Synthesis, crystal Structures and aggregation-induced emission enhancement of aryl-substituted cyclopentadiene derivatives

A series of cyclopentadiene derivates, namely, 1,2,4-triphenylcyclopenta-1,3-diene (1), 1,2-diphenyl-4-(p-methoxyphenyl)cyclopenta-1,3-diene (2) and 1,2-di(p-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenylcyclopenta-1,3-diene (3), were synthesized and their photoluminescence properties in solutions and aggregation state were investigated. Different photoluminescence properties of 1–3 were tuned by changing types and replace position of substituent groups. These cyclopentadiene derivates display solvent-dependent fluorescence emissions and typical aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics. The crystal structure analysis reveals that intermolecular C–H…π interactions and X-aggregation molecule stacking have a dramatic effect on the photoluminescent properties of 1–3. Additionally, the DFT calculations of these compounds were investigated.