Growth Mechanisms of 2D Organic Assemblies Generated from Dialkylated Melaminium Derivatives: The Length Difference of the Two Alkyl Chains That Matters

Abstract

This research is aimed to understand the growth mechanisms for self-assembly of dialkylated melamine derivatives. The dialkylated melamine derivatives with different alkyl chains (Mela-<i>m</i>-<i>n</i>) are able to self-assemble with hydrochloric acid in dichloromethane to form 2D organic assemblies, exhibiting similar lamellar structures as Mela-<i>n</i>·HCl with identical alkyl chains. The most interesting finding is that the growth mechanism of Mela-<i>n</i>·HCl with identical alkyl chains is revealed to be layer growth, while Mela-<i>m</i>-<i>n</i>·HCl with asymmetric alkyl chains adopts a spiral growth mechanism. The asymmetric alkyl chains in Mela-<i>m</i>-<i>n</i> may lead to the formation of dislocation, which is responsible for the spiral growth mechanism