The Photosalient Effect and Thermochromic Luminescence Based on o‐Carborane‐Assisted π‐Stacking in the Crystalline State

Abstract

Herein, we report unique multiple‐stimuli responsiveness of anthracene‐tethered o‐carborane derivatives. We designed and synthesized anthracene derivatives with different substitution positions and numbers of the o‐carborane units. Two compounds had the characteristic crystal structure involving the columnar π‐stacking structures of the anthracene units. From the analysis of crystalline‐state structure‐property relationships, it was revealed that the crystals exhibit the photosalient effect accompanied with photochemical [4+4] cycloaddition reactions and temperature‐dependent photophysical dual‐emission properties including excimer emission of anthracene. Those properties were considered as non‐radiative and radiative deactivation pathways through the excimer formation in the excited state and formation of those species was facilitated by the π‐stacking structure of anthracene units. Moreover, we found unusual temperature dependency of the occurrence of the photosalient effect. According to the data from variable temperature X‐ray crystallography, the strong correlation between lattice shrinkage and strain accumulation is suggested.