Noncovalent Synthesis of Self-Assembled Nanotubes through Decoupled Hierarchical Cooperative Processes

J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Oct 16;141(41):16432-16438. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b07868. Epub 2019 Sep 24.

Abstract

Because of their wide number of biological functions and potential applications, self-assembled nanotubes constitute highly relevant targets in noncovalent synthesis. Herein, we introduce a novel approach to produce supramolecular nanotubes with defined inner and outer diameters from rigid rod-like monomers programmed with complementary nucleobases through two distinct, decoupled cooperative processes of different hierarchy and acting in orthogonal directions: chelate cooperativity, responsible for the formation of robust Watson-Crick H-bonded cyclic tetramers, and nucleation-growth cooperative polymerization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Polymerization