Macrocyclic amphiphiles with 1,8-anthrylene fluorophores: synthesis and attempts toward two-dimensional organization.

New macrocyclic amphiphiles with two or three integrated 1,8-anthrylenes have been synthesized by an iterative Sonogashira cross-coupling protocol. The final cyclization has been conducted with 80% yield under cuprous-free dilution conditions. Formation of a monolayer at the air/water interface has also been demonstrated. These results open the intriguing possibility to construct large 2D supramolecular/macromolecular systems for which unique photophysical and -chemical properties are expected.