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Controlled Self-Assembly and Multistimuli-Responsive Interconversions of Three Conjoined Twin-Cages
Li-Xuan Cai1, Dan-Ni Yan1,2, Pei-Ming Cheng1
1State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, PR China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|January 20, 2021
Summary
Researchers created novel twin-cages using palladium and a new ligand. Solvent choice controls the formation of interlocked or isomeric cages, demonstrating stimuli-responsive transformations for smart materials.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Coordination Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Stimuli-responsive structural transformations in supramolecular architectures are key for developing smart functional materials.
- These transformations offer a molecular platform for mimicking biological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the controlled self-assembly of unprecedented conjoined twin-cages.
- To investigate stimuli-responsive structural conversions between these complex supramolecular architectures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cis-blocked palladium corners and a novel bis-bidentate ligand for self-assembly.
- Controlled cage formation by varying solvents during the self-assembly process.
- Investigated structural conversions triggered by temperature, solvent changes, and guest encapsulation.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized three topologically unprecedented conjoined twin-cages: one stapled interlocked Pd12L6 cage (2) and two helically isomeric Pd6L3 cages (3 and 4).
- Demonstrated solvent-controlled selective formation of either the interlocked cage 2 or a mixture of isomeric cages 3 and 4.
- Showcased temperature, solvent, and guest-induced structural interconversions between the helicate-based twin-cages 3 and 4.
Conclusions:
- Achieved controlled self-assembly of complex, topologically unique twin-cage structures.
- Established stimuli-responsive transformations between different supramolecular architectures.
- This work provides a foundation for designing switchable functional materials based on dynamic supramolecular systems.
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