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Four fluorescent low molecular weight gelators based on benzoxazole or benzothiazole functionalized pyrimidine were designed and synthesized. The ability of the target was tested, and all compounds could form stable supramolecular gels in an alcohol/water mixture and its fluorescence increased during gel formation. Photophysical spectra during gel formation, SEM, XRD, FT-IR study suggested that the self-assembly was driven by hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces and weak π-π interaction. Interestingly, the gel collapsed after being illuminated by 365 nm UV light and 1H NMR of the gel before and after illumination proved that the [2 + 2]-cycloaddition between the double bond of pyrimidine was responsible for the light response. Furthermore, the fluorescent of xerogel film could be quenched by volatile acids while the fluorescent of the solution was enhanced after acid was added. The different phenomena were discussed. The nano-fiber assembled via gel formation could be used as fluorescent imaging material of latent fingerprints. [Display omitted] • Design and synthesis of novel uracil derivatives containing benzoxazole and benzothiazole. • Benzoxazole-modified uracil derivatives exhibit good gelation abilities and driving force of gel formation was investigated. • The gel could respond to light and acid. The response mechanism was studied. • The nano-materials assembled via gel formation could be used as fluorescent imaging material of latent fingerprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New β-diketone-boron difluoride complexes functionalized with tetraphenylethene ( TPEB , DTPEB and TTPEB ) which exhibit AIE (aggregation-induced emission) properties have been synthesized. It was found that only boomerang-shaped DTPEB without any traditional gelation groups could form organogel in specific organic solvents. It gave strong orange red fluorescence in organogel as well as in xerogel-based film although it was non-emissive in solution. It is interesting that the emission of DTPEB in xerogel-based film could be quenched significantly upon exposure to triethylamine (TEA) vapour, and the detection limit was as low as ca. 0.1 ppb. This work provides a strategy for the synthesis of a new rigid non-traditional π-gelator via the construction of a boomerang-shaped π-conjugated skeleton. In addition, the gelation of the π-gelators with AIE ability is a facile method for the fabrication of luminescent organic nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New triphenylvinyl substituted carbazole derivatives TPEICE , TPEC and TPECBr have been synthesized. They could self-assemble into nanofibers via organogelation processes in some organic solvents. Notably, the obtained xerogel-based films could emit strong fluorescence although the three compounds were non-emissive in solutions, indicating AIE in gel phases. The emission of TPEICE and TPEC in xerogel-based films could be quenched significantly upon exposed to gaseous DNT and TNT, while TPECBr could not sense nitro compounds on account of its poor electron donating ability. We also found that reversibility of the fluorescence response of TPEC was better than TPEICE because the photo-induced electron transfer would happen during the recognition of nitroaromatics for TPEICE and TPEC , except for the formation of charge–transfer complex between TPEICE and nitro compounds. Therefore, the different fluorescence response behaviors of TPEICE , TPEC and TPECBr towards nitroaromatics were resulted from their different electron donating abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]