Tunable molecular packing modes H- or J-aggregates in the supramolecular helical nanostructures from an achiral symmetric molecule.

The self-assembly of a -symmetric molecule benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate substituted with methyl cinnamate (BTECM) has been investigated by a reprecipitation method in HO and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) aqueous solution, respectively. The nanostructures and characteristics of the assemblies were monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence (FL) spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that helical nanostructures were successfully assembled from the achiral molecule BTECM.