D–A–D Structured Bis-acylhydrazone Exhibiting Aggregation-Induced Emission, Mechanochromic Luminescence, and Al(III) Detection

A readily accessible D–A–D triad molecule 1 was synthesized through acylhydrazone bond formation using carefully chosen building blocks. The molecule 1 exhibits emission through charge-coupled proton transfer and enhanced emission induced through aggregation and mechanochromic luminescence. Further, it detects Al­(III) selectively among other cations in an efficient manner.