Synthesis, crystal structure determination and photoluminescence properties of a pure anti trans-trans phenylenevinylene derivative

•Simple solvothermal synthesis of a 2½ phenylenevinylene derivative through the Heck cross-coupling reaction.•The reaction showed to be stereospecific to the formation of an anti trans-trans configurationally pure phenylenevinylene.•The crystal structure illustrates the preferred anti trans-trans configuration.•Examination of the photoluminescence properties of the synthetized phenylenevinylene derivative.

Configurationally pure anti trans-trans phenylenevinylene derivatives (PVs) with appropriate terminal functional groups are important in several applications, such as in the synthesis of frameworks with homogeneous topology along the structure when precise optoelectronic properties are required, for example in chemical sensors. As a clear approach for obtaining PVs with this characteristic, it was established that a simple solvothermal Heck cross-coupling reaction yields a stereospecific 2½ PV system, whose photoluminescence properties were examined and the crystal structure showed the desired anti trans-trans configuration.

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