Monolayer fibers on solid surfaces made of a quinone sulfonate

2-Octadecylquinone-5-sulfonic acid (1) formed orthogonal molecular monolaye rs on the Langmuir trough, which were reduced to long-lived anions with dit hionite added to the subphase. After the smooth films were transferred to d ifferent substrates, quantitative rearrangement to long fibers of flat-lyin g molecules was observed. The fibers formed typical disclinations known fro m liquid-crystalline compounds. Addition of a beta-tetraethyl-beta-tetrapyr idinyl-porphyrin (2) mixed monolayer, containing flat-lying as well as upri ght-standing porphyrin domains, led to selective fluorescence quenching. On ly the flat-lying porphyrins (lambda(max) = 645 nm) were reached by the qui none fibers; the upright-standing porphyrins (lambda(max) = 660 nm) continu ed to fluoresce.