title: Controllable and Reversible Dimple-Shaped Aggregates Induced by Macrocyclic Recognition Effect.
abstract: A novel dimethyl acrylate 18-membered macrocycle (DMECE), acting as both bifunctional monomer and cross-linker, was designed and synthesized, and thus employed to construct a series of macrocycle-containing amphiphilic hyperbranched polymers (HBPs). The macrocyclic recognition effect between the HBPs and alkali metal ions showed that Na(+) was introduced in 1:1 interactive mode, whereas K(+) and Rb(+) were in 2:1 ratio. Through the formation of the DMECE/K(+) = 2:1 rigid "sandwich" complex of amphiphilic hyperbranched polymers, dimple-shaped aggregates were observed by TEM, SEM and AFM. Moreover, the initial concentration, the nature of solvent, the mode and affinity of the macrocyclic recognition effect as well as the amount of K(+), were essential control factors for the formation of dimple-shaped aggregates. Most importantly, the macrocyclic recognition effect endows the reversibility of the dimple-shaped aggregates and the size controllability of its circular opening, which provides a new strategy for design novel macrocycle-containing HBPs and great potential application in the field of capture and release.
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) , Weijin Road 94#, Nankai District, Tianjin, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) , Weijin Road 94#, Nankai District, Tianjin, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Lingyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) , Weijin Road 94#, Nankai District, Tianjin, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Weixing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) , Weijin Road 94#, Nankai District, Tianjin, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li