Formation of water-dispersible nanotubular graphitic assembly decorated with isothiouronium ion groups and its supramolecular functionalization

The successful formation of a hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) graphitic nanotube with isothiouronium ion surface pendants is reported which can be functionalized without disruption by oxoanion guests via a specific hydrogen-bonding interaction. It is shown that the incorporation of an isothiouronium ion end group into one of the triethylene glycol chains of the amphiphilic HBC did not hamper its nanotubular self-assembly.