Fluorescent Rosette Nanotubes from the C-analogue of the Guanine–Cytosine (G∧C) Motif

Abstract

ABSTRACTRosette nanotubes (RNTs) are tubular architectures generated through the hierarchical self-assembly of the guanine-cytosine (G∧C) motif 1 or 2 (Figure 1). Motif 2 differs from 1 by the substitution at the N-atom in the G-ring with a C-atom as shown in red. In this paper, we prepare a new tricyclic G∧C base 3 from a functionalized derivative of 2 and demonstrate its self-assembly into fluorescent helical RNTs in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The self-assembly and fluorescent properties of RNTs 3 were established using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and UV-visible spectroscopy.