Vinylpyridine- and vinylnitrobenzene-coating tetraphenylethenes: Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior and mechanochromic property

Two functional tetraphenylethylene derivatives modified by vinylpyridine and vinylnitrobenzene, respectively, were synthesized by Heck coupling reaction. Their optical behaviors were investigated. The results showed they had AIE activity in solution. The property in solid state displayed that both of them had reversible mechanochromism. Upon grinding, their fluorescence spectra showed around 13–40 nm red-shift, and could return to the original state after solvent fuming. We believe that this work will be helpful for the design of stimuli-responsive materials in future.