Anthracene-based fluorescent probe: Synthesis, characterization, aggregation-induced emission, mechanochromism, and sensing of nitroaromatics in aqueous media.

The sensitive and selective detection of nitroexplosive molecules thorough a simple methodology has received a significant field of research affecting global security and public safety. In the present study, the synthesis of anthracene-based chalcone (S1) was conducted using a simple condensation method. S1 was found to exhibit unique properties, such as aggregation-induced emission in solution and mechanochromic behavior in solid state. A fluorescent aggregate was applied to sense electron-deficient picric acid (PA) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) in an aqueous solution. Notably, the developed test strip-based sensor (S1) could be used to effectively detect PA and 2,4-DNP, which were visualized by the naked eye. Photophysical analysis revealed the occurrence of an electron transfer from electron-rich S1 to the electron-deficient nitro compounds, which was confirmed using density functional theory and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance studies. In addition, the observed results confirmed the simple synthesis of S1 as a promising material for the development of test strip-based sensor devices for the detection of toxic and explosive aromatic nitro molecules.

Piezoflurochromism and Aggregation Induced Emission Properties of 9, 10-bis (trisalkoxystyryl) Anthracene Derivatives.

We report the synthesis of trisalkoxy substituted 9, 10-bis styrylanthracene derivatives (C8-ant and C12-ant) by Heck coupling with very good yield and their photophysical properties. Both C8-ant and C12-ant exhibit aggregation induced emission (AIE), mechnoflurochromism and thermochromism. Trisubstituted 9, 10-distyrylanthracene molecules having all the luminescent properties in a single molecule are first of its kind.

Synthesis, characterization and photophysical studies of self-assembled azo biphenyl urea derivatives.

We reported the synthesis of a new series of azobiphenyl based urea derivatives 7 and their stimulus-responsive supramolecular structures in the form of sheet like self-assembled formations. The self-assembled nanostructural formations of azo derivatives 7 are strongly dependent on the nature of the solvent present in the systems. Further, we found that the amide hydrogen played a crucial role in hydrogen bonding interactions to form a sheet like morphology upon stimulus responsive self-assembly. This was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

Charge instability of symmetry broken dipolar states in quadrupolar and octupolar triphenylamine derivatives.

The quadrupolar and octupolar cyano triphenylamines shows symmetry broken dipolar charge transfer state, however, its stability can be controlled by the rotation of N-C bond of amino and phenylene moiety.