Direct olefination of benzaldehydes into hydroxy functionalized oligo (p-phenylenevinylene)s via Pd-catalyzed heterodomino Knoevenagel-decarboxylation-Heck sequence and its application for fluoride sensing pi-conjugated units.

A new approach for one step olefination of benzaldehydes into hydroxy functionalized OPVs is achieved through the first domino Knoevenagel-decarboxylation-Heck sequence using a single catalyst system. The methodology also led to new oxygen based OPV scaffolds capable of selective and visible fluoride recognition in organic or aqueous medium.