A robust platform to construct molecular patchy particles with a pentiptycene skeleton toward controlled mesoscale structures

Abstract

Patchy particles with novel architectures and diverse applications have attracted significant attention in recent years. Nevertheless, the synthesis of well-defined nanosized patchy particles with a precise structure remains a challenge. Herein, using a pentiptycene-based skeleton with D_2h-symmetry, we constructed molecular patchy particles with a defined symmetry and diverse patch interactions via tethering functionalities at two sets of orthogonally reactive sites (i.e., eight alkyne sites at the peripheral position and two hydroxyl groups at the para-position of the central phenyl ring). As a demonstration, patchy particles containing fluorocarbon chains at the peripheral position and two polystyrene patches at the para-position were found to self-assemble into a series of well-defined nanostructures upon varying the compositions of the patches at the para-position. The exploration of pentiptycene derivatives not only enriches the family of molecular patchy particles, but also provides a versatile platform to transform the molecular structures to mesoscopically assembled morphologies.