# Aggregation‐Induced Energy Transfer Within a Donor–Acceptor–Donor Compound Featuring Hydrophobic Mesogenic Self‐Assembling Units

## TL;DR

This paper describes a new organic compound that changes its light emission color when it self-assembles in water, offering potential for use in sensing and photonic materials.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel donor–acceptor–donor compound with hydrophobic mesogenic units that enable aggregation-induced energy transfer in aqueous environments.

## Key findings

- The compound undergoes aggregation in water, leading to efficient energy transfer and tunable emission color shifts.
- Molecular dynamics simulations support the intramolecular assembly behavior and energy transfer mechanism.

## Abstract

In this study, we report the design and synthesis of a novel donor–acceptor–donor‐type organic emitter incorporating hydrophobic starburst mesogenic units. We have demonstrated that, in aqueous environments, this compound undergoes aggregation that induces efficient energy transfer within the molecules, resulting in tunable shifts in emission color. Molecular dynamics simulations corroborate the proposed mechanism by revealing the intramolecular assembly behavior. These findings provide valuable insights for the rational design of functional nano‐aggregates targeted for applications in sensing and photonic materials.

Hydrophobic mesogenic self‐assembling units induce the aggregation of a structurally distinct dibenzophenazine‐cored electronic donor–acceptor–donor organic emitter in aqueous environments. This aggregation promotes efficient intra‐aggregate energy transfer and results in a drastic shift in emission color.