Phenylene-Based Molecular Spoked Wheels: Synthetic Access and Hybride Structures

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sigurd Höger
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2018 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 418404117

We will synthesize molecular spoked wheels based on a phenylene backbone with various sizes and functionalities. These structures are monodisperse, highly stable, and will contain side groups at their six corners to guarantee their processability. It will be clarified if our recently reported synthesis of the purely phenylene-based molecular spoked wheels can be also transferred to the synthesis of larger structures. Depending on the synthetic results, we will prepare the first molecular spider web, characterize it thoroughly and investigate its respective supramolecular chemistry. Moreover, we will investigate the synthesis and properties of spoked wheels with a reduced symmetry that allow the attachment of two different side groups, each at three of the six corners of the wheel. In addition, hybride structures of rigid spoked wheels will be prepared in which a central rigid molecular spoked wheel is decorated with coil-like flexible oligomers of different molecular weight and different polarity. We will investigate the influence of the chemical structure and of the chain length on the supramolecular nanostructure formation and on the miscibility of the wheels with classical homo polymers.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants