Hydrogen bonding array reversal

Molecular self-assembly is defined as the spontaneous condensation of molecules into ordered arrays by noncovalent forces [refs. 20,24]. For molecular self-assembly to be reversible, the free energy of interaction, AG°, between two molecules must be comparable to the average thermal energy, kT, of molecules. Molecular self-assembly ordinarily involves weak interactions (e.g. hydrogen bonds, van der Waals interactions, and hydrophobic interactions). Although one, two, or all three dimensions of the final array may extend into the millimeter... 

Fig. 10 A possible molecular packing and hydrogen bond scheme for (a) the heteroassembly formed from an equimolar mixture of 14a and 15a and (b) the homoassembly from 16a. (a, b) Top view of a layered structure composed of linear polymolecular arrays ( reversed Hoogsteen base pair configuration is employed here for the thymine-adenine heteroassociation), (c) Front view showing 2-D complementary and 1-D amide hydrogen bond network, (d) Side view of the polymolecular arrays. In (d), the one-dimensional amide hydrogen bond chain contributes to the stabilization of the base stacking and the formation of complementary hydrogen bonds. Reprinted with permission from J Am Chem Soc 2001, 123, 5947...

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