Molecular optical switches: synthesis, structure, and photoluminescence of spirosila compounds

Starting from a silicon dichloro substituted silole and a silacyclobutene, a series of new organosilicon-based spiro compounds was synthesized by using standard organometallic reaction procedures. The spiro compounds that combine two organic photoactive subunits at one silicon center were fully characterized by the usual analytical and spectroscopic methods, which include molecular structure determination by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Photoluminescence spectra of the compounds were recorded in the solid state and also as dilute solutions in THF. Interpretation of the spectra revealed that photoluminescence in this series of compounds originated from the stilbene or its vinylogue subunits. Different linkages of these groups to the silicon atoms (cyclic or open structures, four- or five-membered cycles) strongly affected both the excitation and the emission spectra, which show different emission maxima depending on the state of the sample (solid state or in solution) and the wavelength of light used for excitation. Thus, owing to their optoelectronic properties these compounds might be useful tools for the design of sensitive sensor materials and of optical switches.