A Family of Supramolecular Frameworks of Polyconjugated Molecules Hosted in Aromatic Nanochannels

摘要

Organic molecules that contain extended conjugated π systems are an important class of active molecules, which show a number of attractive photochemical and electro-optical properties: they have applications as optical and electronic materials for photonics and data storage, and as semiconductors and probes in biological media. Their inclusion in solid matrices extends the range of thermal stability, provides protection from chemical damage and improves their processability. Organized materials used as hosts are of particular interest, since they can transfer the benefits of their peculiar topological properties and modulate the functions of active molecules. The application of the principles of self-assembly and crystal engineering permits the manipulation of conjugated molecules through new interactions and the shaping of specific nanoscale environments in a way that mimics the control exerted by proteins on biological light receptors. Noncovalent soft interactions are enough to bring about the spontaneous aggregation of host and guest molecules, even if they are very different in mass and their chemical nature. The tunability of the constraints and the variety of groups that can be involved in the weak interactions indicates a strategy that, besides modulating guest dynamics and conformations, allows us to explore a wide variety of intermolecular interactions.