Anthanthrene as a Super-Extended Tetraphenylethylene for Aggregation-Induced Emission

Seven π-extended derivatives of the known tetraphenylethylene (TPE) have been studied for their aggregation-induced emission properties. Modulation of the emission properties of these anthanthrone-based luminogens has been accomplished through simple chemical modifications on four different positions of the anthanthrone core. The optical properties, along with X-ray diffraction and DFT-optimized structures, were studied. This work provides a new, easily accessible bridging unit for the TPE framework with a red-shifted emission.