@article{SyamalaWuerthner2020,
  author    = {Syamala, Pradeep P. N. and W{\"u}rthner, Frank},
  title     = {Modulation of the Self-Assembly of π-Amphiphiles in Water from Enthalpy- to Entropy-Driven by Enwrapping Substituents},
  series = {Chemistry - A European Journal},
  volume    = {26},
  journal   = {Chemistry - A European Journal},
  number    = {38},
  doi       = {10.1002/chem.202000995},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218107},
  pages     = {8426 -- 8434},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Depending on the connectivity of solubilizing oligoethylene glycol (OEG) side chains to the π-cores of amphiphilic naphthalene and perylene bisimide dyes, self-assembly in water occurs either upon heating or cooling. Herein, we show that this effect originates from differences in the enwrapping capability of the π-cores by the OEG chains. Rylene bisimides bearing phenyl substituents with three OEG chains attached directly to the hydrophobic π-cores are strongly sequestered by the OEG chains. These molecules self-assemble at elevated temperatures in an entropy-driven process according to temperature- and concentration-dependent UV/Vis spectroscopy and calorimetric dilution studies. In contrast, for rylene bisimides in which phenyl substituents with three OEG chains are attached via a methylene spacer, leading to much weaker sequestration, self-assembly originates upon cooling in an enthalpy-driven process. Our explanation for this controversial behavior is that the aggregation in the latter case is dictated by the release of "high energy water" from the hydrophobic π-surfaces as well as dispersion interactions between the π-scaffolds which drive the self-assembly in an enthalpically driven process. In contrast, for the former case we suggest that in addition to the conventional explanation of a dehydration of hydrogen-bonded water molecules from OEG units it is in particular the increase in conformational entropy of back-folded OEG side chains upon aggregation that provides the pronounced gain in entropy that drives the aggregation process. Thus, our studies revealed that a subtle change in the attachment of solubilizing substituents can switch the thermodynamic signature for the self-assembly of amphiphilic dyes in water from enthalpy- to entropy-driven.},
  language  = {en}
}