Interplay between Dual-State and Aggregation-Induced Emission with ESIPT Scaffolds Containing Triphenylamine Substituents: Experimental and Theoretical Studies

We detail the synthesis of a series of fluorophores containingtriphenylamine derivatives along with their photophysical, electrochemical,and electronic structure properties. These compounds include molecularstructures derived from imino-phenol (anil) and hydroxybenzoxazolescaffolds originating from similar salicylaldehyde derivatives anddisplay excited-state intramolecular proton transfer. We show thatdepending on the nature of the & pi;-conjugated scaffold, differentphotophysical processes are observed: aggregation-induced emissionor dual-state emission, with a modulation of the fluorescence colorand redox properties. The photophysical properties are further rationalizedwith the help of ab initio calculations.

Automated summary

This study presents the synthesis of fluorophores containing triphenylamine derivatives and explores their photophysical, electrochemical, and electronic structure properties. The compounds exhibit excited-state intramolecular proton transfer, with different photophysical processes observed depending on the nature of the conjugated scaffold. The photophysical properties are further explained by ab initio calculations.