Temperature-mediated molecular ladder self-assembly employing Diels–Alder cycloaddition

Journal Article · Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Polymer Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/d0py01296c· OSTI ID:1851647

Leguizamon, Samuel C. ^[1]; Alqubati, Abdulla F. ^[2]; Scott, Timothy F. ^[3]

---

1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States); OSTI
2. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
3. Monash Univ., Clayton, VIC (Australia)

Dynamic covalent self-assembly processes often exhibit poor capacities for error-correction owing to the relatively low connectivity rearrangement rates of dynamic covalent interactions and the common use of reaction conditions where the equilibrium state remains fixed. Here, we report a dynamic covalent self-assembly technique employing temperature, a conventional, externally-applied stimulus, to mediate the hybridization of peptoid oligomers bearing maleimide- and furan-based pendant groups to afford molecular ladders incorporating Diels–Alder adduct-based rungs. By raising or lowing the reaction temperature, this system enables the equilibrium state to be readily varied without altering reagent concentrations. Both triethylamine and the Lewis acidic scandium triflate were examined as candidate reaction catalysts; however, only scandium triflate increased the rate of single strand conversion. Additionally, as the Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction does not liberate a small molecule, a registry-dependent mass change was effected by employing a base-catalyzed thiol-Michael addition reaction between any un-reacted maleimide pendant groups and a low molecular weight thiol to enable the number of Diels–Alder adduct rungs to be readily determined by mass spectrometry. Finally, by employing a slow temperature ramp from high to low temperature, approximating the thermal cycle employed for nucleic acid hybridization, sequence-selective hybridization between model, tetra-functional precursor strands was demonstrated.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0012479
• OSTI ID: 1851647
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1737854
• Journal Information: Polymer Chemistry, Journal Name: Polymer Chemistry Journal Issue: 48 Vol. 11; ISSN PCOHC2; ISSN 1759-9954
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY