Pyrene and triphenylamine substituted cyanostyrene and cyanostilbene derivatives with dual-state emission for high-contrast mechanofluorochromism and cell imaging

Two α-cyanostilbene derivatives exhibiting bright emission in both well-dissolved solutions ( Φ > 49%) and the solid state ( Φ > 95%) have been synthesized as novel DSEgens for high-contrast mechanofluorochromism (>50 nm) and live cell imaging.