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Unlocking the potential of bile acids in synthesis, supramolecular/materials chemistry and nanoscience

The Maitra group has explored a variety of chemistry with bile acids during the past 15 years and these experiments have covered a wide variety of chemistry-asymmetric synthesis, molecular recognition, ion receptors/sensors, dendrimers, low molecular mass organo and hydrogelators, gel-nanoparticle composites, etc. Some of what excites us in this field is highlighted in this perspective article.

Subcomponent Self‐Assembly: A Quick Way to New Metallogels

1-2-3 gel! Subcomponent self-assembly is introduced as a new design route towards multistimuli-responsive metallogels. It offers a rapid and facile access to supramolecular gels and allows to design smart materials with diverse functional and structural properties by simply exchanging one (or more) of the components. Herein, the exchange of the metal ions is emphasized (see scheme).

Bile acid–amino acid ester conjugates: gelation, structural properties, and thermoreversible solid to solid phase transition

Design, synthesis, and gelation properties of three novel biocompatible bile acid–L-methionine methyl ester conjugates are presented. Two of the conjugates have been shown to undergo self-assembly leading to organogelation in certain aromatic solvents. The properties of these gels have been investigated by conventional methods typical for molecular gel studies along with 13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopic studies of the native gel. In addition, properties in solid and solution states for all three compounds have been investigated, and single crystal X-ray structures of all compounds determined. Furthermore, powder X-ray diffraction studies have revealed that compound 1 undergoes a dynamic and reversible conformational change in the solid state when cooling from ambient temperature to −150 °C. The powder X-ray diffraction data of the room-temperature conformer has been utilized to unambiguously determine the structure at room temperature.

Unraveling the packing pattern leading to gelation using SS NMR and X-ray diffraction: direct observation of the evolution of self-assembled fibers

A detailed understanding of the mode of packing patterns that leads to the gelation of low molecular mass gelators derived from bile acid esters was carried out using solid state NMR along with complementary techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). Solid state 13C{1H} cross polarization (CP) magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR of the low molecular mass gel in its native state was recorded for the first time. A close resemblance in the packing patterns of the gel, xerogel and bulk solid states was revealed upon comparing their 13C{1H}CPMAS NMR spectral pattern. A doublet resonance pattern of 13C signals in 13C{1H}CPMAS NMR spectra were observed for the gelator molecules, whereas the non-gelators showed simple singlet resonance or resulted in the formation of inclusion complexes/solvates. PXRD patterns revealed a close isomorphous nature of the gelators indicating the similarity in the mode of the packing pattern in their solid state. Direct imaging of the evolution of nanofibers (sol–gel transition) was carried out using POM, which proved the presence of self-assembled fibrillar networks (SAFINs) in the gel. Finally powder X-ray structure determination revealed the presence of two non-equivalent molecules in an asymmetric unit which is responsible for the doublet resonance pattern in the solid state NMR spectra.

Cyclic dipeptides: catalyst/promoter-free, rapid and environmentally benign cyclization of free amino acids

“The best catalyst is no catalyst.” With growing public concern over global warming and the amount of greenhouse gases, it is important to reduce the amount of chemicals and eliminate waste, to obtain better results in a simple, selective, safe, and environmentally benign fashion compared to conventional tedious chemical synthesis. Herein, we disclose an environmentally benign, rapid, catalyst/promoter/coupling reagent-free cyclization procedure of free amino acids to furnish exclusively cyclic dipeptides (2,5-diketopiperazines, DKPs) in excellent or even quantitative yield, along with their solid state self-assembling properties. This process is extremely simple and highly efficient with little or no traditional synthetic skills and without any chromatographic purification. Synthesis of structurally diverse DKPs has been achieved with a dramatic decrease in the reaction time, the amount/number of solvents used, a significant increase in the yield and nearly complete elimination of waste. As a result, this is an excellent example for the environmentally benign, clean and green chemistry concept. The most exciting outcome of our investigation is an unusual case of chiral self-recognition encountered upon the cyclization of rac-pipecolic acid, which resulted in the formation of the meso-product exclusively.

Simple esters of cholic acid as potent organogelators: direct imaging of the collapse of SAFINs

Unusual gelation of a number of organic solvents by allyl cholate and other simple esters of cholic acid is reported. These gels were characterized by SEM, AFM, polarizing optical microscopy (POM), X-ray powder diffraction and other techniques. Electron micrographs of the xerogels revealed the presence of highly entangled 3D fibrillar networks. Direct imaging of the collapse of SAFINs and their thermal stability were performed using variable temperature polarizing optical microscopy (POM).

Studies on supramolecular gel formation using DOSY NMR

Herein, we present the results obtained from our studies on supramolecular self‐assembly and molecular mobility of low‐molecular‐weight gelators (LMWGs) in organic solvents using pulsed field gradient (PFG) diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) NMR. A series of concentration‐dependent DOSY NMR experiments were performed on selected LMWGs to determine the critical gelation concentration (CGC) as well as to understand the behaviour of the gelator molecules in the gel state. In addition, variable‐temperature DOSY NMR experiments were performed to determine the gel‐to‐sol transition. The PFG NMR experiments performed as a function of gradient strength were further analyzed using monoexponential DOSY processing, and the results were compared with the automated Bayesian DOSY transformation to obtain 2D plots. Our results provide useful information on the stepwise self‐assembly of small molecules leading to gelation. We believe that the results obtained from these experiments are applicable in determining the CGC and gel melting temperatures of supramolecular gels. Copyright

A steroid-based gelator of A(LS)2 type: tuning gel properties by metal coordination

By utilizing up-to-date knowledge about gelators, we designed and synthesized a novel low-molecular-weight gelator bearing a pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid moiety and two cholesteryl glycinate units. In order to demonstrate the ingenuity of our design, we prepared a series of structurally related compounds and studied their gelation properties. Based on the results, we determined structural features of the gelator molecules which were important for successful gel formation. We showed that the properties of the gel systems (transparency, morphology, etc.) can be tuned by coordination with different metal ions, as well as by changing the solvent. Gelators, and their gels and xerogels were studied by combined NMR spectroscopy, X-ray powder and single crystal diffractions, and electron microscopic techniques. Additionally, a systematic investigation of xerogels derived from silver metallogels revealed an in situ generation of silver nanoparticles.

Template-Free Supracolloidal Self-Assembly of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters: From 2D Colloidal Crystals to Spherical Capsids

We report supracolloidal self-assembly of atomically precise and strictly monodisperse gold nanoclusters involving p-mercaptobenzoic acid ligands (Au102 -pMBA44 ) under aqueous conditions into hexagonally packed monolayer-thick two-dimensional facetted colloidal crystals (thickness 2.7 nm) and their bending to closed shells leading to spherical capsids (d ca. 200 nm), as controlled by solvent conditions. The 2D colloidal assembly is driven in template-free manner by the spontaneous patchiness of the pMBA ligands around the Au102 -pMBA44 nanoclusters preferably towards equatorial plane, thus promoting inter-nanocluster hydrogen bonds and high packing to planar sheets. More generally, the findings encourage to explore atomically precise nanoclusters towards highly controlled colloidal self-assemblies.

Supramolecular architectures formed by co-crystallization of bile acids and melamine

Supramolecular multicomponent crystals constructed from three different bile acids (viz. lithocholic, deoxycholic and cholic acid) and melamine have been prepared and the non-covalent interactions in the crystals studied. Both salts and co-crystals were found. While deoxycholic and cholic acid co-crystallized with melamine as a 1 : 1 isostructural molecular complexes in space group C2, lithocholic acid formed with melamine a 2 : 1 molecular complex in space group P21. This is the first report on a multicomponent crystal structure containing lithocholic acid.