Variation in solvato-, AIE- and mechano-fluorochromic behavior for furanyl and thiophenyl-substituted anthranyl π-conjugates: the role of tiny flanking donor groups

Thiophene-linked π-conjugate shows better solvatochromic redshift and AIE-features than furan-analog. Yet, furan-linked π-conjugate is a better solid-state emitter with reversible mechanofluorochromic features. Variations in crystal packing play a crucial role in this disparity.