Reversible Photoresponsive Molecular Alignment of Liquid Crystals at Fluid Interfaces with Persistent Stability

This work demonstrates a noninvasive approach to control alignment of liquid crystals persistently and reversibly at fluid interfaces by using a photoresponsive azobenzene‐based surfactant dissolved in an ionic liquid (IL), ethylammonium nitrate (EAN). As the first report on the orientational behavior of LCs at the IL/LC interface, our study also expands current understanding of alignment control of LCs at the aqueous/LC interface by adding electrolytes into aqueous solutions. The threshold concentration for switching the optical responses of LCs can be changed just by simply manipulating the ratio of EAN to H₂O. This work will inspire fundamental studies and novel applications of using the LC‐based imaging technique to investigate various chemical and biological events in ILs.     

A Simple Quantitative Method to Study Protein–Lipopolysaccharide Interactions by Using Liquid Crystals

The interaction of proteins with endotoxins has divergent effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced responses, which serve as a basis for many clinical and therapeutic applications. It is, therefore, important to understand these interactions from both theoretical and practical points of view. This paper advances the design of liquid crystal (LC)‐based stimuli‐responsive soft materials for quantitative measurements of LPS–protein binding events through interfacial ordering transition. Micrometer‐thick films of LCs undergo easily visualized ordering transitions in response to proteins at LPS–aqueous interfaces of the LCs. The optical response of the LC changes from dark to bright after aqueous solutions of hemoglobin (Hb), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and lysozyme proteins (LZM) are in contact with a LPS‐laden aqueous–LC interface. The effects of interactions of different proteins with LPS are also observed to cause the response of the LC to vary significantly from one to another; this indicates that manipulation of the protein–LPS binding affinity can provide the basis for a general, facile method to tune the LPS‐induced responses of the LCs to interfacial phenomena. By measuring the optical retardation of the 4′‐pentyl‐4‐cyanobiphenyl (5CB) LC, the binding affinity of the proteins (Hb, BSA, and LZM) towards LPS that leads to different orientational behavior at the aqueous interfaces of the LCs can be determined. The interaction of proteins with the LPS‐laden monolayer is highest for LPS–Hb, followed by LPS–BSA, and least for LPS–LZM; this is in correlation with their increasing order of binding constants (LPS‐Hb>LPS‐BSA>LPS‐LZM). The results presented herein pave the way for quantitative and multiplexed measurements of LPS–protein binding events and reveal the potential of the LC system to be used as quantitative LC‐based, stimuli‐responsive soft materials.     

Preparation and Properties of Transparent Ultrathin Lanthanide‐Complex Films

Highly transparent ultrathin films (UTFs) based on alternative layer‐by‐layer assembly of Eu‐ and Tb‐based lanthanide complexes (LCs) and Mg–Al‐layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets are reported herein. UV–visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy showed an orderly growth of the two types of ultrathin films upon increasing the number of deposition cycles. AFM and SEM measurements indicate that the films feature periodic layered structures as well as uniform surface morphology. Luminescent investigations reveal that (LCs/LDH)_n UTFs can detect Fe³⁺ with relative selectivity and high sensitivity (Stern–Volmer constant K_SV=8.43×10³ L mol^?1); this suggests that (LCs/LDH)_n UTFs could be a promising luminescent probe for selectively sensing Fe³⁺ ion.     

A Novel Potentiometric Sensor for Thiocyanate Based on an Amide‐Linked Manganese Diporphyrin Xanthene

The synthesis of a new compound, amide‐linked manganese diporphyrin xanthene (Mn₂Cl₂ADPX), and its application for preparation of thiocyanate selective electrodes was described. The electrode was prepared with a PVC membrane combining Mn₂Cl₂ADPX as an electro active material, 2‐nitrophenyl octyl ether (o‐NPOE) as a plasticizer in the percentage ratio of 3 : 65 : 32 (Mn₂Cl₂ADPX: o‐NPOE: PVC, w : w : w). The electrode exhibited linear response within the concentration range of 2.4×10^?6 to 1.0×10^?1 M SCN^?, with a working pH range from 3.0 to 8.0 and a fast response time of less than 60 s. Several electroactive materials and solvent mediators have been compared and the experimental conditions were optimized. The Mn₂Cl₂ADPX based electrode shows obviously better response characteristics than that of monoporphyrin manganese in terms of working concentration range and slope. Selectivity coefficients for SCN^? relative to a number of interfering ions were investigated. The electrode exhibits anti‐Hofmeister selectivity toward SCN^? with respect to common coexisting anions. The electrode was applied to the determination of SCN^? in body urine with satisfactory results.     

A Theoretical Perspective to Decipher the Origin of High Hydrogen Storage Capacity in Mn(II) Metal-Organic Framework

Herein, we report a detailed periodic DFT investigation of Mn(II)-based [(Mn₄Cl)₃(BTT)₈]³⁻ (BTT³⁻=1,3,5-benzenetristetrazolate) metal-organic framework (MOF) to explore various hydrogen binding pockets, nature of MOF…H₂ interactions, magnetic coupling and, H₂ uptake capacity. Earlier experiments found an uptake capacity of 6.9 wt % of H_2, with the heat of adsorption estimated to be ∼10 kJ/mol, which is one among the highest for any MOFs reported. Our calculations unveil different binding sites with computed binding energy varying from −6 to −15 kJ/mol. The binding of H₂ at the Mn²⁺ site is found to be the strongest (site I), with H₂ found to bind Mn²⁺ ion in a η² fashion with a distance of 2.27 Å and binding energy of −15.4 kJ/mol. The bonding analysis performed using NBO and AIM reveal a strong donation of σ (H₂) to the d_z² orbital of the Mn²⁺ ion responsible for such large binding energy. The other binding pockets, such as −Cl (site II) and BTT ligands (site III and IV) were found to be weaker, with the binding energy decreasing in the order I>II>III>IV. The average binding energy computed for these four sites put together is 9.6 kJ/mol, which is in excellent agreement with the experimental value of ∼10 kJ/mol. We have expanded our calculations to compute binding energy for multiple sites simultaneously, and in this model, the binding energy per site was found to decrease as we increased the number of H₂ molecules suggesting electronic and steric factors controlling the overall uptake capacity. The calculated adsorption isotherm using the GCMC method reproduces the experimental observations. Further, the magnetic coupling computed for the unbound MOF reveals moderate ferromagnetic and strong antiferromagnetic coupling within the tetrameric {Mn₄} unit leading to a three-up-one-down spin configuration as the ground state. These were then coupled ferromagnetically to other tetrameric units in the MOF network. The magnetic coupling was found to alter only marginally upon gas binding, suggesting that both exchange interaction and the spin-states are unlikely to play a role in the H₂ uptake. This is contrary to the O₂ uptake studied lately, where strong dependence on exchange-coupling/spin state was witnessed, suggesting exchange-coupling/magnetic field dependent binding as a viable route for gas separation.     

A Cationic MOF with High Uptake and Selectivity for CO2 due to Multiple CO2‐Philic Sites

The reaction of N‐rich pyrazinyl triazolyl carboxyl ligand 3‐(4‐carboxylbenzene)‐5‐(2‐pyrazinyl)‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (H₂cbptz) with MnCl₂ afforded 3D cationic metal–organic framework (MOF) [Mn₂(Hcbptz)₂(Cl)(H₂O)]Cl ? DMF ? 0.5 CH₃CN ( 1 ), which has an unusual (3,4)‐connected 3,4T1 topology and 1D channels composed of cavities. MOF 1 has a very polar framework that contains exposed metal sites, uncoordinated N atoms, narrow channels, and Cl^? basic sites, which lead to not only high CO₂ uptake, but also remarkably selective adsorption of CO₂ over N₂ and CH₄ at 298–333 K. The multiple CO₂‐philic sites were identified by grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Moreover, 1 shows excellent stability in natural air environment. These advantages make 1 a very promising candidate in post‐combustion CO₂ capture, natural‐gas upgrading, and landfill gas‐purification processes.     

A novel bridged asymmetric binuclear manganese(II) complex with DTPB [DTPB is 1,1,4,7,7‐pentakis(1H‐benz­imidazol‐2‐yl­methyl)‐1,4,7‐tri­aza­heptane]

The crystal structure of the title compound, tetra­chloro­[μ‐1,1,4,7,7‐pentakis(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl­methyl)‐1,4,7‐tri­azaheptane]­dimanganese(II) methanol pentasolvate tetrahydrate, [Mn₂Cl₄(C₄₄H₄₃N₁₃)]·5CH₄O·4H₂O, contains an ­asymmetric dinuclear Mn^II–DTPB [DTPB is 1,1,4,7,7‐pentakis(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl­methyl)‐1,4,7‐tri­aza­heptane] complex with an intra‐ligand bridging group (–NCH₂CH₂N–), as well as several solvate mol­ecules (methanol and water). Both Mn^II cations have similar distorted octahedral coordination geometries. One Mn^II cation is coordinated by a Cl⁻ anion and five N atoms from the ligand, and the other is coordinated by three Cl⁻ anions and three N atoms of the same ligand. The Mn⋯Mn distance is 7.94 Å. A Cl⋯H—O⋯H—O⋯H—N hydrogen‐bond chain is also observed, connecting the two parts of the complex.     

Squaraine Rotaxane as a Reversible Optical Chloride Sensor

A mechanically interlocked squaraine rotaxane is comprised of a deep‐red fluorescent squaraine dye inside a tetralactam macrocycle. NMR studies show that Cl^? binding to the rotaxane induces macrocycle translocation away from the central squaraine station, a process that is completely reversed when the Cl^? is removed from the solution. Steady‐state fluorescence and excited‐state lifetime measurements show that this reversible machine‐like motion modulates several technically useful optical properties, including a three‐fold increase in deep‐red fluorescence emission that is observable to the naked eye. The excited states were characterized quantitatively by time‐correlated single photon counting, femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, and nanosecond laser flash photolysis. Cl^? binding to the rotaxane increases the squaraine excited singlet state lifetime from 1.5 to 3.1 ns, and decreases the excited triplet state lifetime from >200 to 44 μs. Apparently, the surrounding macrocycle quenches the excited singlet state of the encapsulated squaraine dye and stabilizes the excited triplet state. Prototype dipsticks were prepared by adsorbing the lipophilic rotaxane onto the ends of narrow, C18‐coated, reverse‐phase silica gel plates. The fluorescence intensity of a dipstick increased eighteen‐fold upon dipping in an aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium chloride (300 mM ) and was subsequently reversed by washing with pure water. It is possible to develop the dipsticks for colorimetric determination of Cl^? levels by the naked eye. After dipping into aqueous tetrabutylammonium chloride, a dipstick’s color slowly fades at a rate that depends on the amount of Cl^? in the aqueous solution. The fading process is due primarily to hydrolytic bleaching of the squaraine chromophore within the rotaxane. That is, association of Cl^? to immobilized rotaxane induces macrocycle translocation and exposure of the electrophilic C₄O₂ core of the squaraine station, which is in turn attacked by the ambient moisture to produce a bleached product.     

Superior electro-optical performance in vertically aligned liquid crystal devices based on aluminum oxide films

We achieved vertically aligned (VA) liquid crystals (LCs) on aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) films deposited via e-beam evaporation using a rubbing treatment. Uniform and vertical LC alignment was achieved and high thermal stability was obtained using these substrates. By analyzing measurements from optical retardations, we confirm that the LC orientation is adjustable using rubbing treatment. The superior electro-optical characteristics of the VA cells based on Al₂O₃ films are measured and compared with those based on polyimide layers, indicating that this approach will allow the fabrication of high-performance, advanced LC displays using a conventional rubbing process.     

Hydration preferences for Mn4Ca cluster models of photosystem II: location of potential substrate-water binding sites

Density functional theory calculations are reported on a set of three model structures of the Mn₄Ca cluster in the water‐oxidizing complex of Photosystem II (PSII), which share the structural formula [CaMn₄C₉H₁₀N₂O₁₆]^q+ ? (H₂O)_n (q=?1, 0, 1, 2, 3; n=0–7). In these calculations we have explored the preferred hydration sites of the Mn₄Ca cluster across five overall oxidation states (S₀ to S₄) and all feasible magnetic‐coupling arrangements to identify the most likely substrate–water binding sites. We have also explored charge‐compensated structures in which the overall charge on the cluster is maintained at q=0 or +1, which is consistent with the experimental data on sequential proton loss in the real system. The three model structures have skeletal arrangements that are strongly reminiscent, in their relative metal‐atom positions, of the 2.9‐, 3.7‐, and 3.5 Å‐resolution crystal structures, respectively, whereas the charge states encompassed in our study correspond to an assignment of (Mn^III)₃Mn^II for S₀ and up to (Mn^IV)₃Mn^III for S₄. The three models differ principally in terms of the spatial relationship between one Mn (Mn(4)) and a generally robust Mn₃Ca tetrahedron that contains Mn(1), Mn(2), and Mn(3). Oxidation‐state distributions across the four manganese atoms, in most of the explored charge states, are dependent on details of the cluster geometry, on the extent of assumed hydration of the clusters, and in some instances on the imposed magnetic‐coupling between adjacent Mn atoms. The strongest water‐binding sites are generally those on Mn(4) and Ca. However, one structure type displays a high‐affinity binding site between Ca and Mn(3), the S‐state‐dependent binding‐energy pattern of which is most consistent with the substrate water‐exchange kinetics observed in functional PSII. This structure type also permits another water molecule to access the cluster in a manner consistent with the substrate–water interaction with the Mn cluster, seen in electron spin‐echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) studies of the functional enzyme in the S₀ and S₂ states. It also rationalizes the significant differences in hydrogen‐bonding interactions of the substrate water observed in the FTIR measurements of the S₁ and S₂ states. We suggest that these two water‐binding sites, which are molecularly close, model the actual substrate‐binding sites in the enzyme.     

A dodeca­nuclear manganese(II,III) complex of penta­erythritol

The mol­ecule of the title compound, tetra‐μ₂‐acetato‐diaquadi‐μ₂‐chloro‐tetra­chloro­tetra­kis[μ₄‐3‐hydroxy‐2,2‐bis­(oxido­meth­yl)propanol­ato]­tetra­methanoldi‐μ₃‐methanolato‐di‐μ₅‐oxo‐octa­manganese(II)­tetra­manganese(III), [Mn₄^IIIMn₈^II(CH₃O)₂(C₂H₃O₂)₄(C₅H₉O₄)₄Cl₆O₂(CH₄O)₄(H₂O)₂], displays a centre of symmetry. The structure of the {Mn₄^IIIMn₈^IIO₁₈Cl₂}¹⁰⁻ core is composed of three layers and features two oxo ligands binding in a rare μ₅‐mode.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structures,and Magnetic Properties of Two Tetrahedral MnIIMnIII3 Complexes

Two tetranuclear manganese complexes, [NaMn^IIMn₃^III(μ₄‐O^2–)(HL)₃(SCN)₄] ( 1 ) and [NaMn^IIMn₃^III(μ₄‐O^2–)(HL)₃Cl₄][NaMn^IIMn₃^III(μ₄‐O^2–)(HL)₃Cl₃(H₂O)]ClO₄ · 3.5H₂O ( 2 ) were obtained from the reaction of manganese perchlorate with a quadridentate Schiff base ligand, 3‐(2‐hydroxybenzylideneamino)propane‐1, 2‐diol (H₃L) derived from condensation of 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde with 3‐amino‐1, 2‐propanediol, as well as the coligand KSCN or NaCl under basic conditions. Single‐crystal X‐ray studies reveal that those two complexes all have a mixed‐valent tetrahedral core, which contains an apical Mn^II ion and three basal Mn^III ions situated in the [Mn₃(μ₄‐O^2–)]⁷⁺ equilateral triangle plane. Fitting of the magnetic susceptibility data to the theoretical χ_mT vs. T expression, revealed that the presence of only antiferromagnetic interactions between the central metal atoms in 1 , while both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions are present in 2 .     

Fe-doped and Mn-doped titanium dioxide thin films

Thin films of TiO₂ doped with Fe and Mn were deposited on F-doped SnO₂-coated glass by spin coating. Dopant concentrations of 3–7 wt% (metal basis) were used. The structural, chemical, and optical characteristics of the films were investigated. Laser Raman microspectroscopy and glancing angle X-ray diffraction data showed that the films consisted of the anatase polymorph of TiO₂. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data indicated the presence of Fe³⁺, Mn⁴⁺, and Mn³⁺ in the doped films, as predicted by calculated thermodynamic stability diagrams, and the occurrence of atomic disorder and associated structural distortion. Ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry data showed that the optical indirect band gap of the films decreased significantly with increasing dopant levels, from 3.36 eV (undoped) to 2.95 eV (7 wt% Fe) and 2.90 eV (7 wt% Mn). These improvements are attributed to single (Fe) or multiple (Mn) shallow electron/hole trapping sites associated with the dopant ions.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Soluble Polyimide Containing a Photoreactive 4‐Styrylpyridine Derivative as the Side Group

An aromatic polyimide bearing photoreactive 4‐(2‐(4‐oxyethylenyloxyphenyl)vinyl)pyridine side groups was synthesized and characterized. The polymer is stable up to 300°C and soluble in organic solvents, giving thin films in good quality. When exposed to UV light, it reorients favorably with an angle of 98° with respect to the electric vector of linearly polarized UV light. UV‐exposed films align liquid‐crystals (LCs) homogeneously along the preferential orientation of the polymer chains on the surface. The pretilt angle of the LCs is 0.32–0.92°, depending on the exposure dose and annealing. LC alignment is retained up to 210°C. Based on the optical retardation behavior and spectroscopic measurements, a photoalignment mechanism is proposed.     

A New Mixed‐Valence Tetranuclear Manganese [MnII2MnIII2] Cluster

A new tetranuclear manganese complex [Mn₂^IIMn₂^III(bhmcpH)₂(hmp)₄Cl₂(MeOH)₂] ( 1 ) [bhmcpH₃ = 2, 6‐bis(hydroxymethyl)‐4‐chlorophenol, hmpH = 2‐(hydroxymethyl)pyridine] was synthesized and characterized. X‐ray diffraction analyses reveal that complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c. It has a mixed‐valence tetranuclear dicubane unit, which comprises two Mn^II and two Mn^III ions. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibilities of 1 indicates ferromagnetic interactions between the manganese ions.     

Anion Recognition by Aliphatic Helical Oligoureas

Anion binding properties of neutral helical foldamers consisting of urea type units in their backbone have been investigated. ¹H NMR titration studies in various organic solvents including DMSO suggest that the interaction between aliphatic oligoureas and anions (CH₃COO^?, H₂PO₄^?, Cl^?) is site‐specific, as it largely involves the urea NHs located at the terminal end of the helix (positive pole of the helix), which do not participate to the helical intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding network. This mode of binding parallels that found in proteins in which anion‐binding sites are frequently found at the N‐terminus of an α‐helix. ¹H NMR studies suggest that the helix of oligoureas remains largely folded upon anion binding, even in the presence of a large excess of the anion. This study points to potentially useful applications of oligourea helices for the selective recognition of small guest molecules.     

X‐ray characterization and magnetic properties of dioxygen‐bridged CuII and MnIII Schiff base complexes

The coordination chemistry of multinuclear metal compounds is important because of their relevance to the multi‐metal active sites of various metalloproteins and metalloenzymes. Multinuclear Cu^II and Mn^III compounds are of interest due to their various properties in the fields of coordination chemistry, inorganic biochemistry, catalysis, and optical and magnetic materials. Oxygen‐bridged binuclear Mn^III complexes generally exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions and a few examples of ferromagnetic interactions have also been reported. Binuclear Cu^II complexes are important due to the fact that they provide examples of the simplest case of magnetic interaction involving only two unpaired electrons. Two novel dioxygen‐bridged copper(II) and manganese(III) Schiff base complexes, namely bis(μ‐4‐bromo‐2‐{[(3‐oxidopropyl)imino]methyl}phenolato)dicopper(II), [Cu₂(C₁₀H₁₀BrNO₂)₂], (1), and bis(diaqua{4,4′‐dichloro‐2,2′‐[(1,1‐dimethylethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis(nitrilomethanylylidene)]diphenolato}manganese(III)) bis{μ‐4,4′‐dichloro‐2,2′‐[(1,1‐dimethylethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis(nitrilomethanylylidene)]diphenolato}bis[aquamanganese(III)] tetrakis(perchlorate) ethanol disolvate, [Mn(C₁₈H₁₆Cl₂N₂O₂)(H₂O)₂]₂[Mn₂(C₁₈H₁₆Cl₂N₂O₂)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₄·2C₂H₅OH, (2), have been synthesized and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction has been used to analyze their crystal structures. The structure analyses of (1) and (2) show that each Cu^II atom is four‐coordinated, with long weak Cu…O interactions of 2.8631 (13) Å linking the dinuclear halves of the centrosymmetric tetranucelar molecules, while each Mn^III atom is six‐coordinated. The shortest intra‐ and intermolecular nonbonding Mn…Mn separations are 3.3277 (16) and 5.1763 (19) Å for (2), while the Cu…Cu separations are 3.0237 (3) and 3.4846 (3) Å for (1). The magnetic susceptibilities of (1) and (2) in the solid state were measured in the temperature range 2–300 K and reveal the presence of antiferromagnetic spin‐exchange interactions between the transition metal ions.     

Magnetothermal studies of a series of coordination clusters built from ferromagnetically coupled {Mn(II) (4)Mn(III) (6)} supertetrahedral units

Three high‐nuclearity mixed valence manganese^II/III coordination clusters, have been synthesised, that is, [Mn ^III ₆Mn ^II ₄(μ₃‐O)₄(HL¹)₆(μ₃‐N₃)₃(μ₃‐Br)(Br)](N₃)_0.7/(Br)_0.3 ? 3 MeCN ? 2 MeOH ( 1 ) (H₃L¹=3‐methylpentan‐1,3,5‐triol), [Mn^III₁₁Mn^II₆(μ₄‐O)₈(μ₃‐Cl)₄(μ,μ₃‐O₂CMe)₂(μ,μ‐L²)₁₀Cl_2.34(O₂CMe)_0.66(py)₃(MeCN)₂] ? 7 MeCN ( 2 ) (H₂L²=2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐propanediol and py is pyridine), and [Mn^III₁₂Mn^II₇(μ₄‐O)₈(μ₃‐η¹N₃)₈(HL³)₁₂(MeCN)₆]Cl₂ ? 10 MeOH ? MeCN ( 3 ) (H₃L³=2,6‐bis(hydroxymethyl)‐4‐methylphenol) with high ground‐spin states, S=22, 28±1, and 83/2, respectively; their magnetothermal properties have been studied. The three compounds are based on a common supertetrahedral building block as seen in the Mn₁₀ cluster. This fundamental magnetic unit is made up of a tetrahedron of Mn^II ions with six Mn^III ions placed midway along each edge giving an inscribed octahedron. Thus, the fundamental building unit as represented by compound 1 can be described as a Mn₁₀ supertetrahedron. Compounds 2 and 3 correspond to two such units joined by a common edge or vertex, respectively, resulting in Mn₁₇ and Mn₁₉ coordination clusters. Magnetothermal studies reveal that all three compounds show interesting long‐range magnetic ordering at low temperature, originating from negligible magnetic anisotropy of the compounds; compound 2 shows the largest magnetocaloric effect among the three compounds. This is as expected and can be attributed to the presence of a small magnetic anisotropy, and low‐lying excited states in compound 2 .     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Electrochemistry of the Manganese(I) Complexes of meso‐Substituted [14]Tribenzotriphyrins(2.1.1)

Metalation of 6,13,20,21‐tetraaryl‐22H‐[14]tribenzotriphyrins(2.1.1) (TriP, 1 a – d ) with [Mn(CO)₅Br] provided Mn^I tricarbonyl complexes of [14]tribenzotriphyrins(2.1.1) 2 a – d in 85–93 % yield. The complexes were characterized by mass spectrometry and UV/Vis absorption, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. Single‐crystal X‐ray analyses revealed that 2 b and 2 c adopt bowl‐shaped conformations. The redox properties of [(TriP)Mn^I(CO)₃] ( 2 a – d ) were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Each compound undergoes two reversible one‐electron reductions to form a porphyrin π anion radical and a dianion in CH₂Cl₂. Two oxidation waves were observed, the first of which corresponds to a metal‐centered electron‐transfer process. The redox potentials of 2 a – d are consistent with the optical spectroscopic data and the relatively narrow HOMO–LUMO gaps that were predicted in DFT calculations. The optical spectra can be assigned by using Michl’s perimeter model. TDDFT calculations predict the presence of several metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer bands in the L‐band region between 500 and 700 nm.     

Unique Supramolecular Liquid‐Crystal Phases with Different Two‐Dimensional Crystal Layers

We report herein a series of tetrablock‐mimic azobenzene‐containing [60]fullerene dyads that form supramolecular liquid crystals (LCs) from phase‐segregated two‐dimensional (2D) crystals. The unique double‐, triple‐, and quadruple‐layer packing structure of fullerenes in the 2D crystals leads to different smectic supramolecular LC phases, and novel LC phase transitions were observed upon changes in the fullerene packing layer number in the 2D crystals. Interestingly, by combining the LC properties with 2D crystals, these materials show excellent electron mobility in the order of 10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, despite their relatively low fullerene content. Our results provide a novel method to manipulate 2D crystal layer thickness, with promising applications in optoelectronic devices.