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

Abstract

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