Three orthogonal chromophores operating independently within the same molecule

[GRAPHICS] Three perylene bisimide chromophores were arranged orthogonally to each other within the same molecule by appropriate 3-fold coupling to 10-methyltribenzotriquinacene, a rigid C-3 nu-symmetrical framework containing three indane units oriented at right angles in space. The electronic operation of the three chromophores was shown to be independent within the C-3-symmetrical product, and potential applications of this novel molecular setup in molecular electronics are discussed.