Supramolecular Helical Nanofibers Formed by Achiral Monomers and Their Reversible Sol-Gel Transition

Wen-Zhi Wang; Chuan Gao; Qi Zhang; Xu-Hao Ye; Da-Hui Qu

doi:10.1002/asia.201601733

Supramolecular Helical Nanofibers Formed by Achiral Monomers and Their Reversible Sol-Gel Transition

Chem Asian J. 2017 Feb 16;12(4):410-414. doi: 10.1002/asia.201601733. Epub 2017 Jan 31.

Authors

Wen-Zhi Wang¹, Chuan Gao¹, Qi Zhang¹, Xu-Hao Ye¹, Da-Hui Qu¹

Affiliation

¹ Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road No. 130, Shanghai, 200237, China.

PMID: 28098435
DOI: 10.1002/asia.201601733

Abstract

Well-defined supramolecular helical nanofibers have been constructed by a rationally designed achiral monomer in aqueous solution based on the 1:2 host-guest combination between cucurbit[8]uril and a 4,4'-bipyridin-1-ium chloride (BPY⁺ ) salt derivative. The formed nanostructures could be adjusted by varying the concentration of monomer from helical nanofibers to a pH-responsive hydrogel.

Keywords: helical nanofibers; host-guest systems; nanostructures; stimuli-responsive; supramolecular chemistry.