Conjugated molecules and materials for single molecule chiroptical studies, sensing of toxic nerve agent mimics and solar thermal fuels

This dissertation utilizes the power of organic synthesis to construct novel chiral and achiral pi-conjugated organic molecules/materials that serve as platforms for single molecule chiroptical studies, to develop optical sensors and solar thermal fuels. The first section of the dissertation describes the synthetic methodologies employed to obtain chiral bridged triarylamine helicene scaffolds with well defined molecular orientation (relative to the surface) on a surface, to address the fundamental question: What is the role of molecular orientation on the magnitude of chiroptical response of a chiral molecule? Next, we investigated bridged triarylamine chromophores for optical sensing. We developed a novel bridged triarylamine helicene that shows turn-on sensory response towards toxic nerve agent mimics such as dichloroethylphosphate (DCP). The final section of this dissertation addresses the question: Can mechanical energy induce a change in configuration from cis-azobenzene to trans-azobenzene? For this purpose, we developed an azobenzene-functionalized polymer and showed that ultrasound-induced mechanical energy isomerizes the azobenzene moiety within the polymer from cis to trans configuration without cleaving the azo bond.