Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have received considerable attention for their potential applications in the development of novel optoelectronic materials. In the generation of optoelectronic devices, the development of GQDs that are regulated in terms of their size and dimensions and are unoxidized at the sp(2) surfaces is desired. GQDs functionalized with bulky Fréchet's dendritic wedges at the GQD periphery were synthesized. The single-layered, size-regulated structures of the dendronized GQDs were revealed by atomic force microscopy. The edge-functionalization of the GQDs led to white-light emission, which is an uncommon feature.

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Making up a foursome: Self‐assembly of 4,4′‐(3‐pyridinemethoxy)benzophenone (L) and Pd(NO3)2 resulted in the quantitative formation of a quadruply stranded metallohelicate [Pd2(L)4], which undergoes spontaneous dimerization to an unprecedented chiral interlocked metallohelicate [Pd2(L)4]2 (see X‐ray structure; C black, H white, N blue, O red).

Chemical modification of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) can influence their physical and chemical properties; hence, the investigation of the effect of organic functional groups on GQDs is of importance for developing GQD-organic hybrid materials. Three peripherally functionalised GQDs having a third-generation dendritic wedge (GQD-2), long alkyl chains (GQD-3) and a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane group (GQD-4) were prepared by the Cu(I) -catalysed Huisgen cycloaddition reaction of GQD-1 with organic azides. Cyclic voltammetry indicated that reduction occurred on the surfaces of GQD-1-4 and on the five-membered imide rings at the periphery, and this suggested that the functional groups distort the periphery by steric interactions between neighbouring functional groups. The HOMO-LUMO bandgaps of GQD-1-4 were estimated to be approximately 2 eV, and their low-lying LUMO levels (<-3.9 eV) were lower than that of phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester, an n-type organic semiconductor. The solubility of GQD-1-4 in organic solvents depends on the functional groups present. The functional groups likely cover the surfaces and periphery of the GQDs, and thus increase their affinity for solvent and avoid precipitation. Similar to GQD-2, both GQD-3 and GQD-4 emitted white light upon excitation at 360 nm. Size-exclusion chromatography demonstrated that white-light emission originates from the coexistence of differently sized GQDs that have different photoluminescence emission wavelengths.

Although there are many examples of catenanes, those of more complex mechanically interlocked molecular architectures are rare. Additionally, little attention has been paid to the degradation of such interlocked systems into their starting complexes, although formation and degradation are complementary phenomena and are equally important. Interlocked metallohelicate, [(Pd(2)L(4))(2)](8+) (2(8+)), is a quadruply interlocked molecular architecture consisting of two mechanically interlocked monomers, [Pd(2)L(4)](4+) (1(4+)). 2(8+) has three internal cavities, each of which encapsulates one NO(3)(-) ion (1:3 host-guest complex, 2⊃(NO(3)|NO(3)|NO(3))(5+)) and is characterized by unusual thermodynamic stability. However, both the driving force for the dimerization and the origin of the thermodynamic stability remain unclear. To clarify these issues, BF(4)(-), PF(6)(-), and OTf(-) have been used to demonstrate that the dimerization is driven by the anion template effect. Interestingly, the stability of 2(8+) strongly depends on the encapsulated anions (2⊃(NO(3)|NO(3)|NO(3))(5+) ≫ 2⊃(BF(4)|BF(4)|BF(4))(5+)). The origins of this differing thermodynamic stability have been shown through detailed investigations to be due to the differences in the stabilization of the interlocked structure by the host-guest interaction and the size of the anion. We have found that 2-naphthalenesulfonate (ONs(-)) induces the monomerization of 2⊃(NO(3)|NO(3)|NO(3))(5+) via intermediate 2⊃(ONs|NO(3)|ONs)(5+), which is formed by anion exchange. On the basis of this finding, and using p-toluenesulfonate (OTs(-)), the physical separation of 2⊃(NO(3)|NO(3)|NO(3))(5+) and 1(4+) as OTs(-) salt was accomplished.