Title
Synthesis, optical properties, and helical self-assembly of a bivalinecontaining tetraphenylethene
Author
Hongkun Li, Xiaoyan Zheng, Huimin Su, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Kam Sing Wong, Shan Xue, Xuejiao Huang, Xuhui Huang, Bing Shi Li, Ben Zhong Tang
Year
2016
Journal
Scientific Reports
Abstract
A chiral tetraphenylethene derivative with two valine-containing attachments (TPE-DVAL), was synthesized by Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne “click” reaction. The optical properties and self-assembling behaviours of TPE-DVAL were investigated. The molecule is non-emissive and circular dichroism (CD)-silent in solution, but shows strong fluorescence and Cotton effects in the aggregation state, demonstrating aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and CD (AICD) characteristics. TPE-DVAL exhibits good circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) when depositing on the surface of quartz to allow the evaporation of its 1,2-dichloroethane solution. SEM and TEM images of the molecule show that the molecule readily self-assembles into right-handed helical nanofibers upon the evaporation of its solvent of DCE. The molecular alignments and interactions in assembling process are further explored through XRD analysis and computational simulation. The driving forces for the formation of the helical fibers were from the cooperative effects of intermolecular hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions and steric effect.
Full Article
Instrument
J-810
Keywords
Circular dichroism, Nanostructures, Aggregation, Materials