Supramolecular Polymerization of Triarylamine-Based Macrocycles into Electroactive Nanotubes

A S6-symmetric triarylamine-based macrocycle (i.e., hexaaza[16]paracyclophane), decorated with six lateral amide functions, is synthesized by a convergent and modular strategy. This shown to undergo supramolecular polymerization in o-dichlorobenzene, its nanotubular structure elucidated combination of spectroscopy microscopy techniques, together X-ray scattering molecular modeling. Upon sequential oxidation, spectroelectrochemical analysis the polymer suggests an extended electronic delocalization charge carriers both within macrocycles (through bond) between along stacking direction space).