Self‐Assembly of Fullerene‐Based Janus Particles in Solution: Effects of Molecular Architecture and Solvent

Abstract

Two molecular Janus particles based on amphiphilic [60]fullerene (C60 ) derivatives were designed and synthesized by using the regioselective Bingel-Hirsh reaction and the click reaction. These particles contain carboxylic acid functional groups, a hydrophilic fullerene (AC60 ), and a hydrophobic C60 in different ratios and have distinct molecular architectures: 1:1 (AC60 -C60 ) and 1:2 (AC60 -2C60 ). These molecular Janus particles can self-assemble in solution to form aggregates with various types of micellar morphology. Whereas vesicular morphology was observed for both AC60 -C60 and AC60 -2C60 in tetrahydrofuran, in a mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)/water, spherical micelles and cylindrical micelles were observed for AC60 -C60 and AC60 -2C60 , respectively. A mechanism of formation was tentatively proposed based on the effects of molecular architecture and solvent polarity on self-assembly.

A few rediscovered and challenging topics in polymer crystals and crystallization

“…Following this idea of molecular design, we have demonstrated several types of novel macromolecules, such as giant surfactants (MNPs tethered with polymer chains), shape amphiphiles (conjugates of MNPs through short linkers), and giant polyhedra (nano‐sized conjugates of MNPs with rigid shaped linkers), as articulated in our recent Perspective Paper . So far, widely used MNPs are derivatives of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) and [60]fullerenes (C 60 ) …”

Self‐Assemblyand Primitive Membrane Formation: Between Stability and Dynamism

“…Over the last decade, there have been extensive studies on nonclassical amphiphiles that combine biological or inorganic elements or nanoparticles into classical surfactant, lipid, or polymer structures [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. This book presents the most recent advances in these areas by pioneering scientists in these fields.…”

“…An important class of nonclassical amphiphiles that is generating significant interest is that incorporating nanoparticles as a part of the amphiphile [42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. One example is an amphiphile containing a purely inorganic multinuclear headgroup of the polytungstate type R-[PW 11 O 39 ] 3 [42], where R is the hydrophobic tail.…”

Conformational Preferences and the Phase Stability of Fullerene Hexa‐adducts

“…The development of fullerene chemistry facilitates the functionalization of [60‐ I h ]‐fullerene (C 60 ), and made the functionalized C 60 derivatives an important building block of many novel molecular systems . Functional materials like amphiphilic fullerene hexa‐adducts (FHAs),, photoactive FHAs, electroactive FHAs, bioactive FHAs, giant surfactants, and semiconducting giant molecules have been synthesized, and unique supramolecular assembles, including helical supramolecular columns, supramolecular double cables, smectic A phase,, chiral nematic phase,, micelles, and vesicles, were observed among these molecules. The conformation of the C 60 ‐based molecules is essential to its self‐organization behaviors and its material properties because conformational changes can affect the distances among the peripheral functional groups and molecular shapes.…”