Direct Access to Luminescent meta-Substituted Tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl Radicals through Nucleophilic Substitution.

We reported herein a facile synthetic strategy toward the preparation of mono- and di-meta-substituted tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl (TTM) radicals. The di- or tri-anion tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methane (HTTM) can act as nucleophiles, undergoing nucleophilic reactions to produce mono- and di-meta-substituted HTTM species, regioselectively controlled by the steric hindrance of the central anion. Two more steps give the final meta-substituted monoradicals, exhibiting tunable fluorescent features.