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Guest-Induced Folding and Self-Assembly of Conformationally Adaptive Macrocycles into Nanosheets and Nanotubes.

Liu-Pan YangFei JiaQing-Hai ZhouFangfang PanJiao-Nan SunKari RissanenLung Wa ChungWei Jiang
Published in: Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) (2017)
A conformationally adaptive macrocycle is presented, namely zorb[4]arene, which exists in multiple conformations in the uncomplexed state. The binding cavity of zorb[4]arene is concealed, either due to a collapsed conformation or by self-inclusion. The zorb[4]arene with long alkyl chains manifests itself with surprisingly low melting point and thus exist as an oil at room temperature. Binding of a guest molecule induces the folding and conformational rigidity of zorb[4]arene and leads to well-defined three-dimensional structures, which can further self-assemble into nanosheets or nanotubes upon solvent evaporation, depending on guest molecules and the conformations they can induce.
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