LAUSR

Abstract Supramolecular polymeric stacks of flat molecular components provide a highly ordered molecular organization that results in unique functions. The engineering of molecular organization, therefore, has attracted a great deal of attention both in supramolecular chemistry and in material science. The electronic and structural properties of molecular components determine the forthcoming supramolecular organization structure and properties. Non-covalent intermolecular interactions are responsible for directional growth in supramolecular polymerization. We have discovered that a phenylisoxazole ring system drives supramolecular polymerization in a directional way. π-Conjugated molecular components possessing phenylisoxazole moieties constructively assemble to form one-dimensional stacked assemblies via π–π stacking and dipole–dipole interaction. The introduction of a chirality onto the molecular components results in supramolecular helical organizations with unique photophysical functions. Switchable circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) and circular dichroism (CD) are developed in the supramolecular helical organizations. The grown assemblies provide highly entangled fibrillar networks, giving rise to organogels. The photo-responsive organogels and toroidal nanostructures are fabricated with the assistance of a photo-addressable azobenzene group. A light-harvesting system is developed in the organogels.