We herein describe a new design principle to achieve B/N‐doped cyclophane where an electron‐donor block of three triarylamines (Ar3N) and an acceptor block of three triarylboranes (Ar3B) are spatially separated on opposite sides of the π‐extended ring system. DFT computations revealed the distinct electronic structure of the
Dipolar interactions are ever‐present in supramolecular architectures, though their impact is typically revealed by making dipoles stronger. While it is also possible to assess the role of dipoles by altering their orientations by using synthetic design, doing so without altering the molecular shape is not straightforward. We have now done this by flipping one triazole unit in a rigid macrocycle, tricarb. The macrocycle is composed of three carbazoles (2 Debye) and three triazoles (5 Debye) defining an array of dipoles aligned radially but organized alternately in and out. These dipoles are believed to dictate edge‐to‐edge tiling and face‐to‐face stacking. We modified our synthesis to prepare isosteric macrocycles with the orientation of one triazole dipole rotated 40°. The new dipole orientation guides edge‐to‐edge contacts to reorder the stability of two surface‐bound 2D polymorphs. The impact on dipole‐enhanced π stacking, however, was unexpected. Our stacking model identified an unchanged set of short‐range (3.4 Å)
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10480777
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Chemistry – A European Journal
- Volume:
- 30
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 0947-6539
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract block ‐type macrocycleMC‐ b ‐B3N3 with a greatly enhanced dipole moment and reduced HOMO–LUMO energy gap in comparison to its analogue with alternating B and N sites,MC‐ alt ‐B3N3 . The unique arrangement of borane acceptor Ar3B and amine donor Ar3N components inMC‐ b ‐B3N3 induces exceptionally strong intramolecular charge transfer in the excited state, which is reflected in a largely red‐shifted luminescence at 612 nm in solution. The respective linear open‐chain oligomerL‐ b ‐B3N3 was also synthesized for comparison. Our new approach to donor–acceptor macrocycles offers important fundamental insights and opens up a new avenue to unique optoelectronic materials. -
Abstract We herein describe a new design principle to achieve B/N‐doped cyclophane where an electron‐donor block of three triarylamines (Ar3N) and an acceptor block of three triarylboranes (Ar3B) are spatially separated on opposite sides of the π‐extended ring system. DFT computations revealed the distinct electronic structure of the
block ‐type macrocycleMC‐ b ‐B3N3 with a greatly enhanced dipole moment and reduced HOMO–LUMO energy gap in comparison to its analogue with alternating B and N sites,MC‐ alt ‐B3N3 . The unique arrangement of borane acceptor Ar3B and amine donor Ar3N components inMC‐ b ‐B3N3 induces exceptionally strong intramolecular charge transfer in the excited state, which is reflected in a largely red‐shifted luminescence at 612 nm in solution. The respective linear open‐chain oligomerL‐ b ‐B3N3 was also synthesized for comparison. Our new approach to donor–acceptor macrocycles offers important fundamental insights and opens up a new avenue to unique optoelectronic materials. -
Abstract Nanotubes assembled from macrocyclic precursors offer a unique combination of low dimensionality, structural rigidity, and distinct interior and exterior microenvironments. Usually the weak stacking energies of macrocycles limit the length and mechanical strength of the resultant nanotubes. Imine‐linked macrocycles were recently found to assemble into high‐aspect ratio (>103), lyotropic nanotubes in the presence of excess acid. Yet these harsh conditions are incompatible with many functional groups and processing methods, and lower acid loadings instead catalyze macrocycle degradation. Here we report pyridine‐2,6‐diimine‐linked macrocycles that assemble into high‐aspect ratio nanotubes in the presence of less than 1 equiv of CF3CO2H per macrocycle. Analysis by gel permeation chromatography and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed a cooperative self‐assembly mechanism. The low acid concentrations needed to induce assembly enabled nanofibers to be obtained by touch‐spinning, which exhibit higher Young's moduli (1.33 GPa) than many synthetic polymers and biological filaments. These findings represent a breakthrough in the design of inverse chromonic liquid crystals, as assembly under such mild conditions will enable the design of structurally diverse and mechanically robust nanotubes from synthetically accessible macrocycles.
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