Synthesis of 1,1'-diphenyl-2-thienyl-2'-(4-substituted-styryl)ethenes via oxidative Heck coupling reaction and photophysical studies

Abstract

In this paper, we report the synthesis of four new 1,1-diphenyl-2-thienyl-2'-(4-substituted-styryl) ethenes via one- step oxidative Heck coupling reaction of 1,1-diphenyl-2,2'-dithienylethene (DPDTE). This is a useful method to alkenylate DPDTE in order to enhance its fluorescence as well as its aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-thienyl-2-(4-methylstyryl)ethene showed low fluorescent intensity in CHCl₃, solution but very high AIE intensities. On the other hand, 1,1'-diphenyl-2-thienyl-2-(4-acetoxystyryl)ethene showed both high fluorescence in CHCl: solution and AIE intensities.