DALTON TRANSACTIONS, cilt.49, sa.39, ss.13685-13692, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)
The self-assembly and coordination of amphiphiles comprised of naphthalenediimide (NDI) and bis (indolyl)methane (BIM) chromophores were investigated as a function of pH and metal. As observed by TEM, SEM and AFM imaging, the self-assembly of NDI-BIM 1 produced irregular nanostructures at neutral pH in CH3CN-H2O (1:1); whereas, well-defined nanotubes were observed at pH 2. Conversely, Fmoc-protected, NDI-BIM 2 formed nanotubes at neutral pH and nonspecific aggregates at pH 2. Upon coordination of Cu2+ ions to the bis(indoyl)methane moiety, a reorganization from nanotubes to vesicular structures was observed.