Aggregation of dipolar merocyanine dyes into antiparallel dimers with high binding
constant is an interesting binding motif for the construction of functional supramolecular
architectures. This dipolar aggregation has been utilized for the formation of well-defined
cylindrical nanorods. The self-assembly of these nanorods is profoundly influenced
by solvent polarity which determines nanorod growth under kinetic or thermodynamic
control. A newly synthesized series of bis(merocyanine) dyes bearing alkyl substituents
of different chain lengths and branching further reveals that small structural changes
of the monomeric building blocks have a considerable impact on the stability and structure
of the aggregates. The knowledge acquired by the present study should be helpful for
the development of self-assembled nanomaterials.
supramolecular chemistry - nanostructures - chromophores - atomic force microscopy
- dyes and pigments
