Electrochemiluminescence of a Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica Containing 9,10-Diarylanthracene Units

A 9,10-diarylanthracene derivative having two terminal trimethoxysilyl groups has been synthesized and used in combination with tetraethyl orthosilicate as a silicon source for the preparation of two periodic mesoporous silicas with MCM-41 and SBA-15 structures having about 15 wt % of the organic component. The resulting solids exhibit electrochemiluminescence arising from the organic moieties. The benefit for the electrochemiluminescence activity of having a large surface area solid with periodic porous structure is revealed by the fact that an analogous amorphous material prepared with the same precursor does not exhibit any measurable electrochemiluminescence activity under the same conditions.