more stable than FC because of the torsion of a double bond. In addition, the rotation of both double bond and adjacent single bond could lead to the S1 state geometry relaxing to the CT structure without barriers. But the energetic decrease from the S1 state was much steeper for the former, suggesting that the former was the dominant S1 decay channel. Due to the excited molecules decaying to a CT state, the fluorescence of solution was quenched through the S1/S0 CI near the CT intermediate.
In the crystal state, the simulation works revealed that the energetic difference between FC and S1‐EM state was much slighter than that of BIM in solution, suggesting that the surrounding molecules restricted the rotation of both double bond and single bond and blocked the energetic relaxation from the intramolecular motions. Moreover, the energy of the CT state was higher than that of the FC state, and the energy barrier made it impossible for BIM nonradiative decay through forming CT intermediate. Consequently, high emission channel was accessible for BIM molecules in crystal states.
Tang et al. [69] prepared a series of benzylidene methyloxazolone (BMO) derivatives with AIE activities. EZI process was observed in one BMO derivative BMO‐PH by 1H NMR spectra (see Figure 3.42). When the Z‐isomer in CDCl3 was irradiated by a UV light at 365 nm, the fraction of E‐isomer increased quickly in the first 35 minutes. To investigate the relationship between the rotation of a double bond and solution fluorescence quenching, theoretical calculations were carried out. The theoretical calculations of BMO‐PH via DFT/TD‐DFT showed that in the ground state, the energy barrier of a double bond rotation was at least 1.0 eV higher than the single bond rotation. But in the S1 state, the barrier for the former was dramatically reduced and even lower than that for the latter. When torsion angles of the double bond were in the range of 70–120°, the formation of CI of S1/S0 was mainly responsible for the nonradiative decay of BMO‐PH in the solution. In the crystal state, no EZI product was detected through 1H NMR, and high emission was observed.
Figure 3.41 Schematic representation of the conical intersection (left) and AIE mechanisms in BIM.
Source: Reproduced with permission from Ref. [68]. Copyright 2016, American Chemical Society.
Figure 3.42 EZI process of BMO‐PH that was monitored by 1H NMR spectra. No irradiation (upper spectra) and irradiation (lower spectra) by a 365‐nm UV lamp for 35 minutes in CDCl3 (40 mM).
Source: Reproduced with permission from Ref. [69]. Copyright 2013, Royal Society of Chemistry.
3.3 Conclusions
Most of the AIE molecules, especially the most extensively studied TPE and its derivatives, possess a critical carbon–carbon double bond. Therefore, whether the RDBR process is involved and plays a key role in the AIE mechanism is a very concerned question even from the moment when the AIE phenomenon is discovered. From no effect, minor effect, to key effect and major effect on the AIE phenomenon, a long time has been passed. Now, the importance of the RDBR process in the AIE mechanism has been widely recognized and accepted. But the detailed relationship of the RDBR process and other nonradiative processes needs to be further unraveled and confirmed. The status and degree of the RDBR process, in general, RIR AIE mechanism, also needs to be further determined. More importantly, how the RDBR mechanism can be used to design better AIEgens is what we will do in the future. It is believed that more AIEgens that are based on RDBR mechanism and have exceptional properties will be developed in the near future.
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