Star‐Shaped Cyanostilbene‐Based Dyads: Synthesis, Self‐Assembly and Photophysical Properties

Abstract Three cyanostilbene‐based π‐conjugated dyads with different aromatic cores (TFB‐CS, TPA‐CS, TPE‐CS) have been designed and synthesized. Distinctive photophysical properties and different self‐assembly behaviors were observed for these dyads. For example, TPA‐CS exhibits pronounced solvent‐dependent fluorescence. TFB‐CS presents clear photoinduced Z/E‐isomerization of the cyanostilbene moiety upon UV irradiation, concomitant with dramatically increased emission. While TPE‐CS showcases pronounced aggregation‐induced emission enhancement phenomenon. Moreover, different architectures of the three dyads such as nanospheres and microwires could be easily obtained by solution processing. We demonstrate here a facile “two in one” strategy of integrating different chromophores in one molecule to explore novel organic functional materials.