Arylethynyl Groups That Modulate Anion-Binding and Assembling Modes of Rod- and Fan-Shaped π-Electronic Systems.

The introduction of arylethynyl moieties at the pyrrole α- and β-positions of dipyrrolyldiketone BF complexes as anion-responsive π-electronic molecules was investigated. The arylethynyl-substituted derivatives formed a variety of anion complexes with planar [1+1]- and interlocked [2+1]-type structures in solution and in the solid state. The derivatives with long alkyl chains in the introduced arylethynyl groups also formed mesophases in the form of ion pairs of the anion complexes and a counter cation. The geometries of the constituent anion complexes affected the packing modes of the dimension-controlled assemblies.