Micro- and nanometer-scale porous, fibrous, and sheet architectures constructed by supramolecular assemblies of dipyrrolyldiketones.

X-ray analysis of some 1,3-dipyrrolyl-1,3-propanediones synthesized from pyrroles and malonyl chloride derivatives revealed 1D supramolecular networks formed by N-H...O=C interactions in the solid state. Micro- and nanometer-scale morphologies of porous, fibrous, and sheet structures were fabricated by hydrogen-bonding interactions and determined by fine-tuning the substituents and the solvents used. Of the unique polymorphs, ordered 2D lamellar sheet structures of the derivatives with long alkyl chains (C16H33, C14H29, and so on) were constructed by van der Waals hydrophobic effects between aliphatic chains as well as hydrogen bonding.