Exciton coupling in diketopyrrolopyrrole–helicene derivatives leads to red and near-infrared circularly polarized luminescence† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7sc04312k

Helicene-bis-diketopyrrolopyrrole derivatives display strong circular dichroism and red circularly polarized emission originating from exciton coupling chirality.
Molecular and macromolecular chiral π-conjugated diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)–helicene derivatives were prepared and their chiroptical properties examined experimentally and theoretically. Exciton coupling leads to red and near-infrared circularly polarized absorption and luminescence arising from the achiral DPP units in the helical environment, highlighting an interesting synergy between the chiral helicene and the organic dye.