Synthesis and characterization of 3,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazole functionalized tetraaryloxy perylene bisimide and metal-directed self-assembly.

[structure: see text] New perylene bisimide dyes bearing 3,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazole receptor units with different spacers have been synthesized and characterized. The fluorescence and electronic properties of these compounds have been studied. MALDI-TOF, UV-vis, and fluorescence titration experiments proved that monotopic perylene bisimide ligands could be assembled into dimmers by Fe(III) coordination. The coordination properties of the ditopic perylene bisimide ligands have also been studied preliminarily. Furthermore, the SEM images indicated that well-defined nanoscale structures could be fabricated by self-assembly due to metal ion coordination and pi-pi stacking interactions of perylene rings with the help of a proper spacer.