Pyridyl-substituted oxalamides, L1 (4-pyCH2NHCOCONHCH2py-4), L2 (3-pyCH2NHCOCONHCH2py-3), and L3 (2-pyCH2NHCOCONHCH2py-2), with HgI2 and/or CuBr2, form three new supramolecular complexes, [Hg3L1I6]∞ (1), {[Cu2(L2)4Br2]·Br2·4H2O}∞ (2), and [Hg(L3)2I2]∞ (3), respectively. The complexes 1−3 are aligned by the oxalamide−oxalamide N−H···O hydrogen bonds between layers, and their crystal structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 forms a two-dimensional (2D) zigzag sheet architecture extending along the c-direction bridged by L1 ligand and HgI2. Complex 2 forms an interesting planar 2D (4,4) network with the uncoordinated Br− anions and H2O molecules located in the cavities. Complex 3 forms [2 + 2] metallomacrocycles, which are linked with the μ2-bridged I atom and stacked together by intermolecular oxalamide−oxalamide hydrogen bonds and by edge-to-face π-stacking between the pyridyl rings to form the desired supramolecular tubular structure along the a-axis. After the removal of the solvent molecules, solid 2 exhibits a permanent porosity verified by a N2 sorption isotherm with a N2 uptake of approximately 1258 cm3/g (STP) and a Langmuir surface area of 2102 m2/g.

The 2D monolayer structures of two coumarin derivatives, 4-heptadecyl-7-hydroxycoumarin (HHC) 1 and 3-(2-benzo thiazolyl)-7-octadecyloxy-coumarin (BOC) 2, have been studied by STM and different sensitivity to thermal annealing for these two systems has been observed. The results show that the arrangements of these two molecules are obviously different in the self-assembled monolayer at 20 °C on the graphite surface. Furthermore, only BOC is sensitive to thermal annealing. The assembly of BOC becomes more stable and ordered after annealing at 65 °C for 1 h.

An axially chiral amphiphile was synthesized and the single crystal of its racemate was characterized by X-ray crystallography. Its three dimensional assembly behaviors in crystallization process and two dimensional assembly behaviors at the air–water interface were investigated by X-ray crystallography and surface-area (π-A) isomers, respectively.