Citation: Zhaoyu Yan, Yuanhao Feng, Zhewen Ma, Wei Zheng. Chiroptical properties and supramolecular chirality transfer in a bilayer spironanographene[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(10): 112890. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2026.112890 shu

Chiroptical properties and supramolecular chirality transfer in a bilayer spironanographene

Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China

zhengwei@tongji.edu.cn

Received Date: 6 March 2026
Revised Date: 29 April 2026
Accepted Date: 5 May 2026
Available Online: 6 May 2026

Figures(6)

Bilayer nanographenes represent an emerging class of molecular carbon architectures that provide unique opportunities to explore interlayer electronic communication and chiroptical phenomena in confined π-systems. However, the development of well-defined chiral bilayer nanographenes capable of transferring chirality across extended π-surfaces and supramolecular assemblies remains challenging. Herein, we report the synthesis and structural characterization of a chiral bilayer spironanographene (spiro-NG) composed of two nanographene subunits connected through a rigid spirobifluorene core. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals a folded bilayer geometry that enforces significant interlayer π-overlap while simultaneously generating intrinsic molecular chirality. Enantiomeric resolution affords configurationally stable P- and M-spiro-NG, which display pronounced circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). Furthermore, the exposed π-surfaces of the bilayer scaffold enable π-surface recognition with coronene, leading to hetero-π stacked co-crystals that highlight the supramolecular adaptability of the nanographene framework. Notably, supramolecular co-assembly of spiro-NG with achiral fluorophores enables chirality transfer through Förster resonance energy transfer, resulting in induced CPL emission with tunable wavelengths. These findings establish bilayer spironanographene as a versatile chiral nanographene platform that integrates structural chirality, supramolecular recognition, and chiroptical functionality, offering new opportunities for the development of chiral carbon-based photonic materials.
- Bilayer spironanographene,
- π-Surface recognition,
- Supramolecular assembly,
- Circularly polarized luminescence,
- Supramolecular chirality transfer
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