Pyridine-Conjugated Pillar[5]arene: From Molecular Crystals of Blue Luminescence to Red-Emissive Coordination Nanocrystals

A luminescent molecular crystal (P5bipy) and a Cu(I)-coordinated luminescent nanocrystal (Cu(I)-P5bipy) have been prepared concurrently using one conjugated pillar[5]arene macrocycle via a facile supramolecular self-assembling strategy. The molecular crystal shows enhanced luminescence compared with unmodified pillar[5]arene, attributed to its conjugated structure and staggered packing mode, while the coordination nanocrystal exhibits well-defined crystalline structures and long-lifetime triplet state emission along with pronounced solvochromic features.

Automated summary

By employing a facile supramolecular self-assembling strategy, a luminescent molecular crystal and a Cu(I)-coordinated luminescent nanocrystal were simultaneously prepared using a conjugated pillar[5]arene macrocycle. The molecular crystal exhibited enhanced luminescence due to its conjugated structure and staggered packing mode, while the coordination nanocrystal showed well-defined crystalline structures and long-lifetime triplet state emission with distinct solvochromic features.