Modulation of Supramolecular Interactions of Urea-based Supramolecular Polymers via Molecular Structures

Linear bis-urea D230 series and branched tris-urea T403 series of supramolecular monomers were synthesized using low molecular weight polyetheramine D230, T403 and isocyanates with diverse functional groups. Rheological tests reveal that the materials possess special thermal and mechanical properties due to the strong hydrogen bonding interactions between terminal urea groups and the high flexibility of the polyetheramine middle segments. By enhancing the hydrogen bonding interactions through electronic effects of the substituted urea groups, the mechanical properties of the bulk material can be increased. Moreover, the branched T403 series with higher hydrogen bonding density also shows better performance against D230 series with the same substituted urea groups. The presence of π-π stacking between the phenyl groups in samples with phenylurea residues, which complements the hydrogen bonding, was also confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy, therefore resulting in a stronger supramolecular polymer network.     

Self-Assembled Bimetallic Aluminum-Salen Catalyst for the Cyclic Carbonates Synthesis

Bimetallic bis-urea functionalized salen-aluminum catalysts have been developed for cyclic carbonate synthesis from epoxides and CO₂. The urea moiety provides a bimetallic scaffold through hydrogen bonding, which expedites the cyclic carbonate formation reaction under mild reaction conditions. The turnover frequency (TOF) of the bis-urea salen Al catalyst is three times higher than that of a μ-oxo-bridged catalyst, and 13 times higher than that of a monomeric salen aluminum catalyst. The bimetallic reaction pathway is suggested based on urea additive studies and kinetic studies. Additionally, the X-ray crystal structure of a bis-urea salen Ni complex supports the self-assembly of the bis-urea salen metal complex through hydrogen bonding.     

Assembly and characterization of novel hydrogen-bond-induced nanoscale rods

A class of bis-urea compounds with perylene bisimide was synthesized and characterized successfully. (1)H NMR and fluorescence spectra confirmed that strong hydrogen-bonding interactions between neighboring urea groups were formed. Interestingly, the photocurrent measurement showed that the self-assembled films of bis-urea compounds could produce steady and rapid anodic photocurrent responses. The TEM images indicated that well-defined nanoscale rods with uniform diameter distribution could be fabricated by self-assembly of hydrogen-bonding interactions and pi-pi stacking interactions of perylene rings.     

Conformational control of hydrogen-bonded aromatic bis-ureas

The phenylurea moiety is a ubiquitous synthon in supramolecular chemistry because it contains strong complementary hydrogen bonding groups and is synthetically very accessible. Here we investigate the possibility to strengthen self-association by conformational preorganization of the phenylurea moiety. In fact, we show that it is possible to strongly enhance intermolecular interactions between hydrogen bonded aromatic bis-ureas by substitution at the ortho positions of the phenylurea groups. Ortho substituents enforce a noncoplanar conformation of the urea and phenyl moieties better suited for hydrogen bonding. Substitution by methyl groups is more efficient than with larger groups, probably because of reduced steric hindrance. These effects have been demonstrated in the case of two different supramolecular architectures, which points to the probable generality of the phenomenon. In addition, this study has led to the discovery of a new bis-urea able to form very stable self-assembled nanotubes in toluene up to high temperatures (boiling point) or low concentrations (10(-7) M) and in chloroform down to 3 × 10(-4) M.     

Two-Dimensional Supramolecular Polymerization of a Bis-Urea Macrocycle into a Brick-Like Hydrogen-Bonded Network

We report on a dendronized bis-urea macrocycle 1 self-assembling via a cooperative mechanism into two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets formed solely by alternated urea-urea hydrogen bonding interactions. The pure macrocycle self-assembles in bulk into one-dimensional liquid-crystalline columnar phases. In contrast, its self-assembly mode drastically changes in CHCl₃ or tetrachloroethane, leading to 2D hydrogen-bonded networks. Theoretical calculations, complemented by previously reported crystalline structures, indicate that the 2D assembly is formed by a brick-like hydrogen bonding pattern between bis-urea macrocycles. This assembly is promoted by the swelling of the trisdodecyloxyphenyl groups upon solvation, which frustrates, due to steric effects, the formation of the thermodynamically more stable columnar macrocycle stacks. This work proposes a new design strategy to access 2D supramolecular polymers by means of a single non-covalent interaction motif, which is of great interest for materials development.     

A Supramolecular Polymer of Nitroxide Radicals via Hydrogen Bonding

Summary: 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidinyl-N-oxy (TEMPO) is a robust nitroxide radical molecule under ambient conditions. We found that the TEMPO derivatives act as a proton acceptor to form an intermolecular hydrogen-bonding complex with many kinds of phenol or urea derivatives. ORTEP analysis of the crystals of TEMPO with the phenol derivatives indicated that hydrogen bonding could be formed between the oxygen of the nitroxide and the phenolic proton and the N O bond of the hydrogen-bonded TEMPO was lengthened in comparison to that of the free N O bond. The formation constant of the hydrogen-bonding complex of TEMPO with the phenol or urea derivatives in a chloroform solution was spectroscopically determined by IR to be 10–100 M⁻¹. Hydrogen bonding of the thelechelic bis-TEMPO derivatives with thelechelic bis-phenol or bis-urea derivatives provided a supramolecular structure. The estimated molecular weights of the supramolecules in the chloroform solution, based on DOSY-NMR spectroscopy, were 3000–4000. The potential of the nitroxide radical's supramolecule as a new functional material is also described.     

Hydrogen bonding interaction between ureas or thioureas and nitro-compounds

The hydrogen bonding interactions between ureas or thioureas and different nitro-compounds were studied using the MP2 method. After comparing four possible conformations, the most stable one was found, which has the typical hydrogen bonding feature of red-shift effect. Based on it, the substituent effects on both nitro-compounds and (thio) urea were researched. The results indicated that electron-withdrawing groups on ureas or thioureas and electron-donating groups on nitro-compounds can both facilitate the hydrogen bonding formation. The NBO analysis further disclosed the essence of the hydrogen bonding interaction. We also studied the cis–trans isomerization of the complexes of (thio) urea with nitroalkenes, which revealed that, for hydrogen-bonding complexes, it is necessary to take both cis and trans isomers into consideration, especially for nitroalkenes with little steric effect substituents.     

Self-sorting dimerization of tetraurea calix[4]arenes

Calix[4]arenes substituted by four urea functions are self-complementary molecules that spontaneously combine in apolar solvents in the presence of an ammonium salt to form dimeric capsules held together by a belt of hydrogen bonds. In the presence of tetraethylammonium salts, the Et4N+ cation is included as a guest. The sorting between dimeric capsules formed in a mixture of calix[4]arenes directly depends on the steric crowding of the substituents grafted on the urea groups whether aromatic derivatives or aliphatic chains linking urea functions in mono-, di-, or tetraloop structures. Simple rules allow one to anticipate which capsules will be exclusively formed when calix[4]arenes are mixed in different proportions. The stabilization of the dimeric structures by hydrogen bonds is thwarted by the overlaps of aliphatic loops and/or by bulky groups that cannot pass through these loops. Despite the structural similarity of the calixarenes, the exclusive formation of dimers of well-defined compositions and clear titration breaks are observed by electrospray mass spectrometry. This technique yields reliable information on stoichiometries and composition despite measurements in the gas phase rather than in solution and it does not suffer from excessive peak overlaps in contrast with NMR.     

Effectiveness of cell adhesive additives in different supramolecular polymers

Supramolecular motifs in elastomeric biomaterials facilitate the modular incorporation of additives with corresponding motifs. The influence of the elastomeric supramolecular base polymer on the presentation of additives has been sparsely examined, limiting the knowledge of transferability of effective functionalization between polymers. Here it was investigated if the polymer backbone and the additive influence biomaterial modification in two different types of hydrogen bonding supramolecular systems, that is, based on ureido-pyrimidinone or bis-urea units. Two different cell-adhesive additives, that is, catechol or cyclic RGD, were incorporated into different elastomeric polymers, that is, polycaprolactone, priplast or polycarbonate. The additive effectiveness was evaluated with three different cell types. AFM measurements showed modest alterations on nano-scale assembly in ureido-pyrimidinone materials modified with additives. On the contrary, additive addition was highly intrusive in bis-urea materials. Detailed cell adhesive studies revealed additive effectiveness varied between base polymers and the supramolecular platform, with bis-urea materials more potently affecting cell behavior. This research highlights that additive transposition might not always be as evident. Therefore, additive effectiveness requires re-evaluation in supramolecular biomaterials when altering the polymer backbone to suit the biomaterial application.     

Self-assembly approach toward chiral bimetallic catalysts: bis-urea-functionalized (salen)cobalt complexes for the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of epoxides

A series of novel bis-urea-functionalized (salen)Co complexes has been developed. The complexes were designed to form self-assembled structures in solution through intermolecular urea-urea hydrogen-bonding interactions. These bis-urea (salen)Co catalysts resulted in rate acceleration (up to 13 times) in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of rac-epichlorohydrin in THF by facilitating cooperative activation, compared to the monomeric catalyst. In addition, one of the bis-urea (salen)Co(III) catalyst efficiently resolves various terminal epoxides even under solvent-free conditions by requiring much shorter reaction time at low catalyst loading (0.03-0.05 mol %). A series of kinetic/mechanistic studies demonstrated that the self-association of two (salen)Co units through urea-urea hydrogen bonds was responsible for the observed rate acceleration. The self-assembly study with the bis-urea (salen)Co by FTIR spectroscopy and with the corresponding (salen)Ni complex by (1)H NMR spectroscopy showed that intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions exist between the bis-urea scaffolds in THF. This result demonstrates that self-assembly approach by using non-covalent interactions can be an alternative and useful strategy toward the efficient HKR catalysis.     

Hydrogen-bonding effects in calix

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of self-assembling calix[4]arene based capsules 1a.1a and 1b.1b are described. These compounds feature four urea substituents at the upper rims and four secondary amide fragments at the lower rims that can participate in inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in apolar solution. Communication between the calixarene rims in 1a, b influences the self-assembled cavity's size and shape. Specifically. dimerization results in a perfect cone conformation of the calixarene skeleton in 1a, b and stabilizes a seam of intramolecular amide C=O...H-N hydrogen bonds at the lower rim. This seam is cycloenantiomeric, with either clockwise or counterclockwise arrangements of the head-to-tail amides. Complexation of Na+-cation breaks hydrogen bonds at the lower rim but maintains the capsular assembly. Encapsulation properties of 1a.1a and 1b.1b were studied in nonpolar solvents and their binary mixtures as well as through heterodimerization experiments. The presence of amide groups at the lower rim causes notable differences in the capsule's binding affinities when compared to the corresponding tetraester capsules 1c.1c and 1d.1d. In the monomeric state calixarenes 1a, b are in a pinched cone conformation. The solid state X-ray crystallographic studies with monomeric 1a reveal only two intramolecular C=O...H-N hydrogen bonds between the adjacent amides at the lower rim, and an extensive network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between urea groups at the upper rim.     

Carboxylate complexation by 1,1'-(1,2-phenylene)bis(3-phenylurea) in solution and the solid state

A simple bis-urea containing anion receptor, synthesised from ortho-phenylenediamine, has been shown to have excellent selectivity for carboxylates in solution, with a crystal structure elucidation of the benzoate complex showing four hydrogen bonds between the receptor and anion in the solid state.     

A family of low-molecular-weight hydrogelators based on L-lysine derivatives with a positively charged terminal group

A family of L-lysine-based low-molecular-weight compounds with various positively charged terminals (pyridinium and imidazolium derivatives) was synthesized and its gelation behavior in water was investigated. Most of the compounds can be very easily synthesized in high yields (total yields >90 %), and they function as excellent hydrogelators that form hydrogels below 1 wt %; particularly, N(epsilon)-lauroyl-N(alpha)-[11-(4-tert-butylpyridinium)undecanoyl]-L-lysine ethyl ester (2 c) and N(epsilon)-lauroyl-N(alpha)-[11-(4-phenylpyridinium)undecanoyl]-L-lysine ethyl ester (2 d), which are able to gel water at concentration of only 0.2 wt %. This corresponds to a gelator molecule that entraps more than 20 000 water molecules. All hydrogels are very stable and maintain the gel state for at least 9 months. TEM observations demonstrated that these hydrogelators self-assemble into a nanoscaled fibrous structure; a three-dimensional network is then formed by the entanglement of the nanofibers. An FTIR study in [D(6)]DMSO/D(2)O and in CHCl(3) revealed the existence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the amide groups. This was further supported by a (1)H NMR study in [D(6)]DMSO/H(2)O. A luminescence study, in which ANS (1-anilino-8-naphtharenesulfonic acid) was used as a probe, indicated that the hydrogelators self-assemble into nanostructures possessing hydrophobic pockets at a very low concentration. Consequently, it was found that the driving forces for self-assembly into a nanofiber are hydrogel bonding and hydrophobic interactions.     

Anion,cation and ion-pair recognition by bis-urea based receptors containing a polyether bridge

Two bis-urea type receptors were synthesized containing a polyether bridge and two 4-nitrophenyl groups as chromogenic units, R1 and R2. Molecular recognition studies of receptors towards different tetraalkylammonium and alkali metal salts were carried out in DMSO by UV-Vis and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The receptors were found to have high affinity for diverse anions and ion-pairs, showing the highest affinities towards the tetramethylammonium and sodium salts. The cation binding ability of the receptors was evidenced by means ¹H NMR, mass spectrometric ESI⁺ studies and the crystal structures of some precursors. Additionally, the molecular modelling at the DFT level of the tetramethylammonium acetate complexes illustrates the potential ion-pair binding ability of the receptors: the anion is recognized through strong hydrogen bonds from the NH─ groups from the two urea sites, while the cation is bound by a combination of cation─π, C-H···O and C-H···π interactions.     

Conserved Hydrogen Bonded Tartrate Frameworks: Inclusion of Amines and Implications for Second Harmonic Generation

A series of anilinium cations with various functional groups as substituents has been chosen to form salts with l-tartaric acid and d-dibenzoyl tartaric acid. The salts show second harmonic generation activities comparable to urea. The tartrate frameworks provide conformationally rigid hydrogen bonded frameworks for the incorporation of these cations. The SHG activity of these salts appear to depend upon the type of framework provided by the tartrate anions, which in turn decides the orientation of the cations.     

Supramolecular hydrogel formed by glucoheptonamide of l-lysine: simple preparation and excellent hydrogelation ability

We describe the simple preparation of new l-lysine derivatives with a gluconic or glucoheptonic group, their hydrogelation properties, and the thermal and mechanical properties of the supramolecular hydrogels. The l-lysine derivatives with a gluconic group have no hydrogelation ability, while the l-lysine-glucoheptonamide derivatives functioned as hydrogelators. Their hydrogelation abilities increased with the decreasing length of the spacer between the l-lysine segment and the glucoheptonic group. The compound, which has no spacer, formed a supramolecular hydrogel at 0.05 wt % in pure water. The thermal stability and high mechanical strength of the supramolecular hydrogels based on this compound significantly depended on the aqueous solutions. Electron microscopy and FTIR studies demonstrated that the hydrogelators created a three-dimensional network through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions in the supramolecular hydrogel. In addition, it was found that hydrophobic interactions played an important role in the thermal stability of the supramolecular hydrogel.     

Novel [2]pseudorotaxanes constructed by self-assembly of bis-urea-functionalized pillar[5]arene and linear alkyl dicarboxylates

A bis-urea-functionalized pillar[5]arene has been synthesized and shown to form [2]pseudorotaxanes spontaneously with linear alkyl dicarboxylates in highly polar solvent DMSO, in which the hydrogen bonding interactions between the bis-urea hydrogens and dicarboxylate oxygens play an important role in stabilizing the novel [2]pseudorotaxanes alongside C-Hπ interactions.     

Self-assembled nanotubes that reversibly bind acetic acid guests

A large bis-urea macrocycle was synthesized and assembled into columnar nanotubes containing a sizable cavity. This purely organic nanotube is held together primarily by hydrogen bonding and yet shows remarkable thermal stability up to 180 degrees C in the presence and absence of acetic acid guest. This enables the nanotube to be used as reusable organic zeolite.     

pH-Tunable hydrogelators for water purification: structural optimisation and evaluation

A focused library of potential hydrogelators each containing two substituted aromatic residues separated by a urea or thiourea linkage have been synthesised and characterized. Six of these novel compounds are highly efficient hydrogelators, forming gels in aqueous solution at low concentrations (0.03-0.60 wt%). Gels were formed through a pH switching methodology, by acidification of a basic solution (pH 14 to ≈ 4) either by addition of HCl or via the slow hydrolysis of glucono-δ-lactone. Frequently, gelation was accompanied by a dramatic switch in the absorption spectra of the gelators, resulting in a significant change in colour, typically from a vibrant orange to pale yellow. Each of the gels was capable of sequestering significant quantities of the aromatic cationic dye, methylene blue, from aqueous solution (up to 1.02 g of dye per gram of dry gelator). Cryo-transmission electron microscopy of two of the gels revealed an extensive network of high aspect ratio fibers. The structure of the fibers altered dramatically upon addition of 20 wt% of the dye, resulting in aggregation and significant shortening of the fibrils. This study demonstrates the feasibility for these novel gels finding application as inexpensive and effective water purification platforms.     

pH‐Tunable Hydrogelators for Water Purification: Structural Optimisation and Evaluation

A focused library of potential hydrogelators each containing two substituted aromatic residues separated by a urea or thiourea linkage have been synthesised and characterized. Six of these novel compounds are highly efficient hydrogelators, forming gels in aqueous solution at low concentrations (0.03–0.60 wt %). Gels were formed through a pH switching methodology, by acidification of a basic solution (pH 14 to ≈4) either by addition of HCl or via the slow hydrolysis of glucono‐δ‐lactone. Frequently, gelation was accompanied by a dramatic switch in the absorption spectra of the gelators, resulting in a significant change in colour, typically from a vibrant orange to pale yellow. Each of the gels was capable of sequestering significant quantities of the aromatic cationic dye, methylene blue, from aqueous solution (up to 1.02 g of dye per gram of dry gelator). Cryo‐transmission electron microscopy of two of the gels revealed an extensive network of high aspect ratio fibers. The structure of the fibers altered dramatically upon addition of 20 wt % of the dye, resulting in aggregation and significant shortening of the fibrils. This study demonstrates the feasibility for these novel gels finding application as inexpensive and effective water purification platforms.