Allostery in molecular self-assemblies: metal ions triggered self-assembly and emissions of terthiophene

Binding of metal ions to the head of a coordinating amphiphile TTC4L substantially changes the emission color of the terthiophene group attached to the chain end via a conformation triggered self-assembly. This is in analogy with the allostery of proteins in which binding a ligand to one site may affect its performance at another site through conformational change.