Themed collection Celebrating the 60th birthday of Professor Frank Würthner

Mechanophoric hydrogels undergo visible color changes or alterations in optical properties in response to mechanical stimuli.

Water-soluble platinum(II) Schiff base complexes self-assemble into nanorods via a cooperative growth mechanism, with an unusual thermo-responsive behavior corresponding to morphological transformation into spherical structures after heat treatment.

Diboronic acids based on chiral spirobifluorenes are selectively sorted into homochiral organic cages via dynamic covalent boronate ester formation.

Two methodologies for synthesizing a cross-chain bridging cryptand are presented: (1) through an intramolecular cross-linking of C₂-symmetric crown ethers and (2) through a triple-linking reaction in a single step.

Experimental and DFT host–guest complexation studies reveal the suitability of the nanographene tweezer for hosting [60] and [70]fullerenes.

A persistent concealed non-Kekulé nanographene featuring two phenalene units fused in a cis configuration to a perylene core was successfully synthesized in solution and characterized.

We synthesized a multichromophoric catalyst system, namely, Ir-triad 1 and utilized it as a homogeneous photocatalyst to efficiently synthesize tetrahydroquinolines achieving up to 83% yield, with six different examples of substrates.

The design and synthesis of an easily functionalizable cross-shaped organic framework is presented. The template is bis- and tetra-decorated with achiral chromophores, offering a platform to study fundamental properties such as chirality and FRET.

Combination of optical and transport measurements on merocyanine films indicates an impact of aggregation on excitonic and transport properties. The number of coupled molecules is tuned changing transport from hopping to multiple trapping/detrapping.

The use of dithieno-(DTDB) and difuro-4,6-dihydro-1,2,7-oxadiborepins (DFDB) as components of conjugated copolymers is demonstrated.

Fluoroarene-arene π-stacking is observed for a series of co-crystals of decafluoroanthracene with polycyclic arenes. Photophysical studies reveal distinct properties of anthracene-decafluoroanthracene.

(BO)₂-helicene 2 was prepared and compared to its isomer 1 featuring reverted BO-bonds: spectroscopic and theoretical studies showed as “BO-inversion” is a tool to improve optoelectronic properties.

Viologen-like macrocycles comprising bent oligophenylene loops were synthesized via reductive aromatization and eliminative rearrangement of a common strain-free precursor.

The optoelectronic properties of two novel regioisomeric dithienoacene-fused pyrenes were investigated. 2-SS-PDTA exhibits superior single-crystal FET mobility up to 1.35 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, in contrast to the 0.18 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ for 1-SS-PDTA.

We report on the self-assembly behavior of two aryldipyrrolidone dyes forming conventional assemblies via π–π stacking or unconventional multistranded columnar phases through hydrogen bonding depending on their π-core.

We introduce boron desymmetrization of BODIPY dyes as a new molecular design strategy towards controlled self-assembly pathways in supramolecular polymerization.

Ultrafast intersystem crossing (ISC) followed by internal conversion in multi-brominated eumelanin monomers. The rate of ISC (k_ISC) in the tri-brominated monomer is higher than that in the di-brominated monomer due to an enhanced heavy atom effect.

Near-infrared absorbing squaraine dyes incorporating 4-membered thionated oxocarbon and chalcogenopyrylium moieties exhibit intermediate diradical character, which impacts thermal cis–trans isomerization.

An IPOP, constructed constructed from cyanuric chloride and the readily accessible 2,5-di(pyridin-4-yl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole (BpyTzTz), is shown to exhibit excellent visible light absorption and serve as a metal-free heterogeneous photocatalyst.

Triphenylamine-functionalized NIR-absorbing aza-BODIPY dyes 1–3 were synthesized and their properties were investigated in detail. A PCE of 18.12% was achieved for the PSCs employing dye 1 as the dopant-free hole transporting material.

We report an L-isosorbide-based reactive chiral dopant with high helical twisting power for cholesteric liquid crystal polymers reflecting left-handed circularly polarized light.

Near-Infrared single-bond-linked and vinylene-bridged azulenyl bis(squaraine) dyes were synthesized. Their self-assembly behaviors were investigated under different solvent polarities, compound concentrations and temperatures.

Blue to yellow-emitting 2-oxo-pyrano[2,3-b]indolizines, which are efficiently prepared in two steps from pyridinium salts, have strong emission across the solvent polarity scale.

Dipyrrolyldiketone Pt^II complexes as helical π-electronic systems formed anion complexes and their solid-state charge-by-charge ion-pairing assemblies with the columnar structures comprising either of the enantiomers.

Guest-induced supramolecular switching in an organic solvent was done remotely by making change at an adjacent aqueous layer.

By controlling the π-π stacking of chlorophyll supramolecular rosettes through steric hindrance of alkyl dendrons, it become possible to create chlorophyll tubes and discrete rings that resemble to natural chlorophyll assemblies.

Two-step host–guest complexation can occur between an elongated dye and CB[8], leading to the formation of CB[8]@2TPP and 3CB[8]@2TPP sequentially. Of these species, 3CB[8]@2TPP in particular can act as an efficient red-light photocatalyst.

Scholl-type oxidation of 1,2,3-triarylazulenes, depending on the substitution pattern, yields either azulen-1(8aH)-ones or conjugated azulene-embedded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Herein, we demonstrate that iminium activation increases the yield of expanded porphyrin synthesis by enhancing the reactivity of aldehydes used in macrocyclization.

An in situ supramolecular self-assembly system that could lead to the ferroptosis of cancer cells was successfully constructed in mitochondria.

A cationic, donor–acceptor-substituted biphenyl derivative is presented as a quadruplex DNA-targeting fluorescent probe that enables the fluorimetric differentiation of quadruplex DNA forms.

Rational design results in conformationally restricted bis[1]benzothieno[1,4]thiazines, being antiaromatic in the crystal with staircase-like packing. BBTTs form stable radical cations at low potentials and are strongly luminescent.

Z-shaped polycyclic hydrocarbons with embedded five-membered rings as well as their diaza-analogues have been synthesized and showed charge carrier mobilities up to 0.4 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ in organic p-channel thin-film transistors.

Herein we successfully synthesize two pyrene-based cagearene constitutional isomers and separate them to investigate their host–guest properties.

The formation of supramolecular copolymers between complementary chiral tricarboxamides 1 and 2 is investigated. The blocky microstructure of such heteropolymers has been elucidated by applying a co-assembly model. This model predicts the coexistence of large blocks of the homopolymers.

Quinoidal π-extended dipyranylidene derivatives, 2,2′,6,6′-tetraphenyl-4,4′-(cyclohexa-1,4-diene-3,6-diylidene)dipyran (DP8) and its tetrakis(dimethylamino) derivative (DP9), were newly synthesized and characterized.

Azide-functionalized 2-propionic-3-methylmaleic anhydride linkers can conjugate amines, however, pH-resonsive reversibility can only be achieved for aliphatic primary amines by amidation in diethyl ether.

A novel trapezoidal cage was exclusively prepared and exhibits high binding affinity for anions with tetrahedral geometry and alkaline features.

Benzylamine selectively adds to one of the two carbonyl groups on the 9-membered orifice to form an N,O-aminal moiety. Subsequent oxidation and hydrogen atom transfer lead to a decarboxylation process and formation of a nor [59]fullerene derivative.

A multicationic pillar[5]arene noncovalently crosslinks hyaluronic acid to afford ionic supramolecular polymers for intramolecular delivery of short DNA.

Herein the selective separation of toluene/methylcyclohexane based on pagoda[5]arene nonporous adaptive crystals is investigated.

Photo-modulation in chloride binding affinity and transmembrane transport with tetra-azobenzene extended calix[4]pyrroles.