Diarylbiindolinones as Substituent-Tunable Mechanochromophores and Their Application in Mechanochromic Polymers.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of diarylbiindolinone derivatives as substituent-tunable mechanochromophores that generate pink carbon-centered radicals in response to mechanical stimuli are reported. The changes in mechano-responsiveness, which result from the introduction of various substituents on the diarylbiindolinone skeleton, are systematically studied and mechanochromic polymers that contain such diarylbiindolinone units are developed.