A self-assembled foldamer capsule: combining single and double helical segments in one aromatic amide sequence

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Oligomeric strands offer versatile platforms for constructing complex molecular architectures.
• Designing foldamers with encoded information enables precise control over self-assembly and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel design for supramolecular capsules utilizing self-assembly and folding of oligomeric strands.
• To demonstrate the encoding of cavity size, guest recognition, and helical motif propensity within an aromatic amide foldamer.

Main Methods:

• Design and synthesis of a tetradecameric aromatic amide foldamer sequence.
• Hybridization of two strands to form a double helical segment creating a binding cavity.
• Characterization of duplex formation and guest binding in solid-state and solution-state.

Main Results:

• A tetradecameric foldamer was synthesized, forming a double helix with a central cavity.
• The cavity successfully bound guest molecules, exemplified by 1,10-decanediol.
• Single helical segments acted as end-caps, isolating the bound guest from the solvent.

Conclusions:

• The presented foldamer design enables the creation of supramolecular capsules with controlled guest binding.
• This approach integrates self-assembly and folding for sophisticated molecular encapsulation.
• The study highlights the potential of encoded oligomeric strands in designing functional supramolecular systems.