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Assembled molecular face-rotating polyhedra to transfer chirality from two to three dimensions
Xinchang Wang1, Yu Wang1,2, Huayan Yang1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
Nature Communications
|August 25, 2016
Summary
Researchers created chiral octahedra with unprecedented molar ellipticity by decorating a C3h truxene unit. This biomimetic approach controls rotational patterns on molecular faces, inspired by virus capsids.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Biomimetic Chemistry
Background:
- Viral capsids exhibit rotational patterns on their protein subunits.
- Molecular polyhedra construction often results in symmetric or vacant faces.
- Limited knowledge exists on creating polyhedra with asymmetric faces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a strategy for constructing molecular polyhedra with asymmetric, rotationally patterned faces.
- To create novel chiral octahedra with enhanced optical properties.
- To mimic the homo-directionality observed in virus capsids.
Main Methods:
- Embellishment of a C3h truxene unit with rotational patterns.
- Assembly into an octahedral framework.
- Control of facial rotation directionality via vertices.
- Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of non-covalent interactions.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of chiral octahedra with decorated, asymmetric faces.
- Achieved the highest reported molar ellipticity for such structures.
- Demonstrated control over facial rotational directionality, achieving homo-directionality.
- Identified non-covalent interactions as crucial for facial homo-directionality.
Conclusions:
- A novel strategy for constructing complex molecular polyhedra with asymmetric faces has been established.
- The resulting chiral octahedra display exceptional chiroptical properties.
- The findings provide insights into biomimetic design principles for molecular self-assembly and functional materials.
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