Star-Shaped Cyanostilbene-Based Dyads: Synthesis, Self-Assembly and Photophysical Properties

Three cyanostilbene-based pi-conjugated dyads with different aromatic cores (TFB-CS, TPA-CS, TPE-CS) have been designed and synthesized. Distinctive photophysical properties and different self-assembly behaviors were observed for these dyads. For example, TPA-CS exhibits pronounced solvent-dependent fluorescence. TFB-CS presents clear photoinduced Z/E-isomerization of the cyanostilbene moiety upon UV irradiation, concomitant with dramatically increased emission. While TPE-CS showcases pronounced aggregation-induced emission enhancement phenomenon. Moreover, different architectures of the three dyads such as nanospheres and microwires could be easily obtained by solution processing. We demonstrate here a facile "two in one" strategy of integrating different chromophores in one molecule to explore novel organic functional materials.