Mechanochromism, Twisted/Folded Structure Determination, and Derivatization of (N-Phenylfluorenylidene)acridane

(N-Phenylfluorenylidene)acridane (Ph-FA) compounds with electron-withdrawing and -donating substituents (H, MeO, Ph, NO₂, Br, F) at the para position of the phenyl group were successfully synthesized by Barton–Kellogg reactions of N-aryl thioacridones and diazofluorene. By using the substituent on the nitrogen atom to alter the electronic properties, both the folded and twisted conformers of p-NO₂-C₆H₄-FA could be crystallographically characterized, which enabled the charge transfer from the electron-donating acridane moiety to the electron-accepting fluorenylidene moiety to be understood. Ground-state mechanochromism, thermochromism, vapochromism, and proton-induced chromism were demonstrated between the folded and twisted conformations of the conformers. Protonation and chemical oxidation of Ph-FA gave two stable acridinium compounds, namely, the fluorenylacridinium and acridinium radical cations. The present study will contribute to the development of functional dyes and organic semiconductors.