π-Electronic Ion-Pairing Supramolecular Assemblies

Abstract

Appropriately designed anion-responsive π-electronic molecules provide tunable π-electronic ion pairs comprising receptor–anion complexes and countercations. Such π-electronic ion pairs form highly organized dimension-controlled assemblies such as liquid crystals, gels, and other functional soft materials through electrostatic interactions with the support of other weak noncovalent interactions. Well-designed pyrrole-based π-electronic molecules can effectively bind anions, thus creating planar receptor–anion complexes and resulting assembled structures. Therefore, precise modifications of oligopyrrole π-electronic systems are important for the preparation of receptor–anion-complexing ion pairs as components of ion-pairing dimension-controlled assemblies. This chapter describes recent progresses in the area of ion-pairing dimension-controlled assemblies, especially those built with pyrrole-based anion-responsive π-electronic molecules, focusing on molecular design.