An Eco-friendly Facile Synthesis of Perylene/Pyrene Framework Using Morita–Baylis–Hillman Adduct of Isatin with Anthracene via Twofold [3+3] Spiroannulation

Abstract An efficient and eco-friendly method for synthesizing a novel class of perylene- and pyrene-based frameworks was developed using Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) adducts of isatin derivatives with anthracene, achieving good yields under metal-free conditions mediated by K-10 clay. The resulting spiroperylene and spiro-pyrene derivatives exhibited orange-red fluorescence, demonstrating a significant influence of the MBH adduct on the fluorescence behavior of anthracene. Specifically, with 1 equiv of the MBH adduct, anthracene displays green fluorescence, while with 2 or 3 equiv, the emission shifts to orange-red, indicating a notable change in its photophysical properties. This transformation provides a sustainable approach to accessing fluorescent organic materials, which could be valuable for applications in sensing, optoelectronics, and material science.