Multifunctional pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline derivative capable of acidochromic response, cancer cell imaging, and as an active layer for organic light-emitting diodes

Abstract

A nonplanar derivative of pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline with eight flexible alkyl chains in the periphery, featuring donor–acceptor–donor non-planar architecture, was prepared, which exhibits a soft crystalline nature, a high molar extinction coefficient, and strong emission intensity in solution while showing a redshift and reduced emission intensity in the aggregated state. It exhibits positive solvatochromism and aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). This compound is also sensitive to acid vapors, showing fluorescence quenching, which is reversible upon exposure to base vapors. The compound can also be used for the selective bioimaging of cancer cells. Further, the compound also showed its utility as an emissive layer for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with a CBP host.