Triptycene-scaffolded tetraphenylethylenes with irregular temperature-dependence AIE.

Graphical abstract Highlights • New tetraphenylethylene monomer, dimer and 3D trimer based triptycene have been constructed. • Irregular fluorescence behaviors at different temperatures and solutions were reported. • The fluorescence quantum yields in aggregation increased as the increasing of the triphenylethylene blocks. Abstract A series of new tetraphenylethylene monomer, dimer and three-dimensional trimer based triptycene-bridged triphenylethenes has been constructed. Their structures were clearly confirmed and the irregular fluorescent behaviors at different temperatures and solvents were investigated. Results showed the new tetraphenylethylenes performed remarkable aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties and the emission intensities are dependent on temperature and viscosity. Compared with the model tetraphenylethylene without connecting triphenylethylene, the fluorescence quantum yields of the titled triptycene-scaffolded tetraphenylethylenes in aggregation are greater than tetraphenylethylene and increased as the increasing of the triphenylethylene units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]