Halogen substituted bithiophene-based polycatenars with tunable fluorescence†

Efficient synthesis of extended π-conjugated systems containing sulphur-rich aromatics is of special interest for organic electronics. Herein, we report the synthesis of new π-conjugated 5,5′-diphenyl-2,2′-bithiophene-based tricatenars. The materials have the same aromatic backbone ending at one terminus with a 3,5-diheptyloxy substituted-benzene ring and a single hexyloxy chain at the other end. They differ from each other in the halogen substitution pattern used at the single alkylated end, where fluorine at different positions was used. The fluorine atom was also replaced by chlorine or bromine atoms to investigate the effect of different types of halogen substituents on the phase behaviour. The molecular self-assembly of the materials was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and fluorescence techniques. Depending on the type and position of the halogen substituent, different types of mesophases were observed, including nematic, smectic, and chiral isotropic liquid phase (Iso₁^[*^]) and achiral double-gyroid bicontinuous cubic phases with a double helical network structure and Iad symmetry. In particular, the steric effect of halogen substituents adapts two different molecular packing for the cubic phase with local helicity and short-range order, respectively. All materials are fluorescent active, and their fluorescence behaviour could be altered by the type and position of the halogen substituent. Thus, this report provides new functional materials, which could be of interest for optoelectronic applications.