3.2.3. Other systems
The creation of functional π-conjugated assemblies by a supramolecular approach allows control of morphology and phase separation through non-covalent interactions [108], [109] and [110]. For example, water-soluble naphthalene (NT) or oligo(phenylene vinylene) (OPV) end-capped with one diaminotriazine (DT) formed H-bonds to a single-strand oligothymine template (dTn, n = 20, 40) to form supramolecular organized structures [109]. Fig. 18 shows snapshots for the dT20-NT and dT20-OPV aggregated structures taken at the end of the molecular dynamics (MD) run. In both cases, right-handed helices are stable structures and agree, in agreement with the circular-dichroism (CD) spectra, which show a positive Cotton effect on the low energy side ( Fig. 19) and indicate the binding to the single-strand oligothymine template. For large interactions between conjugated moieties in the stacks, the complex can further aggregate along the strand axis. A better understanding of the nature and amplitude of the intermolecular interactions is essential to exploit these functional supramolecular structures.