Large multifunctional triphenylamine derivatives as versatile candidates for porous supramolecular materials

The access to novel triphenyl-, tris(biphenyl)- and tris(phenyl-ethynyl-phenyl)amine derivatives decorated with bromine, carboxy or hydroxymethyl groups is developed based on aliphatic nucleophilic substitution and Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. The target compounds decorated with various groups are able to participate to the formation of self-assembled architectures by hydrogen or halogen bonding. • The synthesis of expanded triphenylamine derivatives is described. • The target compounds are powerful building blocks for supramolecular architectures. • Outstanding stacking pattern for 7 showing channels filled with chloroform molecules is revealed.