The AIEE properties and solid state fluorescence of 3-indolyl-4-indazolyl maleimide compounds: Synthesis and fluorescence characteristics

A range of 3-indolyl-4-indazolyl maleimide fluorescent compounds, including 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a and 3b, were synthesized efficiently. In different organic dissolvents, the photo-physical performance was checked, either in the aggregated state or in the solid state. When being in solid and in solution state, these fluorescent compounds showed high fluorescent intensity, indicating a highest fluorescence quantum efficiency of 45% accompanying a large Stokes Shift longer than 100 nm in toluene. Also, they can carry out a phenomenon of aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE). TDDFT and DFT calculations were used to confirm the experimental findings.