Synthesis and aggregation-induced emission properties of dicyanovinyl substituted Tröger's bases

2,2-dicyanovinyl was introduced into the Tröger's base (TB) skeleton under guidance of theoretical calculation to obtain several novel derivatives with predicted good solid-state luminescence. Results of their fluorescence properties indicated that they exhibited a typical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior which is virtually nonemissive in solution but highly luminescent (500-550 nm, yellow-green light) in the solid state, they are expected to have potential application to be used as solid state fluorescence or AIE materials in future.