Anion templated assembly of an indolocarbazole containing pseudorotaxane on beads and silica nanoparticles

Abstract

The surface covalent attachment of fluorescent axles of indolocarbazole enables anion templation to be exploited in the formation of pseudorotaxane assembliesvia the threading of neutral isophthalamide macrocycles. In utilising the surface of polystyrene beads this threading process can be followed by both magnetic resonance methods and changes in the axle fluorescent emission spectrum. The analogous surface assembly and anion templated threading can be achieved, with fluoride and sulfate, on silica nanoparticles where anion recognition and macrocycle threading are associated with equivalent and specific optical change.