Photoinduced charge separation in an oligophenylenevinylene-based Hamilton-type receptor supramolecularly associating two C60-barbiturate guests

Abstract

The supramolecular association of an oligophenylene-vinylene (OPV)-based Hamilton-type receptor 1 with C₆₀-barbiturate 2, via six hydrogen bonds per OPV terminal, forming C₆₀/OPV/C₆₀ complex 3 is presented. The particular host–guest motif expressed in 3 ensures strong interactions between the discrete components of the complex based on the multiple hydrogen bonding interactions as conveyed by an association constant greater than 10⁵ M⁻¹. Furthermore, femto- and nano-second transient absorption studies disclose photoinduced charge separation from ¹OPV* to C₆₀ within 9.4 ps. The observed ultrafast charge separation phenomena in the C₆₀/OPV/C₆₀ complex open up wide avenues toward the efficient construction of new materials for optoelectronic and solar cell applications.