Alkyl chain-dependent cyano-stilbene derivative's molecular stacking, emission enhancement and fluorescent response to the mechanical force an thermal stimulus

Two cyano-stilbene derivatives with butyl (C4MPA) and octyl groups (C8MPA) were synthesized to investigate the effects of alkyl chains on molecular stacking, emission enhancement, and mechanofluorochromism. The two compounds displayed weak emissions in monomolecular state and emitted an enhanced fluorescence in crystal state. However, the fluorescence quantum yield of C4MPA (19%) was lower than that of C8MPA (76%). Face-to-face dimer stacking was found only in the C4MPA crystal, in which molecules adopted a nonplanar configuration. The C8MPA crystal presented two kinds of antiparallel 1D arrangement. One involved the antiparallel stacking of nonplanar aromatic moieties. The other consisted of coplanar molecules without pi-pi stacking, which were responsible for the higher luminescence yield. Moreover, the emission of the C4MPA solid was quenched under mechanical force, whereas the C8MPA solid still emitted a strong fluorescence after grinding. C8MPA lost fluorescence when heated at above 60 degrees C because of its low melting point, and the supercooling viscous liquid without fluorescence was observed even the sample was cooled to room temperature for 10 h, meaning a very slowly crystallization process. Such non-emissive supercooling viscous liquid might rapidly transform into strongly emissive solid under the mechanical force shearing stimulus. Thus, C8MPA films could be used as sensors for mechanical force and thermal stimuli.