Issue 18, 2018

Self-assembly study of nanometric spheres from polyoxometalate-phenylalanine hybrids, an experimental and theoretical approach

Abstract

Herein, we report on the study of supramolecular assemblies based on polyoxometalates (POMs) upon their modification with amino acids. Two POM-amino acid hybrids were synthesized by coupling a functionalized Keggin type polyoxoanion [PW11O39{Sn(C6H4)C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C(C6H4)COOH}]4− with carboxyl-protected (methyl-ester) phenylalanine or diphenylalanine peptides. Surprisingly, all compounds, including the initial POM, formed supramolecular nanospheres in different solvent mixtures, which were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the POM-amino acid species revealed that the hydrophobic forces are mainly responsible for the initial aggregation into incipient micelle type structures, in which the organic arms are buried inside the aggregate while POM polar heads are more exposed to the solvent with tetrabutyl-ammonium counter cations acting as linkers.

Graphical abstract: Self-assembly study of nanometric spheres from polyoxometalate-phenylalanine hybrids, an experimental and theoretical approach

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 Jan 2018
Accepted
29 Mar 2018
First published
02 Apr 2018

Dalton Trans., 2018,47, 6304-6313

Self-assembly study of nanometric spheres from polyoxometalate-phenylalanine hybrids, an experimental and theoretical approach

E. Nikoloudakis, K. Karikis, M. Laurans, C. Kokotidou, A. Solé-Daura, J. J. Carbó, A. Charisiadis, G. Charalambidis, G. Izzet, A. Mitraki, A. M. Douvas, J. M. Poblet, A. Proust and A. G. Coutsolelos, Dalton Trans., 2018, 47, 6304 DOI: 10.1039/C8DT00380G

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