Self-assembly of soluble anthracene, tetracene and pentacene derivatives

New soluble disubstituted acenes (tetracene, pentacene) have been designed in order to mimic 2,3-alkoxy derivatives of anthracene. They have been shown to self-assemble and gellify a large variety of organic solvents. This process involves the formation of nano-fibres through non-covalent molecular interactions (van der Waals, π-π stacking), weaving a three-dimensional supramolecular network. Efficient transfer of excitation energy through these nano-structures has been evidenced in an anthracene light-harvesting matrix doped with less than 1 mol% of a tetracene energy trap.