Active Metal Template Synthesis and Characterization of a Nanohoop [c2]Daisy Chain Rotaxane

Molecules and materials that demonstrate large amplitude responses to minor changes in their local environment play an important role in the development of new forms of nanotechnology. Molecular daisy chains are a type of a mechanically interlocked molecule that are particularly sensitive to such changes in which, in the presence of certain stimuli, the molecular linkage enables muscle-like movement between a reduced-length contracted form and an increased-length expanded form. To date, all reported syntheses of molecular daisy chains are accomplished via passive-template methods, resulting in a majority of structures being switchable only through the addition of an exogenous stimuli such as metal ions or changes in pH. Here, we describe a new approach to these structural motifs that exploits a multi-component active-metal template synthesis to mechanically interlock two pi-rich nanohoop macrocycles into a molecular daisy chain that undergoes large conformational changes using thermal energy.     

Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of Supramolecular Muscle‐Like Fibers

An acid–base switchable [c2]daisy chain rotaxane terminated with two 2,6‐diacetylamino pyridine units has been self‐assembled with a bis(uracil) linker. The complementary hydrogen‐bond recognition patterns, together with lateral van der Waals aggregations, result in the hierarchical formation of unidimensional supramolecular polymers associated in bundles of muscle‐like fibers. Microscopic and scattering techniques reveal that the mesoscopic structure of these bundles depends on the extended or contracted states that the rotaxanes show within individual polymer chains. The observed local dynamics span over several length scales because of a combination of supramolecular and mechanical bonds. This work illustrates the possibility to modify the hierarchical mesoscopic structuring of large polymeric systems by the integrated actuation of individual molecular machines.     

Supramolecular gelator based on a [c2]daisy chain rotaxane: efficient gel-solution transition by ring-sliding motion

A supramolecular gelator based on the bistable [c2]daisy chain rotaxane is designed and synthesized. The reversible actuation of the [c2]daisy chain renders the formed supramolecular gel with acid/base-responsive switching between gel and monomer solution. The efficient switching process is attributed to the ring-sliding effect of the rotaxane in response to acid/base stimuli.The ring-inhibited hydrogen bonding stacking results in a nearly quantitatively disassembly of the gel network after addition of base which is hard to be realized by traditional heating strategy in hydrogen-bonding-supported gel.     

Cyclodextrin-Based [c2]Daisy Chain Rotaxane Insulating Two Diarylacetylene Cores

A [c2]daisy chain rotaxane with two diarylacetylene cores was efficiently synthesized in 53 % yield by capping a C₂-symmetric pseudo[2]rotaxane composed of two diarylacetylene-substituted permethylated α-cyclodextrins (PM α-CDs) with aniline stoppers. The maximum absorption wavelength of the [c2]daisy chain rotaxane remained almost unchanged in various solvents, unlike that of the stoppered monomer, indicating that the two independent diarylacetylene cores were insulated from the external environment by the PM α-CDs. Furthermore, the [c2]daisy chain rotaxane exhibited fluorescence emission derived from both diarylacetylene monomers and the excimer, which implies that the [c2]daisy chain structure can undergo contraction and extension. This is the first demonstration of a system in which excimer formation between two π-conjugated molecules within an isolated space can be controlled by the unique motion of a [c2]daisy chain rotaxane.     

Aqueous Assembly of Zwitterionic Daisy Chains

The synthesis and characterization of zwitterionic molecular [c2]- and [a2]-daisy chains are described, relying on recognition of a positively charged cyclophane and a negatively charged oligo(phenylene-ethynylene) (OPE) rod in aqueous medium. For this purpose, syntheses of an acetylene-functionalized macrocyclic receptor and a water-soluble OPE-rod as the guest component are presented, from which a heteroditopic daisy chain monomer was prepared. This monomer aggregated strongly in water/methanol 4:1 and formed molecular daisy chains, which were isolated as interlocked species from a stoppering reaction at 1 mm concentration. The cyclic dimer [c2] was the main product with an isolated yield of 30 % and consisted of a mixture of diastereomers, as evidenced by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Supramolecular daisy chains

Two series of self-complementary daisy chain monomers, in which a secondary ammonium ion-containing arm is grafted onto a macrocycle with either a [24]- or [25]crown-8 constitution, have been synthesized. In the solid- and 'gas'-phases, the parent [24]crown-8-based monomer forms dimeric superstructures, as revealed by X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry, respectively. Elucidation of the complicated solution-phase behavior of this compound was facilitated by the synthesis and study of both deuterated, and fluorinated, analogues. These investigations revealed that the cyclic dimeric superstructure also dominates in solution, except when extremes of either concentration (low), temperature (high), or solvent polarity (highly polar, e.g., dimethyl sulfoxide) are employed. Whereas, upon aggregation, the [24]crown-8-based daisy chain monomers have the capacity to form stereoisomeric superstructures further complicating the study of this series of compounds. The assembly of [25]crown-8-based monomers gives only achiral superstructures. The weaker association exhibited between secondary dialkylammonium ions and crown ethers with a [25]crown-8 constitution, however, resulted in limited oligomerization--only dimeric and trimeric superstructures were formed at experimentally attainable concentrations--of [25]crown-8-based daisy chain monomers.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of monodisperse/bidisperse polymer melt crystallization

We use large scale coarse‐grained molecular dynamics simulations to study the kinetics of polymer melt crystallization. For monodisperse polymer melts of several chain lengths under various cooling protocols, we show that short chains have a higher terminal crystallinity value compared to longer ones. They align at the early stages and then cease evolving. Long chains, however, align, fold into lamella structures and then slowly optimize their dangling ends for the remaining simulation time. We then identify the mechanism behind bidisperse blend crystallization. To this end, we introduce a new algorithm (called Individual Chain Crystallinity) that allows the calculation of the crystallinity separately for short and long chains in the blend. We find that, in general, bidispersity hinders crystallization significantly. At first the crystallinity of the long chain components exceeds that of the monodisperse melt, but subsequently falls below the corresponding monodisperse melt curve after a certain “crossover time.” The time of the crossover can be attributed to the time required for the full crystallization of the short chains. This indicates that at the early stages the short chains are helping long chains to crystallize. However, after all short chains have crystallized they start to hinder the crystallization of the long chains by obstructing their motion. Lastly, polymer crystallization upon various thermodynamic protocols is studied. Slower cooling is found to increase the crystallinity value. Upon an instantaneous deep quench and subsequent isothermal relaxation, the crystallinity grows rapidly with time at early stages and subsequently saturates. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2318–2326     

Bioinspired Actuators Based on Stimuli‐Responsive Polymers

Organisms exhibit strong environmental adaptability by controllably adjusting their morphologies or fast locomotion; thus providing constant inspiration for scientists to develop artificial actuators that not only have diverse and sophisticated shape‐morphing capabilities, but can also further transfer dynamic and reversible shape deformations into macroscopic motion under the following principles: asymmetric friction, the Marangoni effect, and counteracting forces of the surrounding conditions. Among numerous available materials for fabricating bioinspired artificial actuators, stimuli‐responsive polymers are superior in their flexible features and the ability to change their physicochemical properties dynamically under external stimuli, such as temperature, pH, light, and ionic strength. Herein, different mechanisms, working principles, and applications of stimuli‐responsive polymeric actuators are comprehensively introduced. Furthermore, perspectives on existing challenges and future directions of this field are provided.     

Capturing a [c2]daisy chain using the threading-followed-by-swelling approach

We have used the "threading-followed-by-swelling" approach to fix a daisy chain structure in solution, leading to the isolation of a captured [c2]daisy chain in 77% yield.     

Evaluation of the Chain Length Distribution in Free‐Radical Polymerization, 1. Bulk Polymerization

A method for the direct computation of the chain length distribution in a bulk polymerization is developed, based on the discretization procedure introduced by Kumar and Ramkrishna (Chem. Eng. Sci. 1996 , 51, 1311) in the context of particle size distribution. The overall distribution of chain lengths is partitioned into a finite number of classes which are supposed to be concentrated at some appropriate pivotal chain lengths. Several of the involved reactions lead to the formation of chain whose length differs from the pivotal values. Rules have been introduced in order to share chains between two contiguous classes, which have been designed so as to preserve two well‐defined properties of the distribution, such as, for example, two of its moments. The method has been applied to a polymerization system including propagation, bimolecular terminations and two different chain branching mechanisms: chain transfer to polymer and crosslinking. In addition, complex systems such as one with chain length‐dependent kinetic constants or a two‐dimensional distribution of chain length and number of branches have been considered.     

Daisy chain assembly formed from a cucurbit[6]uril derivative

The building block synthesis of a derivative of CB[6] that bears a reactive propargyloxy group and its functionalization by click chemistry to yield 1 which contains a covalently attached isobutylammonium group is presented. Compound 1 undergoes self-assembly to yield a cyclic [c2] daisy chain assembly (1(2)) in water. The behavior of 1(2) in response to various stimuli (e.g., guests and CB[n] receptors) is described.     

Equilibrium statistics of weakly slip‐linked Gaussian polymer chains

We calculate the free energy and the pressure of a weakly slip‐linked Gaussian polymer chains. We show that the equilibrium statistics of a slip‐linked system is different from one of the corresponding ideal chain system without any constraints by slip‐links. It is shown that the pressure of a slip‐linked system decreases compared with the ideal system, which implies that slip‐linked chains spontaneously form aggregated cluster‐like compact structures. These are qualitatively consistent with previous theoretical analyses or multichain simulations. We also show that repulsive potentials between chains, which have been phenomenologically utilized in simulations, can cancel the artificial pressure decrease. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Establishing Communication Between Artificial Cells

Communication between artificial cells is essential for the realization of complex dynamical behaviors at the multi-cell level. It is also an important prerequisite for modular systems design, because it determines how spatially separated functional modules can coordinate their actions. Among others, molecular communication is required for artificial cell signaling, synchronization of cellular behaviors, computation, group-level decision-making processes and pattern formation in artificial tissues. In this review, an overview of various recent approaches to create communicating artificial cellular systems is provided. In this context, important physicochemical boundary conditions that have to be considered for the design of the communicating cells are also described, and a survey of the most striking emergent behaviors that may be achieved in such systems is given.     

Toward Daisy Chain Polymers: "Wittig Exchange" of Stoppers in

Two ammonium ion/crown ether-based [2]rotaxane monomers-each incorporating (i) a dumbbell-shaped component, possessing an exchangeable benzylic triphenylphosphonium stopper, and (ii) a ring component, bearing an aldehyde function-undergo a sequence of Wittig reactions in which the surrogate triphenylphosphonium stopper is exchanged for a ring component either (i) in the same rotaxane molecule to give cyclic daisy chains by an intramolecular, chain-terminating reaction or (ii) in another rotaxane molecule to give acyclic daisy chains by an intermolecular chain-propagating reaction.     

拉伸分子动力学方法研究高分子单链的吸附现象

采用拉伸分子动力学方法研究聚乙烯单链从一个强吸附表面被拉伸的动力学过程.当聚乙烯单链被拉伸时,从理想弹簧测量到的平均力与形变的曲线上出现了一个力的平台,这与实验结果非常一致.在研究这个平台力与拉伸速度的关系时发现,当速度v<0.001 nm/ps时,不随速度的变化而变化;当速度v>0.001 nm/ps时,随着拉伸速度的增加而迅速上升,这表明拉伸速度0.001 nm/ps是平衡态拉伸和非平衡态拉伸的临界点,并与链长无关.按顺序拉伸和释放这条链,观察到有趣的力回滞现象,并与实验结果进行了比较.     

Arginine Side Chains as a Dispersant for Individual Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Charged peptides and proteins disperse single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in aqueous solutions. However, little is known about the role of their side chains in their interactions with SWCNTs. Homopolypeptide–SWCNT systems are ideal for investigating the mechanisms of such interactions. In this study, we demonstrate that SWCNTs are individually dispersed by poly‐L ‐arginine (PLA). The debundled SWCNTs exhibited a distinct fluorescence. The dispersibility of SWCNTs with PLA was greater than that of SWCNTs with poly‐L ‐lysine (PLL). Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the side chains of PLA have stronger interactions with the sidewalls of SWCNTs compared with those of PLL. The guanidinium group at the end of the side chain of an arginine residue plays an important role in the interaction with SWCNTs, likely through hydrophobic, van der Waals, and π–π interactions. PLA can be useful as a tool for the dispersion of SWCNTs and can be used to non‐covalently anchor materials to SWCNTs with strong binding.     

An hermaphroditic [c2]daisy chain

A cyclic dimeric daisy chain compound, which has been assembled from a disfunctional [2]rotaxane in a sequence of noncovalent and covalent synthetic steps, the most important of which is a bis-Wittig reaction, has been characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

Optically Active Polysilylenes: State‐of‐the‐Art Chiroptical Polymers

Controlled synthesis, chiroptical characterization, and manipulation of artificial helical polymers are challenging issues in modern polymer stereochemistry. Although many artificial polymers adopting a preferential screw‐sense helical structure have been investigated, optically active polysilylenes bearing chiral side chains may be among the most suitable to elucidate the inherent nature of the helical structure, since these polymers offer powerful spectroscopic probes as a result of their ideal chromophoric and fluorophoric main chain properties around 300–330 nm. The present paper will review comprehensively the helix‐property‐functionality relationship between side chain structure, global and local main chain conformation, (chir)optical properties, electronic properties, several helical cooperative phenomena, the effects of temperature and solvent polarity, and molecular imaging. This knowledge and understanding of the nature of the polysilylene helix might constitute a bridge between artificial polymers and biopolymers and will assist in designing and controlling new types of helical polymers directed to diverse screw‐sense‐related properties and applications in the future.     

The mechanism and a slip model for the initial plastic deformation of amorphous polyethylene under uniaxial tension

The mechanical behaviors of a polyethylene (PE) bulk consisting of amorphous molecular chains under uniaxial tension have been explored using molecular simulations. The stress–strain relationship and the plastic deformations of the PE bulk have been analyzed. Two deformation stages were found in the stress–strain curve, the elastic stage with a straight linear part of the curve and the plastic stage with a flat sawtooth‐like part. The Young's modulus calculated from the elastic part is in good agreement with experimental results. Some key parameters such as the energy variations in different terms reveal that the interchain slip should be chiefly responsible for the initial plastic deformations of amorphous PE under uniaxial tension. In order to address how this slip influences the plastic deformations, the mechanical details of a single chain have been elucidated when it was pulled out from two PE clusters consisting of regular and amorphous chains, respectively. The interchain slip, found as the basic movement style, is responsible for the movement of the stretched chain. Both the critical slip force and the critical slip length have been found in these two cases. For the straight chain pulled out from the cluster with regular chains, the critical slip force is about 1.81 nN and the critical slip length is about 40 polymerization degrees. While for the chain in the amorphous cluster, the critical force is about 0.86 nN and the critical length is almost the same. Based on the simulation results, a meso slip model has been deduced to explain the behaviors of the amorphous PE bulk under uniaxial tension. With reference to the slip model of single crystals and polycrystals a constitutive relation was obtained by considering the Young's modulus, the equivalent slip stress and the average orientation parameters of each chain. The comparison of the results from the constitutive relation and the simulations proves that this model does well in predicting the mechanical behaviors of amorphous PE under uniaxial tension in general. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 986–998     

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites: Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization with Acidic Monomers

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are artificial receptors which can be tailored to bind target molecules specifically. A new method, using photoinitiated atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) for their synthesis as monoliths, thin films and nanoparticles is described. The synthesis takes place at room temperature and is compatible with acidic monomers, two major limitations for the use of ATRP with MIPs. The method has been validated with MIPs specific for the drugs testosterone and S‐propranolol. This study considerably widens the range of functional monomers and thus molecular templates which can be used when MIPs are synthesized by ATRP, as well as the range of physical forms of these antibody mimics, in particular films and lithographic patterns, and their post‐functionalization from living chain‐ends.