Molecular triangles: synthesis, self-assembly, and blue emission of cyclo-7,10-tris-triphenylenyl macrocycles

A set of cyclo-7,10-tris-triphenylenyl macrocycles have been prepared by a Yamamoto cyclotrimerization protocol. In these novel macrocycles, three triphenylene units are covalently linked to each other, resulting in the formation of triangular-shaped molecules. The fully planar derivative revealed pronounced self-assembly behavior. NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the association constant in solution. 2D wide-angle X-ray scattering was applied to the study of the liquid crystallinity of this new discotic mesogen in the bulk state. Furthermore, nonplanar, laterally substituted derivatives were successfully tested as blue emitters in organic light-emitting diodes owing to their unique optoelectronic properties and their high stability. In this case, substitution with sterically demanding phenyl groups was efficiently used to suppress intermolecular packing, thus preventing undesired quenching effects.