Induction of an Infinite Periodic Minimal Surface by Endowing An Amphiphilic Zwitterion with Halogen-Bond Ability
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Updated: Mar 13, 2026
From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
Takahiro Ichikawa1, Akiyoshi Okafuji2, Takashi Kato3
1Department of Biotechnology Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Nakacho, Koganei Tokyo184-8588 Japan; PRESTO The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) 4-1-8 Honcho Kawaguchi 332-0012 Japan.
Abstract:
We have designed an amphiphilic zwitterion with an iodine-substituted imidazolium cation. Although it forms a layered assembly with flat interfaces, the addition of an equimolar amount of bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide results in the formation of a bicontinuous cubic liquid-crystalline assembly with a primitive-type infinite periodic minimal surface, where its zwitterionic headgroup sits regularly. IR measurements revealed that halogen bond between the iodine atoms on the imidazolium cation and the anions is involved in its molecular-assembly behavior. The present results clearly indicate the potential utility of halogen bonding to control the dimensionality and continuity of the ionic/nonionic interface of amphiphiles in bulk and consequent mesophase patterns, which may be a significant new molecular technology for precisely arranging functional molecules on a 3D continuous interfaces.
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