All-thiophene dendrimers based on cyclooctatetrathiophene: synthesis and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) features

Abstract

A novel class of thiophene-based dendrimers featuring saddle-shaped cyclooctatetrathiophene (COTh) as a building block, including dimer (2COTh), tetramer (4COTh), pentamer (5COTh) and octamer (8COTh), were successfully designed and synthesized through Suzuki and Negishi coupling reactions, along with CuCl₂-promoted oxidative coupling. All COTh derivatives exhibited significant AIE emissions, and the relationship between the increase in COTh units and AIE properties was discussed.