Interactions between π-conjugated chromophores in a giant molecular spoked wheel

Abstract

We discuss the intriguing photophysics of a giant molecular spoked wheel of π-conjugated arylene–alkynylene chromophores on the single-molecule level. This “molecular mesoscopic” structure, C₁₈₇₈H₂₆₈₂, shows fast switching between the 12 identical chromophores since the fluorescence is unpolarised but only one chromophore emits at a time.