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The development of novel organic fluorescent materials with strong luminescence in the aggregate state as well as stimuli response under external forces is of great importance for practical applications in the solid state. It is established that triphenylethylene and tetraphenylethylene are propeller-type aromatic molecular structures present in the majority of organic emitters with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties to prevent aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). In this study, we have incorporated a spiro-xanthene (SFX) core for the first time to design a new donor–π–acceptor–π–donor 4,4′-((3′,6′-dibutoxyspiro[fluorene-9,9′-xanthene]-2,7-diyl)bis(thiophene-5,2-diyl))bis(N,N-diphenylaniline) (SP-TH) luminescent material with aggregation induced emission (AIE) and mechano-responsive properties. DFT calculations were carried out to study the electronic properties of SP-TH. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of SP-TH were systematically investigated. The photophysical (UV-Vis and PL spectroscopies) studies indicate that SP-TH has AIE features. In addition, the mechano-stimuli response of SP-TH was also investigated, and a hypsochromic shift (yellowish green to bluish green) was observed upon grinding the SP-TH sample and was analyzed using PXRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report the self-assembly of an amino-acid substituted tetraphenylethylene (TPE) into a hydrogen-bonded dimeric capsule. Depending on the conditions applied the presented TPE derivative exhibits bluish photoluminescence with QYs up to 24% due to the AIE effect and excimer formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent polymer probe was developed by connecting tetraphenylethylene (TPE) with glucose via the formation of borate ester linkages. Based on the selective breaking of C–B bonds, the macroscopic and fluorescence detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro and in cells was successfully realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of chiral, emissive and porous tubular multi-functional organic molecular cages were synthesized easily by imine chemistry of 4,4′,4′′,4′′′-(ethene-1,1,2,2-tetrayl)-tetrabenzaldehyde (ETTBA) with (R,R)- or (S,S)-diaminocyclohexane (CHDA). It was found that the chirality of CHDA was transferred and amplified to tetraphenylethylene (TPE) in the process of formation of cages, which further endowed the cages with circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) characteristics. As a result of the synergy of the chirality and porous structure in the solid state, both cages exhibited a good chiral adsorption enantioselectivity to a series of aromatic racemates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted Passerini-type multicomponent polymerizations (P-MCPs) with various monomers and afforded a series of functional poly(carbamoyl ester)s (PCEs). We demonstrated an efficient, diverse, and facile approach through P-MCPs to produce these novel PCEs with dual-cleavable linkages of ester and disulfide groups and the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen tetraphenylethylene (TPE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kinds of AIE-active fluorescent organic nanoparticles were designed and constructed as anti-counterfeiting photoresponsive materials. One is fluorescent organic nanoparticles (TPELs) based on a self-assembly strategy, which were self-assembled from novel amphiphilic tetraphenylethylene (TPE) molecules decorated with a lactose moiety and different photoresponsive tags. The other is polymeric fluorescent organic nanoparticles (F-TPEs) derived from the nanoprecipitation strategy, which utilized pluronic copolymer F127 to encapsulate hydrophobic TPEs without lactosyl modifications. Upon UV light irradiation, these AIE-active materials exhibit different photooxidation behaviors in an aqueous solution to give cyan, orange and green fluorescence emissions, and they were successfully used as an anti-counterfeiting fluorescent hydrogel and ink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-throughput tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based fluorescent sensor array was constructed for the identification and detection of microorganisms, which utilizes three TPE derivatives with different numbers of cationic side chains to detect and discriminate various microorganisms at concentrations down to 1 × 103 CFU mL−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coumarin coupled tetraphenylethylene based AIEgen (TPE-Lac) with an intense greenish-yellow emission has been synthesized and utilized for multipurpose sensing and imaging applications. TPE-Lac acts as a sensitive sensor for the detection of cyanide ions (CN−) with an immediate turn-off response in the presence of many other interfering cations and anions. The limit of detection (LOD) was as low as 33 nM, which is well below the permissible limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Cyanide detection in the solid phase was successfully demonstrated by drop-casting the solution of the TPE-Lac probe on TLC plates and measuring and analysing the fluorescence response by ImageJ analysis. TPE-Lac was further employed in the detection of explosive nitroaromatics in solution and solid phases. Also, TPE-Lac was found suitable as an imaging agent and could easily percolate into live H520 cells giving bright fluorescence from the intra-cellular region. Easy and cost-effective synthesis, fast response and low LODs are some of the advantages of this AIEgen over available molecular probes for the same purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acyl chloride is an important functional group in acylation reactions, though its compounds are difficult to store and transport due to their high reactivity. In this research, phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole is introduced into an acyl chloride agent of TPEPCl to enhance the stability via the delocalization effect. Meanwhile, rarely reported acyl chloride crystals have been achieved which could further prove its stability. The tetraphenylethylene group is also employed to visually monitor the changes of TPEPCl via fluorescent variation with the help of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. The reactivity of TPEPCl could be stimulated by a strong alkaline solution or high temperature. Crystallography analyses of acyl TPE-PI derivatives are also discussed and the relationship between the delocalization structure and stability is determined. These findings help to stabilize, control and monitor the reactivities of active functional materials for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, an aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based sensor, 4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)benzoxime (TPE-phos), has been rationally designed for phosgene detection. The sensor has a tetraphenylethylene unit combined with an oxime moiety. TPE-phos undergoes nitrile formation after the oxime group reacts with phosgene, which will give a significant "light-up" fluorescence due to the AIE effect within seconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By employing a tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based tetracarboxylate linker, tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)ethylene (H4TCPE), we herein constructed a novel luminescent Mn-MOF based on a rare [Mn4(μ3-OH)2] cluster (SQNU-55). Interestingly, the TPE-based SQNU-55 not only provides a good material for the blue LED device, but also has a better luminescent molecular thermometer for low-temperature detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraphenylethylene functionalized arylimidazole derivatives G4, G3, G2, L-G4, L-G3 and L-G2 with different substituent groups and geometric structures have been designed and synthesized. All the compounds exhibited excellent aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties due to the restricted intramolecular rotation (RIR) and the formation of J-aggregates. The solid compounds showed highly efficient emission with fluorescence quantum yields (ΦPL) of 67%, 72%, 67%, 40%, 52% and 48% for G4, G3, G2, L-G4, L-G3, and L-G2, respectively. The structure–property studies revealed that G4, G3 and G2 were more twisted structures and L-G4, L-G3 and L-G2 were partially planar conformations. The high quantum yields of the six solid compounds were driven by the synergistic effects of intramolecular electron transfer, molecular configuration and intermolecular interactions. On the other hand, the compounds also showed mechanochromism, acidochromism and picric acid-sensing properties. The compounds presented reversible mechanochromic behaviors between green and yellow emission and maintained highly solid emission (ΦPL about 50%) after grinding. The ΦPL values of the twisted molecules of G4, G3, and G2 decreased about 20% and those of the planar compounds showed a negligible change, which could be explained by the molecular structure planarization and the increased intermolecular interactions after grinding. Meanwhile, due to the excellent proton-binding properties of the imidazole group and pyridine group, the compounds were used as picric acid (PA) sensors with high selectivity and sensitivity in aqueous media and acid/base switches. The relative mechanism was ascribed to the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) and protonation, which were verified by 1H NMR spectra and theoretical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we introduced four "claw-like" units of dipicolylamine (DPA) to a tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based organic molecular cage (DPA-TPE-Cage). Coordinated with Zn2+ ions, the obtained ZnDPA-TPE-Cage exhibited aggregation induced emission (AIE) effects and oxidase-like properties, which endowed it with the ability to selectively image and kill Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel intermolecular system D-π⋯π′-A was constructed with tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and borondipyrromethene (BODIPY), which had a synergistic effect on PDT and PTT (1 + 1 > 2). The PTT effect of TPD-BOA(D/A) was 1.7 times the sum of BOA + TPD; the effect of PDT(TPA+BOD) was 1.45 times the sum of TPA + BOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of stimuli-responsive AIEgens of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) fused imidazole derivatives (1–7) were synthesized, and their substituent controlled fluorescence properties in the solid state were explored. The structure of the synthesised compounds was characterized by NMR, mass and single crystal X-ray diffraction spectroscopy techniques. 1–7 exhibited a typical aggregation induced emissive (AIE) behaviour in the THF : water mixture. These compounds exhibited substituent dependent strong solid state fluorescence (Φf = 16.6–55.7%) with a tunable λmax between 458 and 496 nm. Chlorine substituted 6 showed the highest fluorescence efficiency (Φf = 55.7%), whereas acetyl substituted 3 exhibited the lowest fluorescence efficiency (Φf = 16.6%). All the seven compounds showed a mechanical pressure induced reversible fluorescence switching. Crushing 1–7 resulted in red shifted fluorescence, which was reversed to its initial state by heating/solvent vapour exposure. Interestingly, integration of 1–7 into a hydrophobic PMMA polymer resulted in blue shifted fluorescence at 470 nm, whereas that into hydrophilic PVA polymer resulted in red shifted fluorescence at 491 nm. Thus highly solid state emissive TPE fused imidazole compounds were prepared, and their stimuli-induced reversible fluorescence switching and polymer controlled tunable fluorescence were demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, by virtue of a coordination-induced fixation of the propeller-like conformation of the tetraphenylethylene (TPE) backbone, we achieved a spontaneous resolution of conglomerate-forming enantiomers of [Co(TPPE)Cl2]·4DMF (1M and 1P), as unambiguously probed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Benefitting from the robust, accessible, and electron-rich 1D channels, the chiral MOF turned out to be a good 'crystalline sponge' to adsorb and determine six liquid guests, of which two (2-butanol and 2-butylamine) are crystallized in an enantiospecific manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly emissive tetraphenylethylene chromophore appended thiophenylbipyridine pendant as a receptor (1) site has been successfully synthesized via a multistep reaction pathway. The synthesized chromophore 1 was well characterized by modern spectroscopy. In particular, the solid sample of 1 exhibits significant mechanochromic behavior upon grinding, fuming and heating. The yellow emissive chromophore 1 exhibits remarkable selectivity and sensitivity towards copper(II) perchlorate ions via a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) 'turn off–turn on' mechanism. When compared with competing metal ions, 1 shows little to no interference in selectivity towards Cu2+ ions in acetonitrile. Detailed colorimetric, UV-visible, emission, and 1H NMR spectral studies have been employed to understand the sensing mechanism of 1 towards Cu2+ ion interaction which is responsible for PET 'turn-on'. The binding constant of 1 with Cu2+ was shown to be 2.34 × 10−5 M with a limit of detection as low as 7.93 nM. The binding constant prompted us to explore chromophore 1 as a paper strip sensor for Cu2+ to develop kits for real-world practical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White-light-emitting materials have attracted significant attention due to their broad applications in displays and lighting. Herein, a quadruple-stranded helicate with white-light emission was constructed by co-assembly of bis-β-diketone featuring cyan fluorescence and red light emitting Eu3+ ions in a 2 : 1 stoichiometric ratio. The cyan emission from bis-β-diketone originated from the pendent tetraphenylethylene (TPE), a typical AIE molecule featuring strong emission in the aggregation state. The formation of the helicate was verified by 1H NMR, 1H DOSY and high-resolution MS analyses. Upon excitation at 390 nm, the helicate realized the tunable emission with the colors changing from white light to green in the solid state. After hybridization with a polymer, a white-light hybrid material was prepared with the CIE coordinate locating at (0.322, 0.332). The absolute luminescence quantum yields were measured to be 16.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation ability is of tremendous significance in designing photosensitizers (PSs). In this paper, a heavy atom free 4,4′-bis(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (denoted as BTPE) with aggregation induced emission (AIE) was designed and synthesized by a Suzuki coupling reaction. Then nanoprecipitation with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethyleneglycol)]-2000 (DSPE-PEG-2000) was used to prepare the NPs. Singlet oxygen sensor green (SOSG) used under irradiation suggests better 1O2 generation ability of BTPE than monomer TPE. In vitro MTT assay on human cervical carcinoma cancer cells (HeLa) demonstrates that BTPE NPs with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 8.4 μg mL−1 are superior to TPE NPs (17.2 μg mL−1), indicating the higher phototoxicity of BTPE NPs. Furthermore, an in vivo study suggests that BTPE NPs are capable of inhibiting tumor proliferation with irradiation but the normal organs, including heart, lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys, suffer from no side effects. Our results indicate that BTPE is able to improve the phototherapy efficacy and simultaneously retains the low toxicity and good biocompatibility, compared with TPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binding of a series of cationic tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivatives with a cucurbit[10]uril (CB[10]) host has been investigated. Compared to the free forms, all guests exhibit fluorescence enhancement upon encapsulation by CB[10]. Thus, by restricting intramolecular rotation through host–guest encapsulation instead of aggregation, fluorescence enhancement of TPE derivatives can be realized in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tetrapyridine-decorated tetraphenylethene (TPE) ligand 1 was designed, which, upon interacting with silver ions, displayed "turn-on" fluorescence in a dilute solution. The fluorescence enhancement can be attributed to the cooperative effect of restriction of the intramolecular rotation by metal coordination and silver ion induced aggregation. Furthermore, the fluorescence turn-on performance of AIE molecules in a dilute solution leads to tunable fluorescence properties including white-light emission by simply mixing AIE and ACQ molecules together, which might bridge the gap between the AIE and ACQ phenomena for the construction of color-tunable fluorescence systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mono and tetra phenothiazine (PTZ) functionalized tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivatives PTZTPE-1 and PTZTPE-4 were designed and synthesized by the Suzuki cross-coupling reactions between PTZ boronate ester and bromo TPEs. The PTZTPE-1 and PTZTPE-4 are highly emissive in the solid state, which is crucial for a molecule to show mechanofluorochromism. The strong donor ability of PTZ could affect the donor ability of TPE leading to changes in the electronic and photophysical properties of the target molecules. The number of PTZ moieties attached to TPE could vary the twisting in the molecules, which could further affect the mechanochromic properties. The photophysical, electrochemical, solvatochromic, mechanochromic and AIE properties of PTZTPE-1 and PTZTPE-4 were studied. Both PTZTPE-1 and PTZTPE-4 show significant mechanochromic behavior and comparable spectral shift on grinding. The single crystal X-ray analysis of PTZTPE-1 reveals a twisted confirmation of PTZ and TPE phenyl rings confirming strong AIE characteristics and reversible mechanochromic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel luminescent metallacage was prepared by coordinating silver with benzimidazole tetraphenylethylene. It possesses high stability and strong fluorescence not only in dilute solutions but also in the aggregated state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three tetraphenylethylene (TPE) decorated benzaldehyde isomers were designed and synthesized via the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction with higher yields by changing the linking positions of the peripheral TPE units to demonstrate the isomeric effects on the photophysical and MFC properties. The changes of the linking positions could alter the molecular packing modes, and thus, their solid-state fluorescence properties exhibit remarkable isomeric effects. Interestingly, the three isomers are all aggregation induced emission (AIE) and MFC dyes. And the MFC activities of the three compounds are increased with the sequence of m-TPEC (45 nm) ＞ p-TPEC (39 nm) ＞ o-TPEC (8 nm). X-ray structural analysis, XRD, DSC and theoretical studies suggest that the change from a crystalline phase with a twisted molecular structure to a more planar amorphous phase should be responsible for the MFC properties. These findings suggest that subtle manipulation of the end groups capped at benzaldehyde could significantly alter and tune the photophysical properties. And these results will be of great help in understanding the structure–property relationships of MFC mechanisms and designing more new MFC materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraphenylethylene-naphthopyran (TPE-NP) and tetraphenylethylene-spirooxazine (TPE-SO) with conjugated photochromic groups and fluorophores were designed and synthesized. Both of them exhibit the comprehensive effects of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and photochromism while different photochromic groups lead to a unique photochromic rate and fluorescence intensity. Among them, TPE-NP has significant photochromic and fluorescence effects with good stability. Therefore, it could be used as an anti-counterfeiting ink and is expected to be used in fluorescence switches in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photo-induced free radical production was observed in tetraphenylethylene ligand-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). This feature endows the MOFs with reversible, fast, obvious, and controllable photo-induced color/emission transformation, excellent fatigue resistance ability and good light stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic molecules with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect have recently been attracting more and more attention due to their colossal potential in solid emitters and chemo/biosensors. The number and variety of AIEgen compounds are expanding very rapidly to obtain better application performance and a wider area of application. Among AIEgen systems, tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and its derivatives are the class that have received the most extensive study and the most rapid development because of their facile synthesis. Due to its C2 symmetry and at least tetratopic reaction positions, the TPE unit is also an ideal building block for constructing macrocycles and cages. The resultant cyclic TPE compounds have exhibited many exceptional performances that are difficult to access in their open chain counterparts, such as AIE enhancement, improvement in selectivity and sensitivity as sensors, emission tuning by guests, supramolecular catalysis, further disclosure of the AIE mechanism, molecular adsorption, storage and release, the propeller-like conformation exploitation of the TPE unit in chiral materials and so on. Recently, therefore, a large variety of studies about the synthesis, properties and application research of TPE macrocycles and cages have been reported. These TPE macrocycles and cages significantly expand the research area for the AIE phenomenon and its applications, and represent a development of the AIE area. However, up to now, no review of TPE macrocycles and cages has been available. Thus, this review serves as a summary of the designs, synthesis, photophysical properties, self-assembly, applications and prospects of TPE macrocycles and cages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrasulfonate-tetraphenylethylene (Su-TPE) is non-emissive in water and upon addition of a good solvent such as THF (fTHF = 95%) it displays strong fluorescence emission with a quantum yield of 6.33%. In the presence of spermine, emission of Su-TPE produces higher quantum yields i.e. 1 : 48 molecular ratio gives 7.21%. Furthermore, interaction of spermine with Su-TPE is also shown to be pH dependent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of Su-TPE molecule self-assemblies demonstrates that it produces various supramolecular structures at different Su-TPE : spermine molecular ratios. Nanobelts were obtained at 1 : 12, evolving into microsheets at 1 : 24, microglobular morphology at 1 : 36 and microtubes at 1 : 48 molecular ratios, respectively. Additionally, enhanced fluorescence emission was observed upon increasing the molar ratio of spermine with Su-TPE at pH 7. The physical characterisation of the system was performed using dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have designed and developed a tetraphenylethene (TPE)–anthracene–(aminomethyl)-4-cyanophenylboronic acid ester (AminoMeCNPhenylBPin) structure (RS-1) and a diphenyldibenzofulvene (DPDBF)–anthracene–AminoMeCNPhenylBPin structure (RS-2) possessing PET (photo-induced electron transfer) and AIEE (aggregation-induced emission enhancement) characteristics as PET/AIEE hybrid fluorescence sensors for detection of water in the low and high water content regions in solvents, where the TPE or DPDBF unit is directly attached to the 10-position on the anthracene skeleton. For both RS-1 and RS-2 the enhancement of the fluorescence band at around 430 nm in the low water content region below 1.0 wt% is attributed to the fluorescence emission originating from the anthracene skeleton due to the formation of PET inactive species RS-1(H2O) and RS-2(H2O), respectively, upon addition of water molecules. Furthermore, the appearance of new and broad fluorescence bands at around 450 nm for RS-1 and 530 nm for RS-2 in the high water content region of over 60–70 wt% is attributed to the AIEE characteristics due to the restricted intramolecular rotation (RIR) of the TPE or DPDBF unit associated with aggregate formation (RS-1(H2O)-A and RS-2(H2O)-A). It is worth noting that a big difference in the enhancement of the fluorescence band originating from the anthracene skeleton due to the suppression of the PET characteristics and the appearance of a fluorescence band due to the AIEE characteristics with aggregate formation between RS-1 and RS-2 was observed: for RS-2 the separation of fluorescence peak wavelengths originating from the anthracene skeleton (at ∼430 nm) and due to the RIR of the DPDBF unit with the aggregate formation (at ∼530 nm) is clear, but for RS-1 the separation of fluorescence peak wavelengths is completely indistinct. Consequently, this work indicates that RS-2 having a DPDBF unit on the anthracene skeleton can act as a PET/AIEE hybrid-based dual-fluorescence emission sensor for detection of water in the low and high water content regions in solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two porous polymers were synthesized from tetraphenylethylene (TPE) crosslinked β-cyclodextrins (β-CD) and sulfonatocalix[4]arene (SC4A). Owing to the FRET process from the TPE to the encapsulated fluorophores, these polymers provide universal platforms for the fabrication of photo-luminescence tunable organic solid materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photoactivatable benzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazole-dressing tetraphenylethylene (TPE) was developed. The optical performance results indicate that UV-irradiation can lead to remarkable emission enhancement in solution states due to the cyclization of the TPE component. Application in the solid state confirmed that it has a potential to serve as a photoactivatable visualized material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employed a fluorogenic Ag+ sensor, tetrazole-functionalized tetraphenylethylene derivative 1 (TEZ-TPE-1), to investigate the dissolution kinetics of AgNPs and AgNWs in aquatic environments. Real-time and quantitative monitoring of Ag+ release was achieved by using the proposed method, which agreed well with the conventional ICP-MS detection method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a chiral thiourea Schiff base derived from (1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine and tetraphenylethylene (TPE) was applied as a highly effective chiral sensor for the enantioselective discrimination of various acids and amines via ion-pair and hydrogen-bond interaction. Compared to the case of the sensors 5 and 6, the additional thiourea and hydrogen groups of sensor 4 were essential and greatly enhanced the enantioselectivity of chiral guests. In addition, for amino acids, the sensor 4 showed high enantioselectivity, and precipitates visible by the naked eye appeared; however, for chiral amines, the enantioselectivity decreased. This was attributed to weaker hydrogen bond interaction between the amino groups of chiral amines and the sensor. Both the thiourea and acidic hydroxyl groups are essential for chiral TPE thiourea to provide an appropriate chiral environment for highly efficient enantioselective discrimination of chiral substrates. Our findings will be of great value in the design of new chiral sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented meso-decorated pillar[5]arene derivative, EtP5A-DPE, embedded with a TPE unit was prepared and structurally characterized. In the crystal, the incubation of the guest 1,4-dicyanobutane molecule inside the tetraphenylethene-embedded pillar scaffold induces a significant change in the molecular conformation, shutting down the AIE emission of this compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An AIE based tetraphenylethylene derivative (TPPTPE) was synthesized for light-up sensing of ATP in aqueous solution. The measuring range for ATP can be tuned by varying the concentration of the TPPTPE. A one-step straightforward quantitative analysis of the ATP level in cell lysates can be realized using the TPPTPE. Moreover, the TPPTPE can be used for monitoring apyrase activity in aqueous solution and detecting ATP both in living cancer cell lines and in living normal cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new selective and sensitive fluorescence turn-on detection of ClO− is reported by taking advantage of the specific reaction between a 1-methyl-1,2-dihydropyridine-2-thione unit and ClO− and the aggregation induced-emission (AIE) behavior of the tetraphenylethylene unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast and sensitive method was established for an in-solution selection of cancer cell-targeting peptides at “single-residue resolution” by using the switchable fluorescence of tetraphenylethylene. The selected peptides have potential for biomarker tracing and can be used for targeted delivery of different cargos into living cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral ensembles were spontaneously formed in solution through boronate esterification of structurally defined di(boronic acid)-appended tetraphenylethylene (DB-TPE) and commercially available l- or d-tartaric acid, showing enantioselective aggregation behavior for chiral diamines as well as cinchona alkaloids enabling the fluorescent recognition of their chirality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aggregation induced emission (AIE) based bioimaging probe, TPE-Gal, was designed for light-up imaging of β-galactosidase in living cells. The applicability of TPE-Gal in imaging endogenous β-galactosidase activity was confirmed in OVCAR-3 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A discrete hexagonal metallacycle 1 decorated with tetraphenylethylene, amide groups and long hydrophobic alkyl chains was constructed via [3 + 3] coordination-driven self-assembly, from which the fluorescence emission-enhanced organogelator with multiple stimuli-responsiveness was successfully prepared via hierarchical self-assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new emerging area in chemical sensing, sensing using supramolecular aggregates exhibits unique advantages over that using conventional small-molecule chemical sensors, in terms of high sensitivity and selectivity, and the simplicity of the sensory building blocks. This Feature Article outlines the recent research progress made in sensing based on induced supramolecular aggregation–disaggregation. The reviewed sensory building blocks, in general, in the form of a small molecular sensor, yet with a much simpler structure, which form aggregates, are those of perylene derivatives, pyrene derivatives, tetraphenylethylene derivatives, metallophilic species and metal–organic frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIE-active luminogen tetraphenylethene (TPE) was incorporated into a UiO-isoreticular zirconium metal–organic framework via the strategy of mixed dicarboxylate struts, and the resulting functionalized MOF shows a strong blue-green emission and selective sensing of nitroaromatic explosives 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) through fluorescence quenching. Moreover, the luminescent MOF exhibits efficient photocatalytic activity for aerobic cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions mediated by visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the conjunction of tetraphenylethylene and diketopyrrolopyrrole functionalities, a novel four-directional non-fullerene electron acceptor (denoted as 4D) was designed, synthesized and characterized. The new chromophore is highly soluble (for instance ＞30 mg mL−1 in o-dichlorobenzene), thermally stable, and exhibits energy levels matching those of the conventional and routinely used donor polymer poly(3-hexyl thiophene). A power conversion efficiency of 3.86% was obtained in solution-processable bulk-heterojunction devices with a very high open circuit voltage of 1.18 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-bile acid conjugates was described. It was found that the synergetic combination of the distinct properties of TPE and bile acid units could directly afford uniform fluorescent vesicles with amphiphilic binding pockets in the membrane. This structural features of such vesicles provides a unique opportunity for facile construction of functional chemical systems through host–guest chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An isothiocyanate-functionalized tetraphenylethene is synthesized and used as a fluorescent bioprobe for mitochondrion imaging with high specificity and photostability. The covalent conjugation of the bioprobe to mitochondrial proteins endows it with high resistance to microenvironmental changes, enabling it for real-time monitoring of mitophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new sensitive fluorescence turn-on detection of gamma-radiation is reported by taking advantage of aggregation induced-emission (AIE) behaviour of the tetraphenylethylene unit and the cascade radiochemical and protonation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boronate nanoparticles with built-in tetraphenylethylene (TPE) have been prepared. Their emissive color tuning by altering the amount of rhodamine B grafted onto the surface gave white-light emissive nano-particles. They showed reversible and thermo-responsive emission in the temperature range of 5-65 °C in water, which enabled them to serve as a bright nanothermometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New amide macrocycles based on tetraphenylethylene (TPE) were synthesized. It was found that the TPE amide macrocycles could form microtubes in H2O-THF with 70-80% water by the rolling up of big nanoribbons but produced hollow microspheres in 90% or more water by the winding of thin nanoribbons. The microtubes emitted blue light while the hollow microspheres showed blue-green fluorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tetraphenylethylene-based phosphine, 1,1,2,2-tetrakis((4-diphenylphosphino)phenyl)ethylene (TPE-P4), was synthesized and showed novel aggregation-induced and mechano-responsive emission. A mixture of TPE-P4 and Ag+ could fix atmospheric CO2 in situ as carbonate ions in neutral solution to yield a rare 3D metal-organic framework with zeolite-like SOD topology, [Ag2(TPE-P4)CO3]x ⊃ nH2O (Ag-TPE-P4). Ag-TPE-P4 showed turn-on luminescence of TPE-P4, emitting bright bluish green light in the solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel dynamic covalent gel has been prepared via the imine bond formation reaction of tetraamine building blocks with luminescent tetraphenylethene tetraaldehyde units. The gel shows high hierarchical porosity (SBET = 512 m² g-1) and remarkable aggregation-induced emission enhancement, which has been demonstrated to be a selective sensor. Dynamic covalent [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]