Synthesis, optical, and thermal properties of conjugated, bispyridyl and tetrapyridyl compounds by Knoevenagel reaction

A series of conjugated, bispyridyl and tetrapyridyl compounds were synthesized from either terephthalaldehyde or isophthalaldehyde and activated pyridyl compounds by Knoevenagel reaction on heating in acetic anhydride in presence of acetic acid and their optical and thermal properties were examined. All of them exhibited photoluminescence in chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethyl sulfoxide as well as in solid state. In solid state, their emission spectra exhibited bathochromic shifts when compared with those in less or more polar solvents. Some compounds emitted UV light both in polar solvents and in the solid state; other compounds emitted UV light in polar solvents, but emitted visible light in the solid state.