A salen–Al/carbazole dyad-based guest–host assembly: enhancement of luminescence efficiency via intramolecular energy transfer

A novel class of salen–Al/carbazole dyads (D1 and D2) was synthesized and fully identified. The emission spectra of the dyads presented intriguing dual-emission patterns via an intramolecular energy transfer (IET) state in solution. Furthermore, the IET feature of the dyads was clearly observed in the rigid state. Interestingly, the emission efficiency of the dyads was enhanced by the significant IET process from the carbazole group to the salen–Al moiety. Particularly, D1 exhibited a nearly three-fold enhanced luminescence efficiency compared to the corresponding mononuclear aluminum complexes (A1). Such an emission process of these guest–host systems was further supported by theoretical calculation.