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Host–Guest Chemistry Within Cellulose Nanocrystal Gel Receptors
Author(s) -
Zhang Dongjie,
Soto Miguel A.,
Lewis Lev,
Hamad Wadood Y.,
MacLachlan Mark J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201913030
Subject(s) - chemistry , cellulose , molecular recognition , molecule , nanocrystal , supramolecular chemistry , host–guest chemistry , nanotechnology , ion exchange , chemical engineering , combinatorial chemistry , organic chemistry , ion , materials science , engineering
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) spontaneously assemble into gels when mixed with a polyionic organic or inorganic salt. Here, we have used this ion‐induced gelation strategy to create functional CNC gels with a rigid tetracationic macrocycle, cyclobis(paraquat‐ p ‐phenylene) ( CBPQT 4+ ). Addition of [ CBPQT ]Cl 4 to CNCs causes gelation and embeds an active host inside the material. The fabricated CNC gels can reversibly absorb guest molecules from solution then undergo molecular recognition processes that create colorful host–guest complexes. These materials have been implemented in gel chromatography (for guest exchange and separation), and as elements to encode 2‐ and 3‐dimensional patterns. We anticipate that this concept might be extended to design a set of responsive and selective gel‐like materials functioning as, for instance, water‐pollutant scavengers, substrates for chiral separations, or molecular flasks.