Fluorescence charge-assisted hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks assembled from tetraphenylethene amidinium cation

[Display omitted] •A tetraphenylethene-decorated tetratopic polyamidinium cation had been designed and prepared.•A charge-assisted HOF between amidinium-chloride with crystal structure was fabricated.•A charge-assisted HOF between amidinium-carboxylate with crystal structure was synthesized.•Fluorescence of these two HOFs has been determined. A tetratopic polyamidinium salt, composed of tetraphenylethene-decorated amidinium cation (L) with four balance chloride anions, has been projected and fabricated to assemble hydrogen-bonded organic framework through the amidinium-carboxylate interactions. The aggregation-induced emission of L has been indicated according to the fluorescence data by exciting various tetrahydrofunan/water solution containing this compound. The incorporation of L and terephthalate anion in a molar ratio of 1:2 leads to a supramolecular solid 1 with emission at ca. 460 nm.