Anisotropic Polysilsesquioxanes with Fluorescent Organic Bridges: Transcription of Strong π−π Interactions of Organic Bridges to the Long-Range Ordering of Silsesquioxanes

A novel type of fluorescent and anisotropic polysilsesquioxane xerogel ( CNPBESi ) was synthesized by the acid-catalyzed classical sol−gel reaction of organically modified silicates. Anisotropy and enhanced fluorescence emission were simultaneously induced by the strong self-assembly power of the organic bridge units. CNPBESi was found to have a long-range order within the xerogel structure by X-ray diffraction analysis. Bright bluish green fluorescence emission from CNPBESi was attributed to the aggregation-induced enhanced emission of the organic bridge structure.