Functionalized pillar[5]arenes with pH-responsive fluorescence and chiroptical properties

Abstract

By elaborately introducing a pyridine unit with protonation–deprotonation capabilities and an aggregation-induced emission luminogen (triphenylamine) with large steric hinderance to modify pillar[5]arene, a functionalized pillar[5]arene system with ratiometric pH-responsive fluorescence, bright white emission in the aggregated state, and effectively locked planar chirality was achieved.