Unusual Aggregation‐Induced Emission of a Coumarin Derivative as a Result of the Restriction of an Intramolecular Twisting Motion

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) is commonly observed for propeller‐like luminogens with aromatic rotors and stators. Herein, we report that a coumarin derivative containing a seven‐membered aliphatic ring (CD‐7) but no rotors showed typical AIE characteristics, whereas its analogue with a five‐membered aliphatic ring (CD‐5) exhibited an opposite aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) effect. Experimental and theoretical results revealed that a large aliphatic ring in CD‐7 weakens structural rigidity and promotes out‐of‐plane twisting of the molecular backbone to drastically accelerate nonradiative excited‐state decay, thus resulting in poor emission in solution. The restriction of twisting motion in aggregates blocks the nonradiative decay channels and enables CD‐7 to fluoresce strongly. The results also show that AIE is a general phenomenon and not peculiar to propeller‐like molecules. The AIE and ACQ effects can be switched readily by the modulation of molecular rigidity.     

Consideration of Molecular Structure in the Excited State to Design New Luminogens with Aggregation‐Induced Emission

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) is a photoluminescence phenomenon in which an AIE luminogen (AIEgen) exhibits intense emission in the aggregated or solid state but only weak or no emission in the solution state. Understanding the mechanism of AIE requires consideration of excited state molecular geometry (for example, a π twist). This Minireview examines the history of AIEgens with a focus on the representative AIEgen, tetraphenylethylene (TPE). The mechanisms of solution‐state quenching are reviewed and the crucial role of excited‐state molecular transformations for AIE is discussed. Finally, recent progress in understanding the relationship between excited state molecular transformations and AIE is overviewed for a range of different AIEgens.     

State-crossing from a Locally Excited to an Electron Transfer State(SLEET) Model Rationalizing the Aggregation-induced Emission Mechanism of (Bi)piperidylanthracenes

Luminogens with aggregation-induced emission(AIE)characteristics(or AIEgens)have been widely used in various applications due to their excellent luminescent properties in molecular aggregates and the solid state.A deep understanding of the AIE mechanism is critical for the rational development of AIEgens.In this work,the“state-crossing from a locally excited to an electron transfer state”(SLEET)model is employed to rationalize the AIE phenomenon of two(bi)piperidylanthracenes.According to the SLEET model,an electron transfer(ET)state is formed along with the rotation of the piperidyl group in the excited state of(bi)piperidylan-thracene monomers,leading to fluorescence quenching.In contrast,a bright state exists in the crystal and molecular aggregates of these compounds,as the intermolecular interactions restrict the formation of the dark ET state.This mechanistic understanding could inspire the deployment of the SLEET model in the rational designs of various functional AIEgens.     

可双光子激发的聚集诱导发光光敏剂及其生物医学应用

综合评述了双光子激发的聚集诱导发光(AIE)光敏剂的研究进展, 重点讨论了双光子激发的AIE光敏剂的设计思路及在生物医学中的应用, 并对其发展前景进行了展望.     

Fluorescent Supramolecular Organic Frameworks Constructed by Amidinium-Carboxylate Salt Bridges

We report here a set of fluorescent supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs) that incorporate aggregation-induced emission (AIE) units within their frameworks. The fluorescent SOFs of this study were constructed by linking the tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based tetra(amidinium) cation TPE⁴⁺ and aromatic dicarboxylate anions through amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges. The resulting self-assembled structures are characterized by fluorescence quantum yields in the range of 4.6∼14 %. This emissive behavior is ascribed to a combination of electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds that operate in concert to impede motions that would otherwise lead to excited state energy dissipation. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the length of the dicarboxylate anion bridges has a considerable impact on the structural features of the resulting frameworks. Nevertheless, all SOFs prepared in the context of the present study were found to display emissive features characteristic of TPE-based AIE luminogens with only a modest dependence on the structural specifics being seen. The SOFs reported here could be reversibly “broken up” and “reformed” in response to acid/base stimuli. This reversible structural behavior is consistent with their SOF nature.     

Immobilization of AIEgens into metal‐organic frameworks: Ligand design,emission behavior,and applications

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE), in which the luminophores are highly emissive in aggregate state, is one of the most unique photophysical phenomena and has shown interesting applications in many areas. The immobilization of AIE luminogens (AIEgens) into metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), which are inorganic‐organic hybrid porous materials with tunable and predictable structures, has been investigated over the past few years. These well‐defined porous frameworks cannot only provide an ideal platform for studying the mechanism of AIE phenomenon in solid state, but also show potential applications from sensing to white light‐emitting diodes. In this highlight, we will summarize the recent progress of AIEgens‐based MOFs, including ligand design, emission behavior, and applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1809–1817     

Unraveling Dual Aggregation-Induced Emission Behavior in Steric-Hindrance Photochromic System for Super Resolution Imaging

Unprecedented dual aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior based on a steric-hindrance photochromic system is presented, with incorporation one or two bulky aryl groups, resulting in different flexibleness. The dual AIE behavior of open and closed isomers can be explained by restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR), restriction of intramolecular vibration (RIV), and intermolecular stacking. The large bulky benzothiophene causes restricted rotation, enhancing the emission of open form in solution and weak π–π molecular packing, thereby efficiently enhancing the luminescence performance in the solid state. With incorporation of two large bulky benzothiophene groups, BBTE possesses the most outstanding AIE activity, undergoing highly efficient and reversible off-to-on fluorescence in film upon alternating UV and visible light irradiation along with excellent fatigue resistance. The off-to-on fluorescent photoswitch is successfully established in super resolution imaging.     

聚集诱导发光机理研究

与传统荧光生色团聚集后导致荧光猝灭相反,有一类化合物在单分子状态下荧光微弱甚至观察不到荧光,而在聚集状态下荧光显著增强,这就是聚集诱导发光(AIE)现象。AIE现象独特的优越性使得众多研究组开发出越来越多的新AIE体系,其机理也被广泛而深入地研究。本文总结了目前为止已经提出的AIE机理,包括分子内旋转受限、分子内共平面、抑制光物理过程或光化学反应、非紧密堆积、形成J-聚集体以及形成特殊激基缔合物等;着重评述了目前研究最为全面、适用范围最广的分子内旋转受限机理。同时介绍了一些基于这些机理设计的新AIE体系。     

Aggregation‐Induced Emission (AIE): A Historical Perspective

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) has attracted considerable interest over the last twenty years. In contrast to the large number of available reviews focusing specifically on AIE, this Essay discusses the AIE phenomenon from a broader perspective, with an emphasis on early observations related to AIE made long before the term was coined. Illustrative examples are highlighted from the 20th century where fluorescence enhancement upon rigidification of dyes in viscous or solid environments or J‐aggregate formation was studied. It is shown that these examples already include typical AIE luminogens such as tetraphenylethylene (TPE) as well as stilbenes and oligo‐ or polyphenylenevinylenes and ‐ethynylenes, which became important fluorescent solid‐state materials in OLED research in the 1990s. Further examples include cyanine dyes such as thiazole orange (TO) or its dimers (TOTOs), which have been widely applied as molecular probes in nucleic acid research. The up to 10 000‐fold fluorescence enhancement of such dyes upon intercalation into double‐stranded DNA, attributable to the restricted intramolecular motion (RIM) concept, afforded commercial products for bioimaging and fluorescence sensing applications already in the early 1990s.     

具有聚集诱导发光特性的新型铂(Ⅱ)金属配合物及其光激发的自敏化氧化反应

The excited states of transition metal complexes with a wide range of photochemical and photophysical properties have attracted considerable attention recently. However, the luminescence property is affected by concentration quenching in practical applications. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is an effective strategy to solve this problem. In this work, a new imidazole-based N^C^N Pt(Ⅱ) metal complex, PtP2IM, with the AIE property was synthesized and characterized according to its single crystal structure. Under visible light, we found that the metal complex undergoes a photo-oxidation reaction with the generation of a new red-emitting, imidazole/benzoylimino-based N^C^N' Pt(Ⅱ) metal complex, PtPIMO, which was also confirmed by the crystal structure. Additional studies on the reaction process and conditions of this photo-oxidation reaction were conducted using different methods, such as NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and so on. The experimental results showed that the change from PtP2IM to PtPIMO gradually occurred, and the new photochemical reaction was finally concluded as the C＝C double bond in either one of the two imidazole rings of the PtP2IM complex was attacked by oxygen to generate a new complex, PtPIMO, under photoirradiation in air. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements demonstrated the production of singlet oxygen, which is an excited state of oxygen with a high energy. Through the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the electronic transition was determined to be a metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) in which more energy could transfer from the triplet excited state of PtP2IM to the ground-state oxygen to generate singlet oxygen (¹O₂) with a high intersystem crossing (ISC) efficiency due to the spin-orbit coupling of Pt heavy atoms. When large amounts of the singlet capture agent, triethylenediamine (TEDA) were added, the previously observed UV-Vis spectra change that corresponded to the photo oxidation reaction was not detected, which means that the photo-oxidation reaction observed in the case of PtP2IM was because of the oxidation by singlet oxygen. When oxygen was removed, excellent photostability and an obvious aggregation-induced emission (AIE) were observed for PtP2IM with the luminescent quantum efficiency of PtP2IM in solution and as a film at ~3% and ~20%, respectively. Based on the packing structure in the crystal, we observed that there were no strong intermolecular interactions, such as π-π or Pt-Pt interactions. Additionally, many intermolecular CH―π bonds between the two adjacent PtP2IM molecules were observed, which could effectively limit the rotation of the peripheral phenyl group linked to the imidazole ring. Thus, the AIE property of PtP2IM was attributed to the restricted intramolecular rotation (RIR) effect of the peripheral flexible phenyl group that was linked to the imidazole ring in the solid state in which the vibration of multiple peripheral benzene rings was effectively suppressed. This decreased the non-radiative transition rate and induced the high luminescent quantum efficiency. In the aggregation state, PtP2IM still demonstrated the photo-oxidation reaction by singlet oxygen. Thus, we report a new Pt(Ⅱ) metal complex, PtP2IM, with the AIE property that can undergo an uncommon photo-oxidation reaction in the photo-excitation state. This work aimed to elucidate the basic photochemical and photophysics of transition metal complexes with the AIE property.     

Photoinduced magnetization in molecular compounds

In this review, recent studies on photoinduced magnetization in molecular compounds are introduced. The magnetic materials presented here range from Prussian blue analogues to purely organic radicals. Various photomagnetic phenomena observed in those materials are briefly described. These are, for example, photoinduced magnetization, photoinduced demagnetization, photoinduced spin cluster, photoinduced magnetic-pole inversion, photoinduced spin flipping, light-induced excited spin state trapping, photoinduced valence tautomerism, etc. It is thought that these can be used for future high-density photo-recording media and optical switches in molecular devices.     

Aggregation‐Induced Emission Properties of Copper Iodide Clusters

The aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties of two different copper iodide clusters have been studied. These two [Cu₄I₄L₄] clusters differ by their coordinated phosphine ligand and the luminescent mechanochromic properties are only displayed by one of them. The two clusters are AIE‐active luminophors that exhibit an intense emission in the visible region upon aggregation. The formed particles present luminescent thermochromism comparable to that of the bulk compounds. The observed AIE properties can be attributed to suppression of nonradiative relaxation of the excited states in a more rigid state, in relation to the large structural relaxation of the excited triplet state. The differences observed in the AIE properties of the two clusters can be related to the different ligands. A correlation between the luminescence mechanochromic properties and the AIE effect is not straightforward, but the formation of “soft” molecular solids is a common characteristic that can explain the photoactive properties of these compounds.     

Photophysical studies of 7-hydroxy-4-methyl-8-(4′-methylpiperazin-1′-yl) methylcoumarin: A new fluorescent chemosensor for zinc and nickel ions in water

The title compound, a new coumarin based fluorophore having a piperazine moiety as the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) switch was prepared and its photophysical properties studied in various solvents and under different pH. Solvatochromic shift in the fluorescence spectrum revealed an increase in the dipole moment in the lowest excited singlet state compared to that in the ground state. The compound also showed an interesting intramolecular photoinduced proton transfer phenomenon in the excited state under neutral pH. It was effectively utilized as a new Chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) based chemosensor for zinc and nickel ions in water.     

Unraveling Dual Aggregation‐Induced Emission Behavior in Steric‐Hindrance Photochromic System for Super Resolution Imaging

Unprecedented dual aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) behavior based on a steric‐hindrance photochromic system is presented, with incorporation one or two bulky aryl groups, resulting in different flexibleness. The dual AIE behavior of open and closed isomers can be explained by restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR), restriction of intramolecular vibration (RIV), and intermolecular stacking. The large bulky benzothiophene causes restricted rotation, enhancing the emission of open form in solution and weak π–π molecular packing, thereby efficiently enhancing the luminescence performance in the solid state. With incorporation of two large bulky benzothiophene groups, BBTE possesses the most outstanding AIE activity, undergoing highly efficient and reversible off‐to‐on fluorescence in film upon alternating UV and visible light irradiation along with excellent fatigue resistance. The off‐to‐on fluorescent photoswitch is successfully established in super resolution imaging.     

Solvent dependence of the charge-transfer properties of a quaterthiophene–anthraquinone dyad

An electron donor–acceptor dyad (quaterthiophene–anthraquinone) mediates ultrafast intramolecular photoinduced charge separation and consequent charge recombination when in polar or moderately polar solvents. Alternatively, non-polar media completely impedes the initial photoinduced electron transfer by causing enough destabilization of the charge-transfer state and shifting its energy above the energy of the lowest locally excited singlet state. Furthermore, femtosecond transient-absorption spectroscopy reveals that for the solvents mediating the initial photoinduced electron-transfer process, the charge recombination rates were slower than the rates of charge separation. This behavior of donor–acceptor systems is essential for solar-energy-conversion applications. For the donor–acceptor dyad described in this study, the electron-transfer driving force and reorganization energy place the charge-recombination processes in the Marcus inverted region.     

Photoinduced Nonlinear Contraction Behavior in Metal–Organic Frameworks

The photoinduced dynamic behavior of flexible materials has received considerable attention for potential applications, such as in data storage or as smart optical devices and molecular mechanical actuators. Until now, precisely controlling expansion and contraction with light has remained a challenge. Unraveling the detailed mechanisms of photoinduced structural transformations remains a critical step necessary to understand the molecular architecture necessary for the design of sensitive photomechanical actuators. Herein, a two-dimensional flexible metal–organic framework [Zn₂(bdc)₂(3-CH₃-spy)₂]⋅H₂O ( Zn₂-1 ; H₂bdc=1,4-benzenedicaboxylic acid; 3-CH₃-spy=3-methylstyrylpyridine) with a positive volumetric thermal expansion coefficient of +78.78×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ is reported. Upon light irradiation at different wavelengths, the MOF underwent a [2+2] cycloaddition, which afforded a family of isomeric, three-dimensional MOFs ( Zn₂-2 n , n=a–d) in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) manner. An unprecedented phenomenon, that is, photoinduced nonlinear contraction (PINC), was observed during this conversion. The PINC is caused by conformational changes in the 3-CH₃-spy and bdc²⁻ ligands, the bending of metal–ligand bonds, and the local distortion of the paddle-wheel SBUs. The formation of a “wrinkle morphology” on the crystal surface after the photoreaction was observed by AFM. This PINC behavior can broaden the studies on materials expansion and offer a photodriven approach for the future design of supersensitive photomechanical actuators.     

Photochemical Behavior of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes in the Presence of Propylamine

This report describes the photochemical behavior of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in the presence of propylamine. The SWNTs are characterized by absorption and Raman spectroscopy. The spectral changes due to photoirradiation indicate that reactions occur predominantly with the metallic SWNTs and small‐diameter SWNTs. The detection of amine radicalcation species by ESR spectroscopy reveals photoinduced electron transfer from the amine to the excited SWNTs. After exposure of the photoirradiated SWNTs to air, the characteristic spectra were recovered, except for that of the small‐diameter SWNTs. The results suggest that, after photoreduction of the SWNTs, subsequent selective sidewall functionalization of the small‐diameter SWNTs occurs.     

A class of nonplanar conjugated compounds with aggregation-induced emission: structural and optical properties of 2,5-diphenyl-1,4-distyrylbenzene derivatives with all cis double bonds

We have studied the structural and optical properties of four 2,5-diphenyl-1,4-distyrylbenzene derivatives with all cis double bonds. These compounds belong to a class of nonplanar conjugated compounds possessing a typical Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) property that has no emission in solution but intense emission in crystal. The four molecules are packed in different stacking modes with different intermolecular interactions, resulting in different crystalline state photoluminescence (PL) efficiency. The torsional molecular configuration increases the intermolecular distances effectively in the crystalline state, which decreases the difference of the optical properties from the frozen isolated molecules to the crystalline state. The Stokes shifts of these compounds are very large and the PL spectra have only one broad emission band with poor structure, due to the relatively large configuration difference between the ground state and the first singlet excited state, and the abundant vibration energy levels of the torsional molecule with changeable conformation.     

Designing of naphthalene based acylhydrazone derivative as a selective fluorogenic sensor for strong volatile acids based on aggregation-induced emission

In the present study, a cognitive self-assembled fluorescent chemosensor, (2-hydroxy-naphthalene-1-ylmethylene)-hydrazide (NIZ) was presented which disclosed sensitive and selective trace quantity detection of strong volatile acids both in binary solvent mixture [2:8 (v/v) THF/water] and solid state (thin film) based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. In molecularly dissolved state, NIZ participated in the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), where the dynamic flexibility during a fast photoinduced process debilitated the consumed excited energy nonradiatively and enabled NIZ to be completely nonluminescent in THF (φ_f = 0.39%). However, vigorous rigidification of molecular framework upon exercising different noncovalent forces obstructed all possible intramolecular motions via restricted intramolecular rotation (RIR), where delimited ESIPT upon prompting the molecules into self-assembly resulted dramatically augmented emission intensity (φ_f = 29.8%) impregnated with AIE behavior in THF/water. Subsequently, spontaneously evolved green emissive fluorescent nanoaggregates were primarily employed as a fluorescent chemosensor for aqueous phase recognition of strong acids where protonation-induced destruction of aggregated morphology due to reasonable interaction between NIZ and analytes led to a selective fluorescence quenching towards trifluoroacetic acid [(HTFA); detection limit (DL) = 41.74 nM], hydrochloric acid [(HCl); DL = 47.47 nM] and nitric acid [(HNO₃); DL = 50.17 nM). Importantly, the ready-made cost-effective test kits of NIZ exhibited a selective fluorogenic response towards vapors from HNO₃, HTFA and HCl in the rapid fashion where DLs were as low as 0.88, 1.39 and 4.57 ppm respectively to demonstrate the “in-the field” monitoring of air quality. Finally, the reversible “ON-OFF” fluorogenic response from NIZ inspired us to device a “use” and “throw” security marker upon alternative presence of HTFA and triethylamine (TEA) to augment the day-to-day practical applications.