Visualization of various supramolecular assemblies of oligo(para-phenylenevinylene)-melamine and perylene bisimide

A melamine derivative has been covalently equipped with two oligo(para-phenylenevinylene) (OPV) chromophores. This procedure yields a bifunctional molecule with two hydrogen-bonding arrays available for complementary binding to perylene bisimide derivatives. Depending on the solvent, hydrogen-bonded trimers, tetramers, and dimers on a graphite surface are observed for pure OPV-melamine by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Upon the addition of perylene bisimide, linear tapes of perylene bisimide, 12-membered rosettes that consist of alternating hydrogen-bonded OPV-melamine and perylene bisimide moieties are visualized. These results provide direct evidence for the possible modes of hydrogen bonding within a supramolecular co-assembly in solution. Subsequently, the optical properties of pure OPV-melamine and co-assemblies with a perylene bisimide derivative were characterized in solution. In an apolar solvent, OPV-melamine self-assembles into chiral superstructures. Disassembly into molecularly dissolved species is reversibly controlled by concentration and temperature. Complementary hydrogen bonding to a perylene bisimide derivative in an apolar solvent yields multicomponent, pi-stacked dye assemblies of enhanced stability that are characterized by fluorescence quenching of the constituent chromophores. Titration experiments reveal that a mixture of hydrogen-bonded oligomers is present in solution, rather than a single discrete assembly. The solution experiments are consistent with the STM results, which revealed various supramolecular assemblies. Our system is likely not to be optimally programmed to obtain a discrete co-assembled structure in quantitative yield.     

Selective rearrangements of quadruply hydrogen-bonded dimer driven by donor-acceptor interaction

A general method has been developed to control the selective rearrangement of Meijer's AADD quadruply hydrogen-bonded homodimers by introducing an additional donor-acceptor interaction. Therefore, one donor-assembling monomer, 1, in which the electron-rich bis(p-phenylene)-34-crown-10 moiety is connected to the hydrogen-bonding moiety, and two acceptor-assembling monomers, 2 and 3, in which the electron-deficient pyromellitic diimide or naphthalene diimide group is incorporated, respectively, are synthesized and characterized. 1H NMR and 2D-NOESY studies show that all these compounds exist as stable homodimers in chloroform. Mixing 1 equiv of 1 with 1 equiv of 2 in chloroform leads to the formation of heterodimers 1.2 in approximately 60 % yield, as a result of the electrostatic interaction between the bis(p-phenylene)-34-crown-10 moiety of 1 and the pyromellitic diimide group of 2. Selective formation of heterodimer 1.3 (>97 %) was achieved by mixing 1 equiv of 1 with 1 equiv of 3 in chloroform which resulted in a strengthened electrostatic interaction between the bis(p-phenylene)-[34]crown-10 moiety of 1 and the naphthalene diimide group of 3. The structures of heterodimers 1.2 and 1.3, which have been characterized by 1H NMR and UV/Vis experiments, reveal a remarkable promoting effect between the donor-acceptor interaction and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding. 1H NMR studies also reveal that heterodimers 1.2 and 1.3 can be fully and partially dissociated by addition of heterocycle 29, leading to the formation of new more robust heterodimers 1.29 and 2.29, or 3.29,respectively, and partially regenerated by subsequent addition of heterocyclic compound 30 through the formation of a new heterodimer 29.30. Heterodimers 1.2 and 1.3 represent a novel class of pseudo[2]rotaxanes constructed by two different noncovalent interactions.     

Engineering functional materials by halogen bonding

Engineering functional materials endowed with unprecedented properties require the exploitation of new intermolecular interactions, which can determine the characteristics of the bulk materials. The great potential of Halogen Bonding (XB), namely any noncovalent interaction involving halogens as electron acceptors, in the design of new and high‐value functional materials is now emerging clearly. This Highlight will give a detailed overview on the energetic and geometric features of XB, showing how some of them are quite constant in most of the formed supramolecular complexes (e.g., the angle formed by the covalent and the noncovalent bonds around the halogen atom), while some others depend strictly on the nature of the interacting partners. Then, several specific examples of halogen‐bonded supramolecular architectures, whose structural aspects as well as applications in fields as diverse as enantiomers' separation, crystal engineering, liquid crystals, natural, and synthetic receptors, will be fully described. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: PolymChem 45: 1–15, 2007     

Supramolecular Hierarchy among Halogen‐Bond Donors

Through a combination of structural chemistry, vibrational spectroscopy, and theory, we have systematically examined the relative structure‐directing importance of a series of ditopic halogen‐bond (XB) donors. The molecular electrostatic potential surfaces of six XB donors were evaluated, which allowed for a charge‐based ranking. Each molecule was then co‐crystallized with 21 XB acceptors and the results have made it possible to map out the supramolecular landscape describing the competition between I/Br–ethynyl donors, perfluorinated I/Br donors, and I/Br–phenyl based donors. The results offer practical guidelines for synthetic crystal engineering driven by robust and directional halogen bonds.     

Highly interpenetrated supramolecular networks supported by N...I halogen bonding

Halogen bonding (XB) has been used to assemble tetrakis(4-pyridyl)pentaerythritol (tetradentate XB acceptor) with different alpha,omega-diiodoperfluoroalkanes (bidentate XB donors) or tetrakis(4-iodotetrafluorophenyl)pentaerythritol (tetradentate XB donor). The remarkable linearity of the XB formed, the rodlike character of alpha,omega-diiodoperfluoroalkanes and the mutual complementarities of pentaerythritol partners, translate the three-dimensional character of the XB acceptor into open primary networks, which interpenetrate to avoid the presence of voids and to ensure segregation of the modules. Two-dimensional (2D) square 4(4) layers (sql) with fourfold and fivefold interpenetration, as well as an eightfold diamondoid network (dia) of class Ia and a remarkable tenfold dia network of class IIIa, have been obtained.     

N.Br halogen bonding: one-dimensional infinite chains through the self-assembly of dibromotetrafluorobenzenes with dipyridyl derivatives

The N.Br halogen bonding drives the self-assembly of 1,4-dibromotetrafluorobenzene (1 a) and its 1,3 or 1,2 analogues (1 b,c, respectively) with dipyridyl derivatives 2 a,b. The isomeric supramolecular architectures 3 a-f are obtained as cocrystals that are stable in the air at room temperature. The solid-state features of these 1D infinite chains 3 have been fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray, Raman, and IR analyses. The occurrence of N.Br halogen bonding in solution has been detected with (19)F NMR spectroscopy. The N.Br halogen bonding is highly selective and directional and the geometry of the single strands of noncovalent copolymers 3 is programmed by the geometry of halogen-bonding donor and acceptor sites on the starting modules. The composition and topology of the instructed networks can be predicted with great accuracy. Experiments of competitive cocrystal formation established the strength of the N.Br interaction relative to other halogen bondings and the ability of different modules 1 to be involved in site-selective supramolecular syntheses.     

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.     

A competitive molecular recognition study: syntheses and analysis of supramolecular assemblies of 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and its bromo derivative with some N-donor compounds

A molecular recognition study of 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (1) and its bromo derivative 4-bromo-3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2) with the N-donor compounds 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene (bpyee), 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpyea), and 4,4'-bipyridine (bpy) is reported. Thus, the syntheses and structural analysis of molecular adducts 1 a-1 c (1 with bpyee, bpyea, and bpy, respectively) and 2 a-2 c (2 with bpyee, bpyea, and bpy, respectively) are discussed. In all these adducts, recognition between the constituents is established through either O--H...N and/or O--H...N/C--H...O pairwise hydrogen bonds. In all the adducts both OH and COOH functional groups available on 1 and 2 interact with the N-donor compounds, except in 2 a, in which only COOH (COO-) is involved in the recognition process. The COOH moieties in 1 a, 1 b, and 2 b form only single O--H...N hydrogen bonds, whereas in 1 c and 2 c, they form pairwise O--H...N/C--H...O hydrogen bonds. In addition, subtle differences in the recognition patterns resulted in the formation of cyclic networks of different dimensions. In fact, only 1 c forms a four-molecule cyclic moiety, as was already documented in the literature for this kind of assemblies. All complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The supramolecular architectures are quite elegant and simple, with stacking of sheets in all adducts, but a rather complex network with a threefold interpenetration pattern was found in 2 c.     

Hydrogen and halogen bonding in the haloetherification products in chalcone

Cooperative action of hydrogen and halogen bonding in the reaction of 3‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐phenylprop‐2‐en‐1‐one with HCl or HBr in alcohol medium under microwave irradiation (20 W, 80 °C, 10 min) allows the isolation of the haloetherification products (2S,3S)‐3‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐chloro‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐chloro‐3‐ethoxy‐1‐phenylpropan‐1‐one, C₂₁H₂₄Cl₂O₃, (2S,3S)‐2‐bromo‐3‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐bromo‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3‐methoxy‐1‐phenylpropan‐1‐one, C₂₀H₂₂Br₂O₃, and (2S,3S)‐2‐bromo‐3‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐bromo‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3‐ethoxy‐1‐phenylpropan‐1‐one, C₂₁H₂₄Br₂O₃, in good yields. Both types of noncovalent interactions, e.g. hydrogen and halogen bonds, are formed to stabilize the obtained products in the solid state.     

Ditopic halogen bonding with bipyrimidines and activated pyrimidines

The potential of pyrimidines to serve as ditopic halogen‐bond acceptors is explored. The halogen‐bonded cocrystals formed from solutions of either 5,5′‐bipyrimidine (C₈H₆N₄) or 1,2‐bis(pyrimidin‐5‐yl)ethyne (C₁₀H₆N₄) and 2 molar equivalents of 1,3‐diiodotetrafluorobenzene (C₆F₄I₂) have a 1:1 composition. Each pyrimidine moiety acts as a single halogen‐bond acceptor and the bipyrimidines act as ditopic halogen‐bond acceptors. In contrast, the activated pyrimidines 2‐ and 5‐{[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl}pyrimidine (C₁₄H₁₃N₃) are ditopic halogen‐bond acceptors, and 1:1 halogen‐bonded cocrystals are formed from 1:1 mixtures of each of the activated pyrimidines and either 1,2‐ or 1,3‐diiodotetrafluorobenzene. A 1:1 cocrystal was also formed between 2‐{[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl}pyrimidine and 1,4‐diiodotetrafluorobenzene, while a 2:1 cocrystal was formed between 5‐{[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl}pyrimidine and 1,4‐diiodotetrafluorobenzene.     

Molecular recognition: preorganization of a bis(pyrrole) Schiff base derivative for tight dimerization by hydrogen bonding

Multiple techniques have been used to delineate the self-assembly of a bis(pyrrole) Schiff base derivative (compound 4, C(16)H(14)N(4)), which forms an unusual dimer through complementary N-H...N=C hydrogen bonds between twisted, C2-symmetric monomer units. The asymmetric unit of the crystal structure comprises one and a half dimer units, with one dimer exhibiting approximate D2 point-group symmetry and the other exact D2 symmetry (space group C2/c). The dimers pack into columns whose axes are collinear with the a axis of the unit cell. The columns assemble into discrete layers with two distinct types of hydrogen-sized voids residing between the layers. Despite the promising architecture of the voids within the lattice of 4, the absence of genuine channels to interconnect the voids precludes the uptake of hydrogen gas, even at elevated pressures (10 bar). AM1 calculations of the structure of dimeric 4 indicate that self-recognition through hydrogen bonding depends primarily on favorable electrostatic interactions. The potential-energy surface for monomeric 4 mapped by counter-rotation of an adjacent pair of C=C-N=C torsion angles indicates that the X-ray structures of the four monomeric units are global minima with highly nonplanar conformations that are preorganized for self-recognition by hydrogen bonding. The in vacuo enthalpy of association for the dimer was calculated to be significantly exergonic (DeltaG(assoc)=-21.9 kJ mol(-1), 298 K) and in excellent agreement with that determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl3 (DeltaG(assoc)=-16.6(4) kJ mol(-1), 298 K). Using population and bond order analyses, in conjunction with the conformation dependence of the frontier MO energies, we have been able to show that pi-electron delocalization is only marginally diminished in the nonplanar conformers of 4 and that the electronic structures of the constituent monomers of the dimer are well mixed.     

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.     

Pyrene-derived novel one- and two-component organogelators

A new class of alkyl-chain-appended pyrene derivatives 4-14 were synthesized and evaluated for their gelation abilities. Depending on the nature of the linking group, these compounds gelated a number of organic solvents, either in the presence or in the absence of the acceptor molecule 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone (TNF). Compounds with ester, ether, or alkyl linkages gelated a number of hydroxylic and hydrocarbon solvents by means of a charge-transfer interaction with TNF, while compounds with amide, urethane and urea linkers formed gels on their own in a variety of solvents by means of pi-pi stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions. The Xray crystal structure of urethane (S)-12 showed hydrogen-bonding and stacking features, as suggested by the model. The gels obtained were investigated by spectroscopic and electron microscopic techniques which provided structural insights.