Effect of Solvent on the Thermodynamic Stability of Toroidal Supramolecular Polymers

Solvents have a significant effect on the thermodynamic properties of supramolecular polymers. In this study we investigated self-assembly of a barbiturated naphthalene molecule that affords toroidal supramolecular polymers in cyclic and acyclic alkanes. Although the toroidal structures were observed in all the solvents, their thermodynamic parameters were largely different between cyclic and acyclic alkanes due to different dielectric constants.