Synthesis and properties of folded π-stacking polymers having J-aggregative, alternative, and staggered assembling structures

•Folded polymers showing J-aggregate were synthesized.•Folded alternative stacking polymers of two different π-units were synthesized.•Folded staggered stacking polymers of π-modules were synthesized.

Three types of folded polymers showing alternative stacking of two different π-units (A-3), J-aggregate (J-3), and staggered stacking (S-3) structures of π-modules were designed and synthesized using 2-substituted 1,3-diaryl tethering units. The UV-absorbing and fluorescent emission properties of these polymers were investigated and compared to those of the corresponding single structural π-molecule component and H-type stacking polymer (H-3). These three types of polymers exhibited unique optical properties as a result of a distinctive arrangement of π-units.

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