Tuning the π‐π stacking distance and J‐aggregation of DPP‐based conjugated polymer via introducing insulating polymer

The close π–π stacking and the high J‐aggregation during the formation of fibrillar morphology in films of the poly[[2,5‐bis(2‐octyldodecyl)?2,3,5,6‐tetrahydro‐3,6‐dioxopyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,4‐diyl]‐alt–[[2,2′‐(2,5‐thiophene)bis‐thieno[3,2‐b]thiophen]‐5,5′‐diyl]] (PDPPTT‐T) are demonstrated via blending with polystyrene (PS). The hydrodynamic radius (R_h) of PDPPTT‐T is decreased from 16.7 nm in the neat solution to 12.7 nm in the blend solution at the ratio of 1/20(PDPPTT‐T/PS). This phenomenon suggests that blending PS is beneficial for the disentanglement of PDPPTT‐T. The disentanglement of PDPPTT‐T facilitates the formation of fibrillar morphology. The growth of the fibrils occurs along the molecular backbones and the width of the fibrils is parallel to the π–π stacking direction. The disentanglement of PDPPTT‐T helps the molecules adjust conformation to improve J‐aggregation and decrease the π–π stacking distance. The maximum absorption is red‐shifted from 825 nm to 849 nm and the relative intensity of J‐aggregation (the 0‐0/0‐1 ratio) is increased from 1.19 to 1.60. The π–π stacking distance decreases from 3.57 to 3.52 Å. The charge‐carrier mobility will be improved in the fibrillar morphology with close π–π stacking and high J‐aggregation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 838–847     

Preparation and chemical properties of soluble π‐conjugated poly(aryleneethynylene) consisting of azabenzothiadiazole as the electron‐accepting unit

A soluble charge‐transfer type poly(aryleneethynylene), PAE‐AzaBzTdz , consisting of a highly electron‐accepting azabenzothiadiazole unit was prepared in 99% yield by palladium‐catalyzed polycondensation between 4,7‐dibromo‐2,1,3‐azabenzothiadiazole ( Br₂‐AzaBzTdz ) and 1,4‐diethynyl‐2,5‐didodecyloxybenzene. PAE‐AzaBzTdz showed a number‐average molecular weight, M_n, of 6000 in gel‐permeation chromatography analysis and had good thermal stability as measured by TGA. UV–vis spectrum of PAE‐AzaBzTdz exhibited an absorption peak at 529 nm in chloroform, and the absorption peak shifted to a longer wavelength (601 nm) in film. Addition of MeOH to a CHCl₃ solution of PAE‐AzaBzTdz led to aggregation of the polymer to form stable colloidal particles. Results of filtration experiments using 0.2 and 0.02 μm membranes supported aggregation of the polymer. Addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) to a chloroform solution of PAE‐AzaBzTdz led to a red‐shift of the UV–vis peak from 529 to 640 nm. An X‐ray diffraction pattern of powdery PAE‐AzaBzTdz indicated that the polymer assumed a layer‐to‐layer stacked structure with an interlayer distance of 3.4 Å in the solid state. An X‐ray diffraction pattern of cast film of PAE‐AzaBzTdz revealed that the polymer molecules in the cast film were ordered on the surface of Pt plate with the dodecyl side chain oriented toward the surface of the Pt plate. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2975–2982, 2008     

D–π–A polysulfones for blue electroluminescence

Donor–π–acceptor type fluorene‐based copolymers with a sulfone unit were designed and synthesized for application in efficient pure‐blue light emitting. The electroluminescence behaviors of these copolymers were investigated by fabricating light‐emitting diodes and electrochemical cell devices. The former device little functioned but the latter worked well. The electrochemical cell devices having a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/copolymer:ionic liquid/Al exhibited purplish blue electroluminescence with an emission maximum at 434 nm (CIE coordinates (x, y) = (0.17, 0.10)) measured at 7 V. The initial positive scan of the D–π–A polysulfone based light emitting electrochemical cell with a sweep rate of 0.1 V s^?1 afforded a maximum luminance of 1080 cd m^?2 with a current efficiency of 1.96 cd A^?1 at an operating voltage of 12.5 V. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3454–3461     

Photophysical properties of σ–π‐conjugated alternating oligothienylene–oligosilylene polymers

UV‐visible absorption and fluorescence properties of three series of σ–π‐conjugated polymers (copolymers of alternative oligothienylene and oligosilylene units) have been studied in dioxane solution. The energies of the absorption maximum, fluorescence maximum, and the 0–0 transition are found to be linearly dependent on the reciprocal of the number of thiophene rings in the repeating unit of the polymer chain, but almost independent of the silicon atom number. The σ–π‐conjugation in the polymers results in red shift in the absorption and fluorescence maxima, higher fluorescence quantum yields, and longer fluorescence lifetimes of the polymers, with respect to their corresponding analogous α‐oligothiophenes. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1873–1880, 1999     

Synthesis and optical properties of organic–inorganic hybrid semi‐interpenetrating polymer network gels containing polyfluorenes

Organic–inorganic hybrid semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) gels containing polyfluorenes (PFs) are synthesized by hydrosilylation reaction of joint and rod molecules in toluene, where PFs are poly(9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl) (PF6) or, poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl) (PF8), joint molecules are 1,3,5,7‐tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS), or 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15‐octakis(dimethylsilyloxy)pentacyclo‐[9,5,1,1,1,1]octasilsesquioxane (POSS), and rod molecules are 1,5‐hexadiene (HD) or 1,9‐decadiene (DD). The semi‐IPN gels containing low molecular weight PF6 show higher photoluminescence efficiency (?_g) than the toluene solution of PF6L (?_s). The semi‐IPN gels composed of long rod molecule of DD and cubic joint molecule of POSS show the most effective increase in the emission intensity. The emission intensity of PF6L increases as formation of the network in the POSS‐DD semi‐IPN gel. The POSS‐DD semi‐IPN gels containing high molecular weight PF6 and PF8 also show the increase of emission intensity than those of the toluene solutions. The semi‐IPN synthesized in cyclohexane show syneresis and phase separation between network structure and PF chains. The semi‐IPN gels containing PF8 show emission peaks at 450 and 470 nm derived from β‐sheet structure of PF8. A systematic study clears correlation between emission property and network structure and/or composition of semi‐IPN gels. The semi‐IPN gels provide emissive self‐standing soft materials with high efficiency and in a narrow wavelength range emission. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 973–984     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a [Mo8O26]4– Cluster Derivative with 4‐MePyH+. First β‐Octamolybdate Derivative with π–π Stacking

Dioxobis(pyridine‐2‐thiolate‐N, S)molybdenum(VI) (MoO₂(Py‐S)₂), reacts with of 4‐methylpyridine (4‐MePy) in acetonitrile, by slow diffusion, to afford the title compound. This has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The X‐ray single crystal structure of the complex is described. Structural studies reveal that the molecular structure consists of a β‐Mo₈O₂₆ polyanion with eight MoO₆ distorted edge‐shared octahedra with short terminal Mo–O bonds (1.692–1.714 Å), bonds of intermediate length (1.887–1.999 Å) and long bonds (2.150–2.473 Å). Two different types of hydrogen bonds have been found: N–H···O (2.800–3.075 Å) and C–H···O (3.095–3.316 Å). The presence of π–π stacking interactions and strong hydrogen bonds are presumably responsible for the special disposition of the pyridinic rings around the polyanion cluster.     

σ–π Continuum in Indole–Palladium(II) Complexes

The intrinsic features of (hetero‐arene)–metal interactions have been elusive mainly because the systematic structure analysis of non‐anchored hetero‐arene–metal complexes has been hampered by their labile nature. We report successful isolation and systematic structure analysis of a series of non‐anchored indole–palladium(II) complexes. It was revealed that there is a σ–π continuum for the indole–metal interaction, while it has been thought that the dominant coordination mode of indole to a metal center is the Wheland‐intermediate‐type σ‐mode in light of the seemingly strong electron‐donating ability of indole. Several factors which affect the σ‐ or π‐character of indole–metal interactions are discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of new π‐conjugated polymers containing 1,8‐naphthyridine in the main chain: Role of the 1,8‐naphthyridine unit in π‐conjugated polymers

Alternating π‐conjugated copolymers of 1,8‐naphthyridine‐2,6‐diyl ( 1,8‐Nap ) with 9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl ( P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) ) and 2,5‐didodecyloxy‐1,4‐phenylene ( P(ROPh‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) ) have been synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed organometallic polycondensation. The copolymers showed UV‐vis absorption peaks at around 390 nm in o‐dichlorobenzene. The polymers were photoluminescent both in o‐dichlorobenzene and in the solid state. In o‐dichlorobenzene, the emission peaks of P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) and P(ROPh‐Ph‐1.,8‐Nap) appeared at λ_EM = 440 and 471 nm, with quantum yields of 87% and 66%, respectively. Electrochemical data revealed that 1,8‐Nap behaved as a typical electron‐accepting unit. When P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) was treated with 10‐camphorsulfonic acid, the emission peak shifted to λ_EM = 598 nm. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

1,4‐Diiodobenzene with –COO–TEMPO (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl‐4‐yl) substituents at 2,5‐positions: synthesis and use as a monomer for new π‐conjugated polymers having nitroxyl radicals in side chains

The reaction of 2,5‐diiodo‐1,4‐benzenedicarbonyl chloride, C₆H₂I₂(COCl)₂‐p, with 4‐hydroxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO‐ol) gave I–Ph(COO–TEMPO)₂–I, Monomer‐1. Pd‐catalyzed polycondensation of Monomer‐1 with Me₃Sn‐Th‐SnMe₃ (2,5‐bis(trimethylstannyl)thiophene) and Bu₃Sn–CH = CH–SnBu₃ (1,2‐bis‐(tributylstannyl)ethylene) gave the corresponding π‐conjugated polymers, Polymer‐1 and Polymer‐2, respectively. Monomer‐1 was converted to a diethynyl compound, H–C ≡ C–Ph(COO–TEMPO)₂–C ≡ C–H (Monomer‐1'), and Pd‐catalyzed polycondensation between Monomer‐1 and Monomer‐1' gave a π‐conjugated poly(arylene ethynylene) type polymer, Polymer‐3. According to the expansion of the π‐conjugation system by the polymerization, the UV–vis peaks of Monomer‐1 (λ_max = 323 nm) and Monomer‐1' (327 nm) are shifted to longer wavelengths (λ_max = 365 nm, 385 nm, and 396 nm for Polymer‐1, Polymer‐2, and Polymer‐3, respectively). Polymer‐1–Polymer‐3 showed ESR signals at about g = 2.01 with reasonable intensities. They are electrochemically active and showed a peak current anodic (oxidation) peak at about 0.9 V versus Ag/AgCl, which is reasonable for TEMPO polymers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ab initio study of the π–π interactions between CO2 and benzene,pyridine, and pyrrole

The π–π interactions between CO₂ and three aromatic molecules, namely benzene (C₆H₆), pyridine (C₅H₅N), and pyrrole (C₄H₅N), which represent common functional groups in metal‐organic/zeoliticimidazolate framework materials, were characterized using high‐level ab initio methods. The coupled‐cluster with single and double excitations and perturbative treatment of triple excitations (CCSD(T)) method with a complete basis set (CBS) was used to calibrate Hartree–Fock, density functional theory, and second‐order M?ller–Plesset (MP2) with resolution of the identity approximation calculations. Results at the MP2/def2‐QZVPP level showed the smallest deviations (only about 1 kJ/mol) compared with those at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. The strength of π–π binding energies (BEs) followed the order C₄H₅N > C₆H₆ ～ C₅H₅N and was roughly correlated with the aromaticity and the charge transfer between CO₂ and aromatic molecule in clusters. Compared with hydrogen‐bond or electron donor–acceptor interactions observed during BE calculations at the MP2/def2‐QZVPP level of theory, π–π interactions significantly contribute to the total interactions between CO₂ and aromatic molecules. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis of organic‐inorganic hybrid gels by means of thiol‐ene and azide‐alkene reactions

Organic–inorganic hybrid gels have been synthesized from a multi‐vinyl functional cyclic siloxane, 1,3,5,7‐tetravinyltetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TVMCTS), or a cubic silsesquioxane, octavinyloctasilasesquioxane (PVOSS), and α,ω‐dithiol compounds, 1,6‐hexanedithiol (HDT), 1,10‐decanedithiol (DDT), using thiol‐ene reaction in toluene. The network structure of the resulting gels, mesh size and mesh size distribution, was quantitatively characterized by means of a scanning microscopic light scattering (SMILS). The gels obtained from TVMCTS‐HDT formed homogeneous network structure with 1.5–1.6 nm mesh. Relaxation peaks derived from large clusters and/or micro gels were detected in the SMILS analysis of the TVMCTS‐DDT, PVOSS‐HDT, and PVOSS‐DDT gels besides those from the small meshes. The organic–inorganic hybrid gels were also synthesized from TVMCTS, PVOSS with α,ω‐diazide compounds, 1,6‐hexanediazide (HDA), 1,10‐decanediazide (DDA), using azide‐alkene reaction in toluene. All the gels obtained with the azide‐alkene reaction formed the homogeneous network structure. Enthalpy relaxation at the glass transition of the dried samples was detected by differential scanning calorimetry to study the network uniformity of the original gels. The gels synthesized by the azide‐alkene reaction showed larger enthalpy than the gels synthesized by the thiol‐ene reaction, indicating homogeneous network structure in the former gels. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2229–2238     

Synthesis of new optically active α,α′,β‐trisubstituted‐β‐lactones as monomers for stereoregular biopolyesters

Various optically active (4R)‐alkyloxycarbonyl‐3,3‐dialkyl‐2‐oxetanones as monomers were synthesized from L‐(S)‐malic acid in six steps to prepare a new family of stereopolyesters for biomedical applications. The synthesis began with an esterification followed of a dialkylation in the aim to introduce hydrophobic groups as methyl or reactive group as allyl. Then, a saponification has permitted to obtain the corresponding diacids that reacted with appropriate alcohols to furnish different monoesters. The last and most important step was activation of hydroxyl group of monoesters with the asymmetric carbon configuration inversion according to the Mitsunobu reaction. Thus, this reaction has provided lactones from monoesters with 100% enantiomeric excess which was confirmed by ¹H NMR and by the synthesis of corresponding isotactic and semicrystalline homopolyesters. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2586–2597     

Donor–acceptor conjugated copolymers incorporating tetrafluorobenzene as the π‐electron deficient unit

We present the synthesis and characterization of a new family of perfectly alternating conjugated polymers, obtained through different methodologies (Stille, Direct Arylation, and Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons polymerizations). The polymers comprise either 2,5‐dialkoxybenzene or benzodithiophene electron rich units, and 1,2,4,5‐tetrafluorobenzene as the electron‐deficient unit, eventually separated by a vinylene bridge, if suitable monomers and HWE polymerization procedures are used. As shown by NMR spectroscopy, the introduction of the fluorinated aromatic units brings complications in the polymer stereodefinition in the HWE polymerization, and regiodefinition in the case of the Direct Arylation. The polymers show moderate degrees of polymerization (up to 10 repeating alternating units in the backbone), which are however significant enough to unravel interesting properties such as energy HOMO–LUMO gaps and aggregation behavior in solution at room temperature. In depth calculations fully confirmed the aggregation tendency, highlighting the key role of the benzodithiophene as the donor component when in combination with the tetrafluorobenzene unit. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1601–1610     

Synthesis and characterization of high refractive index polyimides derived from 2,5‐Bis(4‐Aminophenylenesulfanyl)‐3,4‐Ethylenedithiothiophene and aromatic dianhydrides

The authors describe the synthesis and characterization of the polyimide (PI) series containing a 2,5‐bis(4‐aminophenylenesulfanyl)‐3,4‐ethylenedithiothiophene (APSEDTT) moiety in their main chain. The APSEDTT monomer with high sulfur content was prepared and polymerized with several aromatic dianhydrides such as 4,4′‐[p‐thio bis(phenylenesulfanyl)]diphthalic anhydride (3SDEA), 4,4′‐biphthalic anhydride (BPDA), and 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) by the traditional two‐step polycondensation procedure. All PIs exhibited high transparency, higher than 75% at 550 nm for a thickness of about 20 μm and good thermal properties such as thermal decomposition temperatures (T_10%) in the range of 409–521 °C. In addition, the PIs have extraordinarily excellent optical properties in refractive index and birefringence as originally designed. In particular, the PI derived from APSEDTT and 3SDEA showed a high refractive index (1.7586), and a low birefringence (0.0087) because of their very high sulfur content (27.7%). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 944–950     

α‐exomethylene lactone possessing acetal–ester linkage: Polymerization and postpolymerization modification for water‐soluble polymer

2,6‐Dimethyl‐5‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxa‐4‐one (DMDO), a cyclic acrylate possessing acetal–ester linkage, was obtained as a mixture of cis‐ and trans‐isomers (95:5) from Baylis–Hillman reaction of an aryl acrylate. The radical and anionic polymerizations of DMDO yielded the corresponding vinyl polymers without any side reactions such as cleavage of the acetal–ester linkage. The polymerization behaviors were significantly different from that of the acyclic acrylate, α‐(hydroxymethyl)acrylic acid, which was expected inactive against polymerization due to the steric hindrance around the vinylidene group by the α‐substituent. The acetal–ester linkage of the obtained polymer ( P1 ) was completely cleaved via acid hydrolysis to afford a water soluble polymer, P2 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 955–961     

Enantio‐ and Site‐Selective α‐Fluorination of N‐Acyl 3,5‐Dimethylpyrazoles Catalyzed by Chiral π–CuII Complexes

Catalytic enantioselective α‐fluorination reactions of carbonyl compounds are among the most powerful and efficient synthetic methods for constructing optically active α‐fluorinated carbonyl compounds. Nevertheless, α‐fluorination of α‐nonbranched carboxylic acid derivatives is still a big challenge because of relatively high pK_a values of their α‐hydrogen atoms and difficulty of subsequent synthetic transformation without epimerization. Herein we show that chiral copper(II) complexes of 3‐(2‐naphthyl)‐l ‐alanine‐derived amides are highly effective catalysts for the enantio‐ and site‐selective α‐fluorination of N‐(α‐arylacetyl) and N‐(α‐alkylacetyl) 3,5‐dimethylpyrazoles. The substrate scope of the transformation is very broad (25 examples including a quaternary α‐fluorinated α‐amino acid derivative). α‐Fluorinated products were converted into the corresponding esters, secondary amides, tertiary amides, ketones, and alcohols with almost no epimerization in high yield.     

Fourfold alkyl wrapping of a copper(II) porphyrin thwarts macrocycle π–π stacking in a compact supramolecular package

Porphyrins are valuable constituents in optoelectronic, catalytic, and other applications, yet control of intermolecular π–π stacking is invariably essential to attain the desired properties. Superstructures built onto the porphyrin, often via meso‐aryl groups, can afford facial encumbrance that suppresses π–π stacking, although some molecular designs have provided insufficient facial coverage and many have entailed cumbersome syntheses. In this study, a copper(II) porphyrin bearing four meso substituents, namely, {10,20‐bis[2,6‐bis(octyloxy)phenyl]‐5,15‐dibromoporphinato}copper(II), [Cu(C₆₄H₈₂Br₂N₄O₄)], was prepared by metalation of the corresponding free‐base porphyrin and was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The crystal structure reveals a dihedral angle of 111.1 (2)° for the plane of the meso‐aryl group relative to the plane of the porphyrin, with both aryl groups tilted in the same direction. Each of the four octyloxy groups exhibits a gauche conformation for the –OCH₂CH₂– unit but is extended with four or five anti (–CH₂CH₂–/H) conformations thereafter, causing each octyl group to span the dimension of the macrocycle. In a global frame of reference where the two Br atoms define the north/south poles and the two aryl groups are at antipodes on the equator, two octyl groups of one aryl unit project over the northern hemisphere (covering pyrroles A and B), whereas those of the other aryl unit project over the southern hemisphere (covering pyrroles C and D). Together, the four octyl groups ensheath the two faces of the porphyrin in a self‐wrapped assembly. The closest approach of the Cu atom to an octyl methylene C atom (position 6) is 3.5817 (18) Å, the mean separations of neighboring porphyrin planes are 8.059 (4) and 4.693 (8) Å along the a and c axes, respectively, and the center‐to‐center distances between the Cu atoms of neighboring porphyrins are 10.2725 (4), 12.2540 (6), and 12.7472 (6) Å along the a, b, and c axes, respectively. The Hirshfeld surface analysis and two‐dimensional (2D) fingerprint plots provide information concerning contact interactions in the supramolecular assembly of the solid crystal.     

The tropolone–isobutylamine complex: a hydrogen‐bonded troponoid without dominant π–π interactions

Tropolone long has served as a model system for unraveling the ubiquitous phenomena of proton transfer and hydrogen bonding. This molecule, which juxtaposes ketonic, hydroxylic, and aromatic functionalities in a framework of minimal complexity, also has provided a versatile platform for investigating the synergism among competing intermolecular forces, including those generated by hydrogen bonding and aryl coupling. Small members of the troponoid family typically produce crystals that are stabilized strongly by pervasive π–π, C—H…π, or ion–π interactions. The organic salt (TrOH·iBA) formed by a facile proton‐transfer reaction between tropolone (TrOH) and isobutylamine (iBA), namely isobutylammonium 7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olate, C₄H₁₂N⁺·C₇H₅O₂⁻, has been investigated by X‐ray crystallography, with complementary quantum‐chemical and statistical‐database analyses serving to elucidate the nature of attendant intermolecular interactions and their synergistic effects upon lattice‐packing phenomena. The crystal structure deduced from low‐temperature diffraction measurements displays extensive hydrogen‐bonding networks, yet shows little evidence of the aryl forces (viz. π–π, C—H…π, and ion–π interactions) that typically dominate this class of compounds. Density functional calculations performed with and without the imposition of periodic boundary conditions (the latter entailing isolated subunits) documented the specificity and directionality of noncovalent interactions occurring between the proton‐donating and proton‐accepting sites of TrOH and iBA, as well as the absence of aromatic coupling mediated by the seven‐membered ring of TrOH. A statistical comparison of the structural parameters extracted for key hydrogen‐bond linkages to those reported for 44 previously known crystals that support similar binding motifs revealed TrOH·iBA to possess the shortest donor–acceptor distances of any troponoid‐based complex, combined with unambiguous signatures of enhanced proton‐delocalization processes that putatively stabilize the corresponding crystalline lattice and facilitate its surprisingly rapid formation under ambient conditions.     

Anion–π and Cation–π Interactions on the Same Surface

Herein, we address the question whether anion–π and cation–π interactions can take place simultaneously on the same aromatic surface. Covalently positioned carboxylate–guanidinium pairs on the surface of 4‐amino‐1,8‐naphthalimides are used as an example to explore push–pull chromophores as privileged platforms for such “ion pair–π” interactions. In antiparallel orientation with respect to the push–pull dipole, a bathochromic effect is observed. A red shift of 41 nm found in the least polar solvent is in good agreement with the 70 nm expected from theoretical calculations of ground and excited states. Decreasing shifts with solvent polarity, protonation, aggregation, and parallel carboxylate–guanidinium pairs imply that the intramolecular Stark effect from antiparallel ion pair–π interactions exceeds solvatochromic effects by far. Theoretical studies indicate that carboxylate–guanidinium pairs can also interact with the surfaces of π‐acidic naphthalenediimides and π‐basic pyrenes.     

Synthesis and optical and electrochemical properties of new π‐conjugated 1,3,5‐triazine‐containing polymers

Two new π‐conjugated polymers containing 1,3,5‐triazine units in the main chain, Pa and Pb , are reported. Pa and Pb (R = H and ? OCH₃, respectively) showed blue photoluminescence emissions with quantum yields of more than 50% in toluene. In the solid state, Pa and Pb showed photoluminescence maximum emission peaks at 479 and 475 nm, respectively. Electrochemically, Pa and Pb showed good stability and reversibility under repeated electrochemical reduction. The polymers had glass‐transition temperatures higher than 90 °C and had 5 wt % loss temperatures higher than 400 °C. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6554–6561, 2005