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Controllable fabrication of a supramolecular polymer incorporating twisted cucurbit[14]uril and cucurbit[8]uril via self-sorting
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Wei Zhang, Yang Luo, Jie Zhao, Chao Zhang, Xin-Long Ni, Zhu Tao, Xin Xiao*
Chinese Chemical Letters | 2022, 33(5) : 2455 - 2458
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Chinese Chemical Letters | 2022, 33(5): 2455-2458
• Communication •
Controllable fabrication of a supramolecular polymer incorporating twisted cucurbit[14]uril and cucurbit[8]uril via self-sorting
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Wei Zhang, Yang Luo, Jie Zhao, Chao Zhang, Xin-Long Ni, Zhu Tao, Xin Xiao*
Affiliations
  • Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Published: 2022-05-15 doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.11.053
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A linear supramolecular polymer with controllable features based on twisted cucurbit[14]uril (tQ[14]) and cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) was firstly fabricated via an effective self-sorting strategy. Herein we designed a monomer, 1-butyl-1′-(naphthalen- 2-ylmethyl)-4, 4′-bipyridinium bromide (BNB), that contains bipyridyl, aliphatic butyl and aromatic naphthyl groups, simultaneously. Two host molecules, tQ[14] and Q[8] were employed to develop an effective strategy for constructing a linear supramolecular polymer with controllable features. The alkyl groups on both sides of BNB could insert into the two cavities of tQ[14], the naphthyl part of BNB via π-π stacking in Q[8] cavity, serving as the driving force for supramolecular polymerization. Through self-sorting of the monomer, tQ[14] and Q[8], led to the formation of the linear supramolecular polymer. Depolymerization could be achieved by addition of adamantane hydrochloride (AH) which driven two BNB guest molecules out of the Q[8] cavity. This self-sorting strategy has great potential, not only for designing supramolecular polymer materials with different controllable structures through introduction of multiple functional groups, but also for broadening the application of twisted cucurbit[14]uril in supramolecular chemistry.

Cucurbit[n]urils  /  Twisted cucurbit[14]uril  /  Supramolecular polymer  /  Self-sorting  /  Host-guest interaction
Wei Zhang, Yang Luo, Jie Zhao, Chao Zhang, Xin-Long Ni, Zhu Tao, Xin Xiao. Controllable fabrication of a supramolecular polymer incorporating twisted cucurbit[14]uril and cucurbit[8]uril via self-sorting[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2022 , 33 (5) : 2455 -2458 . DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.11.053
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Supramolecular polymer chemistry, an interdisciplinary research field, aims to construct highly complex polymer systems with desirable features by organizing arrays of components. The components are often connected by either covalent or non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding [1-3], π-π stacking [4, 5] and metal-ligand coordination [6, 7]. Because the intensity and orientation of interactions between components are adjustable [8-13], supramolecular polymers demonstrate attractive properties [14-18] regarding stimuli-responsivity, self-healing, and degradability. Over the last decade, supramolecular polymer materials have found potential applications in photovoltaic devices, drug delivery, porous membranes, catalysts, etc. [19-22]. Several strategies have been employed recently to produce specific supramolecular polymers, including chain growth polymerization [23], seed polymerization [24] and self-sorting [25, 26]. Self-sorting is defined as the highly efficient recognition between molecules within complex mixtures, such that each type of molecule has its own corresponding unit [27]. Since molecules have their own differing characteristics (structure, molecular size, etc.), the macrocyclic host can not only construct different intricate supramolecular polymers through host-guest interactions but can even precisely control them [28, 29].
Cucurbit[n]urils (Q[n]s) [30-35], as important macrocyclic hosts with rigid cavity, distinct symmetry, and high stability, can bind a variety of guests, including neutral or positively charged molecules, with high binding constants in aqueous solution. Q[8] is unique because of its ability to form ternary complexes by encapsulating two hetero- or homo-guests in its large, rigid cavity. These complexes have been widely used as molecular handcuffs in the fabrication of various supramolecular polymers in the last ten years [36-39]. Twisted cucurbit[14]uril (tQ[14], Scheme 1) [40], a new member of the cucurbituril family with one of the highest known degree of polymerization, has recently attracted much attentions. It contains 14 glycoluril units linked by 28 methylene bridges and is shaped like a distorted rubber band with two cavities. Because tQ[14] almost always takes on a twisted shape similar to the Arabic numeral "8″, it is capable of encapsulating two guest molecules to form ternary supramolecular compounds. Both Q[8] and tQ[14] are good candidates for macrocyclic supramolecular hosts. However, studies on the use of tQ[14] in the construction of supramolecular polymers are limited [41-41].
The aim of this study is to construct a controllable supramolecular polymer system based on tQ[14] and Q[8] through self-sorting. A linear molecule, 1-butyl-1′-(1-naphthalenylmethyl)−4, 4′-bipyridinium (BNB) composed of naphthyl, bipyridyl, and alkyl groups, is prepared (Figs. S1-S3 in Supporting information). By simply mixing BNB, tQ[14] and Q[8] in aqueous solution, Q[8] and the naphthyl part of BNB could interact via π-π stacking, while tQ[14] could bound to the alkyl chain parts of BNB, resulting in the formation of the linear supramolecular polymer. Interestingly, whether Q[8] or tQ[14] is added first or Q[8] and tQ[14] are added at the same time, BNB can form flexible chain-like supramolecular polymers based on tQ[14] and Q[8] through self-sorting. Therefore, the two key macrocyclic compounds cooperate to construct supramolecular polymers.
In order to verify that the supramolecular polymer is constructed by self-sorting, we first studies the method of constructing monomers by adding Q[8] on the basis of BNB. Q[8] naturally selects the BNB guest molecule containing conjugated naphthalene groups, and (Fig. S4 in Supporting information), forming a π-π complex BNB@Q[8] of naphthalene moieties within Q[8]'s cavity, while the alkyl chain (butyl group) and bipyridine of the guest molecule remain exposed outside the cavity. As shown in Fig. 1, when tQ[14] is subsequently added to BNB@Q[8] (2:1), the naphthyl group of BNB is not removed from the cavity of Q[8]. On the contrary, the alkyl chain of BNB shifts to high field, which means that tQ[14] bind with BNB forming BNB@Q[8] (2:1), while the bipyridine part of BNB remains on the outside of Q[8] and tQ[14]. Therefore, the strategy of adding Q[8] first and then adding tQ[14] is feasible to construct the flexible chain-like supramolecular polymers of BNB@tQ[14]@Q[8].
Subsequently, the method of initially adding tQ[14] and then adding Q[8] was also performed, and the same supramolecular polymer is also constructed. As shown in Fig. 2 (Ⅰ and Ⅱ), tQ[14] binds tightly to the bipyridine and alkyl chain groups of BNB and constructs monomers of the type BNB@tQ[14], while the naphthyl groups with their larger molecular size are excluded (Fig. S6 in Supporting information). Upon adding Q[8] to the 1:1 mixture of BNB@tQ[14], Q[8] breaks the equilibrium state between tQ[14] and BNB, produces π-π stacking of BNB in its cavity, and forces tQ[14] to slide on the BNB molecule as well as changing the interaction mode of the BNB@tQ[14] from 1:1 to 1:2 to form the flexible chain-like supramolecular polymers BNB@tQ[14]@Q[8]. It is worth noting that whether Q[8] or tQ[14] is added first, the interaction of the supramolecular polymer formed by BNB and Q[n]s is the same.
Finally, as expected, the same result is obtained by adding Q[8] and tQ[14] simultaneously on the basis of BNB (Fig. S8 in Supporting information). The 1:1 mixed Q[8] and tQ[14] solution is added to the BNB, and surprisingly it is found that Q[8] still specifically recognizes the naphthalene part of BNB; tQ[14] still binds with the alkyl chain part of BNB, while the bipyridine part of BNB always remains out of the cavities of both Q[n]s. The same supramolecular polymer can be prepared through the above three different addition orders, so it can be explained that the supramolecular polymer is constructed by self-sorting.
ITC is used to further elucidate the self-sorting process and the main driving force for the construction of the ternary supramolecular polymer (Fig. S9 in Supporting information). The binding constant of BNB@tQ[14] was (3.376 ± 0.121) × 105 M−1, and that of the naphthyl part of guest BNB with Q[8] was as high as (5.963 ± 0.138) × 1011 M−2 [43, 44] (Fig. S10 in Supporting information). Thus, the mechanism of this supramolecular polymerization can be described as Q[8] tending to bind with the naphthyl groups of BNB due to its higher binding affinity, leaving tQ[14] to complete the ternary structure via binding to the alkyl chains of BNB. ITC data shows that interactions between the hosts and BNB appear to be driven by favorable enthalpy changes accompanied by small negative (unfavorable) entropy changes.
Since BNB is not fluorescent in aqueous solution, UV spectroscopy is an important means to examine host-guest interactions. The 1:2 stoichiometry of host Q[8] with guest BNB (Figs. S11 and S12 in Supporting information) and the 1:2 stoichiometry of tQ[14] with BNB (Figs. S13 and S14 in Supporting information) are determined by the mole ratio and Job's methods. UV spectroscopy is also used to examine the supramolecular polymer. Fig. 3 shows that although the absorbance of BNB@tQ[14] (2:1) at 262 nm changed sparingly, a red shift is evidenced with the continuous dropwise addition of Q[8]. At the same time, absorbance at 224 nm initially drops then roses, with the inflection point occurring at a BNB@tQ[14]: Q[8] ratio of 1:1 (Fig. 3, inset). This change is accompanied by a slight blue shift.
The 1H NMR, ITC, and UV spectroscopy data together demonstrate the process of this supramolecular polymer formation: the original host-guest structure of the BNB@tQ[14] complex is destroyed by the addition of Q[8], forcing tQ[14] to slide out of the bipyridine site of BNB. The system reaches a new equilibrium as a supramolecular polymer chain whose basic structure is two cavities of tQ[14] enclosing two alkyl chains and the cavity of Q[8] enclosing two π-π stacked naphthalene molecules. To further characterize this formation, large numbers of interlaced flexible lines are observed by SEM (Fig. 4A), which is consistent with our inferred polymer structure. Meanwhile, particle size characterized by DLS (Fig. 4B), increases from 54.79 nm (BNB) to 109.46 nm and 128.26 nm after formation of the BNB@tQ[14] complex and BNB@Q[8] complex, further to 348.32 nm on formation of the supramolecular polymer BNB@tQ[14]@Q[8].
The existence of the supramolecular polymer structure is also confirmed by DOSY spectrum. As shown in Fig. 4C, the diffusion coefficient of BNB in D2O) is 3.3965 × 10−10 m2/s, while the coefficients of BNB@Q[8] and BNB@tQ[14] decreases significantly to 2.5458 × 10−10 m2/s and 2.4145 × 10−10 m2/s, respectively. The diffusion coefficient (1.3256 × 10−10 m2/s) of BNB@tQ[14]@Q[8] significantly reduces when Q[8] is added to BNB@tQ[14].
Molecular modeling by quantum chemistry calculation is helpful to visualize the structure of supramolecular polymers. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used at the GFN2-xtb level to estimate the structures of BNB@Q[8] (Fig. S15 in Supporting information), BNB@tQ[14] (Fig. S16 in Supporting information), and the supramolecular polymer BNB@tQ[14]@Q[8] (Fig. 5). Among them, the binding energy of BNB@tQ[14]@Q[8] is calculated as ∆E= −107.7495 kcal/mol, which indicates that the polymer can exist stably.
This study demonstrates that supramolecular polymer formation can be easily controlled by the addition of Q[8] which disrupts the balance between BNB and tQ[14] and promotes the formation of BNB@tQ[14]@Q[8]. Reversible transformation of the starting building blocks, especially for the guest species under certain conditions, is the primary feature of supramolecular polymers. This feature is evident in the present case. Due to the strong binding ability between Q[8] and adamantane hydrochloride (AH), the addition of AH as a competitive guest may dissociate the interaction of the BNB@tQ[14]@Q[8] polymer. As shown in 1H NMR spectrum, AH forces naphthyl groups of BNB out of the Q[8] cavity and allow the bipyridyl groups to re-enter the cavity of tQ[14] (Fig. 6), which indicates the successful dissociation of the BNB@tQ[14]@Q[8] polymer to the guest species and the concomitant formation of a new inclusion complex between Q[8] and AH. UV spectroscopy also confirmed this depolymerization. After addition of AH, absorbance and wavelengths reverts to approximately those of BNB@tQ[14] (Fig. S18 in Supporting information).
In summary, a guest molecule (BNB) with three functional groups (naphthyl, bipyridyl and alkyl), and two hosts (tQ[14] and Q[8]) were employed to develop an effective strategy for preparing a linear supramolecular polymer with controllable polymerization. By simply mixing BNB, tQ[14] and Q[8] in aqueous solution, the host-guest interaction between the Q[8] and the naphthyl part of BNB via π-π stacking are produced. Meanwhile, on combination with the tQ[14] that contains the alkyl chain parts of BNB, the linear supramolecular polymer was successfully constructed. Interestingly, whether Q[8] or tQ[14] is added first or Q[8] and tQ[14] are added at the same time, BNB can form flexible chain-like supramolecular polymers based on tQ[14] and Q[8] through self-sorting. Finally, depolymerization could be achieved by addition of adamantane hydrochloride which forces BNB out of the Q[8] cavity. This self-sorting strategy has great potential, not only for the preparation of supramolecular polymer materials with different controllable structures through the introduction of various functional groups, but also for broadening the study of twisted cucurbit[14]uril in supramolecular chemistry.
Declaration of competing interest
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There are no conflicts to declare.
Acknowledgments
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This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21861011, 21871064) and the Innovation Program for High-level Talents of Guizhou Province (No. 2016–5657), the Graduate scientific research Fund of Guizhou Province (No. YJSCXJH-2019–011)
Supplementary materials
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Supplementary material associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at doi:10.1016/j.cclet.2021.11.053
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Year 2022 volume 33 Issue 5
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doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.11.053
  • Receive Date：2021-07-08
  • Online Date：2025-12-19
  • Published：2022-05-15
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  • Received：2021-07-08
  • Revised：2021-11-13
  • Accepted：2021-11-14
Affiliations
    Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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表12种不同金属材料的力学参数
科
Family		 属数
Number of
genus		 种数
Number of
species		 占总种数比例
Percentage of
total species (%)		 属
Genus		 种数
Number of
species		 占总种数比例
Percentage of total
species (%)
鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae 2 11 5.26 鹅膏菌属 Amanita 10 4.78
小菇科 Mycenaceae 2 12 5.74 丝盖伞属 Inocybe 5 2.39
多孔菌科 Polyporaceae 8 14 6.70 蜡蘑属 Laccaria 5 2.39
红菇科 Russulaceae 3 23 11.00 小皮伞属 Marasmius 6 2.87
小菇属 Mycena 11 5.26
光柄菇属 Pluteus 5 2.39
红菇属 Russula 17 8.13
栓菌属 Trametes 5 2.39
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