Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit gelang die Synthese einer Reihe von neuartigen linear oder tetragonal präorganisierten tektonischen Verbindungen mit peripheren Haftgruppen, bestehend aus den natürlich vorkommenden Aminosäuren Glycin und L-Alanin oder kurzen Peptiden. Neben der Synthese stand die strukturelle Charakterisierung der Zielsubstanzen und Vorstufen im Vordergrund, wobei die Aufklärung der Kristallstrukturen einer Zielverbindung und elf relevanter Vorstufen gelang, deren Packungsstrukturen überwiegend durch N–H•••O-Interaktionen determiniert sind. Ergänzend konnten Informationen bezüglich der von den Haftgruppen gebildeten Strukturmotive im Festkörper mittels FT-IR-Spektroskopie abgeleitet werden. Die Auswertung konformationssensitiver 1H- und 13C-NMR-Signale zeigt, dass Aminosäurereste innerhalb identischer Haftgruppen in Lösung jeweils in derselben Konformation vorliegen. Fluoreszenzspektroskopische Untersuchungen der hergestellten Zielverbindungen lassen interessante Anwendungen auf dem Gebiet der Sensorik erwarten.

Das Ziel dieser Arbeit bestand in der Synthese neuartiger homochiraler Molekülstrukturen, welche nach Konzepten des Crystal Engineering über ein starres Grundgerüst sowie koordinationsfähige Haftgruppen verfügen sollten. Unter Verwendung von Wein- und Milchsäure, als Vertreter der natürlich vorkommenden, enantiomerenreinen α-Hydroxycarbonsäuren, konnten die entsprechenden Derivate mit aromatischen und/oder acetylenischen Spacerelementen hergestellt und umfassend charakterisiert werden. Die synthetisierten Wein- und Milchsäureverbindungen sowie die sich von den jeweiligen Weinsäureestern ableitenden TADDOLe wurden außerdem auf ihre optische Aktivität, ihre Affinität gegenüber verschiedenen Lösungsmitteldämpfen, ihr Einschlussverhalten gegenüber achiralen und chiralen Lösungsmitteln sowie ihre Eignung als organische Linker bei der Synthese von metallorganischen Gerüststrukturen untersucht. Mittels Röntgeneinkristallstrukturanalyse konnten die Festkörperstrukturen einiger Derivate aufgeklärt und diese hinsichtlich ihrer Konformation verglichen werden.

This thesis begins with a brief overview of supramolecular chemistry and selfassembly and simple examples derived from Nature that provide the motivation for the work presented here. The concept of a synthetic noncovalent toolbox is then introduced. The discussion then focuses more explicitly on side-chain and main-chain functionalized motifs and the methodologies employed in supramolecular polymer functionalization. The primary hypothesis of the thesis is that the combination of supramolecular strategies, ring-opening metathesis polymerization, and a well-understood toolbox of functionalities capable of noncovalent interactions, comprises a method for generating bioinspired materials. This hypothesis was tested by synthesizing unique functionalized supramolecular polymers that allowed for a detailed understanding of the orthogonality of noncovalent interactions and how such interactions can begin to mimic the complexity of functional biomaterials. The strategies and methods discussed in the synthesis of these bioinspired materials are divided into three chapters: (1) an exploration of the self-sorting phenomena between two non-complementary pairs of hydrogen bonds along polymer side-chains, (2) the extension of the self-sorting concept to include a metal coordination moiety, and (3) the side-chain functionalization strategies of chapters 2 and 3 in combination with the main-chain ROMP methodologies discussed in chapter 1 to form orthogonally self-assembled multifunctional block copolymers. The main results of this thesis include the results that multifunctional block copolymers can be fashioned via ROMP, functionalized in both the main- and side-chains, and self-assembled in an orthogonal fashion. In addition, these studies have found that self-sorting between pairs of non-complementary hydrogen bonding motifs can occur in supramolecular synthetic systems, that the interactions are extremely solvent dependent and that these interactions can result in unexpected phenomena. These results demonstrate the importance of a fully understood toolbox for the rapid development of supramolecular materials. The knowledge derived from this toolbox and presented in chapters 2, 3, and 4, allows for the careful selection of compounds for cleverly designed self-assembly materials inspired by Nature. Finally, conclusions are drawn to the success of the synthetic toolbox and the various strategies presented herein, and potential future directions are discussed.

Des assemblages linéaires de porphyrines reliées par des cations métalliques ont été obtenus en solution et visualisés à l’interface HOPG-solvant par STM. Afin de contrôler la taille des assemblages synthétisés en solution, une stratégie par différenciation de la réactivité des deux sites de coordination externes des porphyrines a été exploitée. De fortes interactions électroniques ont été mises en évidence entre les sous-unités des assemblages multi-porphyriniques. Atteignant la limite de solubilité et de caractérisation en solution avec les molécules comportant six porphyrines, une seconde stratégie a été développée, afin de synthétiser les oligomères à l’interface HOPG-phényloctane. L’auto-assemblage de monomères de porphyrines possédant deux sites de coordination externes a été étudié par STM. Après ajout de l’ion connecteur, des nanorubans comportant plusieurs dizaines de porphyrines reliées par des cations métalliques ont été observés par STM à l’interface HOPG-solvant. / Linear assemblies of porphyrins linked by metal ions were prepared both in solution and at an HOPG/phenyloctane interface. In the first part of the project, controlling the size of the linear assemblies generated in solution was the main goal. Porphyrins bearing two different external coordination sites were used to prepare finite oligomers. Strong interactions between the subunits were found in these compounds. In a second part of the project, the organization of monomeric or dimeric porphyrins at a solid/liquid interface was studied. Finally, linear porphyrin oligomers were prepared directly by self-assembly at an HOPG/phenyloctane interface. These porphyrin nano-ribbons were visualized by STM and presented sizes of several dozen nanometers.

Plasmonic cavities confine optical fields at metal-dielectric interfaces via collective charge oscillations of free electrons within metals termed surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). SPPs are confined in nanometre gaps formed between two metallic surfaces which creates an optical resonance. This optical resonance of the system is controlled by the geometry and the material of the nanogap. The focus of this work is to understand and utilize these confined optical modes to probe and manipulate the dynamics of single-molecules at room temperature. In this thesis, nanogap cavities are constructed by placing nanoparticles on top of a metal-film separated by molecular spacers. Such nanogaps act as cavities with confined optical fields in the gap. Precise position and orientation of single-molecules in the gap is obtained by supramolecular guest-host assembly and DNA origami breadboards. The interaction of light and single-molecules is studied in two different regimes of interaction strength. In the perturbative regime molecular light emission from electronic and vibrational states is strongly enhanced and therefore is used for the detection of single-molecules. In this regime the energy states remain unaltered, however profound effects emerge when the gap size is reduced to < 1 nm. New hybridized energy states which are half-light and half-matter are then formed. Dispersion of these energies is studied by tuning the cavity resonance across the molecular resonance, revealing the anti-crossing signature of a strongly coupled system. This dressing of molecules with light results in the modification of photochemistry and photophysics of single-molecules, opening up the exploration of complex natural processes such as photosynthesis and the possibility to manipulate chemical bonds.

This thesis explores the design, synthesis and optoelectronic properties of supramolecular photoactive materials based on chiral iridium(III) and ruthenium(II) metalloligands. Our design strategies aim to create a high concentration of chromophoric units that, when self-assembled in well-defined geometrical arrangements, exhibit emergent photophysical properties.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings are used in orthopaedic surgery for bone regeneration. Current methods of phase quantification of HAP coatings suffer from drawbacks. A novel methodology of quantitative phase analysis of HAP coatings has been devised and validated. This method, based on whole pattern fitting with a fundamental parameters approach, incorporates amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and apatite phases into structural refinements. A comparison of the structural and chemical properties of plasma sprayed (PS) and novel electrodeposited (ED) HAP coatings has been conducted. ED coatings contained less ACP and more preferred orientation than the PS coatings, although the stoichiometry was similar. In vitro investigations of PS and ED coatings in simulated body fluid and foetal calf serum revealed that both are bioactive. A carbonated apatite layer produced on the ED coatings was -0.7μm thick with a stoichiometry and chemical constituents similar to that of natural bone apatite. PS coatings produced a nanocrystalline carbonated apatite layer (-4μm). For the first time it has been possible to model crystalline HAP and nanocrystalline apatite as independent phases and obtain accurate lattice parameters for each. A positive linear correlation has been made between microstrain and the solubility of HAP and carbonated apatites. Dissolution studies have shown that the behaviour of HAP and carbonated apatite is dominated by crystallite size at low undersaturation and by crystallite size and microstrain at high undersaturation for crystallites between -30OA- 1000A. Metastable equilibrium occurred for crystallites <_400A at low undersaturation. Carbonate content did not affect the solubility or dissolution behaviour. A novel technology for coating polymeric tape with HAP for potential use in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has been devised. Mechanical tests have demonstrated that no adverse properties are induced by the coating technology. Cell culture studies have shown that the HAP layer is capable of enhanced attachment, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast cells compared to uncoated tape.

L'objectif de ce travail de recherche est l'étude du transport des ions et des molécules d'eau à travers de membranes bicouche lipidique et des membranes polymériques. Dans une première partie, ce transport a été réalisé à travers des systèmes synthétiques auto-organisés, dont la sélectivité est en étroite relation avec le type d'architecture supramoléculaire formée grâce à des liaisons faibles. Le but est d'obtenir des systèmes qui peuvent imiter les fonctions de transport des protéines membranaires. Ce mimétisme fonctionnel est obtenu par l'auto-assemblage de molécules organiques contenant le cycle imidazole et la fonction urée, qui peuvent s'auto-assembler et créer des voies sélectives de transport des ions. Pour créer l'équivalent de la membrane cellulaire, nous avons utilisé des vésicules lipidiques unilamellaires. Ensuite, nous avons déterminé une relation entre l'activité des composés et leur structure. Pour ce faire, le transport des ions est étudié à l'aide d'une méthode de spectroscopie de fluorescence, et le transport d'eau par diffusion dynamique de la lumière utilisant la technique de « stopped flow ». Le but de la deuxième partie est la fabrication et la caractérisation des nouvelles membranes composites sous forme de couches minces, qui permettraient un bon compromis entre le flux d'eau et le rejet de sel. Dans ce cadre, la synthèse d'une série d'hydrazides en tant que précurseurs moléculaires a été réalisée, pour remplacer la métaphenylène diamine (MPD) classiquement utilisée. Ici aussi les liaisons hydrogène jouent un rôle important, car le principe de la séparation repose sur la création d'une organisation interne hautement réticulée. Les polymères synthétisés par polymérisation interfaciale ont été caractérisés par des méthodes de spectroscopie infrarouge, analyses thermogravimétriques et diffraction des rayons X. Les membranes composites ont été caractérisées par microscopie électronique à balayage, microscopie à force atomique et mesures d'angle de contact. Les performances membranaires ont été testées en filtration frontale d'eau et de solutions salines. / The aim of this work is the study of ion and water transport either across bilayer membranes or polymeric membranes used for reverse osmosis. In the first part, this transport through self-assembled synthetic systems was studied; the transport selectivity is in strong relation with the supramolecular structure, formed by weak intra and intermolecular bonds. Ion transport is studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and water transport is studied by light scattering using “stopped flow” technique. The objective is to obtain systems that could imitate transport functions of biomolecules as transmembrane proteins. This functional mimicry is achieved through self-assembly of organic molecules containing imidazole cycle and urea function that can self-assembly and form selective pathways for ion transport. To create the equivalent of the cell membrane, we used unilamellar lipid vesicles. Then, we determined a structure - transport activity relationship for a series of synthesized compounds. For the second part of this work we described the fabrication and the characterization of new thin film composite membranes for water desalination that can present a good balance between permeability and salt rejection. A series of hydrazides as molecular precursors was synthesized in order to replace the metaphenylene diamine (MPD), classically used. Again, hydrogen bonds play an important role, because the rejection is due to a high cross-linking. The polymers synthesized by interfacial polymerization were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-Ray diffraction. The membrane films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. Membrane performances were then tested in cross-flow filtration of water and saline solutions.

L’objectif de ces travaux est la synthèse molécules destinées à la formation de fils moléculaires par auto-assemblage. La reconnaissance sélective d’un noyau imidazole par une porphyrine de zinc à anse phénanthroline est utilisée comme outil pour l’assemblage. Plusieurs variations structurales ont été apportées aux blocs d’assemblage de manière à explorer différentes possibilités de contrôle sur la formation des fils moléculaires. Sont présentés dans ce document, les synthèses des molécules, ainsi qu’une partie des études réalisées pour interpréter la nature des assemblages formés à la fois en solution, mais également sur des surfaces. La microscopie à force atomique a mis en évidence des espèces linéaires régulières auto-assemblées dont la formation est assistée par la surface. / The selective recognition of imidazole by a phenanthroline-strapped zinc porphyrin was used as a tool for the self-assembly of molecular wires. Several structural variations on the building blocks were explored as a way to control the formation of the molecular wires. This thesis presents the synthesis of the molecules investigated and studies of the assemblies formed in solution and on surfaces. Self-assembled linear species, whose formation was assisted by the surface, were observed by atomic force microscopy.

Doctor of Philosophy / Chemistry / Christer B. Aakeroy / A series of co-crystallizations between four biimidazole based compounds with nine symmetric aliphatic di-acids and fifteen perfluorinated halogen-bond donors were carried out to determine if a MEPS based ranking can be used to effectively assign selectivity in hydrogen- and halogen-bond interactions. The results suggested that a simple electrostatic view provides a reliable tool for successfully implementing the practical co-crystal synthesis with desired connectivity. MEPS based selectivity guidelines for halogen-bond interactions were explored in co-crystallizations between twelve asymmetric ditopic acceptors and nine halogen-bond donors. If the difference between the two acceptor sites is below 35 kJ/mol, no selectivity was observed; above 65 kJ/mol halogen bond selectivity dominates and mid ΔE range was recognized as the grey area where predictions cannot be made. To examine competition between hydrogen and halogen bonds, five heteroaryl-2-imidazoles were co-crystallized with fifteen halogen-bond donors. It was found that halogen bonds prefer best the acceptor site, demonstrating that a suitably activated halogen-bond donor can compete with a strong hydrogen-bond donor. The benefits of ‘double activation’ for promoting halogen bond effectiveness was explored with nine haloethynylnitrobenzenes. The positive potential on halogen atoms was enhanced through a combination of an sp-hybridized carbon and electron-withdrawing nitro group(s). Iodoethynylnitrobenzenes were identified as the most effective halogen-bond donors reported to date and the compounds were exploited for the interaction preferences of nitro group and nitro⋯X-Csp interactions were identified as synthetic tools for energetic co-crystal assembly. A synthetic strategy for the deliberate assembly of molecular polygons was developed utilizing bifurcated halogen bonds constructed from N-oxides and complementary halogen-bond donors via co-crystallization. A convenient, effective, and scalable protocol for stabilizing volatile liquid chemicals with co-crystallization was achieved. Through the use of halogen-bonding, liquid iodoperfluoroalkanes were transformed into crystalline materials with low-vapor pressure, considerable thermal stability and moisture resistance. To stabilize the energetic compound ethylenedinitramine, a co-crystallization approach targeting the acidic protons was employed. Eight co-crystals were obtained and the acceptors were identified as supramolecular protecting groups leading to diminished reactivity and enhanced stability while retaining the desirable energetic properties.