Self-assembly, AIEE and mechanochromic properties of amphiphilic α-cyanostilbene derivatives

A series of amphiphilic alpha-cyanostilbene derivatives consisting of an alpha-cyanostilbene rodlike core with lipophilic and flexible alkyl chains at one end and a polar glycerol group at the opposite end have been synthesized and investigated by polarizing microscopy, DSC, X-ray scattering, SEM, UV-vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. These compounds can self-assemble into liquid crystalline phase sequence of SmA-Col(hex)/p6mm-Cub(I)/Pm (3) over barn in the bulk states and multistimuli responsive organogels in organic solvents. They have reversible photoresponsive properties in solution, liquid crystalline state and gel state. They also show aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE) property, meanwhile, they present excellent mechanochromic behavior and have a good reversibility of fluorescence conversion upon grinding-fuming process. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.