An Aggregation‐Induced Emission‐Active Macrocycle: Illusory Topology of the Penrose Stairs. Issue 8 (11th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Zikai; Wang, Erjing; Lam, Jacky W. Y.; Li, Yang; Lin, Zhenyang; Tang, Ben Zhong
• Is Part Of: ChemPlusChem. Volume 80:Issue 8(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1245
• Page End: 1249
• Publication Date: 2015-06-11
• Subjects: aggregation‐induced emission -- conformation switch -- density functional calculations -- macrocycles -- Penrose stairs; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201500199
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2192-6506

Abstract

Abstract: The facile synthesis of a tetraphenylethene‐based macrocycle having aggregation‐induced emission characteristics and that expresses illusory topology of the Penrose stairs is presented. As a result of the twisted chirality ( P or M ) of the tetraphenylethene unit and the axial chirality of the macrocyclic linkage ( R or S ), the macrocycle exhibits two absolute configurations whose interconversion is energetically favorable as revealed by theoretical calculations. Abstract : Stairs of illusion : A flexible macrocycle incorporating two tetraphenylethene (TPE) units linked by acetylene bridges has been synthesized by one‐step, modified Sonogashira coupling. The macrocycle expresses the molecular illusory topology of Penrose stairs (see figure). Two mirrored configurations ( P, P, R, R ) and ( M, M, S, S ) were found and they could be interconverted via stepwise epimerization of the TPE units.