Rational Design of an Amphiphilic Coordination Cage-Based Emulsifier

Saha S, Holzapfel B, Chen Y, Terlinden K, Lill P, Gatsogiannis C, Rehage H, Clever GH

Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed

Abstract

Self-assembled, porous coordination cages with a functional interior find application in controlled guest inclusion/release, drug delivery, separation processes, and catalysis. However, only few studies exist that describe their utilization for the development of self-assembled materials based on their 3-dimensional shape and external functionalization. Here, dodecyl chain-containing, acridone-based ligands (LA) and shape-complementary phenanthrene-derived ligands (LB) are shown to self-assemble to heteroleptic coordination cages cis-[Pd2(LA)2(LB)2]4+ acting as a gemini amphiphile (CGA-1; Cage-based Gemini Amphiphile-1). Owing to their anisotropic decoration with short polar and long nonpolar side chains, the cationic cages were found to assemble into vesicles with diameters larger than 100 nm in suitable polar solvents, visualized by cryo-TEM and Liquid-Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy (LC-TEM). LC-TEM reveals that these vesicles aggregate into chains and necklaces via long-range interactions. In addition, the cages show a rarely described ability to stabilize oil-in-oil emulsions.

Details about the publication

JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)
Volume140
Issue50
Page range17384-17388
StatusPublished
Release year2018
Language in which the publication is writtenEnglish
DOI10.1021/jacs.8b10991

Authors from the University of Münster

Gatsogiannis, Christos
Center for Soft Nanoscience