Fluorescent Non-planar Push-pull Chromophores:

Urea-functionalized 4-ethynylbenzenes under- go facile formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition followed by retroelectrocyclization upon reaction with tetracyanoethylene, yielding 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-dienes-based push−pull chromophores. Unlike the N,N′-dialkylamino group, urea functionalization provides easy access to further functionalization on these chromophores. The resulting chromophores exhibit unexpected white light emissions apart from various inherent properties like intramolecular charge-transfer band and redox behaviour (more details, please read: J. Org. Chem. 2019, 84, 8941-8947. DOI: doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.9b00841)

Dr. Jayamurugan Govindasamy