Designed synthesis of nanostructured siloxane-organic hybrids from amphiphilic silicon-based precursors

This paper reports on recent progress in the synthesis of nanostructured siloxane-organic hybrids based on the self-assembly of amphiphilic silicon-based precursors. A variety of ordered hybrid materials have been obtained by molecular design of the precursors. Alkoxysilanes and chlorosilanes with covalently attached hydrophobic organic tails are hydrolyzed to form amphiphilic molecules containing silanol groups, leading to the formation of layered (lamellar) structures. Transparent and oriented thin films of lamellar hybrids were prepared by the reaction in the presence of tetraalkoxysilane. In addition, the design of molecules having alkyl chains and large oligosiloxane heads led to the formation of mesophases consisting of cylindrical assemblies, providing a direct pathway to ordered porous silica. The synthesis, structural features, and formation processes of these hybrid mesostructures are discussed.     

Triple-layer (au@perylene)@polyaniline nanocomposite: unconventional growth of faceted organic nanocrystals on polycrystalline au

Unconventional crystal growth: Core/shell nanocrystals were obtained by growth of a dominant single-crystalline phase of perylene over polycrystalline Au nanoparticle seeds and isolated by coating with polyaniline (PANI) shells. Perylene is released in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles. The TEM images show (Au@perylene)@PANI nanocomposites before and after complete release of perylene leaving Au@PANI (inset).     

An investigation of the self-assembly of neutral, interlaced, triple-stranded molecular braids

The synthesis and structures of six compounds prepared in two different systems have been explored with the purpose of isolating coordination polymers with interlaced triple-stranded molecular braid architectures. The dinuclear paddle-wheel units of [Cu(2)(maa)(4)2 H(2)O] can be rationally tuned to form three classes of isomorphous compounds, namely [Cu(2)(maa)(4)(bpp)] (1) (bpp=1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane, Hmaa=2-methylacrylic acid), [Cu(3)(maa)(6)(bpp)(2)] (2), and[Cu(4)(maa)(8)(bpp)(4)(H(2)O)(2)]2 H(2)O (3), with a bridging bpp ligand, at controlled ligand-to-metal molar ratios, and lead to three coordination polymers having similar one-dimensional characteristics but different mono- and dinuclear nodes. Compound 1, with a bpp:[Cu(2)(maa)(4)2 H(2)O] stoichiometry of 1:1, contains a zigzag chain containing dinuclear nodes, whereas polymer 2, with a bpp:[Cu(2)(maa)(4)2 H(2)O] stoichiometry of 1.5:1, also adopts the topology of a zigzag chain but with both mono- and dinuclear nodes. Compound 3, with a bpp:[Cu(2)(maa)(4)2 H(2)O] stoichiometry of 2:1, contains a neutral, interlaced, triple-stranded molecular braid, which is interwoven by three single-stranded meso-helical chains that contain only a mononuclear node. With the three aromatic chelating terminal ligands 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (tpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and di(2-pyridyl)amine (dpa) we have also prepared three neutral complexes containing the linear, rigid bridging ligand biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate (bpdc), namely [Cd(bpdc)(tpy)]H(2)O (4), [Cu(bpdc)(phen)(2)]4.25 H(2)O (5), and [Cu(bpdc)(dpa)] (6). An infinite meso-helix is formed initially in 4, and then three of these chains assemble into a triple-stranded braid similar to that of 3. Complexes 5 and 6 have a mononuclear and a looped dinuclear structure, respectively. Compounds 3 and 4 are unusual examples of triple-stranded molecular braid coordination frameworks based on different types of co-ligands.     

Hydrogen‐Bond‐Assisted “Gold Cold Fusion” for Fabrication of 2D Web Structures

Keeping their cool : Fabrication of a 2D weblike nanonetwork of gold was successfully demonstrated through a two‐step procedure including complexation of gold precursors to a weblike supramolecular assembly of surfactant followed by in situ reduction of the precursors to gold. Molecular assemblies stabilized by hydrogen bonding provided a sound template, leading to the highly integrated structure of gold through room‐temperature (cold) nanostructure fusion.

     

Preparation and characterization of a novel organic-inorganic nanohybrid "cerasome" formed with a liposomal membrane and silicate surface

A novel class of organic-inorganic hybrids, the so-called cerasomes, which have a bilayer vesicular structure and a silicate surface, has been synthesized by combination of sol-gel reaction and self-assembly of organoalkoxysilanes with a molecular structure analogous to lipids. We have synthesized two cerasome-forming organoalkoxysilanes, N-[N-(3-triethoxysilyl)propylsuccinamoyl]dihexadecylamine (1) and N,N-dihexadecyl-N (alpha)-[6-[(3-triethoxysilyl)propyldimethylammonio]hexanoyl]glycinamide bromide (2), and investigated the synthetic conditions of the cerasomes and their structural characteristics. For the proamphiphilic 1, the cerasome was obtained under restricted pH conditions where acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the triethoxysilyl moiety proceeded without disturbing the vesicle formation. In contrast, the amphiphilic 2, additionally having a hydrophilic quaternary ammonium group, formed stable dispersions of the cerasome in a wide pH range. The hydrolysis behavior of the triethoxysilyl groups was monitored by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Morphology of the cerasomes having the liposomal vesicular structure was confirmed by TEM observations. Extent of the development of siloxane networks through condensation among the silanol groups on the cerasome surface was evaluated by using MALDI-TOF-MS spectrometry. Formation of oligomers of the cerasome-forming lipids in the vesicle was clearly confirmed. Due to the siloxane network formation, the cerasome showed remarkably high morphological stability compared with a reference liposome, as evaluated by surfactant dissolution measurements.     

Reversible anion exchanges between the layered organic-inorganic hybridized architectures: syntheses and structures of manganese(II) and copper(II) complexes containing novel tripodal ligands

Six noninterpenetrating organic-inorganic hybridized coordination complexes, [Mn(3)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2).2 H(2)O (5), [Mn(3)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(2) (6), [Mn(3)(2)(N(3))(2)].2 H(2)O (7), [Cu(3)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (8), [Mn(4)(2)(H(2)O)(SO(4))].CH(3)OH.5 H(2)O (9) and [Mn(4)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (10) were obtained through self-assembly of novel tripodal ligands, 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene (3) and 1,3-bis(1-imidazolyl)-5-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (4) with the corresponding metal salts, respectively. Their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. The results of structural analysis of complexes 5, 6, 7, and 8 with rigid ligand 3 indicate that their structures are mainly dependant on the nature of the organic ligand and geometric need of the metal ions, but not influenced greatly by the anions and metal ions. While in complexes 9 and 10, which contain the flexible ligand 4, the counteranion plays an important role in the formation of the frameworks. Entirely different structures of complexes 5 and 10 indicate that the organic ligands greatly affect the structures of assemblies. Furthermore, in complexes 5 and 6, the counteranions located between the cationic layers can be exchanged by other anions. Reversible anion exchanges between complexes 5 and 6 without destruction of the frameworks demonstrate that 5 and 6 can act as cationic layered materials for anion exchange, as determined by IR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, and X-ray powder diffraction.     

A facile and specific approach to new liquid chromatography adsorbents obtained by ionic self-assembly

A new ionic-liquid monomer, 1-vinyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide ([C(18)VIm]Br), was prepared and polymerized on porous silica particles by means of a surface-initiated radical chain-transfer reaction. Further modification for functionalization was performed through the exchange of counteranions from bromide to methyl orange (MO). Two new silica-poly(octadecylimidazolium) (Sil-PImC(18)) hybrid materials (Sil-PImC(18)-Br and Sil-PImC(18)-MO) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), and solid-state (13)C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy. Sil-PImC(18)-MO presented ultra-high shape selectivity for constrained isomers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) both in reversed- and normal-phase HPLC when used as the stationary phase. Fundamental aspects of the molecular shape selectivity were evaluated by using Standard Reference Material (SRM) 869b; the column selectivity test mixture for liquid chromatography. The impact of this phase was also demonstrated by the separation of SRM 1647e (16 priority pollutant PAHs) and several steroid isomers. Enhanced selectivity could be explained by the highly oriented arrangement between the octadecylimidazolium chain and a rigid segment of MO. These findings may open a new window of research for the design of materials used in chromatographic supports, solid extraction, catalysis, and electrolytes by simple modifications of the counterions in the poly(ionic liquid) analogous phase.