Four　novel　compounds　(1–4)　were　synthesized　using　2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one　(flavone)　moiety　as　an　acceptor　and　phenoxazine,　phenothiazine,　9,9-dimethyl-9,10-dihydroacridine,　diphenylamine　as　donors.　Their　photophysical　properties　were　studied　with　spectroscopic　and　theoretical　methods.　The　results　show　that　1　and　2　exhibit　good　aggregation-induced　emission　(AIE)　properties　in　tetrahydrofuran　(THF)/water　mixtures,　whose　maximum　photoluminescence　(PL)　intensities　are　156-　and　187-fold　higher　than　those　in　pure　THF　solutions,　and　can　reach　256-　and　506-fold　higher　than　those　in　the　mixtures　at　water　fractions　of　50%,　respectively.　3　displays　similar　PL　property　except　for　obvious　emission　in　pure　THF　solution.　However,　PL　intensity　of　4　decreases　with　an　increase　in　water　fraction,　and　then　is　enhanced　with　further　increase　in　water　fraction.　Moreover,　4　shows　high　quantum　yields　both　in　toluene　solution　(0.61)　and　in　solid　state　(0.83).　It　exhibits　a　positive　solvatochromism.　In　addition,　2　possesses　mechanofluorochromic　transition　from　sky　blue　to　yellow　after　grinding.　It　can　also　be　applied　in　live-cell　imaging.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd