Molecular and supramolecular chemistry of rosette nanotubes

Abstract

A pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine featuring the hydrogen bond donors and acceptors of both guanine (G) and cytosine (C) in the appropriate geometry undergoes hierarchical self-assembly into nanotubular architectures. Specifically, in solution this heterocycle self-organizes into cyclic hexamers through hydrogen bonding interactions, which then further π–π stack into rosette nanotubes (RNTs). The present work reviews the synthetic strategies used to tune the structure of this class of heterocyclic molecules and ultimately tailor the physical properties of the resulting RNTs for potential applications in nanomedicine, catalysis, and renewable energy.