Bis-4-aza[6]helicene: A Bis-helicenic 2,2'-Bipyridine with Chemically Triggered Chiroptical Switching Activity.

A novel enantiopure bis-helicenic 2,2'-bipyridine system was prepared using a Negishi coupling. Thanks to the bipyridine unit, the coordination with ZnII and protonation processes were studied, revealing efficient tuning of photophysical (UV/visible and emission) and chiroptical properties (electronic circular dichroism and circularly polarized emission) of the system. The coordination/decoordination and protonation/deprotonation processes appeared reversible, thus constituting novel chiroptical switches.

Three dimensional nanoscale analysis reveals aperiodic mesopores in a covalent organic framework and conjugated microporous polymer.

The integrated analytical approach developed in this study offers a powerful methodology for the structural characterisation of complex molecular nanomaterials. Structures of a covalent organic framework based on boronate esters (COF-5) and a conjugated microporous polymer (Aza-CMP) have been investigated by a combination of several electron microscopy techniques elucidating the three-dimensional topology of the complex polycrystalline (COF) and non-crystalline (CMP) materials. Unexpected, aperiodic mesoporous channels of 20-50 nm in diameter were found to be penetrating the COF and CMP particles, which cannot be detected by X-ray diffraction techniques. The mesopores appear to be stable under a range of different conditions and accessible to gas molecules, exhibiting a particular bonding capability with CO2 in the case of the CMP. The mesoporosity is unrelated to the intrinsic chemical structures of the COF or CMP but rather it reflects the mechanisms of polymer particle formation in a polycondensation reaction. The mesopores may be templated by clusters of solvent molecules during the COF or CMP synthesis, leaving cavities within the polymer particles. The unexpected mesoporosity discovered in COF and CMP materials begs for re-assessment of the nature of framework materials and may open new opportunities for applications of these molecular materials in gas sorption or catalysis.

Conformational changes and chiroptical switching of enantiopure bis-helicenic terpyridine upon Zn(2+) binding.

The molecular conformation of a bis-helicenic terpyridine system is strongly modified upon binding to Zn(ii) ion, a process that is accompanied by large changes in the optical and chiroptical properties. This system affords a new type of helicene-based chiroptical switching.

High degree of polymerization in a fullerene-containing supramolecular polymer.

Supramolecular polymers based on dispersion forces typically show lower molecular weights (MW) than those based on hydrogen bonding or metal-ligand coordination. We present the synthesis and self-assembling properties of a monomer featuring two complementary units, a C60 derivative and an exTTF-based macrocycle, that interact mainly through π-π, charge-transfer, and van der Waals interactions. Thanks to the preorganization in the host part, a remarkable log K(a)=5.1±0.5 in CHCl3 at room temperature is determined for the host-guest couple. In accordance with the large binding constant, the monomer self-assembles in the gas phase, in solution, and in the solid state to form linear supramolecular polymers with a very high degree of polymerization. A MW above 150 kDa has been found experimentally in solution, while in the solid state the monomer forms extraordinarily long, straight, and uniform fibers with lengths reaching several microns.

Exploiting multivalent nanoparticles for the supramolecular functionalization of graphene with a nonplanar recognition motif.

The supramolecular modification of planar graphene with the geometrically mismatched, curved 9,10-di(1,3-dithiole-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene (exTTF) molecule is demonstrated. The exTTF-graphene interaction is governed by π-π and CH-π interactions, with a negligible contribution from charge transfer. We amplified these weak forces through multivalent gold nanoparticles. Our results show that planarity is not a prerequisite for recognition motifs for graphene.

Balancing binding strength and charge transfer lifetime in supramolecular associates of fullerenes.

A macrocyclic exTTF host for fullerenes offers control over the electronic coupling between an electron donor and an acceptor, and stabilizes the charge separated state lifetimes into the range of 500 ps.

Macrocyclic hosts for fullerenes: extreme changes in binding abilities with small structural variations.

Exploiting the shape and electronic complementarity of C(60) and C(70) with π-extended derivatives of tetrathiafulvalene (exTTF), we have very recently reported a macrocyclic receptor featuring two exTTF recognizing units which forms 1:1 complexes with C(60) with log K(a) = 6.5 ± 0.5 in chlorobenzene at 298 K. This represents one of the highest binding constants toward C(60) reported to date and a world-record for all-organic receptors. Here, we describe our efforts to fine-tune our macrocyclic bis-exTTF hosts to bind C(60) and/or C(70), through structural variations. On the basis of preliminary molecular modeling, we have explored p-xylene, m-xylene, and 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene as aromatic spacers between the two exTTF fragments and three alkene-terminated chains of different length to achieve macrocycles of different size through ring closing metathesis. Owing to the structural simplicity of our design, all nine receptors could be accessed in a synthetically straightforward manner. A thorough investigation of the binding abilities of these nine receptors toward C(60) and C(70) has been carried out by means of UV-vis titrations. We have found that relatively small variations in the structure of the host lead to very significant changes in affinity toward the fullerene, and in some cases even in the stoichiometry of the associates. Our results highlight the peculiarities of fullerenes as guests in molecular recognition. The extreme stability of these associates in solution and the unique combination of electronic and geometrical reciprocity of exTTF and fullerenes are the main features of this new family of macrocyclic hosts for fullerenes.

Tripodal exTTF-CTV hosts for fullerenes.

A receptor for fullerenes featuring three exTTF units linked to a CTV scaffold is described. The exTTF-CTV host forms remarkably stable complexes with both C(60) (log K(a) = 5.3 +/- 0.2) and C(70) (log K(a) = 6.3 +/- 0.6). Light-induced ESR spectra demonstrate that intracomplex PET processes take place in solution.

A bis-exTTF macrocyclic receptor that associates C60 with micromolar affinity.

An exTTF-based macrocyclic receptor that associates C(60) with a binding constant >10(6) M(-1) in chlorobenzene at room temperature is described. This represents an improvement of 3 orders of magnitude with respect to the previous examples of exTTF-based receptors and one of the highest binding constants toward C(60) reported to date.