Time-dependent solid-state molecular motion and colour tuning of host-guest systems by organic solvents

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 77 - 8
• Main Authors: Yang, Yu-Dong, Ji, Xiaofan, Lu, Zhi-Hao, Yang, Jian, Gao, Chao, Zhang, Haoke, Tang, Ben Zhong, Sessler, Jonathan L., Gong, Han-Yuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 07.01.2020; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 140/131; 639/638/298/398; 639/638/541/961; 639/638/541/966; Chain dynamics; Color; Crystal structure; Crystallinity; Dynamic control; Grinding; Humanities and Social Sciences; Information storage; Molecular machines; Molecular motion; multidisciplinary; Organic solvents; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Solid state; Solvents; State machines; Supramolecular compounds; Time dependence
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13844-5

Host-guest complex solid state molecular motion is a critical but underexplored phenomenon. In principle, it can be used to control molecular machines that function in the solid state. Here we describe a solid state system that operates on the basis of complexation between an all-hydrocarbon macrocycle,  D 4d -CDMB-8 , and perylene. Molecular motion in this solid state machine is induced by exposure to organic solvents or grinding and gives rise to different co-crystalline, mixed crystalline, or amorphous forms. Distinct time-dependent emissive responses are seen for different organic solvents as their respective vapours or when the solid forms are subject to grinding. This temporal feature allows the present  D 4d -CDMB-8 ⊃perylene-based system to be used as a time-dependent, colour-based 4th dimension response element in pattern-based information codes. This work highlights how dynamic control over solid-state host-guest molecular motion may be used to induce a tuneable temporal response and provide materials with information storage capability. Host-guest solid state molecular motion is a critical but underexplored phenomenon which can be used to control molecular machines that function in the solid state. Here, the authors describe a solid state machine that shows solvent vapour- and mechanically-induced molecular motion that allows access to different crystalline and amorphous forms.