Helical supramolecular organization of a 1,2-diol appended naphthalene diimide organogelator via an extended intermolecular H-bonding network

Abstract

Self-assembly of a 1,2-diol appended naphthalene diimide derivative featuring chiral and J-type aggregation is reported. In MCH/CHCl₃, the compound exhibited intense yellow excimer and thermoreversible “sol–gel” behavior. Morphological and circular dichroism studies revealed long range M-helical nanofibre formation. A theoretical model of the cooperative hydrogen bonding was also proposed.