Synthesis,optical properties and self-organization of blue-emitting butterfly-shaped dithienobenzosiloles

Ten novel butterfly-shaped dithienobenzosilole-based luminogens,which are peripherally installed with a variety of substituents including hydrogen,phenyl and substituted phenyl groups,have been readily prepared via an iodine-induced intramolecular electrophilic double-cyclisation reaction and subsequent deiodination or coupling reactions.The optical and electrochemical properties of these compounds were systematically investigated to clarify the relationships between their structures and properties,supported by theoretical calculations.These compounds exhibit deep-blue to sky-blue emissions and high photoluminescence quantum yields up to 0.84 in solution and solid states which are regulated by the functional blades and their steric hindrance on theα–andβ–positions of thiophene rings.Their high thermal-and photo-stabilities have been revealed and mainly attributed to the dithienobenzosilole core.