The photoluminescence behaviour of monosubstituted non-benzenoid polycyclic-aromatic-substituted ortho-carboranes

Abstract

Ortho-carborane is a cluster compound known for its ability to exhibit stimuli-responsive optical behaviour when substituted with aromatic fluorophores. Here, we describe the synthesis of two such compounds: 1-(4’-naphtho[2,3-b]thiophenyl)-ortho-carborane and 1-(4’-benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b’]dithiophenyl)-ortho-carborane. Optical studies reveal complex electronic and photoluminescent behaviour including intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), excimer emission, and aggregation-induced emission (AIE).