14)°, andZ=2.R _F =0.039 for 1697 MoK reflections [I>3(I)] measured at 24°C. The structure features a hydrogen bonded hostguest relationship with concrete1 · H₂O units. Hydrogen bonds are between the water oxygen and O(4), N(4), respectively. The crystal packing shows a cavity arrangement of four ligands around each water molecule. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82055 (16 pages).     

Thermo-reversibility of the fluorescence enhancement of acridine orange induced by supramolecular self-assembly

Fluorescence enhancement of acridine orange (AO) in supramolecular hydrogels formed by self-assembly of the gelators 3-{[(2R)-2-(octadecylamino)-3-phenylpropanoyl]amino}butyrate (TC₁₈PheBu) and 1,3:2,4-di-O-benzylidene-d-sorbitol (DBS) was investigated by steady-state and varying temperature fluorescence, polarized fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. The results showed that the fluorescence intensities of AO in the gels remarkably increased in comparison with AO aqueous solutions, and increased with an increase of the gelator concentrations. The varying temperature fluorescence analysis indicated that fluorescence intensities of AO in the gels decreased upon an increase of temperature, and vice versa. This can be attributed to aggregation and dissociation of the gelators in the systems, since the fluorescence enhancement of AO was induced by self-assembly of the gelators. Polarized fluorescence analysis indicated that the values of anisotropy (r) of AO are significantly higher than that in water. This further confirmed that the three-dimensional network formed by the gelator aggregates constrained the rotation of AO entrapped within the gels, resulting in high values of anisotropy. Time-resolved fluorescence analysis indicated that the rates of fluorescence decay in the gels are lower than that in water. These results reveal thermo-reversibility of the fluorescence enhancement of AO in supramolecular hydrogels.     

Infrared spectroscopic study of the interactions of nylon‐6 with water

We studied the interactions of nylon‐6 with water by following the Fourier transform infrared spectra of a hydrated thin film during dehydration. Very small changes in the spectra caused by the interactions were clearly revealed by the application of spectral subtraction. The water was found to interact with amide groups to form hydrogen bonds with non‐hydrogen‐bonded or free C?O and NH groups in the amorphous portion in the first hydration sphere. This was deduced from an analysis of minus and plus peaks appearing around the absorptions of the NH stretching, amide I band, and amide II bands in the difference spectra between the spectra during dehydration and the one at the most dehydration. The interactions of the amide groups with water were significantly stronger than the hydrogen bond between CO and NH in the crystalline portion, according to the magnitude of the frequency shift of relevant bands. Water, as the interacting counterpart, showed a distorted OH stretching absorption with two close peaks at about 3450 cm^?1. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1722–1729, 2003     

Progress of 3-aminopyridine-based amide,urea, imine and azo derivatives in supramolecular gelation

Supramolecular gels derived from low molecular weight gelators are considered to be fascinating soft and smart materials. Gelators of this class form gel networks involving noncovalent interactions and show various applications in many areas. The structural softness and the arrangement of the gelator molecules in the aggregated state have the collaborative effect to intensify the properties of the molecules for their potential applications in material chemistry. Of the various properties, stimulus responsibility is a desired property of supramolecular gel that finds profound application in sensing. In this review, a comprehensive summary of the work on 3-aminopyridine-based amide, urea, imine and azo gelators of different architectures indicating their different uses in supramolecular chemistry has been focused.     

A novel fluorescent and chromogenic probe for cyanide detection in water based on the nucleophilic addition of cyanide to imine group

A fluorescent and colorimetric probe bearing salicylaldehyde hydrazone functionality has been prepared for cyanide sensing. The detection of cyanide was performed via the nucleophilic attack of cyanide anion on the imine group of the probe with a 1:1 binding stoichiometry, which could be confirmed by ¹H NMR and MS studies. The specific reaction results in a prominent fluorescence enhancement and a color change from colorless to yellow.     

Fluorescent chemodosimeter for selective detection of cyanide in water

A coumarin-based fluorescent chemodosimeter with a salicylaldehyde functionality as a binding site has been developed for selective detection of cyanide anions over other anions in water at biological pH.     

Highly sensitive detection of ATPase activity in native gels

Native electrophoresis is a powerful tool for the separation of intact protein complexes. By incubating such gels in a suitable reaction solution, specific enzyme activities can be screened comprehensively. The recent standard procedure for determination of ATP hydrolysis activity in blue or clear native gels is based on formation of a lead phosphate precipitate. The resulting white bands are challenging for detection and documentation of low activities. For the analysis of photosynthetic ATP synthases, the method has to be adapted to deregulate the inhibition of latent ATPase functions. Therefore, we introduced an incubation of gels in detergent solution, whereby taurodeoxycholate turned out to be the most efficient activator. In order to detect low ATPase activities, a short additional incubation step subsequent to the formation of lead phosphate is recommended. By adding ammonium sulfide, the white bands are converted into brownish‐black bands of lead sulfide. Our new procedure sustains the linear quantitation range of the original lead phosphate protocol and moreover expands the detection limit.     

Boronic acids in the design and synthesis of supramolecular assemblies

Supramolecular assemblies of phenylboronic and 4-methoxyphenylboronic acids with 4,4^′-bipyridine and an assembly of phenylboronic acid with 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene, which were obtained due to the formation of O-H?N hydrogen bonds between hetero N-atoms and -B(OH)₂ are reported. Further, a centrosymmetric cyclic C-H?O hydrogen bonding dimer is identified in the crystal structure of 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid.     

Study on the formation of a supramolecular conjugated graft copolymer in solution

The formation in solution of a supramolecular graft copolymer bearing conjugated blocks is demonstrated using diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY). A tailor‐made poly(3‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophene) (P3EHT) with a phenol end group is synthesized. For this purpose, the chain‐growth mechanism of the polymerization of 2‐bromo‐5‐chloromagnesio‐3‐alkylthiophenes in the presence of a Ni(dppp) catalyst (dppp = 1,3‐bis(triphenylphosphino)propane) is exploited, as it enables the use of functionalized initiators to introduce specific end groups. The so‐obtained polythiophene was subsequently mixed in solution with poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) to enable phenol‐pyridine hydrogen bonding. The formation of the supramolecular graft copolymer is studied using DOSY‐measurements. Based on the results thereof, the amount of P3EHT attached to the P4VP is calculated and the association constant of the hydrogen bond is estimated. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 804–809     

Our expedition in the construction of fluorescent supramolecular metallacycles

This review summarized our efforts in the development of fluorescent supramolecular metallacycles.