Synthesis of Stilbenes Using Various Catalysts and Investigation of their Optical Properties

Stilbenes substituted with –CN, –OMe and –Br were synthesized using four different Lewis acid catalysts and their reaction efficiencies were compared. In addition to the McMurry reagents known in literature, a more economical catalyst, ZnCl2, was used for the first time in our reaction procedures. Furthermore, bromine substituted stilbenes were subjected to Suzuki coupling reactions to append a triphenylamine (TPA) unit to enhance fluorescence emissions. Solvatochromic properties of synthesized stilbenes were investigated and aggregation caused quenching (ACQ) properties of TPA containing molecules were systematically examined. Structural and optical properties of the stilbenes under study were also theoretically investigated by way of DFT calculations and the experimental results were supported by the computational methods.