Intramolecular electronic communication in a dimethylaminoazobenzene–fullerene C60 dyad: An experimental and TD‐DFT study

An electronically push–pull type dimethylaminoazobenzene–fullerene C₆₀ hybrid was designed and synthesized by tailoring N,N‐dimethylaniline as an electron donating auxochrome that intensified charge density on the β‐azonitrogen, and on N‐methylfulleropyrrolidine (NMFP) as an electron acceptor at the 4 and 4′ positions of the azobenzene moiety, respectively. The absorption and charge transfer behavior of the hybrid donor‐bridge‐acceptor dyad were studied experimentally and by performing TD‐DFT calculations. The TD‐DFT predicted charge transfer interactions of the dyad ranging from 747 to 601 nm were experimentally observed in the UV‐vis spectra at 721 nm in toluene and dichloromethane. A 149 mV anodic shift in the first reduction potential of the N?N group of the dyad in comparison with the model aminoazobenzene derivative further supported the phenomenon. Analysis of the charge transfer band through the orbital picture revealed charge displacement from the n_(N?N) (nonbonding) and π _(N?N) type orbitals centered on the donor part to the purely fullerene centered LUMOs and LUMO+n orbitals, delocalized over the entire molecule. The imposed electronic perturbations on the aminoazobenzene moiety upon coupling it with C₆₀ were analyzed by comparing the TD‐DFT predicted and experimentally observed electronic transition energies of the dyad with the model compounds, NMFP and (E)‐N,N‐dimethyl‐4‐(p‐tolyldiazenyl)aniline (AZNME). The n_(N?N) → π*_(N?N) and π_(N?N) → π*_(N?N) transitions of the dyad were bathochromically shifted with a significant charge transfer character. The shifting of π_(N?N) → π*_(N?N) excitation energy closer to the n → π*_(N?N) in comparison with the model aminoazobenzene emphasized the predominant existence of charge separated quinonoid‐like ground state electronic structure. Increasing solvent polarity introduced hyperchromic effect in the π_(N?N) → π*_(N?N) electronic transition at the expense of transitions involved with benzenic states, and the extent of intensity borrowing was quantified adopting the Gaussian deconvolution method. On a comparative scale, the predicted excitation energies were in reasonable agreement with the observed values, demonstrating the efficiency of TD‐DFT in predicting the localized and the charge transfer nature of transitions involved with large electronically asymmetric molecules with HOMO and LUMO centered on different parts of the molecular framework. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

The effect of conjugated spacer on novel carbazole derivatives for dye‐sensitized solar cells: Density functional theory/time‐dependent density functional theory study

The ground‐state structure and frontier molecular orbital of D‐π‐A organic dyes, CFT1A, CFT2A, and CFT1PA were theoretically investigated using density functional theory (DFT) on B3LYP functional with 6‐31G(d,p) basis set. The vertical excitation energies and absorption spectra were obtained using time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT). The adsorptions of these dyes on TiO₂ anatase (101) were carried out by using a 38[TiO₂] cluster model using Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof functional with the double numerical basis set with polarization (DNP). The results showed that the introduction of thiophene–thiophene unit (T–T) as conjugated spacer in CFT2A could affect the performance of intramolecular charge transfer significantly due to the inter‐ring torsion of T–T being decreased compared with phenylene–phenylene (P–P) spacer of CFP2A in the researhcers' previous report. It was also found that increasing the number of π‐conjugated unit gradually enhanced charge separation between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of these dyes, leading to a high‐efficiency photocurrent generation. The HOMO–LUMO energy gaps were calculated to be 2.51, 2.37, and 2.50 eV for CFT1A, CFT2A, and CFT1PA respectively. Moreover, the calculated adsorption energies of these dyes on TiO₂ cluster were ～14 kcal/mol, implying that these dyes strongly bind to TiO₂ surface. Furthermore, the electronic HOMO and LUMO shapes of all dye–TiO₂ complexes exhibited injection mechanism of electron via intermolecular charge‐transfer transition. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Opp‐Dibenzoporphyrins as a Light‐Harvester for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

New opp‐dibenzoporphyrins were prepared in a concise method that was based on a Pd⁰‐catalyzed cascade reaction. These porphyrins, which contained carboxylic‐acid linker groups on benzene rings that were fused to the porphyrin at their β,β′‐positions, were examined as sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells for the first time. Whereas all of the porphyrins showed solar‐energy‐to‐electricity conversion, an opp‐dibenzoporphyrin with conjugated carboxylic‐acid linkers displayed the highest conversion efficiency and an exceptionally high J_sc value. Cyclic voltammetry of these porphyrins suggested that the fusion of two aromatic benzene rings onto the periphery of the porphyrin lowered the HOMO–LUMO energy gap; the incorporation of a conjugated carboxylic‐acid linker group decreased the HOMO–LUMO gap even further. These CV data are consistent with DFT calculations for these porphyrins and agree well with the UV/Vis absorption‐ and fluorescence spectra of these porphyrins.     

Highly Pure Synthesis,Spectral Assignments,and Two‐Photon Properties of Cruciform Porphyrin Pentamers Fused with Benzene Units

Tetrameric porphyrin formation of 2‐hydroxymethylpyrrole fused with porphyrins through a bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene unit gave bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene‐fused porphyrin pentamers. Thermal conversion of the pentamers gave fully π‐conjugated cruciform porphyrin pentamers fused with benzene units in quantitative yields. UV/Vis spectra of fully π‐conjugated porphyrin pentamers showed one very strong Q absorption and were quite different from those of usual porphyrins. From TD‐DFT calculations, the HOMO level is 0.49 eV higher than the HOMO?1 level. The LUMO and LUMO+1 levels are very close and are lower by more than 0.27 eV than those of other unoccupied MOs. The strong Q absorption was interpreted as two mutually orthogonal single‐electron transitions (683 nm: 86 %, HOMO→LUMO; 680 nm: 86 %, HOMO→LUMO+1). The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross section value (σ⁽²⁾) of the benzene‐fused porphyrin pentamer was estimated to be 3900 GM at 1500 nm, which is strongly correlated with a cruciform molecular structure with multidirectional π‐conjugation pathways.     

The Effect of Substituents on the Fluorescent Properties of Para‐Phenylenevinylene

Semi‐empirical AM1 method and density function theory were used to study the electronic structures and spectroscopic characteristics of the luminescent material analogous to PPV (para‐phenylenevinylene) oligomers attached to different substituents. It was indicated that the LUMO‐HOMO energy gaps were changed distinctly by means of the electron‐donating effect, conjugated effect and steric effect. The fluorescent wavelength in the fluorescent spectrum, the main absorption peaks in the electronic spectra and the chief bands in the IR spectra for the complexes were red‐shifted, relative to those of the parent molecule, owing to the extension of the conjugated system, the shrink of the energy gap and the weakening of the C=C bonds, respectively. The ¹³C chemical shifts were also moved obviously when the substituents on the matrix were changed.     

Chemically modified fullerene derivatives as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy: A first‐principles study

The first‐principles density functional theory (DFT) and its time‐dependent approach (TD‐DFT) are used to characterize the electronic structures and optical spectra properties of five chemically modified fullerenes. It is revealed that the metal fullerene derivatives possess not only stronger absorption bands in visible light regions than organically modified fullerene but also the large energy gaps (ΔE_S–T > 0.98 eV) between the singlet ground state and the triplet state, which imply their significant aspect of potential candidates as a photosensitizer. We have found that a new metal‐containing bisfullerene complexes (Pt(C₆₀)₂), with the extended conjugated π‐electrons, much degenerate orbitals and a uniform electrostatic potential surface, behave more pre‐eminent photosensitizing properties than other examined fullerene derivatives. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Molecular design of a π‐conjugated single‐chain electronically conductive polymer

This study demonstrates that single‐chain π‐conjugated systems can be made electrically conductive by modifying the molecular structures of both ends of the oligomers making up a polymer. That is, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gaps of a fairly long polyyne‐type oligomer with appropriately modified molecular structures at both ends are found to be on the order of thermal energy by calculations using density functional theory (DFT) with B3LYP functionals. This result applies to molecular structures with characteristic bond alternations. The peculiar bond alternations are caused by competition between two effects of the bond alternations of the two mutually perpendicular π‐conjugated systems, which partially cancel each other out. It is probable that we can design one‐dimensional polymers with HOMO–LUMO gaps small enough to be conductive by combining the above‐mentioned oligomers with each other as monomer units in the polymer. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Experimental and theoretical electronic absorption spectra of 2,4‐diphenyl‐1,5‐benzothiazepine and its derivatives: Solvatochromic effect and time dependent density functional theory approach

Electronic spectra of 2,4‐diphenyl‐1,5‐benzothiazepine and some of its derivatives in 1,2‐dichloromethane and ethanol are investigated experimentally and theoretically using the time dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) method at the B3LYP/6‐311G** level of the theory. The origin of the spectrum of the parent compound is found to be an additive one. The observed ultra violet (UV) spectra in both solvents show two bands S1 in the range between 312–334 nm and S2 in the range between 248–272 nm. The solvent effect is investigated experimentally and theoretically and a blue shift is observed, which is explained in terms of a hydrogen bond model between the solvent and the most negative site of the solute (N atom). This theoretical model is robust in reproducing the experimental blue shift and calculating the hydrogen bond energy and hydrogen bond length. The extent of delocalization and charge transfer processes of the studied compounds is estimated and discussed in terms of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and second order perturbation interactions (E²) between donors and acceptors. The effect of substituents of the studied compounds in both solvents shows a noticeable red shift attributed to hyperconjugation effects of the π electron systems of the different moieties.     

Ab initio investigation of 2,2′‐bis(4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐5,5′‐bithiazole for the design of efficient organic field‐effect transistors

The initial molecular structure of 2,2′‐bis(4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐ 5,5′‐bithiazole has been optimized in the ground state using density functional theory (DFT). The distribution patterns of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) have also been evaluated. To shed light on the charge transfer properties, we have calculated the reorganization energy of electron λ_e, the reorganization energy of hole λ_h, adiabatic electron affinity (EA_a), vertical electron affinity (EA_v), adiabatic ionization potential (IP_a), and vertical ionization potential (IP_v) using DFT. Based on the evaluation of hole reorganization energy, λ_h, and electron reorganization energy, λ_e, it has been predicted that 2,2′‐bis(4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐5,5′‐bithiazole would be a better electron transport material. Finally, the effect of electric field on the HOMO, LUMO, and HOMO–LUMO gap were observed to check its suitability for the use as a conducting channel in organic field‐effect transistors. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Theoretical study of two‐dimensionally fused zinc porphyrins: DFT calculations

Electronic structures of D_4h square‐fused zinc porphyrin sheets of two types ( SA , SB ), where SA is a directly meso‐meso‐, β‐β‐, and β‐β‐linked array and SB is a directly β‐fused array, were compared using density functional theory (DFT). The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of oligomeric SA _n are characteristically delocalized at the cyclooctatetraene‐like sites composed of β‐pyrrolic carbons and their nearest‐neighbor nitrogens. Those of oligomeric SB _n remain solitary monomeric features, reflecting weakly interacting porphyrin units. These two‐dimensionally (2D) square‐fused sheets, especially for SA _n, show effective reduction of both the HOMO–LUMO energy gaps (E_g) and the lowest Q‐like excitation energies because of LUMO's greater stabilization with increasing number of porphyrins than the corresponding one‐dimensionally (1D) linear‐fused tapes. To estimate the minimum value of E_g, the electronic band structures of the infinite‐fused SA _∞ and SB _∞ were examined in detail using modern periodic DFT. Results indicate a full metal for SA _∞, with HOMO and LUMO bands crossing the Fermi level, and a semiconductor with E_g ≈ 0.5 eV for SB _∞. Furthermore, the phonon modes and the electron–phonon coupling (EPC) constant of SA _∞ were calculated throughout the Brillouin zone using density functional perturbation theory (DFPT), yielding a weak EPC constant, λ = 0.35. Within the standard phonon‐mediated BCS mechanism, the superconducting transition temperature, T_c is demonstrated using the McMillan formula, predicting ≈0.5 K. Results show that SA _∞ will become a rare synthetic metal/superconductor without a metal‐insulator transition coming from Peierls lattice instability because it has no serious imaginary phonon modes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Theoretical Investigations on the Electronic and Optical Properties of Luminescent Poly（alkylthiophene-co-pyridine）

Quantum-chemical techniques were applied to investigate a series of conjugated polymers： poly（3-octylthien-2,5-ylene-co-pyrid-2,6-ylene） （pl）, poly[pyrid-2,6-ylenebis（3-octylthien-2,5-ylene）] （p2） and poly[pyrid-2,5-ylenebis（3-octylthien-2,5-ylene）] （p3） comprising alternating n-excessive 3-alkylthiophene and n-deficient meta- or para-linked pyridine moieties. Their ground state and excited state structures were optimized with density functional theory B3LYP method, and the optical properties were calculated by the time-dependent density functional theory （TD-DFT） and ZINDO/S methods. Their HOMO-LUMO gaps （An-L）, the lowest excitation energies （Eex）, ionization potentials （IP） and electron affinities （EA） were obtained by extrapolating those of the polymers to the inverse chain length equal to zero （1/n=0）. The calculated results showed that the decrease of pyridylene content increased the HOMO level and decreased the LUMO level while the para-linkage further contributed to it. The IP are in the order： p1〉p2〉p3 but EA are： p1〈p2〈p3. In addition, the decrease of the pyridylene content and the para-linked pyridylene in the backbone of the polythiophene resulted in a narrowed energy gap and bathochromic absorption and emission peaks.     

Excited state properties,fluorescence energies,and lifetimes of a poly(fluorene‐phenylene), based on TD‐DFT investigation

The structural and electronic properties of fluorene‐phenylene copolymer (FP)_n, n = 1–4 were studied by means of quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) using B3LYP functional. Geometry optimizations of these oligomers were performed for the ground state and the lowest singlet excited state. It was found that (FP)_n is nonplanar in its ground state while the electronic excitations lead to planarity in its S₁ state. Absorption and fluorescence energies were calculated using TD‐B3LYP/SVP and TD‐B3LYP/SVP+ methods. Vertical excitation energies and fluorescence energies were obtained by extrapolating these values to infinite chain length, resulting in extrapolated values for vertical excitation energy of 2.89 and 2.87 eV, respectively. The S₁ ← S₀ electronic excitation is characterized as a highest occupied molecular orbital to lowest unoccupied molecular orbital transition and is distinguishing in terms of oscillator strength. Fluorescence energies of (FP)_n calculated from TD‐B3LYP/SVP and TD‐B3LYP/SVP+ methods are 2.27 and 2.26 eV, respectively. Radiative lifetimes are predicted to be 0.55 and 0.51 ns for TD‐B3LYP/SVP and TD‐B3LYP/SVP+ calculations, respectively. These fundamental information are valuable data in designing and making of promising materials for LED materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

共轭CN与非共轭CF3吸电子取代基对PPV类衍生物分子结构及光电性质的影响

运用密度泛函DFT B3LYP／6-31G(d)方法对CN和CF3吸电子基团取代的PPV类衍生物的三聚体进行了几何构型优化,并采用含时密度泛函TD-DFT、B3LYP／6-31G(d)方法计算了其相应化合物的紫外吸收光谱．通过对CN和CF3取代的PPV类衍生物的分子几何结构、前线分子轨道能级、电子云分布规律的分析,从理论上解释了共轭CN与非共轭CF3吸电子取代基对其光谱性质影响的差异：前者使相应PPV类衍生物的吸收光谱发生红移,后者则发生蓝移．计算结果还表明用TD-DFT方法计算该体系的紫外吸收光谱值与实验数据吻合得很好;另外引入CN和CF3基团之后,使其相应的PPV衍生物的LUMO能级降低,电子亲合势增加,都是很好的电子传输材料．     

Arsole‐Containing π‐Conjugated Polymer by the Post‐Element‐Transformation Technique

A synthetic method to obtain an arsole‐containing π‐conjugated polymer by the post‐transformation of the organotitanium polymer titanacyclopentadiene‐2,5‐diyl unit with an arsenic‐containing building block is described. The UV/Vis absorption maximum and onset of the polymer were observed at 517 nm and 612 nm, respectively. The polymer exhibits orange photoluminescence with an emission maximum (E_max) of 600 nm and the quantum yield (Φ) of 0.05. The polymer proved to exhibit a quasi‐reversible redox behavior in its cyclic voltammetric (CV) analysis. The energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) were estimated to be ?5.43 and ?3.24 eV, respectively, from the onsets for oxidation and reduction signals in the CV analysis. Further chemical modification of the arsole unit in the π‐conjugated polymer by complexation of gold(I) chloride occurred smoothly resulting in the bathochromic shift of the UV/Vis absorption and lowering of the LUMO energy level.     

Theoretical investigations on the carbazole‐based conjugated polymers containing electron‐donating divinylaryl

The polycarbazoles have been proved to efficiently suppress the keto defect emission. Three carbazole‐based conjugated polymers, poly[9‐methyl‐3‐(4‐vinylstyryl)‐9H‐carbazole] (PBC), poly[9‐methyl‐3‐(2‐(5‐vinylthiophen‐2‐yl)vinyl)‐9H‐carbazole] (PBT) and poly[9‐methyl‐3‐(2‐(5‐vinylfuran‐2‐yl)vinyl)‐9H‐carbazole] (PBF), were investigated by quantum‐chemical techniques, and gain a detailed understanding of the influence of carbazole units and the introduction of electron‐donating on the electronic and optical properties. The electronic properties of the neutral molecules, HOMO‐LUMO gaps (ΔE), in addition to ionization potential (I_p) and electron affinity (E_a), are studied using B3LYP density functional theory. The lowest excitation energies (E_g) and the absorption wavelength are studied using the time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The calculated results show that all three series of polymers have good planarity. And the highest‐occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energies lift about 0.36–0.61 eV and thus the I_P decrease about 0.01–0.19 eV compared to polycarbazole, suggesting the significant improved hole‐accepting and transporting abilities. By introducing the electron‐donating 1,4‐divinylphenylene or 2,5‐divinylthiophene or 2,5‐divinylfuran units in the backbone, and the lowest‐unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies decrease 0.20–0.39 eV. In addition, PBC, PBT and PBF have longer maximal absorption wavelengths than polycarbazole. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 706–714, 2009     

Through‐Space Conjugated Molecular Wire Comprising Three π‐Electron Systems

A [2.2]paracyclophane‐based through‐space conjugated oligomer comprising three π‐electron systems was designed and synthesized. The arrangement of three π‐conjugated systems in an appropriate order according to the energy band gap resulted in efficient unidirectional photoexcited energy transfer by the Förster mechanism. The energy transfer efficiency and rate constants were estimated to be >0.999 and >10¹² s^?1, respectively. The key point for the efficient energy transfer is the orientation of the transition dipole moments. The time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) studies revealed the transition dipole moments of each stacked π‐electron system; each dipole moment was located on the long axis of each stacked π‐electron system. This alignment of the dipole moments is favorable for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).     

Computational studies on the spectroscopic properties of the 2‐pyridylpyrazolate‐based platinum(II) complexes with modified pyrazolate fragment

Electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of a series of platinum(II) complexes based on the 2‐pyridylpyrazolate ligand with modified pyrazolate fragment have been studied by the time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations. The ground‐ and excited‐state structures were optimized by the DFT and single‐excitation configuration interaction (CIS) methods, respectively. The calculated structures and spectroscopic properties are in agreement with the corresponding experimental results. The results of the spectroscopic investigations revealed that the lowest‐energy absorptions have ^1,3MLCT/^1,3ILCT mixing characters. When the electron‐withdrawing groups (? CF₃, ? C₃F₇) are introduced into the pyrazolate fragment, the lowest‐energy absorptions are blue‐shifted compared with that without substituents on the pyrazolate fragment, while the opposite case is observed for the electron‐donating groups (? Me, ? ^tBu, etc.). Otherwise, the phosphorescent emissions of these complexes have the ³MLCT/³ILCT character and should be originated from the lowest‐energy absorptions. When the pyrazolate fragment is replaced by the indazole group, the HOMO and LUMO orbitals of the pyridyl‐indazolate ligand platinum(II) complexes have obvious π and π* orbital characters. Therefore, there is no evident MLCT character in the lowest energy absorption and emission. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Thiocyanate‐free ruthenium(II) tetrabenzoporphyrin sensitizers for photoelectrochemical cell: A DFT/TD‐DFT probe for stability of axial donor ligands

Although previously studied [(HOOC)₄(TBPor)Ru(NCS)₂]^2– ( A ; TBPor = tetrabenzoporphrin) avoided the intrinsic π‐stacking aggregation of planar metallophorphryins via incorporating two axial ligands, these isothiocyanato groups are believed to be the weakest part of the sensitizer while operating in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this work, a series of thiocyanate‐free ruthenium porphyrin complexes featuring with phenyl/substituted‐phenyl axial groups, [(HOOC)₄(TBPor)Ru(L′)₂]^2– (L′ = Ph ( 1 ), PhF₂ ( 2 ), PhCl₂ ( 3 ), PhBr₂ ( 4 ), and PhI₂ ( 5 )), have been examined using density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT). Both analyses of electronic structures and calculations of interaction energies demonstrate that the Ru‐L′ interaction in 1 – 5 is significantly enhanced relative to the Ru‐NCS in A , which will raise chemical stability of the former in DSSCs. Single‐electron oxidation mechanism has been proposed. Oxidation potentials (E⁰) are increased by 0.2–0.6 V when changing axial groups from NCS to Ph/PhX₂. The spin‐orbit coupling (SOC) relativistic effects can be negligible in computing E⁰ values. TD‐DFT calculations show that 1 – 5 have more intense Q band in the visible region than A does. Taken together, high chemical stability, suitable oxidation potential and expanding absorption spectra would allow for potential applications of the thiocyanate‐free sensitizers in DSSCs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Semi-Empirical and DFT Studies on Structures and Spectra for C78（CH2）2

Eighteen possible isomers of C78（CH2）2 weTe investigated by the INDO method. It was indicated that the most stable isomer was 42,43,62,63-C78（CH2）2, where the -CH2 groups were added to the 6/6 bonds located at the same hexagon passed by the longest axis of C78 （C2v）, to form cyclopropane structures. Based on the most stable four geometries of C78（CH2）2 optimized at B3LYP/3-21G level, the first absorptions in the electronic spectra calculated with the INDO/CIS method and the IR frequencies of the C-C bonds on the carbon cage computed using the AM1 method were blue-shifted compared with those of C78 （C2v） because of the bigger LUMO-HOMO energy gap and the less conjugated carbon cage after the addition. The chemical shifts of ^13C NMR for the carbon atoms on the added bonds calculated at B3LYP/3-21G level were moved upfield thanks to the conversion from sp^2-C to sp^3-C.     

Pyridyl Pyrrolide Boron Complexes: The Facile Generation of Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence and Preparation of Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

The electron positive boron atom usually does not contribute to the frontier orbitals for several lower‐lying electronic transitions, and thus is ideal to serve as a hub for the spiro linker of light‐emitting molecules, such that the electron donor (HOMO) and acceptor (LUMO) moieties can be spatially separated with orthogonal orientation. On this basis, we prepared a series of novel boron complexes bearing electron deficient pyridyl pyrrolide and electron donating phenylcarbazolyl fragments or triphenylamine. The new boron complexes show strong solvent‐polarity dependent charge‐transfer emission accompanied by a small, non‐negligible normal emission. The slim orbital overlap between HOMO and LUMO and hence the lack of electron correlation lead to a significant reduction of the energy gap between the lowest lying singlet and triplet excited states (ΔE_T‐S) and thereby the generation of thermally activated delay fluorescence (TADF).