Shape-Controllable and Fluorescent Supramolecular Organic Frameworks Through Aqueous Host-Guest Complexation.

Two kinds of shape-controllable and fluorescent supramolecular organic frameworks (cuboid or spheroid) are constructed hierarchically from CB[8] and tetraphenylethylene derivatives through host-guest interaction in water. These two fluorescent SOFs exhibit intriguing and varied photophysical properties, including large red-shifts (up to 82 nm) and stimuli-responsive behavior to competitive guest by binding with CB[8], the turn-on fluorescence of which is applied in cellular imaging.