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Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
An unusual stacking transformation in liquid-crystalline columnar assemblies of clicked molecular propellers with
Jinhee Kim1, Sung Cho, Byoung-Ki Cho
1Department of Chemistry, Dankook University, Jukjeon 126, Gyeonggi, 448-701 (Korea), Fax: (+82) 31-8005-3153.
Abstract:
The columnar liquid-crystalline (LC) and fluorescence properties of three-dimensional molecular propellers based on tetraphenylethylene is reported. X-ray scattering studies reveal an unusual transition from a rectangular (Colrec ) to a hexagonal columnar (Colhex ) phase. In contrast to second-order intercolumnar transitions based on a common tilt mechanism, the transition is first order and involves an unprecedented zigzag stacking of aromatic propellers in the Colrec phase. A sudden change in emission color from sky blue to green occurs rapidly and reversibly at this transition, which is due to the planarization of the propeller mesogen.
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