Supramolecular Non‐Helical One‐Dimensional Channels and Microtubes Assembled from Enantiomers of Difluorenol

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 60; no. 8; pp. 3979 - 3983
• Main Authors: Wang, Sha‐Sha, Liu, Yi‐Ran, Yu, Xiang, Zhou, Yang, Zhong, Tao‐Tao, Li, Yue‐Tian, Xie, Ling‐Hai, Huang, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 19.02.2021
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: Assembly; Channels; Closed loops; conducting materials; crystal growth; Electron transfer; Enantiomers; Etching; Excitons; Lithium; Molecular structure; nanotubes; noncovalent interactions; Proton conduction; self-assembly; Solvents; Symmetry; conducting materials; nanotubes; self-assembly; crystal growth; noncovalent interactions
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202012548

The design and assembly of photoelectro‐active molecular channel structures is of great importance because of their advantages in charge mobility, photo‐induced electron transfer, proton conduction, and exciton transport. Herein, we report the use of racemic 9,9′‐diphenyl‐[2,2′‐bifluorene]‐9,9′‐diol (DPFOH) enantiomers to produce non‐helical 1D channel structures. Although the individual molecule does not present any molecular symmetry, two pairs of racemic DPFOH enantiomers can form a C2‐symmetric closed loop via the stereoscopic herringbone assembly. Thanks to the special symmetry derived from the enantiomer pairs, the multiple supramolecular interactions, and the padding from solvent molecules, this conventionally unstable topological structure is achieved. The etching of solvent in 1D channels leads to the formation of microtubes, which exhibit a significant lithium‐ion conductivity of 1.77×10−4 S cm, indicating the potential research value of this novel 1D channel structure. An unprecedented supramolecular non‐helical channel structure based on racemic 9,9′‐diphenyl‐[2,2′‐bifluorene]‐9,9′‐diol enantiomers is achieved. Two pairs of racemic enantiomers can form a C2‐symmetric closed loop via the stereoscopic herringbone assembly. The etching of solvent in 1D channels leads to the formation of microtubes with a lithium‐ion conductivity of 1.77×10−4 S cm.