Assembling Functional Organic Nanomaterials Using Novel Supramolecular Synthetic Strategies

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This program's main objective is to develop strategies and methods to control the behavior and function of molecules at the supramolecular level via self-assembly. To be able to orchestrate the organization of matter at the nanoscale from the ground up (i.e. supramolecular synthesis), we will (a) synthesize molecules that are capable of undergoing a hierarchical self-assembly process into nanotubular architectures with predefined dimensions, physical, chemical, and biological properties, (b) establish their self-assembly with a variety of spectroscopic, imaging, and modeling tools, and (c) investigate their chemical and physical properties. In particular we have over the past five years established that carefully designed heterobicyclic motifs featuring specific sets of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors in pre-defined planes self-assemble into six-membered supermacrocycles (rosettes) maintained by 18 or 36 H-bonds, which then stack to form stable rosette nanotubes (RNTs) with unprecedented chemical, physical and biological properties.