Synthesis of novel cross-conjugated dendritic fluorophores containing both phenylenevinylene and phenyleneethynylene moieties

New dendrons and dendrimers with dendritic arms composed of alternate phenyleneethynylene and phenylenevinylene moieties have been efficiently synthesized using orthogonal and convergent syntheses that combine Sonogashira and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions. Two different iterative routes have been developed that allow specific control over the placement of double and triple bonds within the interior of the dendrimers. A preliminary study of the UV and photoluminescence (PL) properties of the resulting compounds is also described. All of the examples prepared are blue-luminescent.