Stepwise Self-Assembly and Dynamic Exchange of Supramolecular Nanocages Based on Terpridine Building Blocks.
Coordination-driven self-assembly as a powerful bottom-up approach has been extensively used to construct multifarious supramolecular architectures with increasing complexity and functionality. Due to the unique cavity structures and precisely controllable dimensions, 3D supramolecules display unprecedented properties and functions in catalysis, sensing, gas storage, and smart materials. Herein, we have built two 3D nanocages with different sizes by changing the length of the organic ligand arms. The structures were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), traveling wave ion mobility-mass spectrometry (TWIM-MS), gradient tandem-mass spectrometry (gMS2 ), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the intermolecular dynamic exchange of two 3D nanocages was conducted to construct a series of hybrid 3D structures as evidenced by mass spectrometry.
['Zhang|Zhe|Z|', 'Wang|Heng|H|', 'Shi|Junjuan|J|', 'Xu|Yaping|Y|', 'Wang|Lei|L|', 'Shihadeh|Sammy|S|', 'Zhao|Fu-Jie|FJ|', 'Hao|Xin-Qi|XQ|', 'Wang|Pingshan|P|', 'Liu|Changlin|C|', 'Wang|Ming|M|', 'Li|Xiaopeng|X|http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9655-9551']
D046911:Macromolecular Substances D015394:Molecular Structure D053758:Nanoparticles D009942:Organometallic Compounds D010316:Particle Size D011725:Pyridines D013499:Surface Properties D028561:Transition Elements
self-assembly supramolecules 3D nanocages terpyridine