Synthesis and electrogenerated chemiluminescence of donor-substituted phenylquinolinylethynes and phenylisoquinolinylethynes: effect of positional isomerism

In furtherance of our research on the design, synthesis and study of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of new donor substituted phenylquinolinylethynes, we report here more new series with the aim of studying the effect of positional isomerism on their overall photophysical properties with a special focus on ECL. For this study we have chosen 2-, 3-, and 4-(p-substituted phenyl)ethynylquinolines, and 1- and 4-(p-substituted phenyl)ethynylisoquinolines. These ethynes were synthesized in good yields by modified Sonogashira coupling of the corresponding terminal alkyne with the respective haloquinolines. The photophysical properties and ECL were studied in acetonitrile solvent and the various results are discussed.