Photophysical properties of chirality: Experimental and theoretical studies of (R)- and (S)-binaphthol derivatives as a prototype case

The key monomers of binaphthol-based chiral materials, (R)- and (S)- 6,6′-dibromo-2,2′-bis(octyloxy)- 1,1′-binaphthyl (R-M and S-M, respectively), were synthesized and characterized by UV-vis absorption spectra, circular dichroism (CD) spectra, photoluminescence (PL) lifetime, PL quantum efficiency at room temperature, together with PL spectra at various temperatures between 12 K and 296 K in both film and solution. The photophysical properties of R-M and S-M were investigated in detail with a joint experimental and theoretical study, in order to reveal the effects of chirality on the π-conjugated chiral systems. Higher photoluminescent quantum efficiency and better PL spectra purity in solid film of R-M were observed and discussed.