Self-assembled poly-catenanes from supramolecular toroidal building blocks

Sougata Datta, Yasuki Kato, Seiya Higashiharaguchi, Keisuke Aratsu, Atsushi Isobe, Takuho Saito, Deepak D. Prabhu, Yuichi Kitamoto, Martin J. Hollamby, Andrew J. Smith, Robert Dalgliesh, Najet Mahmoudi, Luca Pesce, Claudio Perego, Giovanni M. Pavan and Shiki Yagai ()
Additional contact information
Sougata Datta: Chiba University
Yasuki Kato: Chiba University
Seiya Higashiharaguchi: Chiba University
Keisuke Aratsu: Chiba University
Atsushi Isobe: Chiba University
Takuho Saito: Chiba University
Deepak D. Prabhu: Chiba University
Yuichi Kitamoto: Chiba University
Martin J. Hollamby: Keele University
Andrew J. Smith: Diamond House
Robert Dalgliesh: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Najet Mahmoudi: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Luca Pesce: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Claudio Perego: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Giovanni M. Pavan: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Shiki Yagai: Chiba University

Nature, 2020, vol. 583, issue 7816, 400-405

Abstract: Abstract Mechanical interlocking of molecules (catenation) is a nontrivial challenge in modern synthetic chemistry and materials science1,2. One strategy to achieve catenation is the design of pre-annular molecules that are capable of both efficient cyclization and of pre-organizing another precursor to engage in subsequent interlocking3–9. This task is particularly difficult when the annular target is composed of a large ensemble of molecules, that is, when it is a supramolecular assembly. However, the construction of such unprecedented assemblies would enable the visualization of nontrivial nanotopologies through microscopy techniques, which would not only satisfy academic curiosity but also pave the way to the development of materials with nanotopology-derived properties. Here we report the synthesis of such a nanotopology using fibrous supramolecular assemblies with intrinsic curvature. Using a solvent-mixing strategy, we kinetically organized a molecule that can elongate into toroids with a radius of about 13 nanometres. Atomic force microscopy on the resulting nanoscale toroids revealed a high percentage of catenation, which is sufficient to yield ‘nanolympiadane’10, a nanoscale catenane composed of five interlocked toroids. Spectroscopic and theoretical studies suggested that this unusually high degree of catenation stems from the secondary nucleation of the precursor molecules around the toroids. By modifying the self-assembly protocol to promote ring closure and secondary nucleation, a maximum catenation number of 22 was confirmed by atomic force microscopy.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2445-z

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