AbstractThe reversible coordination of anions to an N,N’‐disubstituted 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylurea located at a terminus of a linear chain of ethylene‐bridged hydrogen‐bonded ureas triggers a cascade of conformational changes. A series of hydrogen‐bond polarity reversals propagates along the oligomer, leading to a global switch of its hydrogen‐bond directionality. The induced polarity switch, transmitted through four reversible urea groups, results in a change in emission and excitation wavelengths of a fluorophore located at the opposite terminus of the oligomer. The molecule thus behaves as a chemical sensor with a relayed remote spectroscopic response to variations in anion concentration. The polarity switch induced by anion concentration constitutes an artificial communication mechanism for conveying information through oligomeric structures.
摘要阴离子与位于乙烯桥氢键脲线性链末端的 N,N'-二取代 3,5-双(三氟甲基)苯基脲的可逆配位引发了一连串的构象变化。一系列氢键极性反转沿着低聚物传播,导致氢键方向性的全面转换。诱导的极性转换通过四个可逆的脲基团传递,导致位于低聚物相反末端的荧光团的发射和激发波长发生变化。因此,该分子就像一个化学传感器,对阴离子浓度的变化作出中继远程光谱响应。阴离子浓度引起的极性转换是一种通过低聚物结构传递信息的人工通信机制。