Solid-Phase Synthesis of Unsymmetrical trans-Stilbenes

Abstract

A small library of fluorescent and unsymmetrical trans-stilbene compounds was efficiently produced by a solid-phase synthetic approach using the sulfonate-based traceless linker system. Nickel (0)-catalyzed cleavage/cross-coupling of polymer-bound stilbenesulfonates with aryl Grignard reagents generated the desired trans-stilbenes at high yield by the multifunctional release facilitating the additional diversification of the library. The luminescent properties of trans-stilbenes are assessed, and the influence of alkyl substituents on their photophysical properties is discussed.