Self-assembly of insulated molecular wires of a watersoluble cationic PPV and anionic dendrons

Insulated molecular wires of poly(phenylenevinylene) (PPV) were prepared by wrapping the conjugated backbones with dendrons through a noncovalent approach. It was found that electrostatic interaction between the quaternary ammonium groups of PPV-1 and the carboxylate moieties in dendrons induced the packing of dendrons along PPV-1 conjugated backbones. Absorption and emission spectroscopic examinations in solution and solid film indicated that the PPV-1 backbones adopted a more planar and isolated conformation in the complexes. Furthermore, interchain interactions in the complexes could be greatly reduced, improving the quantum yield of PPV-1. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20604013, 20774056, and 50533030)