Organoboron Compounds with Morphology-Dependent NIR Emissions and Dual-Channel Fluorescent ON/OFF Switching

A novel family of organoboron compounds 1-4 with bright near-infrared (NIR) emissions in the crystalline state was synthesized. They show a morphology-dependent emission ON and OFF feature and volatile acid/base-induced fluorescence saltation which allow the realization of reversible solid-state fluorescence switching in the NIR region by totally different procedures: mechanical grinding/solvent annealing and acid/base vapor fuming.