Aggregation-Induced Emission and Light-Harvesting Function of Tetraphenylethene-Based Tetracationic Dicyclophane

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b02617
• Publication Date: 2019-04-27T03:34:27Z
• Authors: Yawen Li; Yunhong Dong; Lin Cheng; Chunyan Qin; Hao Nian; Haiyang Zhang; Yang Yu; Liping Cao
• Keywords: Nile red; Antenna effect

Here we report one-pot synthesis of tetraphenylethene-based tetracationic dicyclophane (1) and its self-assembly behaviors with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) light-harvesting function. Confirmed by X-ray crystal structure high resolution transmission electron microscopy, this can self-assemble into a 3D supramolecular framework to form crystalline nanospheres (2) finally, which exhibits strong (ΦF = 97.7%) via AIE effect in aqueous solution. Interestingly, AIE-active 2 as single-molecule-based fluorescent platform encapsulate an organic dye (e.g., Nile red) (3) further large red-shift (Δλ ∼70 nm), highly efficient energy-transfer ability (ΦET 77.5%), antenna (14.3).