Two-dimensional electronic conjugation: cooperative folding and fluorescence switching.

Conformational switching of tris(N-salicylideneamine)-derived C3-symmetric molecules could be driven by organizing and disrupting mutually reinforcing hydrogen bonding networks. The emission properties associated with these shape-adaptive constructs respond reversibly to external signal input. Notably, significant enhancement in fluorescence efficiency was achieved through structural rigidification of the [pi,pi]/[n,pi]-conjugated molecular core.