Substantially spherical supramolecular assemblies

• US 7,169,957 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerry L. Atwood, Leonard R. Macgillivray
• Original Assignee: Jerry L. Atwood, Leonard R. Macgillivray
• Inventors: MacGillivray, Leonard R., Atwood, Jerry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richter; Johann
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nagubandi; Lalitha
• Application Number:
  US10/408,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20040014963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 568/719, 568/720
• US Class Current: 568/719
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2603/92 with a condensed ring system consisting of at least two mutually uncondensed aromatic ring systems, linked by an annular structure formed by carbon chains on non-adjacent positions of the aromatic system, e.g. cyclophanes
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 39/14 with at least one hydroxy group on a condensed ring system containing two rings
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 39/15 with all hydroxy groups on non-condensed rings , e.g. phenylphenol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 69/78 Benzoic acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 213/50 Ketonic radicals
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 213/53 Nitrogen atoms

Abstract

Disclosed are the general principles upon which closed molecular or ionic structural frameworks may be prepared. These frameworks are based upon the self-assembly (wherein the term self-assembly refers to the association of chemical components through inter-component bonds) of n>4 subunits where surface curvature is supplied by edge sharing of subunits.

Claims

1. A substantially spherical molecular or ionic synthon assembly having a substantially enclosed volume greater than 1300 Å

³ and comprising six calix[4]resorcinarenes and eight water molecules as the synthons, the assembly mimicking a snub cube.

2. A substantially spherical supramolecular assembly having a substantially enclosed volume and a framework structure that mimics a Platonic or Archimedean solid, the supramolecular assembly comprising more than four synthons held together by a combination of carbon-based covalent, non-covalent, and/or coordinate covalent bonds, with at least two of the bonds being selected from the group consisting of noncovalent bonds and coordinate covalent bonds, wherein the synthons comprise cyclic calix-type compounds wherein the cyclic calix-type compound is a calixresorcinarene of the formula:

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said substantially spherical supramolecular assembly comprises six of said calix[4]resorcinarenes.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said spherical supramolecular assembly comprises six C-methylcalix[4]resorcinarenes.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said spherical assembly comprises six C-undecylcalix[4]resorcinarenes.

6. A substantially spherical molecular assembly comprising a hexamer of a calyx[4]resorcinarene characterized by the formula:

7. The spherical assembly of claim 6 having an enclosed interior volume greater than 1300 angstrums.

8. The spherical assembly of claim 7 in which R is hydrogen.

9. The spherical assembly of claim 7 in which R is methyl.

10. The spherical assembly of claim 7 in which R is undecyl.