Photoluminescence Properties of Aryl-, Arylvinyl-, and Arylethynylpyrimidine Derivatives

The extraordinary richness of push-pull molecules that incorporate pyrimidine rings as electron-withdrawing moieties in their structure is illustrated in this review. Interest in these pi-extended systems has increased dramatically over the last two decades due to their fluorescence properties and potential applications in sensing and as luminescent materials. As many as 422 different molecules are presented in an effort to establish structure-property relationships, which are often difficult to elucidate.