Bis-cyanostilbene based fluorescent materials: A rational design of AIE active probe for hypochlorite sensing

In the present investigation cyanostilbene based molecular probes, PCS and PCO, bearing N,N-dimethylthiocarbamate and N,N-dimethylcarbamoyal groups, respectively, have been synthesised. These probes exhibit AIEE activity in their aggregated state in the mixed solvent system of THF: H₂O by way of turning on their emission, which has also been observed in powder, neat thin films and hybrid polymer films. While the probe PCO is silent to ClO^-, PCS exhibits a significant response towards ClO^- rationalised on the basis of HOCl specific oxidation of thiocarbamate, which is also extended to detect ClO^- in water samples. Additionally, applicability of the test strips of PCS for rapid on-site detection of ClO^- has been demonstrated. The experimental results are supplemented by the theoretical calculations wherever possible.