A novel aggregation-induced enhanced emission aromatic molecule: 2-aminophenylboronic acid dimer. Issue 37 (24th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Xiaopei; Wang, Dongdong; Zhang, Yongjie; Lu, Wenqi; Yang, Songqiu; Hou, Guangjin; Zhao, Zhenchao; Qin, Haijuan; Zhang, Yahui; Li, Minmin; Qing, Guangyan
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 12:Issue 37(2021)
• Page Start: 12437
• Page End: 12444
• Publication Date: 2021-08-24
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d1sc03765j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : The 2-APBA dimer tending to aggregate into a highly ordered structure is discovered to be AIEE active. Through alternate treatment with CO2 and N2, 2-APBA can switch between monomer and dimer aggregates driven by dynamic covalent B–N and B–O bonds. Abstract : Aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE) molecules have significant applications in optoelectronics, biomedical probes and chemical sensors, and large amounts of AIEE molecules have been reported since the concept of AIEE was proposed. Most aromatic AIEE molecules have complex structures consisting of multiple aromatic rings and/or polycyclic skeletons. In this study, we find that 2-aminophenylboronic acid (2-APBA) with a simple structure is highly emissive in the solid state. Further studies reveal that 2-APBA exists in a dimeric form, and the 2-APBA dimer is a novel AIEE molecule. The underlying AIEE mechanism is that the 2-APBA dimeric units aggregate through intermolecular interactions to produce highly ordered molecular packing without the presence of π–π stacking interactions that would lead to aggregation-caused quenching. Furthermore, the 2-APBA dimer aggregates could reversibly transform into its non-fluorescent monomer form driven by new kinds of dynamic covalent B–N and B–O bonds, illustrating its good potential in molecular recognition, nanogating, chemo/bio-sensing and controlled drug release.