Synthesis, topology and energy analysis of crystalline resorcinol-based oligophenylene molecules with various symmetries

Abstract

We describe the development of a set of highly symmetric multitopic oligophenylene molecules decorated with hydroxyl functions that are all derived from the resorcinol moiety. All these resorcinol-based oligophenylene self-assembled structures and the corresponding methoxy protected precursors were found to be highly crystalline materials, with two compounds giving rise to porous 3D-networks. The solid-state organisation of these molecules has been studied from three complementary viewpoints using metrical, topological and energy analyses. A quantitative interaction energy has been associated to each supramolecular interaction responsible for a given topology, even for the quite new and highly complex topologies evidenced. Thermal and luminescent properties of these materials have also been examined.