Supramolecular Polymerization of Hydrogen-Bonded Trimers in Bulk and Aqueous Medium

Synthetic molecules that form functional noncovalent assemblies in water have received much attention for their potential applications as biomaterials. In this work, we introduce a novel water-compatible monomer based on the phthalhydrazide moiety that assembles into hydrogen-bonded trimeric discs. In bulk, the material exhibits a cylindrical nanostructure in the liquid-crystalline phase at elevated temperatures, morphologically distinct from the crystalline lamellar phase. In water, these molecules effectively form cylinders in a one-dimensional fashion, yielding fibrous structures. The formation of these supramolecular polymers follows a cooperative mechanism, as evidenced by denaturation studies. The trimerized pattern represents a new category of aqueous su pramolecular polymers with future prospects for functional complex molecular systems.