High quantum yield both in solution and solid state based on cyclohexyl modified triphenylamine derivatives for picric acid detection

• Five triphenylamine derivatives containing cyclohexyl have been designed and synthesized.
• The compounds possess high quantum yields both in solution and solid state.
• The high emission characters are utilized for picric acid (PA) detection in dual system.

Five triphenylamine derivatives containing cyclohexyl have been designed and synthesized with a solvent-free green procedure. The compounds possess high quantum yields both in solution and solid state. Our investigation shows that the steric effects of the chair conformation cyclohexyl and strong intramolecular hydrogen bond play a key role for the high emission. Moreover, a conjugated triphenylamine core and strong polar groups (pyridinyl and hydroxy) and their location in the molecule formed a typical non-planar push–pull electronic structure. This special chemical structure endows the molecules with solvatochromic effect and exhibit interesting fluorescent behavior in binary solvent systems of THF-H2O due to the strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), which has been confirmed by DFT calculation, absorption and fluorescence spectra of the compounds in different polar solvents. In addition, their high emission characters, both in solution and solid state are utilized for picric acid (PA) detection.

Triphenylamine derivatives containing cyclohexyl can emit highly efficient luminescence both in solution and solid state and have been utilized for picric acid detection.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide