High-contrast reversible mechanochromic luminescence of a conjugated anthracene-based molecule

We report a solid-emissive anthracene-based compound with rigid conjugated structure, which exhibits strong blue fluorescence in the crystalline state. Grinding the crystals turns its initial blue emission to green with higher emission efficiency, and the blue emission could be recovered by fume with isobutanol. The phenomenon was suggested to be due to the regulation of pi-pi stacking between the aromatic rings by mechanical and fume stimuli. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.