Issue 7, 2021

Host–guest chemistry of giant molecular shape amphiphiles based on POSS–PDI conjugates

Abstract

Giant shape amphiphiles (GSA) are giant molecules made with nano-building blocks that have distinct shapes. The incompatible packing behaviors of the nano-building blocks of GSA could create cavities within certain conformers of the GSA, but the host–guest chemistry of GSA has not been explored yet. In this study, POSS-PDI-POSS (PPP), which is made by connecting two nano-cubes, isobutyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), to a conjugated π-conjugated core, perylene diimide (PDI), is demonstrated as a novel acyclic synthetic host. In its bent conformer, PPP shows a cavity next to its PDI core. Via forming host–guest complexes with π-conjugated guests such as pyrene and perylene, PPP is found to transform from the bent-conformer into the extended-conformer, creating the steric features to accommodate guest molecules. Subsequent thermal annealing of the host–guest complexes removes the π-conjugated guests and restores the bent conformation and photophysical properties of PPP, which verifies that PPP, as a novel acyclic host, is capable of dynamic host–guest assembly. Moreover, the results prove that cavities at the molecular level can be created by connecting nano-building blocks with distinct shapes. This finding may inspire developments in the host–guest chemistry of GSA and nanomaterial innovation.

Graphical abstract: Host–guest chemistry of giant molecular shape amphiphiles based on POSS–PDI conjugates

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Dec 2020
Accepted
28 Jan 2021
First published
30 Jan 2021

Nanoscale, 2021,13, 4295-4300

Host–guest chemistry of giant molecular shape amphiphiles based on POSS–PDI conjugates

J. Chen, H. Lin, X. Ji, H. Zhao, B. Sun, C. Wang and M. Zhu, Nanoscale, 2021, 13, 4295 DOI: 10.1039/D0NR08934F

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