Fluorescent properties of a cage-shaped molecule composed of tetrakis[4-(4-pyridylphenyl)]ethylene moieties

Abstract

Abstract A metallosupramolecular cage-shaped compound (TPPE-p) was synthesized by coordination of tetrakis[4-(4-pyridylphenyl)]ethylene (TPPE), obtained by the coupling reaction between tetrakis(4-bromophenyl)ethene and 4-pyridylboronic acid, with Pt(II) and terephthalate. Although TPPE showed no fluorescence in the solution, weak fluorescence was observed in the TPPE-p solution. When the volume ratio of poor solvent in the TPPE-p solution increased, the fluorescence intensity was dramatically enhanced. The difference in the fluorescence intensities was explained by the degree of intramolecular rotation of the substituents, and TPPE-p was found to show aggregation-induced emission.