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Title: Breaking Parallel Orientation of Rods via a Dendritic Architecture toward Diverse Supramolecular Structures

Journal Article · · Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [4];  [5];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [6];  [3]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [7]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology School of Molecular Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 China, Department of Polymer Science College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering The University of Akron Akron OH 44325-3909 USA
  2. Department of Polymer Science College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering The University of Akron Akron OH 44325-3909 USA
  3. South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology School of Molecular Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 China
  4. Department of Chemistry The University of Akron Akron OH 44325 USA
  5. Department of Polymer Science College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering The University of Akron Akron OH 44325-3909 USA, Department of Chemistry The University of Akron Akron OH 44325 USA
  6. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Northern Illinois University DeKalb IL 60115 USA, X-ray Science Division Advanced Photon Source Argonne National Laboratory Argonne IL 60439 USA
  7. Department of Physics and Astronomy McMaster University Hamilton Ontario L8S 4M1 Canada

Abstract Self‐assembled nanostructures of rod‐like molecules are commonly limited to nematic or layered smectic structures dominated by the parallel arrangement of the rod‐like components. Distinct self‐assembly behavior of four categories of dendritic rods constructed by placing a tri(hydroxy) group at the apex of dendritic oligo‐fluorenes is observed. Designed hydrogen bonding and dendritic architecture break the parallel arrangement of the rods, resulting in molecules with specific (fan‐like or cone‐like) shapes. While the fan‐shaped molecules tend to form hexagonal packing cylindrical phases, the cone‐shaped molecules could form spherical motifs to pack into various ordered structures, including the Frank–Kasper A15 phase and dodecagonal quasicrystal. This study provides a model system to engineer diverse supramolecular structures by rod‐like molecules and sheds new light into the mechanisms of the formation of unconventional spherical packing structures in soft matter.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1548758
Journal Information:
Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie (International Edition) Vol. 58 Journal Issue: 34; ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 24 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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