Self-assembly supramolecular structure through complementary multiple hydrogen bonding of heteronucleobase-multifunctionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) complexes

Abstract

In this study, we synthesized octakis(vinylbenzylthymine-siloxy)silsesquioxane (OBT-POSS), viahydrosilylation with octakis(dimethylsiloxy)-silsesquioxane (Q₈M₈^H) and vinyl benzylthymine (VBT). The synthesis of octakis((vinylbenzyltriazolyl) methyladenine-siloxy)silsesquioxane (OBA-POSS) was prepared by click chemistry from octa-azido functionalized POSS (OVBN₃-POSS) with propynyl-adenine (PA). The self-assembly lamellae structure based on a supramolecular network through the OBA-POSS/OBT-POSS complex was observed. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analyses revealed the presence of multiple hydrogen bonding between the adenine and thymine groups of OBA-POSS/OBT-POSS complex. Because of its strong reversible intermolecular multiple hydrogen bonding, this is a successful example of a POSS-based polymer-like supramolecular material at room temperature with high thermal properties (such as T_g ∼ 100 °C).