title: Precise Molecular Fission and Fusion: Quantitative Self-Assembly and Chemistry of a Metallo-Cuboctahedron.
abstract: Inspiration for molecular design and construction can be derived from mathematically based structures. In the quest for new materials, the adaptation of new building blocks can lead to unexpected results. Towards these ends, the quantitative single-step self-assembly of a shape-persistent, Archimedean-based building block, which generates the largest molecular sphere (a cuboctahedron) that has been unequivocally characterized by synchrotron X-ray analysis, is described. The unique properties of this new construct give rise to a dilution-based transformation into two identical spheres (octahedra) each possessing one half of the molecular weight of the parent structure; concentration of this octahedron reconstitutes the original cuboctahedron. These chemical phenomena are reminiscent of biological fission and fusion processes. The large 6 nm cage structure was further analyzed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and collision cross-section analysis. New routes to molecular encapsulation can be envisioned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA).
authors.forename: Ting-Zheng
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA).
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA).
authors.forename: Zaihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, CHE205, Tampa, FL 33620 (USA).
authors.forename: Wen-Yang
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, CHE205, Tampa, FL 33620 (USA).
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wojtas
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (Japan).
authors.forename: Guo-Hong
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA).
authors.forename: Mingjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA).
authors.forename: Xiaocun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA).
authors.forename: Jing-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384 (China).
authors.forename: Sheng-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: ChemMatCARS, The University of Chicago, Argonne, IL 60439 (USA).
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA).
authors.forename: Charles N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Moorefield
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431 (USA).
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA).
authors.forename: Stephen Z D
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA). wesdemi@uakron.edu.
authors.forename: Chrys
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wesdemiotis
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44256 (USA). newkome@uakron.edu.
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Newkome
mesh_terms: D008024:Ligands; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008670:Metals
keywords: Archimedean polyhedra; self-assembly; shape-persistent macromolecules; supramolecular chemistry