Despite recent advances in synthetic nanometer-scale tubular assembly, conferral of dynamic response characteristics to the tubules remains a challenge. I will present supramolecular nanotubules that undergo a reversible contraction-expansion motion accompanied by an inversion of helical chirality. Bent-shaped aromatic amphiphiles selfassemble into hexameric macrocycles in aqueous solution, forming chiral tubules by spontaneous one dimensional stacking with a mutual rotation in the same direction. The aromatic interior of the self-assembled tubules encapsulates hydrophobic guests such as C60. Using a thermal trigger, we could regulate the C60-C60 interactions through the pulsating motion of the tubules. In the case of cyclic amphiphiles, the self-assembed tubules are able to be completely closed driven by thermal dehydration. This tubule with a water-pump action triggers dehydration reaction in aqueous solution.

Squeezable tubules from self-assembly of amphiphilic macrocycles

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.