Abstract
The thermodynamics and molecular structure of a supramolecular complex between a tubular molecule, (P)-(12,8)-[4]cyclo-2,8-anthanthrenylene, and fullerene were investigated. The enthalpy-driven characteristics of the association were enhanced upon lengthening of the curved sp2-carbon networks in the tubular molecule as a result of an increase in the C-C contact areas in addition to the emergence of CH-π contacts with aliphatic chains. The involvement of CH-π interactions in the molecular recognition consequently increased the entropy cost for the association, and the importance of molecular structures at the edge of tubular molecules was revealed. An inflection-free, smooth surface inside the tubular molecule was revealed by crystallographic analysis, which allowed for dynamic motions of the encapsulated fullerene molecule in solution. This study provided a new example of a molecular peapod with a smoothly curved π-interface to be examined in the structure-thermodynamics relationship study and led to an in-depth understanding of peapods in general.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 909-916 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Chemical Science |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2015 Feb 1 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)