Reversal aggregation-induced circular dichroism from axial chirality transfer via self-assembled helical nanowires

Two chiral binaphthyl-based enantiomers, (R/S)-7, were designed and synthesized by Sonogashira crosscoupling reaction of AIE-active TPE and O-BOPHY. Interestingly, the resulting (R/S)-7 can exhibit emission enlargement response in DCM/hexane mixtures due to AIE behavior, but fluorescence quenching in THF/H2O mixtures due to ACQ effect. (R/S)-7 can produce gradual reversal AICD (aggregation-induced circular dichroism) signals from solution to aggregation, which can be attributed to axial chirality transfer to self-assembled helical nanowires in aggregation state.