Synthesis and properties of fluorescent 4′-azulenyl-functionalized 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines

4'-Azulenyl-substituted terpyridines were efficiently synthesized following the Kröhnke methodology via azulenylchalcone intermediates. These azulenyl-containing terpyridines showed fluorescent emission with a fluorescence quantum yield varying from 0.14, in the case of parent terpyridine, to 0.64 when methyl groups are grafted on the azulenyl seven-membered ring. According to the crystal structures and TDDFT calculations, different twisting of the aromatic constituents is responsible for the observed fluorescent behavior. The electrochemical profile contains one-electron oxidation/reduction steps, which can only be explained on the basis of the redox behavior of the azulene unit. The ability of the 4'-azulenyl 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine to bind poisoning metal cations was studied by UV-vis titrations using aqueous solutions of Hg(II) and Cd(II) chlorides as illustrative examples.