Synthesis and characterization of luminescent tricationic salts of mesitylene and stilbazolium moieties

A series of luminescent tricationic salts having mesitylene and stilbazolium moieties with various organic counterions were synthesized by using quaternization and metathesis reactions. Their chemical structures were characterized by 1H, 19F and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Their crystalline and amorphous properties were examined by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and variable-temperature X-ray diffraction studies. Their thermal stabilities were determined by thermogravimetric analyses, which were in the broad temperature ranges of 239–317 °C in nitrogen. Their optical properties were studied by UV–Vis and photoluminescent spectroscopy. The light-emission properties were dependent on the polarity of organic solvents (positive solvatochromism) but independent on the chemical structures of organic counterions. They emitted blue light in various organic solvents in a broad range of wavelengths of 470–497 nm, but emitted green light in a narrow range of wavelengths of 506–515 nm in their solid states.

► Luminescent salts were synthesized by quaternization and metathesis reactions.
► Melting transitions and crystallinity were affected by size of organic counterions.
► They exhibited positive solvatochromism effect.
► They emitted blue and green light.