Themed collection Celebrating the 60th birthday of Professor Frank Würthner

Blue to yellow-emitting 2-oxo-pyrano[2,3-b]indolizines, which are efficiently prepared in two steps from pyridinium salts, have strong emission across the solvent polarity scale.

Scholl-type oxidation of 1,2,3-triarylazulenes, depending on the substitution pattern, yields either azulen-1(8aH)-ones or conjugated azulene-embedded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Z-shaped polycyclic hydrocarbons with embedded five-membered rings as well as their diaza-analogues have been synthesized and showed charge carrier mobilities up to 0.4 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ in organic p-channel thin-film transistors.

Two-step host–guest complexation can occur between an elongated dye and CB[8], leading to the formation of CB[8]@2TPP and 3CB[8]@2TPP sequentially. Of these species, 3CB[8]@2TPP in particular can act as an efficient red-light photocatalyst.

Herein, we demonstrate that iminium activation increases the yield of expanded porphyrin synthesis by enhancing the reactivity of aldehydes used in macrocyclization.

Herein we successfully synthesize two pyrene-based cagearene constitutional isomers and separate them to investigate their host–guest properties.

The formation of supramolecular copolymers between complementary chiral tricarboxamides 1 and 2 is investigated. The blocky microstructure of such heteropolymers has been elucidated by applying a co-assembly model. This model predicts the coexistence of large blocks of the homopolymers.

An in situ supramolecular self-assembly system that could lead to the ferroptosis of cancer cells was successfully constructed in mitochondria.

A cationic, donor–acceptor-substituted biphenyl derivative is presented as a quadruplex DNA-targeting fluorescent probe that enables the fluorimetric differentiation of quadruplex DNA forms.

Rational design results in conformationally restricted bis[1]benzothieno[1,4]thiazines, being antiaromatic in the crystal with staircase-like packing. BBTTs form stable radical cations at low potentials and are strongly luminescent.

Quinoidal π-extended dipyranylidene derivatives, 2,2′,6,6′-tetraphenyl-4,4′-(cyclohexa-1,4-diene-3,6-diylidene)dipyran (DP8) and its tetrakis(dimethylamino) derivative (DP9), were newly synthesized and characterized.

Azide-functionalized 2-propionic-3-methylmaleic anhydride linkers can conjugate amines, however, pH-resonsive reversibility can only be achieved for aliphatic primary amines by amidation in diethyl ether.

A novel trapezoidal cage was exclusively prepared and exhibits high binding affinity for anions with tetrahedral geometry and alkaline features.

Benzylamine selectively adds to one of the two carbonyl groups on the 9-membered orifice to form an N,O-aminal moiety. Subsequent oxidation and hydrogen atom transfer lead to a decarboxylation process and formation of a nor [59]fullerene derivative.

A multicationic pillar[5]arene noncovalently crosslinks hyaluronic acid to afford ionic supramolecular polymers for intramolecular delivery of short DNA.

Herein the selective separation of toluene/methylcyclohexane based on pagoda[5]arene nonporous adaptive crystals is investigated.

Photo-modulation in chloride binding affinity and transmembrane transport with tetra-azobenzene extended calix[4]pyrroles.