First zipper-featured molecular duplexes driven by cooperative donor-acceptor interaction

[GRAPHIC] The first class of zipper-shaped artificial duplexes, which are driven by multiple donor-acceptor interactions between electron-rich 1,5-dioxynaphthalene or 1,4-dioxybenzene and electron-deficient pyromellitic dimide units, have been studied in organic media by H-1 NMR, UV-vis, and vapor pressure osmometry. H-1 NMR binding investigations reveal substantial cooperativity of the donor-acceptor interaction in the duplexes.