SELF-ASSEMBLING SYNTHETIC SUPRAMOLECULAR POLYMERS

The solid state structure of a [2]catenane, composed of macrocyclic rings containing pi-electron rich hydroquinol rings and pi-electron deficient bipyridinium units has revealed an approach to the elaboration of supramolecular polymers with a double helical tertiary structure. Neutral molecules containing up to five hydroquinol rings, separated by trioxaundecane spacers and terminated by benzyl ether functions, have been shown by H-1 NMR spectroscopy to form superstructures with possible double helical character as a result of pi-pi stacking and other non-covalent bonding interactions with polycations containing up to four bipyridinium units separated by p-xylyl spacers and terminated also by benzyl functions.