Isomeric Effects on Supramolecular Polymerization of Hexaazatrinaphthylene Derivatives
Abstract Supramolecular polymers based on electron‐deficient n‐type organic semiconductors are promising candidates for organic electronic applications. Hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATNA) is particularly attractive due to its high charge‐carrier mobility and redox activity. However, the impact of molecular symmetry on its supramolecular polymerization remains underexplored. Here, we compare two constitutional isomers of amide‐functionalized HATNA derivatives: a C 3 ‐symmetric ( C 3 ‐HATNA ) and a C 1 ‐symmetric ( C 1 ‐HATNA ) variant. Although both isomers exhibit similar electrochemical and optical properties in solution, their supramolecular polymerization leads to markedly different structural organizations. Spectroscopic, microscopic, scattering, and computational studies reveal that C 3 ‐HATNA forms tightly packed assemblies, consistent with stronger and more directional hydrogen bonding. In contrast, the reduced symmetry of C 1 ‐HATNA leads to less directional hydrogen bonding and asymmetric solvent exposure of the core, promoting bundling and the formation of longer fibers. These findings highlight the role of molecular symmetry in directing assembly pathways and provide insights for designing supramolecular materials for organic electronics.
Authors
- Magda M. J. Dekker
- E. W. Meijer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4126-7492)
- Ghislaine Vantomme (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2036-8892)
- Yu Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2814-591X)
Institutions
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (DE)
- Eindhoven University of Technology (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Helvetica Chimica Acta
- Published
- 2025-10-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/hlca.202500139
- Primary Topic
- Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00