Supramolecular Polymers Formed by Modified Cyclodextrins

6-Hydrocinnamoyl -cyclodextrin(6-HyCiO--CD), 6-hydrocinnamoyl -cyclodextrin(6-HyCiO--CD), 6-cinnamoyl -cyclodextrin(6-CiO--CD), and 6-cinnamoyl -cyclodextrin (6-HyCiO--CD) have been prepared.6-HyCiO--CD formed an intramolecular complex in an aqueous solution. 6-HyCiO--CD formed weak intermolecular complexes.6-CiO--CD formed intermolecular complexes to give supramolecular oligomers. 6-CiO--CD formed insoluble supramolecular complexes in the solid state. The structures of these complexes are discussed.     

Supramolecular polymers formed by cinnamoyl cyclodextrins

6-Cinnamoyl α-cyclodextrin (6-CiO-α-CD) and 6-cinnamoyl β-cyclodextrin (6-CiO-β-CD) were prepared. 6-CiO-α-CD formed intermolecular complexes to give supramolecular oligomers. 6-CiO-β-CD formed insoluble supramolecular complexes in the solid state. The structures of these complexes are discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3519–3523, 2003     

Metal Coordination Stoichiometry Controlled Formation of Linear and Hyperbranched Supramolecular Polymers

Controlling the topologies of polymers is a hot topic in polymer chemistry because the physical and/or chemical properties of polymers are determined (at least partially) by their topologies. This study exploits the host–guest interactions between dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8 and secondary ammonium salts and metal coordination interactions between 2,6‐bis(benzimidazolyl)‐pyridine units with metal ions (Zn^II and/or Eu^III) as orthogonal non‐covalent interactions to prepare supramolecular polymers. By changing the ratios of the metal ion additives (Zn(NO₃)₂ and Eu(NO₃)₃) linkers to join the host–guest dimeric complex, the linear supramolecular polymers (100 mol% Zn(NO₃)₂ per ligand) and hyperbranched supramolecular polymers (97 mol% Zn(NO₃)₂ and 3 mol% Eu(NO₃)₃ per ligand) are separately and successfully constructed. This approach not only expands topological control over polymeric systems, but also paves the way for the functionalization of smart and adaptive materials.

     

Thermoresponsive Supramolecular Dendronized Polymers

Combining the concepts of supramolecular polymers and dendronized polymers provides the opportunity to create bulky polymers with easy structural modification and tunable properties. In the present work, a novel class of side‐chain supramolecular dendronized polymethacrylates is prepared through the host–guest interaction. The host is a linear polymethacrylate (as the backbone) attached in each repeat unit with a β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) moiety, and the guest is constituted with three‐fold branched oligoethylene glycol (OEG)‐based first‐ (G1) and second‐generation (G2) dendrons with an adamantyl group core. The host and guest interaction in aqueous solution leads to the formation of the supramolecular polymers, which is supported with ¹H NMR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements. The supramolecular formation was also examined at different host/guest ratios. The water solubility of hosts and guests increases upon supramolecular formation. The supramolecular polymers show good solubility in water at room temperature, but exhibit thermoresponsive behavior at elevated temperatures. Their thermoresponsiveness is thus investigated with UV/Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and compared with their counterparts formed from individual β‐CD and the OEG dendritic guest. The effect of polymer concentration and molar ratio of host/guest was examined. It is found that the polar interior of the supramolecules contribute significantly to the thermally‐induced phase transitions for the G1 polymer, but this effect is negligible for the G2 polymer. Based on the temperature‐varied proton NMR spectra, it is found that the host–guest complex starts to decompose during the aggregation process upon heating to its dehydration temperature, and this decomposition is enhanced with an increase of solution temperature.     

环糊精与聚合物的包合作用

本文着重介绍了环糊精及其衍生物与聚合物所形成的各种包合物,并扼要介绍了它们的研究和应用前景。     

Cyclodextrin‐Based Supramolecular Assemblies and Hydrogels: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

The application of cyclodextrin (CD)‐based host–guest interactions towards the fabrication of functional supramolecular assemblies and hydrogels is of particular interest in the field of biomedicine. However, as of late they have found new applications as advanced functional materials (e.g., actuators and self‐healing materials), which have renewed interest across a wide range of fields. Advanced supramolecular materials synthesized using this noncovalent interaction, exhibit specificity and reversibility, which can be used to impart reversible cross‐linking, specific binding sites, and functionality. In this review, various functional CD‐based supramolecular assemblies and hydrogels will be outlined with the focus on recent advances. In addition, an outlook will be provided on the direction of this rapidly developing field.

     

Construction of Chemical‐Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogels from Guest‐Modified Cyclodextrins

A methodology for preparing supramolecular hydrogels from guest‐modified cyclodextrins (CDs) based on the host–guest and hydrogen‐bonding interactions of CDs is presented. Four types of modified CDs were synthesized to understand better the gelation mechanism. The 2D ROESY NMR spectrum of β‐CD‐AmTNB (Am=amino, TNB=trinitrobenzene) reveals that the TNB group was included in the β‐CD cavity. Pulsed field gradient NMR (PFG NMR) spectroscopy and AFM show that β‐CD‐AmTNB formed a supramolecular polymer in aqueous solution through head‐to‐tail stacking. Although β‐CD‐AmTNB did not produce a hydrogel due to insufficient growth of supramolecular polymers, β‐CD‐CiAmTNB (Ci=cinnamoyl) formed supramolecular fibrils through host–guest interactions. Hydrogen bonds between the cross‐linked fibrils resulted in the hydrogel, which displayed excellent chemical‐responsive properties. Gel‐to‐sol transitions occurred by adding 1‐adamantane carboxylic acid (AdCA) or urea. ¹H NMR and induced circular dichroism (ICD) spectra reveal that AdCA released the guest parts from the CD cavity and that urea acts as a denaturing agent to break the hydrogen bonds between CDs. The hydrogel was also destroyed by adding β‐CD, which acts as the competitive host to reduce the fibrils. Furthermore, the gel changed to a sol by adding methyl orange (MO) as a guest compound, but the gel reappeared upon addition of α‐CD, which is a stronger host for MO.     

Tunable Water‐Soluble Supramolecular Polymers by Visible‐Light‐Regulated Host–Guest Interactions

The development of artificial self‐assembling systems with dynamic photo‐regulation features in aqueous solutions has drawn great attention owing to the potential applications in fabricating elaborate biological materials. Here we demonstrate the fabrication of water‐soluble cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])‐mediated supramolecular polymers by connecting the fluorinated azobenzene (FAB) containing monomers through host‐enhanced heteroternary π–π stacking interactions. Benefiting from the unique visible‐light‐induced E→Z photoisomerization of the FAB photochromophores, the encapsulation behaviors between the CB[8] macrocycle and the monomers could be regulated upon visible light irradiation, resulting in the depolymerization of such CB[8]‐mediated supramolecular polymers.     

Highly Efficient Supramolecular Catalysis by Endowing the Reaction Intermediate with Adaptive Reactivity

A new strategy of highly efficient supramolecular catalysis is developed by endowing the reaction intermediate with adaptive reactivity. The supramolecular catalyst, prepared by host–guest complexation between 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), was used for biphasic oxidation of alcohols. Cationic TEMPO⁺, the key intermediate, was stabilized by the electrostatic effect of CB[7] in aqueous phase, thus promoting the formation of TEMPO⁺ and inhibiting side reactions. Moreover, through the migration into the organic phase, TEMPO⁺ was separated from CB[7] and recovered the high reactivity to drive a fast oxidation of substrates. The adaptive reactivity of TEMPO⁺ induced an integral optimization of the catalytic cycle and greatly improved the conversion of the reaction. This work highlights the unique advantages of dynamic noncovalent interactions on modulating the activity of reaction intermediates, which may open new horizons for supramolecular catalysis.     

Supramolecular Copolymerization by Sequence Reorganization of a Supramolecular Homopolymer

The homopolymeric sequence formed by the head‐to‐head association of tetrakisporphyrin 1 is completely dissociated by the competitive association of the ditopic guest G2 , resulting in the supramolecular copolymer poly‐ 1 ? G2 with an alternatingly repeating host–guest sequence. The 1:1 stoichiometry of 1 and G2 is confirmed by a Job plot using UV/Vis titration and diffusion‐ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY). The solution viscometry for poly‐ 1 and poly‐ 1 ? G2 suggests that the supramolecular chain of poly‐ 1 behaves like a rod, whereas the supramolecular copolymer chain of poly‐ 1 ? G2 behaves like a swelled fat chain, which is entangled in the semi‐dilute regime. Atomic force microscopy shows that the supramolecular polymer poly‐ 1 ? G2 is highly oriented through the interdigitation of the long alkyl chains.     

Responsiveness and Morphology Study of Dual Stimuli‐Controlled Supramolecular Polymer

The synthesis and characterization of a linear supramolecular polymer formed by dual host–guest recognitions is presented. The polymer linked by the orthogonal interactions of azobenzene with β‐cyclodextrin and methyl viologen with sulfonatocalix[4]arene is constructed, and the morphology change along with the formation and vanishment of host–guest interaction is investigated. The reversible disassembly–reassembly of the polymer induced by light and the redox process are monitored by UV–vis and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. The interesting morphology differences between the monomer guest (G), supramolecular polymer (P), and light dissembled product pseudorotaxane (D1) are observed and analyzed. G conducts self‐assembly into a short rod with average width of 83 nm due to the molecular amphipathy and π–π interaction between naphthalene nucleuses, while P exhibits 20 nm wide line morphology. Irradiating P with 365 nm light, the corresponding aggregation D1 shows as 35 nm wide short rod.     

Thermoresponsive AuNPs Stabilized by Pillararene‐Containing Polymers

Pillararene‐containing thermoresponsive polymers are synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization using pillararene derivatives as the effective chain transfer agents for the first time. These polymers can self‐assemble into micelles and form vesicles after guest molecules are added. Furthermore, such functional polymers can be further applied to prepare hybrid gold nanoparticles, which integrate the thermoresponsivity of polymers and molecular recognition of pillararenes.

     

Fluorescent Cross‐Linked Supramolecular Polymer Constructed by Orthogonal Self‐Assembly of Metal–Ligand Coordination and Host–Guest Interaction

A new host molecule consists of four terpyridine groups as the binding sites with zinc(II) ion and a copillar[5]arene incorporated in the center as a spacer to interact with guest molecule was designed and synthesized. Due to the 120 ° angle of the rigid aromatic segment, a cross‐linked dimeric hexagonal supramolecular polymer was therefore generated as the result of the orthogonal self‐assembly of metal–ligand coordination and host–guest interaction. UV/Vis spectroscopy, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, viscosity and dynamic light‐scattering techniques were employed to characterize and understand the cross‐linking process with the introduction of zinc(II) ion and guest molecule. More importantly, well‐defined morphology of the self‐assembled supramolecular structure can be tuned by altering the adding sequence of the two components, that is, the zinc(II) ion and the guest molecule. In addition, introduction of a competitive ligand suggested the dynamic nature of the supramolecular structure.     

Synergistic Covalent and Supramolecular Polymers for Mechanically Robust but Dynamic Materials

Nature has engineered delicate synergistic covalent and supramolecular polymers (CSPs) to achieve advanced life functions, such as the thin filaments that assist in muscle contraction. Constructing artificial synergistic CSP materials with bioinspired mechanically adaptive features, however, represents a challenging goal. Here, we report an artificial CSP system to illustrate the integration of a covalent polymer (CP) and a supramolecular polymer (SP) in a synergistic fashion, along with the emergence of notable mechanical and dynamic properties which are unattainable when the two polymers are formed individually. The synergistic effect relies on the peculiar network structures of the SP and CPs, which endow the resultant CSPs with overall improved mechanical performance in terms of the stiffness, strength, stretchability, toughness, and elastic recovery. Moreover, the dynamic properties of the SP, including self‐healing, stimuli‐responsiveness, and reprocessing, are also retained in the CSPs, thus leading to their application as programmable and tunable materials.     

meso-四(4-甲氧基-3磺酸基苯)卟啉与环糊精超分子体系的研究

采用极谱法、紫外可见光谱法及荧光光谱法研究了水溶性卟啉T(4-Mop)PS4与α-CD、-βCD、γ-CD、Hp-β-CD及SBE--βCD 5种环糊精的相互作用,结果表明T(4-Mop)PS4分别与这5种环糊精形成了T(4-Mop)PS4-CD s超分子体系。此外,本研究还采用极谱法、紫外可见光谱法及荧光光谱法测定了T(4-Mop)PS4-CD s超分子体系的包结常数和包结比,比较了T(4-Mop)PS4与5种环糊精的包结能力,并由此推测了包结机理,为T(4-Mop)PS4卟啉、环糊精的进一步应用提供了理论信息。     

New Wine in Old Bottles: Prolonging Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence of Crown Ethers by Supramolecular Interactions

Supramolecular macrocyclic hosts have long been used in smart materials. However, their triplet emission and regulation at crystal level is rarely studied. Herein, ultralong and universal room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) is reported for traditional crown ethers. A supramolecular strategy involving chain length adjustment and morphological locking through complexation with K⁺ was explored as a general method to tune the phosphorescence lifetime in the solid state. A maximum 10‐fold increase of lifetime after complex formation accompanied with by invisible to visible phosphorescence was achieved. A deep encryption based on this activated RTP strategy was also facilely fabricated. This work thus opens a new world for supramolecular macrocycles and their intrinsic guest responsiveness offers a new avenue for versatile smart luminescent materials.     

Host–Guest Binding‐Site‐Tunable Self‐Assembly of Stimuli‐Responsive Supramolecular Polymers

Despite the remarkable progress made in controllable self‐assembly of stimuli‐responsive supramolecular polymers (SSPs), a basic issue that has not been consideration to date is the essential binding site. The noncovalent binding sites, which connect the building blocks and endow supramolecular polymers with their ability to respond to stimuli, are expected to strongly affect the self‐assembly of SSPs. Herein, the design and synthesis of a dual‐stimuli thermo‐ and photoresponsive Y‐shaped supramolecular polymer (SSP2) with two adjacent β‐cyclodextrin/azobenzene (β‐CD/Azo) binding sites, and another SSP (SSP1) with similar building blocks, but only one β‐CD/Azo binding site as a control, are described. Upon gradually increasing the polymer solution temperature or irradiating with UV light, SSP2 self‐assemblies with a higher binding‐site distribution density; exhibits a flower‐like morphology, smaller size, and more stable dynamic aggregation process; and greater controllability for drug‐release behavior than those observed with SSP1 self‐assemblies. The host–guest binding‐site‐tunable self‐assembly was attributed to the positive cooperativity generated among adjacent binding sites on the surfaces of SSP2 self‐assemblies. This work is beneficial for precisely controlling the structural parameters and controlled release function of SSP self‐assemblies.