Controlling and imaging biomimetic self-assembly

Nat Chem. 2016 Jan;8(1):10-5. doi: 10.1038/nchem.2383. Epub 2015 Nov 16.

Abstract

The self-assembly of chemical entities represents a very attractive way to create a large variety of ordered functional structures and complex matter. Although much effort has been devoted to the preparation of supramolecular nanostructures based on different chemical building blocks, an understanding of the mechanisms at play and the ability to monitor assembly processes and, in turn, control them are often elusive, which precludes a deep and comprehensive control of the final structures. Here the complex supramolecular landscape of a platinum(II) compound is characterized fully and controlled successfully through a combination of supramolecular and photochemical approaches. The supramolecular assemblies comprise two kinetic assemblies and their thermodynamic counterpart. The monitoring of the different emission properties of the aggregates, used as a fingerprint for each species, allows the real-time visualization of the evolving self-assemblies. The control of multiple supramolecular pathways will help the design of complex systems in and out of their thermodynamic equilibrium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetics / methods*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / chemistry
  • Photochemistry / methods*
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Solvents

Associated data

  • PubChem-Substance/253657242
  • PubChem-Substance/253657243
  • PubChem-Substance/253657244
  • PubChem-Substance/253657245
  • PubChem-Substance/253657246