Chemistry: A European Journal 2015-01-12

Reversible multistimuli-response fluorescent switch based on tetraphenylethene-spiropyran molecules.

Qingkai Qi, Jingyu Qian, Suqian Ma, Bin Xu, Sean Xiao-An Zhang, Wenjing Tian

Index: Chemistry 21(3) , 1149-55, (2015)

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Abstract

Two tetraphenylethene (TPE)-functionalized spiropyran (SP) molecules with very similar structure were designed and synthesized. The two molecules exhibit aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties, as well as multistimuli-responsive color-changing properties, such as photochromism and acidchromism. The investigation of their different photochromic and acidchromic characteristics and dual-response fluorescent switch during isomerization indicated that the different link position between TPE and SP will significantly affect the extended π-conjugated system, resulting in completely different photochromic and acidchromic properties. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.