Synthesis of tetraphenylethylene pillar[6]arenes and the selective fast quenching of their AIE fluorescence by TNT

Tetraphenylethylene pillar[6]arenes with an AIE effect were synthesized for the first time. The fluorescence of the pillar[6]arenes could be quenched much more and much faster by TNT than by other nitroaromatics including 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, which could be used to detect TNT in air.