Molecular marriage through partner preferences in covalent cage formation and cage-to-cage transformation

J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Jan 16;135(2):554-7. doi: 10.1021/ja310083p. Epub 2012 Dec 31.

Abstract

Unprecedented self-sorting of three-dimensional purely organic cages driven by dynamic covalent bonds is described. Four different cages were first synthesized by condensation of two triamines and two dialdehydes separately. When a mixture of all the components was allowed to react, only two cages were formed, which suggests a high-fidelity self-recognition. The issue of the preference of one triamine for a particular dialdehyde was further probed by transforming a non-preferred combination to either of the two preferred combinations by reacting it with the appropriate triamine or dialdehyde.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes / chemistry*
  • Amines / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Imines / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nanotechnology*

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Amines
  • Imines