The formation of multiple intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IHBs) is a reliable method for obtaining conjugated oligomers with helical secondary structures, and imidazole with both proton-accepting and proton-donating abilities plays an important role. On the basis of its optical properties in conjunction with DFT calculations, a conjugated oligomer composed of alternating imidazole and 1,4-dihydroxybenzene units was found to (1) form robust IHBs, (2) be susceptible to both acid and base treatment, and (3) potentially adopt a helical conformation.
- Koji Takagi
- Jun-ya Ohta
- Yoshihiro Yamada
