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From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
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Halogen-Bond-Mediated Self-Assembly of Polymer-Resorcinarene Complexes
Salla Välimäki1, Lotta Gustavsson2, Ngong Kodiah Beyeh3
1Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|May 22, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a novel supramolecular system using halogen bonding between N-benzyl ammonium resorcinarene bromide and polymers. This system demonstrates polymer-architecture-dependent complex formation, confirmed by microscopy and spectroscopy.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Polymer Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Halogen bonding is a key non-covalent interaction for supramolecular assembly.
- Developing new supramolecular systems with tunable properties is crucial for advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel supramolecular system utilizing halogen bonding.
- To investigate complex formation between a specific halogen bond acceptor and various polymeric donors.
- To explore the influence of polymer architecture on complex morphology.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of polymeric halogen bond donors with iodotetrafluorophenoxy functionality.
- Complex formation studies using N-benzyl ammonium resorcinarene bromide as the acceptor.
- Characterization in the liquid state via dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
- Solid-state characterization using spectroscopic measurements to confirm halogen bonding.
Main Results:
- Successful complex formation between the resorcinarene bromide acceptor and polymeric donors.
- Confirmation of supramolecular complex formation in both liquid and solid states.
- Demonstration that homopolymers and polyethylene glycol block copolymers act as effective halogen bond donors.
- Observation of polymer-architecture-dependent complex morphologies.
Conclusions:
- The presented supramolecular system effectively utilizes halogen bonding for complex formation.
- Polymer architecture significantly influences the morphology of the resulting supramolecular complexes.
- This work opens avenues for designing novel materials with controlled structures through halogen-bonded polymer assemblies.
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