Photoswitchable J‑Aggregated Processable Organogel by Integrating a Photochromic Acceptor

A novel π-chromophoric 1,4-bis­(anthracenylethynyl)­benzene (BAB)-based highly emissive J-aggregated organogel has been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal structure determination of asymmetric π-chromophoric bola-amphiphilic BAB1 (dodecyl and triethyleneglycolmonomethylether containing side chains of bis­(anthracenylethynyl)­benzene) supports J-aggregation. Further, a photochromic acceptor chromophore, 4,4′-(perfluorocyclopent-1-ene-1,2-diyl)­bis­(5-methylthiophene-2-carbaldehyde), is noncovalently encapsulated in the gel and photoswitching studies have been performed based on photochromic Förster resonance energy transfer. The modulated emission of the processable soft material is further exploited for rewritable display. However, BAB2 (dodecyl side chain on both sides) does not show gelation property due to its low solubility.