Figure 1.

Octaniline–DNA assemblies and the different states in response to environmental change. Three different octaniline–DNA constructs were synthesized and prepared (top): IS, I0, and II. Construct I0 spontaneously assembles into a chiral dimer in aqueous solution, and the dimeric state is switched between two different monomer constructs by adding a triggering DNA strand or a surfactant (middle). The octaniline molecules can exist in different electronic states, emeraldine base and emeraldine salt, which both show strong exciton exchange as a result of electronic coupling in the dimer (bottom).