High-contrast tricolored mechanofluorochromism of a novel gold(I)-based AIEgen achieved through the phosphino-type auxiliary ligand modulation strategy

Two novel tetraphenylethylene-functionalized carbazole-based gold(I) complexes with phosphino-type auxiliary ligands are ingeniously designed and prepared. Significantly, this is the first time that two newly developed gold(I) complexes possessing phosphino ligands can simultaneously show aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and tricolor mechanofluorochromic properties. Furthermore, the gold(I)-bearing AIEgen with a triphenylphosphine auxiliary ligand exhibits a force-induced high-contrast three-color fluorescence switching feature.