Chirality generation on carbon nanosheets by chemical modification.

Chirality is an intriguing property of molecules, and an exciting area of study involves the generation of chirality in nanographenes (NGs), also known as graphene quantum dots. Unlike those synthesized through stepwise carbon-carbon bond formation by organic reactions (bottom-up method), NGs obtained by cutting parent carbons (top-down method) pose challenges in precisely regulating their three-dimensional structures by post-synthesis. This includes the incorporation of non-hexagonal rings and helicene-like structures in carbon frameworks.

Substituent-Induced Supramolecular Aggregates of Edge Functionalized Nanographenes.

Precisely controlled molecular assemblies often display intriguing morphologies and/or functions arising from their structures. The application of the concept of the self-assembly for controlling the aggregation of nanographenes (NGs) is challenging. The title NGs are those carrying both long alkyl chains and tris(phenylisoxazolyl)benzene (TPIB) on the edge.