Recent Progress in the Development of Solid-State Luminescent o-Carboranes with Stimuli Responsivity

Abstract

o ‐Carborane, a cluster compound containing boron and adjacent carbon atoms, displays intriguing luminescent properties. Recently, compounds containing o ‐carborane units were found to show suppressed aggregation‐induced quenching and intense solid‐state emission; they also show potential for the development of stimuli‐responsive luminochromic materials. In this Minireview, we introduce three kinds of fundamental photochemical properties: aggregation‐induced emission, twisted intramolecular charge transfer in crystals, and environment‐sensitive excimer formation in solids. Based on these properties, several types of luminochromism, such as thermos‐, vapo‐, and mechanochromism, have been discovered. Based mainly on results from recent studies, we illustrate these mechanisms as well as unique luminescent behaviors of o ‐carborane derivatives.