To fold or to assemble?
We introduce a new class of foldable oligomers consisting of alternating rigid and flexible regions. The rigid segments overlap to give pi-stacked folded conformers whose formation is driven mostly by pi-pi molecular orbital overlaps. As the oligomer concentration increases, the folded molecular structures further self-assemble into larger nanostructures. The dynamic processes of folding and self-organization are monitored with absorption, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopies. Our results show that folding dominates at low concentrations (< approximately 1 mM) and precedes self-assembly, which occurs over the initial concentration range of approximately 1-100 mM.
Wang
Wei
W
Department of Chemistry and Center for Materials Research, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
Li
Lin-Song
LS
Helms
Greg
G
Zhou
Hong-Hui
HH
Li
Alexander D Q
AD
D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D007094:Imides / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D007094:Imides; D011108:Polymers