Intrinsically thermochromic fluoransElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Selected spectroscopic data for new compounds and crystallographic data for compound 5a are provided. CCDC 845168. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c1cc15854f

A Suzuki coupling strategy has been employed to access a series of novel fluorans substituted with a phenolic moiety. These fluorans display good thermochromism in methyl stearate and obviate the need for traditional complex formulations containing acidic colour developers. Novel, fluorans containing a phenolic moiety have been synthesised by a Suzuki coupling reaction. The fluorans exhibit thermochromism in a host medium without the need for an acidic colour developer.