Three‐dimensional crystalline supramolecular nanostructures from self‐assembly of rod–coil molecules incorporating lateral carboxyl group in the middle of the rod segment

Abstract

AbstractWe report the synthesis and self‐assembling behaviour of coil–rod–coil molecules 1a–1c and 2a–2c, which incorporate lateral carboxyl or ester groups in the middle of the rod segment. The self‐assembling behaviour of these molecules was investigated in the bulk using differential scanning calorimetry, polarised optical microscopy and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. Our results reveal that hydrogen bonds strongly influence the self‐assembling behaviour of rod‐like building blocks. Molecules 1a–1c, which incorporate carboxyl groups in the middle of rod segments, self‐assemble into two‐dimensional (2‐D) columnar, three‐dimensional (3‐D) body‐centred tetragonal and 3‐D hexagonal close‐packed assemblies in the crystalline state. However, molecules 2a–2c, which contain ester groups in the centre of rod segments, self‐assemble into unexpected lamellar, hexagonal perforated lamellar and 2‐D columnar nanostructures in the bulk, indicating that hydrogen bonds impede intermolecular stacking in this rod–coil system. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry