Chalcogen-Bonding Supramolecular Polymers
Rongjin Zeng, Zehao Gong, Qiang Yan
Abstract
Exploring unknown supramolecular interacting forces to create novel supramolecular materials is an eternal theme of supramolecular science. Here, we first report a new family of supramolecular polymers formed by unconventional chalcogen-bonding interactions. A class of chalcogen-containing macrocyclic receptors, termed as chalcogena[4]arene (ChA[4], Ch = Te and Se), are designed as chalcogen-bonding donors. Using homoditopic ChA[4]s as monomers, they can linearly polymerize with a twin-headed N-oxide dianion surfactant to organize into noncovalent polymer arrays via end-to-end Ch···O– chalcogen–chalcogen complexation in aqueous media and further self-assemble into supramolecular hydrogel fibers. The binding chemistries of different chalcogen bonds play a decisive role in tuning the parameters of noncovalent polymerizations and the mechanical properties of hydrogel networks. Moreover, such chalcogen-bonding-mediated polymer arrays can be reversibly disconnected by competing anions. This study would inspire a new direction inquiry of unorthodox supramolecular interactions and their related supramolecular materials.