Shape‐Controllable and Fluorescent Supramolecular Organic Frameworks Through Aqueous Host–Guest Complexation

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 57; no. 3; pp. 729 - 733
• Main Authors: Li, Yawen, Dong, Yunhong, Miao, Xiaran, Ren, Yulin, Zhang, Beilin, Wang, Pinpin, Yu, Yang, Li, Bin, Isaacs, Lyle, Cao, Liping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 15.01.2018
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: cucurbituril; Fluorescence; host–guest complexation; supramolecular chemistry; Supramolecular compounds; supramolecular organic frameworks; host-guest complexation; cucurbituril; supramolecular organic frameworks; fluorescence; supramolecular chemistry
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201710553

Two kinds of shape‐controllable and fluorescent supramolecular organic frameworks (cuboid or spheroid) are constructed hierarchically from CB[8] and tetraphenylethylene derivatives through host–guest interaction in water. These two fluorescent SOFs exhibit intriguing and varied photophysical properties, including large red‐shifts (up to 82 nm) and stimuli‐responsive behavior to competitive guest by binding with CB[8], the turn‐on fluorescence of which is applied in cellular imaging. Controlling the shapes: Shape‐controllable supramolecular organic frameworks (cuboids and spheroids) were constructed hierarchically using the supramolecular assembly between CB[8] and tetraphenylethene derivatives with different linkers. Significantly, these supramolecular organic frameworks exhibit stimuli‐responsive turn‐on fluorescence, which is used for potential application in cell imaging.