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Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Evolution of Staircase Structures in Diffusive Convection
Published on: September 5, 2018
An Aggregation-Induced Emission-Active Macrocycle: Illusory Topology of the Penrose Stairs
Zikai He1,2, Erjing Wang1,2,3, Jacky W Y Lam1,2
1HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st Rd, South Area, Hi-tech Park Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057 (P. R. China).
Abstract:
The facile synthesis of a tetraphenylethene-based macrocycle having aggregation-induced emission characteristics and that expresses illusory topology of the Penrose stairs is presented. As a result of the twisted chirality (P or M) of the tetraphenylethene unit and the axial chirality of the macrocyclic linkage (R or S), the macrocycle exhibits two absolute configurations whose interconversion is energetically favorable as revealed by theoretical calculations.

