Synthesis and self-assembly of functionalized donor-sigma-acceptor molecules.

[structure: see text] 3,5,7-Tris(arylmethyl)-1-aza-adamantanetrione donor-sigma-acceptor compounds have been synthesized in four steps. Computational and (1)H NMR analyses rationalize the solubility, gelation, and conformational properties of the C3-symmetric molecules toward employing sigma-coupled donor-acceptor interactions in molecular self-assembly.