Efficient single benzene AIE system: Optical waveguide and invisible ink

The construction of novel aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) is beneficial for the derivation of new organic materials and exploration of potential application of AIEgens. Herein, a symmetrical AIE single -benzene derivative MeDHQB which contains two aliphatic rings without typical aromatic rotors of propeller -like AIEgens was designed. Two crystal forms were discovered by controlling the crystallization conditions. It was found that the aliphatic rings weaken the structural rigidity and promote the molecular vibration, which drastically increase the nonradiative transition in solution and can be inhibited in the aggregate states. Mean-while, the dissimilar polymorphic physicochemical properties of MeDHQB-I and MeDHQB-II were investigated by experimental and theoretical methods. Additionally, the thermal transformation from MeDHQB-I to MeDHQB-II and the potential applications of optical waveguide and invisible ink were carefully discussed. Results presented in this work provide an efficient strategy for the construction of multifunctional AIE fluo-rophore based on compact single-benzene system.

Automated summary

A symmetrical AIE single-benzene derivative MeDHQB with two aliphatic rings was designed, and two crystal forms were discovered by controlling crystallization conditions. The presence of aliphatic rings weakened the structural rigidity and promoted molecular vibration, increasing nonradiative transition in solution but inhibiting it in aggregate states. The different polymorphic physicochemical properties of MeDHQB-I and MeDHQB-II were investigated, along with the thermal transformation and potential applications of optical waveguide and invisible ink. This work provides an efficient strategy for constructing multifunctional AIE fluorophores based on a compact single-benzene system.