Pillararene-Induced Intramolecular Through-Space Charge Transfer and Single-Molecule White-Light Emission

Qi Li; Yitao Wu; Jiajun Cao; Yang Liu; Zeju Wang; Huangtianzhi Zhu; Haoke Zhang; Feihe Huang

doi:10.1002/anie.202202381

Pillararene-Induced Intramolecular Through-Space Charge Transfer and Single-Molecule White-Light Emission

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2022 May 2;61(19):e202202381. doi: 10.1002/anie.202202381. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Authors

Qi Li¹, Yitao Wu¹, Jiajun Cao¹, Yang Liu¹, Zeju Wang¹, Huangtianzhi Zhu¹, Haoke Zhang^{2

3

4}, Feihe Huang^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Stoddart Institute of Molecular Science, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
² ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 311215, China.
³ MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
⁴ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
⁵ Green Catalysis Center and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.

PMID: 35234348
DOI: 10.1002/anie.202202381

Abstract

The fabrication of single-molecule white-light emission (SMWLE) materials has become a highly studied topic in recent years and through-space charge transfer (TSCT) is emerging as an important concept in this field. However, the preparation of ideal TSCT-based SMWLE materials is still a big challenge. Herein, we report a bifunctional pillar[5]arene (TPCN-P5-TPA) with a linear donor-spacer-acceptor structure and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property. The bulky pillar[5]arene between the donor and acceptor induces a twisted conformation and a non-conjugated structure, resulting in intramolecular TSCT. In addition, the AIE feature and pillar[5]arene cavity endow TPCN-P5-TPA with responsiveness to viscosity and polar guests, by which the TSCT emission is triggered. The combination of blue locally-excited state emission and yellow TSCT emission of TPCN-P5-TPA generates SMWLE. Therefore, we provide a new and versatile strategy for the construction of TSCT-based SMWLE materials.

Keywords: Donor-Acceptor Systems; Pillararenes; Supramolecular Chemistry; Through-Space Charge Transfer; White-Light Emission.

Abstract

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