@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} } @article{RestPhilipsDuennebackeetal.2020, author = {Rest, Christina and Philips, Divya Susan and D{\"u}nnebacke, Torsten and Sutar, Papri and Sampedro, Angel and Droste, J{\"o}rn and Stepanenko, Vladimir and Hansen, Michael Ryan and Albuquerque, Rodrigo Q. and Fern{\´a}ndez, Gustavo}, title = {Tuning Aqueous Supramolecular Polymerization by an Acid-Responsive Conformational Switch}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {26}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {44}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202001566}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218118}, pages = {10005 -- 10013}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Besides their widespread use in coordination chemistry, 2,2'-bipyridines are known for their ability to undergo cis-trans conformational changes in response to metal ions and acids, which has been primarily investigated at the molecular level. However, the exploitation of such conformational switching in self-assembly has remained unexplored. In this work, the use of 2,2'-bipyridines as acid-responsive conformational switches to tune supramolecular polymerization processes has been demonstrated. To achieve this goal, we have designed a bipyridine-based linear bolaamphiphile, 1, that forms ordered supramolecular polymers in aqueous media through cooperative aromatic and hydrophobic interactions. Interestingly, addition of acid (TFA) induces the monoprotonation of the 2,2'-bipyridine moiety, leading to a switch in the molecular conformation from a linear (trans) to a V-shaped (cis) state. This increase in molecular distortion along with electrostatic repulsions of the positively charged bipyridine-H\(^{+}\) units attenuate the aggregation tendency and induce a transformation from long fibers to shorter thinner fibers. Our findings may contribute to opening up new directions in molecular switches and stimuli-responsive supramolecular materials.}, language = {en} }