Guest-induced emission enhancement in the permanent porous conjugated carboracycle crystal

Abstract

Macrocyclization can provide space for realizing host–guest-mediated molecular sensing based on the regulation of excited-state structural change. Here, we report guest-induced luminescent changes in crystalline o-carborane-containing conjugated macrocycles, which develop an intrinsically porous crystal with 1D channels. The crystal can capture C4-length vaporous guests and subsequently exhibit guest-induced emission enhancement through the suppression of excited-state structural relaxation. Notably, the crystal showed successful reversible guest encapsulation without losing its crystalline porosity, as well as heat resistance up to 500 °C.