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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly
Published on: February 6, 2020
Multicomponent dynamic covalent assembly of a rhombicuboctahedral nanocapsule
Yong Liu1, Xuejun Liu, Ralf Warmuth
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
Abstract:
Molecular container compounds have a range of potential applications in chemical and biological sciences, most notably as nanoreactors, drug delivery devices, and storage materials. We report a highly efficient dynamic covalent chemistry approach for the synthesis of covalent rhombicuboctahedral nanocapsule 1 from 14 square- and triangular-shaped molecular components. The nanocapsule is obtained in a one-pot reaction in high yield and high purity, and has a solvodynamic diameter of 3.9 nm. In our approach, six formyl cavitands and eight 1,3,5-tris(p-aminophenyl)benzene molecules are assembled into a molecular rhombicuboctahedron through twenty four newly formed dynamic imine bonds. Binding studies show that 1 encapsulates tetraalkylammonium salts in toluene. We also discuss the growth mechanism of this nanocapsule.
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