Qingkai Qi, Yifei Liu, Xiaofeng Fang
May 7, 2013
Citations
0
Influential Citations
99
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
RSC Advances
Abstract
Two methoxy-substituted tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivatives, tetra(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (TMOE) and tetra(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylene (TDMOE), were synthesized by McMurry reaction in high yields. The nearly centrosymmetric and natural propeller shape of TMOE and TDMOE excluded intermolecular effects, such as H or J-aggregation and π–π stacking, on their AIE (AIEE) and mechanofluorochromic performance. The crystal structures of TMOE and TDMOE, and theoretical calculations proved that their emission colours are determined by single molecular conjugation. These molecules were used to investigate pure conformational effects on molecular emissions. The spectral properties of these molecules in five environments of crystal(s), THF solution, THF–water binary solution, solidified THF and amorphous states, were investigated. The crystalline to amorphous phase transition by grinding resulted in good mechanofluorochromic performances with high quantum yields and distinguishable emission change, which was further explored as anti-counterfeiting inks on banknotes.