Self-Assembly of Hollow Organic Nanotubes Driven by Arene Regioisomerism

Arene regioisomerism in low-molecular-weight gelators can be exploited as a tool to modulate the micro-structures of the corresponding xerogel networks by using the three different possible substitution patterns ortho, meta and para. This aromatic regioisomer-driven strategy has been used with a cho...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Alegre-Requena, Juan V., Herrera, Raquel P., Díaz Díaz, David
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universidad de La Laguna (ULL)
Repositorio:RIULL. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna
OAI Identifier:oai:riull.ull.es:915/21343
Acceso en línea:http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/21343
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:gels
nanotubes
regioisomers
self-assembly
supramolecular chemistry
geles
nanotubos
autoensamblaje
química supramolecular
Descripción
Sumario:Arene regioisomerism in low-molecular-weight gelators can be exploited as a tool to modulate the micro-structures of the corresponding xerogel networks by using the three different possible substitution patterns ortho, meta and para. This aromatic regioisomer-driven strategy has been used with a cholesterol-based gelator to prepare hollow self-assembled organic nanotubes (S-ONTs) with inside and outside diameters of ca. 35 and 140 nm, respectively. Electron microscopy imaging and theoretical calculations were employed to rationalize the formation mechanism of these S-ONTs. From the three possible regioisomers, only the ortho-disubstituted cholesteryl-based gelator showed the optimal angle and distance between substituents to afford the formation of the cyclic assemblies required for nanotube growth by assembling 30–40 units of the gelator. This study opens fascinating opportunities to expand the synthesis of controllable and unique microstructures by modulating geometrical parameters through aromatic regioisomers.