The distinct piezochromic luminescent responses of charge-transfer inclusion crystals, which consist of small aromatic guest molecules with naphthalenediimide derivatives, are reported. Reversible multichromism is observed over the entire visible region in response to high pressure, whereas a weak response to mechanical grinding is evident. High-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and TD-DFT calculations clearly suggest that high compression induces a closer arrangement with a short interfacial distance between small aromatic guest molecules and naphthalenediimide derivatives, which is proposed as the origin of the drastic luminescent color change.
