Position-dependent hexaarylbenzene AIEgens: synthesis, characterization and optical properties

Abstract

With the development and exploration of photoelectric materials, the design of tunable and high luminescence efficiency materials remains a challenge. As a promising candidate, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens have shown significant advantages. Herein, two tetraphenylethene-fused hexaarylbenzene derivatives with strong electron-withdrawing groups (–CN) were synthesized. Both compounds exhibit obvious AIE-active properties with reasonable α_AIE = I_{f water (f water=99%)}/I_THF (517 for p-TPE-HAB and 9 for o-TPE-HAB). High photoluminescence quantum yields were recorded to be 63% for p-TPE-HAB and 35% for o-TPE-HAB in THF solution. The position-dependent emission behavior indicates that this hybridization strategy may be used for the design and fabrication of AIEgens with tunable and controllable photophysical properties.