Functional organogel with α-cyanostilbene scaffold: Aggregation enhanced emission and picric acid sensing

A series of alkyl-substituted trifluoromethyl cyanostilbene derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their photophysical properties and organogel formation. In water, the molecules exhibit excellent aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties, and the fluorophores substituted with bis (3,5-trifluoromethyl groups) contribute to the formation of stable organo-gels in ethanol under ambient conditions. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of the gels show fiber/rod-like morphology different from the anisotropic morphology obtained in the solution state. Single-crystal XRD reveals favorable non-covalent interactions that aid in forming stable organo-gels, and rheological studies indicate good stability of the orange. The organogels show promise in detecting nitro aromatic compounds such as picric acid both in gel-and sol-state.