Synthesis of Boron–Imidazole Complexes and Studies on their Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescence Properties

Organoboron complexes represented by BODIPY are one of the candidates for fluorescent skeletons exhibiting good fluorescence properties in the solution. However, because most BODIPY have high planar skeletons and small Stokes shifts, their fluorescence is quenched in the solid state. Therefore, numerous approaches were challenged to prepare the solid state fluorescent BODIPYs. On the other hand, an alternative approach to developing solid state fluorophores involves imidazole-boron complexes. Herein, imidazole-based boron complexes featuring the imidazo[1,2-c][1,3,2]diazaborole skeleton were synthesized. This skeleton comprised two fused five-membered rings and could introduce substituent at the 2-, 3-, 5-, and 6-positions. The boron complexes with aryl groups at the 3,5,6-positions exhibited fluorescence in both the solution and solid states. These compounds exhibited Stokes shifts exceeding 120 nm, effectively suppressing self-absorption. DFT calculations suggested that the large Stokes shift could be attributed to the planarization of π-conjugation upon excitation. In the solid state, the complexes displayed mechanofluorochromism, with the altered fluorescence color being recovered upon annealing at 150 °C. Compounds with two or three methoxy groups underwent a phase transition to a glass state, resulting in long-wavelength fluorescence. Furthermore, they demonstrated mechanochromism, thermochromism, and thermofluorochromism in the solid state, indicating their potential as scaffolds for multifunctional fluorophores.