Anion‐Responsive π‐Conjugated Macrocycles That Form Ordered Structures

In this study, anion‐responsive π‐conjugated macrocycles were synthesized to demonstrate anion‐binding and ion‐pairing properties along with the ordered structures.  Ion‐pairing charge‐by‐charge assembly of a [1+2]‐type complex of a macrocycle as a pseudo π‐electronic anion and a countercation was revealed by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis.  Further, two‐dimensional (2D) arrays of the macrocycles bearing alkoxy chains, exhibiting anion‐driven disordered structures, were constructed on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrate as observed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).