Synthesis, characterization, and OFET properties of amphiphilic heteroleptic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium(III) complexes with hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) substituents

A series of amphiphilic heteroleptic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium complexes with hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) heads and hydrophobic alkoxy tails {Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8}Eu{Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8}Eu[Pc(OCnH2n + 1)8] (n = 6, 8, 10,12) (1-4) were designed and prepared from the reaction between homoleptic bis(phthalocyaninato) europium compound {Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8}Eu{Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8} and metal-free 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis(alkoxy)phthalocyanine H2Pc(OCnH2n + 1)8 (n = 6, 8, 10,12) in the presence of Eu(acac)3.H2O (Hacac = acetylacetone) in boiling 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB). These novel sandwich triple-decker complexes have been characterized by a wide range of spectroscopic methods and have been electrochemically studied. With the help of the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, these typical amphiphilic triple-decker complexes have been fabricated into organic field effect transistors (OFET) with an unusual bottom contact configuration. The devices display good OFET performance with the carrier mobility for holes in the direction parallel to the aromatic phthalocyanine rings, which shows dependence on the length of the hydrophobic alkoxy side chains, decreasing from 0.46 for 1 to 0.014 cm2 V(-1) s(-1) for 4 along with the increase in the carbon number in the hydrophobic alkoxy side chains.     

A Novel Fluorescent Probe Based on Perylene Derivative for Hg2+ Ions and Biological Thiols and its Application in Live Cell Imaging and Theoretical Calculations

The selective and sensitive detection of biothiols; cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH) in aqueous solutions is of considerable importance because of their pivotal roles in maintaining the reducing environment in the cells. This study describes a strategy for the determination of biothiols based on the PDI/Met‐Hg²⁺complex platform. We designed and fabricated methionine modified perylene diimide molecule as a selective sensing probe for Hg²⁺ ions in aqueous solutions ( PDI/Met‐Hg ²⁺). The complex between perylene bisimide derivative ( PDI/Met) and Hg²⁺ was investigated and it demonstrated turn‐on fluorescence response for the detection of the biological thiols. Besides, PDI/Met displayed fluorescence quenching response in the presence of mercury ions and the emission intensity of PDI/Met‐Hg²⁺ was recovered after transferring biothiols (Cys, Hcy, and GSH). Thus, PDI/Met could be utilized as a fluorescent chemosensor for the sequential recognition of mercury ions and biological thiols.     

High performance organic field-effect transistors based on amphiphilic tris(phthalocyaninato) rare earth triple-decker complexes

LB films of three amphiphilic tris(phthalocyaninato) rare earth triple-decker complexes with crown-ethers as hydrophilic heads and long alkyl chains as hydrophobic tails have been prepared and found to display very well ordered layer structures, as proved by pi-A isotherms, UV-vis and polarized absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction experiments, and microscopic morphology characterization. These LB films have been fabricated into field-effect transistor (FET) devices, which show carrier mobilities as high as 0.24-0.60 cm2 V-1 s-1, among the highest mobilities achieved thus far for all LB film-based OFETs.     

Supramolecular self-assembly study of a flexible perylenetetracarboxylic diimide dimer in Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett films

A novel perylenetetracarboxylic diimide molecule (2PDI-TAZ), which contains two perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PDI) attached to a melamine headgroup, was designed and synthesized. Supramolecular self-assemblies were studied in Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett films. Surface pressure–area isotherm measurements and the spectroscopic studies indicate that the 2PDI-TAZ molecules adopted a face-to-face configuration and edge-on orientation in Langmuir or the multilayer LB films. The presence of the barbituric acid in subphase change the hydrophilicity of 2PDI-TAZ due to the hydrogen bonding between melamine and barbituric acid, which has been revealed by the π–A isotherms and the FT-IR spectra. Transmission electron microscopy images of the LB films deposited from the barbituric acid solution revealed uniform nanowire morphology while the X-ray diffraction studies indicate that the molecules in the solid film packed with high order. The strong excimer emission of 2PDI-TAZ in LB films suggests enforced face-to-face configuration for the PDI unites in LB films in relative to that in solution.     

Photochemical reaction, acidichromism, and supramolecular nanoarchitectures in the Langmuir-Blodgett films of an amphiphilic styrylquinoxaline derivative

An amphiphilic styrylquinoxaline derivative, 3-(4-(hexadecyloxy)styryl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (SQC16), was newly synthesized to investigate their photochemical and gas responsive properties in organized molecular films. It was observed that SQC16 can spread as a monolayer on the subphases with various pH values and be subsequently transferred onto solid substrates. While SQC16 showed predominantly reversible trans-cis photoisomerization in methanol solution, it showed both photoisomerization and photodimerization in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. Photodimerization was only observed in the LB film due to the face-to-face arrangement of the functional headgroup in the LB film, and the process was irreversible. In addition, the LB film showed acidichromism, i.e., when the film was exposed to HCl gas its color changed from yellow to red, and the color could be recovered after exposure to NH(3) gas. The process was reversible and could be repeated many times. An interesting surface morphology of the SQC16 LB film was revealed. It was observed that SQC16 can form nanowire architecture in the transferred one-layer LB film. This morphology can be changed upon photoirradiation or in gas reactions. Through the atomic force microscopy measurements it was suggested that the photodimerization predominantly occurred from the nanowire structures, while during the acidichromism the reaction occurred preferentially in the flat region. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that while layer distance showed a slight change for the LB film during acidichromism and photoreaction, the layer structure of SQC16 LB film was retained.     

Synthesis of water‐soluble perylenediimide‐functionalized polymer through esterification with poly(vinyl alcohol)

A new material has been prepared by covalent attachment of a perylene derivative, N‐(carboxyphenyl)‐N′‐(8‐pentadecyl)perylene‐3,4:9,10‐bis(dicarboximide) (PDI‐COOH), to poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by esterification. The perylenediimide (PDI)‐modified PVA polymers are soluble in water and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). This solubility is conferred to the insoluble perylene derivative by the water‐soluble polymer. The materials have been characterized by hydrogen‐nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirming the covalent attachment of the PDI to the polymer chains. The significant changes in the crystalline parameters and the thermal stability observed for the polymer after the esterification also confirm the covalent linkage with PDI. In addition, the PDI‐modified PVA shows good fluorescence both in solution (quantum yield ～0.2–0.25) and in solid suggesting that the PDI retains largely its photochemical and photophysical properties after immobilization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3613–3622, 2010     

Self-assembly and characterization of hydrogen-bond-induced nanostructure aggregation.

A supramolecular system of a perylene derivative containing bis(2,6-diacylaminopyridine) units and a perylene bisimide bound through three hydrogen-bonds was synthesized and characterized. 1H NMR spectra confirmed the existence of hydrogen-bonding interactions between the perylene derivative (3) and the perylene bisimide (7). The photocurrent generation of the self-assembled 3.7 film was measured, and a cathodic photocurrent response was obtained. SEM images indicated that well-defined long fibers could be fabricated by self-assembly, by exploiting the hydrogen bonding interactions and pi-pi stacking interactions of perylene rings.     

Self-assembled aggregates of amphiphilic perylene diimide-based semiconductor molecules: effect of morphology on conductivity

Two amphiphilic perylenetetracarboxylic diimide derivatives modified with different side chains at imide nitrogen, N-n-hexyl-N'-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,7-di(4'-t-butyl)phenoxy-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PDI 1) and N,N'-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,7-di(4'-t-butyl)phenoxy-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PDI 2), were fabricated into organic nanostructures via solution-phase self-assembly. Their self-assembling properties in methanol and n-hexane have been comparatively studied by electronic absorption, fluorescence, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The morphologies and structures of the self-assemblies were examined by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The conducting properties were evaluated by current-voltage (I-V) measurements. Due to the presence of different number of hydroxyethyl groups in the molecule of PDI 1 and PDI 2, the self-assembly of the two molecules in methanol and n-hexane results in nanostructures with distinctly different morphology as follows: nanobelts and nanoleaves for PDI 1 and nanobelt dendrites and nanosheets for PDI 2, respectively. Analysis of the spectral change for the aggregates relative to that of monomeric PDI in solution revealed that in polar and apolar solvents, both nanobelts and nanoleaves precipitated from PDI 1 adopt the H aggregation mode, whereas nanobelt dendrites and nanosheets from PDI 2 adopt H and J aggregation mode, respectively, implying the effect of both side-chain substituent and solvent on tuning the intermolecular stacking. Furthermore, the conductivity of the aggregates of either PDI 1 or PDI 2 from methanol is more than ca. 1 order of magnitude higher than those from n-hexane. In particular, the well-defined, one-dimensional (1D) nanobelts of PDI 1 show excellent semiconducting property with the electrical conductivity as high as 3.3×10(-3) S cm(-1), which might serve as promising candidates for applications in nano-electronics.     

A Perylene diimide based fluorescent probe for caffeine in aqueous medium

Caffeine is a legal stimulant drug which has received considerable attention due to its widespread use as a beverage and in pharmaceutical formulations. However, reported chemosensors for caffeine are limited. In the present study use of a perylene diimide (PDI) derivative has been explored for the first time for detection and quantification of caffeine in an aqueous medium. Spectroscopic studies (UV-Vis, Fluorescence, FTIR and 1H-NMR) suggest that aspartic acid modified perylene diimide (PASP) may bind to caffeine through π-π interaction. This interaction results in immediate quenching of fluorescence and optical color change which can be perceived through naked eyes. This probe has been successfully used for bio-imaging of caffeine in living cells.     

Effect of peripheral hydrophobic alkoxy substitution on the organic field effect transistor performance of amphiphilic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium triple-decker complexes

A series of four amphiphilic heteroleptic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium complexes with different lengths of hydrophobic alkoxy substituents on one outer phthalocyanine ligand [Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(OCnH(2n+1))8] (n = 4, 6, 10,12) (1, 2, 4, and 5) was designed and prepared. Their film forming and organic field effect transistor properties have been systematically studied in comparison with analogous [Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(OC8H17)8] (3). Experimental results showed that all these typical amphiphilic sandwich triple-decker molecules have been fabricated into highly ordered films by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, which displays carrier mobility in the direction parallel to the aromatic phthalocyanine rings in the range of 0.0032-0.60 cm2 V(-1) s(-1) depending on the length of the hydrophobic alkoxy substituents. This is rationalized on the basis of comparative morphology analysis results of the LB films by the atomic force microscopy technique.     

1,6- And 1,7-Regioisomers of Perylene Tetracarboxylic Dianhydride and Diimide: The Effects of Neutral Bay Substituents on the Electrochemical and Structural Properties

Abstract

The electrochemical and structural properties of a series of 1,6- and 1,7-regioisomers of different sized bay-appended perylene diimides (PDIs) and perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydrides (PTCDs) were assessed. Steric effects by large bay substituents triphenylsilylacetylene and tritylacetylene play a major role in the geometry of the solid and solution states. New triphenylsilylacetyene and 1-pentynyl derivatives were prepared and characterized. Suitable crystals for X-ray analysis of tritylacetylene and n-hexyl compounds illustrated the structural alterations in the bay region. The bulky tritylacetylene appended PDI assumed a nearly planar π-configuration, equivalent to an unsubstituted PDI. In contrast, a slender and less bulky hexyl chain incorporated PDI underwent a significant twisting of the central core of PDI. Neutral and conjugated groups at the bay region of PDI enhanced its reductive capability. In contrast, incorporation of neutral and nonconjugated groups at the bay region slightly diminished the reductive capability of resulting PDI derivative. PTCDs consisting of both bulky and slender groups were reduced significantly more readily in relation to the respective PDIs. Electrochemical reductive properties of selected PDIs and PTCDs were obtained along with optical properties of 1,6- and 1,7-PDIs.     

Facile synthesis of chiral unsymmetric perylene tetracarboxylic diimides involving α-amino acids

A facile synthesis of chiral unsymmetric perylene tetracarboxylic diimides (PDIs) has been developed and the first two nonracemic chiral amphiphilic PDIs have been synthesized. The key building blocks, AB bifunctional 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic-3,4-anhydride-9,10-imides, were prepared conveniently from enantiomerically pure α-amino acids, which were introduced as the steric and stereochemical controlling units. Such building blocks allow the incorporation of sterically and stereochemically controlled PDI moieties into both terminal and inner positions.     

含杂原子的并五苯类似物合成及场效应性能研究

以N,N'-二苯基-1,4-苯二胺为原料, 合成了含硫和氮杂原子的并五苯类似物, 用可见-紫外吸收光谱和电化学测试对这类化合物进行表征, 确定了其光学带隙及轨道能级, 与并五苯相比它们具有低的最高占用分子轨道能级. 得到了三苯并二噻嗪的单晶结构, 分子具有平面结构, 分子间具有强的π…π相互作用和N…S相互作用. 首次将该类并五苯类似物应用于有机薄膜场效应晶体管中, 器件显示好的场效应特性, 迁移率为0.01 cm²·V^-1·s^-1.     

Thermal hysteresis in the photoresponsivity of a langmuir film of amphiphilic spiropyran

We have found a thermal hysteresis in the photoresponsivity of a Langmuir film for the first time. The Langmuir film of an amphiphilic spiropyran, 1',3'-dihydro-3',3'-dimethyl-6-nitro-1'-octadecyl-8-(docosanoyloxymethyl)spiro[2H-1-benzopyran-2,2'-(2H)-indole] (SP) was fabricated at 13 degrees C at 10 mN m-1, followed by heating to a given temperature. UV irradiation of this film caused only the isomerization of SP to the corresponding merocyanine (MC) up to 29 degrees C. Light-induced J-aggregation of MC occurred at 30 degrees C. On the other hand, once the film was heated to 30 degrees C, light-induced J-aggregation was observed down to 27 degrees C. The hysteresis should be related with the phase transitions that occur in the bulk of SP at similar temperatures. No significant morphological change occurred by light-induced J-aggregation in the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film of SP by the present method, in contrast to the case of the LB films fabricated under isothermal conditions at 30 degrees C. This feature enabled us to pattern the LB film with J-aggregate of MC by UV irradiation through a photomask of lines with a width of 5 mum each.     

Near‐Infrared‐Emissive Amphiphilic BODIPY Assemblies Manipulated by Charge‐Transfer Interaction: From Nanofibers to Nanorods and Nanodisks

A novel near‐infrared (NIR)‐emissive amphiphilic BODIPY derivative, BBDP, was successfully prepared and thoroughly characterized. The photophysical properties in various organic solvents and THF/H₂O mixtures with different fractions of water were investigated. BBDP self‐assembled into nanofibers in a water environment owing to its amphiphilic properties. Through charge‐transfer interactions, BBDP co‐assembled with a perylene bisimide derivative, PBI, and a viologen derivative, MV, to generate two superamphiphiles. These two superamphiphiles were able to aggregate in water media at appropriate concentrations. The BBDP–PBI charge‐transfer complex formed nanorods, whereas the BBDP–MV aggregates expressed a disk‐like morphology. This research paves the way for us to manipulate the morphology of dye assemblies.     

Direct Evidence of Significantly Different Chemical Behavior and Excited‐State Dynamics of 1,7‐ and 1,6‐Regioisomers of Pyrrolidinyl‐Substituted Perylene Diimide

Novel bay‐functionalized perylene diimides with additional substitution sites close to the perylene core have been prepared by the reaction between 1,7(6)‐dibromoperylene diimide 6 (dibromo‐PDI) and 2‐(benzyloxymethyl)pyrrolidine 5 . Distinct differences in the chemical behaviors of the 1,7‐ and 1,6‐regioisomers have been discerned. While the 1,6‐dibromo‐PDI produced the corresponding 1,6‐bis‐substituted derivative more efficiently, the 1,7‐dibromo‐PDI underwent predominant mono‐debromination, yielding a mono‐substituted PDI along with a small amount of the corresponding 1,7‐bis‐substituted compound. By varying the reaction conditions, a controlled stepwise bis‐substitution of the bromo substituents was also achieved, allowing the direct synthesis of asymmetrical 1,6‐ and 1,7‐PDIs. The compounds were isolated as individual regioisomers. Fullerene (C₆₀) was then covalently linked at the bay region of the newly prepared PDIs. In this way, two separate sets of perylene diimide–fullerene dyads, namely single‐bridged (SB‐1,7‐PDI‐C₆₀ and SB‐1,6‐PDI‐C₆₀) and double‐bridged (DB‐1,7‐PDI‐C₆₀ and DB‐1,6‐PDI‐C₆₀), were synthesized. The fullerene was intentionally attached at the bay region of the PDI to achieve close proximity of the two chromophores and to ensure an efficient photoinduced electron transfer. A detailed study of the photodynamics has revealed that photoinduced electron transfer from the perylene diimide chromophore to the fullerene occurs in all four dyads in polar benzonitrile, and also occurs in the single‐bridged dyads in nonpolar toluene. The process was found to be substantially faster and more efficient in the dyads containing the 1,7‐regioisomer, both for the singly‐ and double‐bridged molecules. In the case of the single‐bridged dyads, SB‐1,7‐PDI‐C₆₀ and SB‐1,6‐PDI‐C₆₀, different relaxation pathways of their charge‐separated states have been discovered. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first observation of photoinduced electron transfer in PDI‐C₆₀ dyads in a nonpolar medium.     

Chemisorption,Morphology, and Structure of a n‐Type Perylene Diimide Derivative at the Interface with Gold: Influence on Devices from Thin Films to Single Molecules

We have investigated thin films of a perylene diimide derivative with a cyano‐functionalized core (PDI‐8CN₂) deposited on Au(111) single crystals from the monolayer to the multilayer regime. We found that PDI‐8CN₂ is chemisorbed on gold. The molecules experience a thickness‐dependent reorientation, and a 2D growth mode with molecular stepped terraces is achieved adopting low deposition rates. The obtained results are discussed in terms of their impact on field effect devices, also clarifying why the use of substrate/contact treatments, decoupling PDI‐8CN₂ molecules from the substrate/contacts, is beneficial for such devices. Our results also suggest that perylene diimide derivatives with CN bay‐functionalization are very promising candidates for single‐molecule electronic devices.     

2,7-diphenyl[1]benzoselenopheno[3,2-b][1]benzoselenophene as a stable organic semiconductor for a high-performance field-effect transistor

[1]Benzoselenopheno[3,2-b][1]benzoselenophene (BSBS) and its 2,7-diphenyl derivative (DPh-BSBS) were readily synthesized from diphenylacetylene and bis(biphenyl-4-yl)acetylene, respectively, with a newly developed straightforward selenocyclization protocol. In contrast to the parent BSBS that has poor film-forming properties, the diphenyl derivative DPh-BSBS formed a good thin film on the Si/SiO(2) substrate by vapor deposition. X-ray diffraction examination revealed that this film consists of highly ordered molecules that are nearly perpendicular to the substrate, making it suitable for use in the fabrication of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). When fabricated at different substrate temperatures (room temperature, 60 degrees C, and 100 degrees C) in a "top-contact" configuration, all the DPh-BSBS-based OFET devices exhibited excellent p-channel field-effect properties with hole mobilities >0.1 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and current on/off ratios of approximately 10(6). This high performance was essentially maintained over 3000 continuous scans between V(g) = +20 and -100 V and reproduced even after storage under ambient laboratory conditions for at least one year.     

Structure of thermally treated oxadiazoleamide Langmuir-Blodgett films

The thermal treatment of Y-type Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films formed from the amphiphilic derivative of 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole 1 results in changes of the molecular packing. These changes have been analysed by a combination of X-ray specular reflectivity data, X-ray grazing incidence diffraction data and scanning force microscopy images. On the basis of these experimental data we have simulated possible supramolecular structures. These simulations provide insight into the intermolecular interactions giving rise to the observed structural transitions. The crystalline structure induced by thermal treatment of the LB films is chracterized by a uniaxial texture, which is correlated with the dipping direction during deposition of the LB film.     

Time‐Dependent Aggregation‐Induced Enhanced Emission,Absorption Spectral Broadening,and Aggregation Morphology of a Novel Perylene Derivative with a Large D–π–A Structure

Strong aggregation‐caused quenching of perylene diimides (PDI) is changed successfully by simple chemical modification with two quinoline moieties through C?C at the bay positions to obtain aggregation‐induced enhanced emission (AIEE) of a perylene derivative ( Cya‐PDI ) with a large π‐conjugation system. Cya‐PDI is weakly luminescent in the well‐dispersed CH₃CN or THF solutions and exhibits an evident time‐dependent AIEE and absorption spectra broadening in the aggregated state. In addition, morphological inspection demonstrates that the morphology of the aggregated form of Cya‐PDI molecules changed from plate‐shaped to rod‐like aggregates under the co‐effects of time and water. An edge‐to‐face arrangement of aggregation was proposed and discussed. The fact that the Cya‐PDI aggregates show a broad absorption covering the whole visible‐light range and strong intermolecular interaction through π–π stacking in the solid state makes them promising materials for optoelectric applications.