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: HO 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.