Spontaneous hierarchical assembly of crown ether-like macrocycles into nanofibers and microfibers induced by alkali-metal and ammonium salts.
Schiff base macrocycle 1, which has a crown ether like central pore, was combined with different alkali-metal and ammonium salts in chloroform, resulting in one-dimensional supramolecular aggregates. The ion-induced self-assembly was studied with solid-state NMR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the lengths and widths of the superstructures depend on the cation and counteranion of the salts. Among the salts being used, Na(+) and NH(4) (+) ions with BF(4) (-) ions showed the most impressive fibrous structures that can grow up to 1 mum in diameter and hundreds of microns in length. In addition, the size of the fibers can be controlled by the evaporation rate of the solvent. A new macrocycle with bulky triptycenyl substituents that prevent supramolecular assembly was prepared and did not display any nanofibers with alkali-metal ions in chloroform when studied with TEM.
Hui
Joseph K-H
JK
Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
Frischmann
Peter D
PD
Tso
Chien-Hsin
CH
Michal
Carl A
CA
Maclachlan
Mark J
MJ