AIE-active discotic LC containing tetraphenylethylene and α-cyanostilbene: Synthesis, self-assembly and photophysical properties

ABSTRACT

A novel α-cyanostilbene-containing tetraphenylethylene-based discotic LC with 3,4,5-tridecyloxy benzene units at the terminal was synthesized by Ti-catalyzed McMurry coupling, Pd-catalyzed Suzuki coupling and Knoevenagel reactions as key steps. The liquid crystal and photophysical properties were well demonstrated by polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray scattering (XRD), molecular dynamics (MD) and optical experiments. The compound could self-assemble into Col_hex/p6mm mesophase in a wide temperature range. It is interesting that two discotic molecules formed one columnar slice, which was attributed to the twisted conformation of propeller-like TPE and α-cyanostilbene. The photophysical properties of the TPE-based DLCs including solvatochromism and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behaviors were systematically investigated demonstrating large Stokes shifts, high fluorescence quantum yields and strong fluorescence in both solution and aggregated states. This work indicated that the combination of different AIE-active units into one LC molecule could induce complex self-assembly structure and excellent fluorescence properties.

KEYWORDS:

• Discotic lc
• tetraphenylethylene
• α-cyanostilbene
• aggregation-induced enhanced emission

Declaration of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Acknowledgments

We thank beamline 1W2A at Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF), China.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by China West Normal University Doctor Startup Fund (412821) and Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province (13ZA0009);Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province [13ZA0009];