Nanobelt self-assembly from an organic n-type semiconductor: propoxyethyl-PTCDI

Nanobelt structures have been fabricated for an n-type semiconductor molecule, N,N'-di(propoxyethyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI). The short alkyloxy side chain not only affords effective pi-pi stacking in polar solvents for self-assembling but also provides sufficient solubility in nonpolar solvents for solution processing. As revealed by both AFM and electron microscopies, the nanobelts have an approximately rectangular cross section, with a typical thickness of about 100 nm and a width in the range of 300-500 nm. The length of the nanobelts ranges from 10 to a few tens of micrometers. The highly organized molecular packing (uniaxial crystalline phase) has been deduced from the measurement of electron diffraction and polarized microscopy imaging. The detected optical axis is consistent with the one-dimensional stacking of the molecules.     

Synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of novel tetrasubstituted phthalocyaninato zinc derivatives

Peripherally tetraimido-substituted phthalocyaninato zinc compounds 1-3 were synthesized through the reaction of tetraamino-substituted phthalocyaninato zinc with 4-Br-1,8-naphthalic anhydride, 4-hexahydropyridine-1,8-naphthalic anhydride and 4-morpholine-1,8-naphthalic anhydride, respectively. The compounds were characterized by MS, ¹H NMR, UV-vis, IR and elemental analysis, the results of which were consistent with the proposed structures. The effects of substitutes, acid/base and solvents on the UV-vis spectra of the new complexes were discussed in detail.     

新型三嗪桥连的双1,8-萘酰亚胺衍生物的合成及其光物理行为

以1,8-萘酰亚胺和三聚氯氰为主要原料, 合成了两种由三嗪环桥连的双1,8-萘酰亚胺化合物3 和5. 采用紫外-可见光谱和荧光光谱等手段考察了两种化合物在不同溶剂中的光物理行为. 与参比化合物N-丁基-1,8-萘酰亚胺相比, 在二氯甲烷、三氯甲烷和甲醇等极性溶剂中, 化合物3和5除了在短波区(λ<400 nm)存在1,8-萘酰亚胺的特征荧光发射峰外, 在长波区(>450 nm)均产生一个较强的新荧光发射峰, 表现出分子内激基缔合物的光物理行为. 与化合物5相比, 由于化合物3特殊的构象异构, 其荧光强度发生严重的猝灭. 在非极性溶剂甲基环己烷中, 化合物5 由于存在较强的分子间氢键作用而聚集, 受激后形成了较稳定的分子间激基缔合物, 但未观察到明显的分子内激基缔合物的形成. 在甲苯溶剂中, 化合物3和5与甲苯分子形成了激基复合物, 并未形成分子内激基缔合物. 进一步研究3和5的固态激发态性质, 发现化合物3和5的固体薄膜受激后分别在465和469 nm处出现激基缔合物的特征荧光发射峰.     

3-羟基-4-氯-1,8-萘酐的分子设计及免溶剂微波法合成

1,8-萘酐衍生物具有优良的光电性能(固相荧光量子产率高和光热稳定性好)[1-2],它们不仅是一类性能优异的红光和绿光材料[3-5],而且还可以用作电子传输材料.     

How To Make Nitroaromatic Compounds Glow: Next-Generation Large X-Shaped,Centrosymmetric Diketopyrrolopyrroles

Red-emissive π-expanded diketopyrrolopyrroles (DPPs) with fluorescence reaching λ=750 nm can be easily synthesized by a three-step strategy involving the preparation of diketopyrrolopyrrole followed by N-arylation and subsequent intramolecular palladium-catalyzed direct arylation. Comprehensive spectroscopic assays combined with first-principles calculations corroborated that both N-arylated and fused DPPs reach a locally excited (S₁) state after excitation, followed by internal conversion to states with solvent and structural relaxation, before eventually undergoing intersystem crossing. Only the structurally relaxed state is fluorescent, with lifetimes in the range of several nanoseconds and tens of picoseconds in nonpolar and polar solvents, respectively. The lifetimes correlate with the fluorescence quantum yields, which range from 6 % to 88 % in nonpolar solvents and from 0.4 % and 3.2 % in polar solvents. A very inefficient (T₁) population is responsible for fluorescence quantum yields as high as 88 % for the fully fused DPP in polar solvents.     

Molecular complexes of antipsychotic pharmaceutical parent molecule phenothiazine and unsaturated acid anhydrides

The charge-transfer complexes (CTC) between a parent molecule of antipsychotic pharmaceuticals, phenothiazine, and seven unsaturated acid anhydrides, 1,4,5,8-naphtalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, diphenic anhydride, maleic anhydride (MA), 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride (THPA), 3-hydroxy-1,8-naphthalic anhydride (HONA), 4-chloro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride (ClNA), and 1,8-naphthalic anhydride (NA) were studied using IR and UV spectroscopy. Stability constants (K) at different temperatures were measured, and based on the K's DeltaH and DeltaS were calculated. The values of electron affinity (E(A)) of anhydrides were obtained according to Mulliken's theory. The results show that phenothiazine is an excellent donor and has strong ability to complex with the carbonyl group, and the E(A) values have good linear relationships with DeltaH and K, respectively. The solvent effect on CTCs was also determined and explained. The CTC of phenothiazine-succinic anhydride (SA) was studied under the same conditions. It was deduced from the results obtained that there were two charge-accepting centers in the unsaturated acid anhydrides when they formed CTCs with phenothiazine. The first one was carbon atom of the two carbonyl groups and the second one was their -C=C- in the molecules.     

含萘酰亚胺光功能基元的吡唑啉酮席夫碱的合成及其光谱性质

以4-溴-1,8-萘酐为原料,经亚胺化、取代和还原反应合成了中间体N-对氨基苯基-4-哌啶-1,8-萘酰亚胺(4),4与1-苯基-3-甲基-4-苯甲酰基-吡唑啉酮-5缩合得到一种含萘酰亚胺光功能基元的的新型吡唑啉酮席夫碱——1-苯基-3-甲基-4-苯甲酰基-吡唑啉酮-5缩N-对氨基苯基-4-哌啶-1,8-萘酰亚胺(6)。4和6的结构经1H NMR和IR确证。研究了6在不同溶剂中的光谱性质,发现其吸收光谱和荧光光谱随溶剂的极性不同而表现出不同的光谱特性。进一步研究表明6在不同溶剂中可能以不同的互变异构体存在。     

How To Make Nitroaromatic Compounds Glow: Next‐Generation Large X‐Shaped,Centrosymmetric Diketopyrrolopyrroles

Red‐emissive π‐expanded diketopyrrolopyrroles (DPPs) with fluorescence reaching λ=750 nm can be easily synthesized by a three‐step strategy involving the preparation of diketopyrrolopyrrole followed by N‐arylation and subsequent intramolecular palladium‐catalyzed direct arylation. Comprehensive spectroscopic assays combined with first‐principles calculations corroborated that both N‐arylated and fused DPPs reach a locally excited (S₁) state after excitation, followed by internal conversion to states with solvent and structural relaxation, before eventually undergoing intersystem crossing. Only the structurally relaxed state is fluorescent, with lifetimes in the range of several nanoseconds and tens of picoseconds in nonpolar and polar solvents, respectively. The lifetimes correlate with the fluorescence quantum yields, which range from 6 % to 88 % in nonpolar solvents and from 0.4 % and 3.2 % in polar solvents. A very inefficient (T₁) population is responsible for fluorescence quantum yields as high as 88 % for the fully fused DPP in polar solvents.     

含可聚合基团的萘酰亚胺衍生物的合成

以4-溴-1,8-萘酐和4-硝基-1,78-萘酐为起始原料,与各种芳胺经亚胺化,再与脂肪胺经取代反应,最后与丙烯酰氯经酯化得到一系列具有强烈荧光的含丙烯酰氧乙基氨基的1,8-萘酰亚胺衍生物,它们可作为一种聚合荧光色素的单体。     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthalimide and its derivatization at the hydroxy group

The reaction of 1,8-naphthalic anhydride with 2-aminophenol afforded N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthalimide, which was then derivatized at the hydroxy group.     

Anchoring of 1,8-naphthalimide derivative into mesoporous MCM-41 molecular sieves

The fluorescent dye molecules, 4-piperidine-1,8-naphthalimide, were successfully fixed into the amino modified pore channel of mesoporous MCM-41 type materials by in situ reaction of 4-piperidinyl-1,8-naphthalic anhydride with the amino group. The formation of amide bonds on the pore surface was verified by infrared spectra. The maximum fluorescence emission peak of this hybrid material has a red shift of 13 nm compared to that of a naphthalimide derivative in ethanol solution. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity of dye molecules grafted into Ce-doped MCM-41 is higher than that in pure silica MCM-41. This phenomenon is attributed to the inhibited internal electron transfer from piperidine to naphthalimide groups by Ce⁴⁺, thus improving the fluorescence intensity of the naphthalimide group. The unique fluorescence behavior of the 1,8-naphthalimide derivative doped hybrid mesoporous material makes it a good candidate for the metal ions microdetection.     

Strong aggregation and directional assembly of aromatic oligoamide macrocycles

Aromatic oligoamide macrocycles exhibit strong preference for highly directional association. Aggregation happens in both nonpolar and polar solvents but is weakened as solvent polarity increases. The strong, directional assembly is rationalized by the cooperative action of dipole-dipole and π-π stacking interactions, leading to long nanotubular assemblies that are confirmed by SEM, TEM, AFM, and XRD. The persistent nanotubular assemblies contain non-collapsible hydrophilic internal pores that mediate highly efficient ion transport observed with these macrocycles and serve as cylindrical sites for accommodating guests such as metal ions.     

Triplet excited states of nitronaphthalenes. IV. 1,2- and 1,8-dinitronaphthalenes

Nanosecond flash photolysis of 1,2- and 1,8-dinitronaphthalenes (1,2-DNO₂N; 1,8-DNO₂N) in nonpolar and polar solvents shows transient species with absorption maxima and lifetimes dependent on solvent polarity. In deaerated n-hexane the absorption maxima and lifetimes (1/K) are 490 nm and 1.0 μsec for 1,2-DNO₂N and 550 nm and 2.5 μsec for 1,8-DNO₂N. In deaerated ethanol the corresponding values are 550 nm and 4.3 μsec for 1,2-DNO₂N and 590 nm and 5.3 μsec for 1,8-DNO₂N. The transient absorptions are attributed to the lowest triplet excited states T₁ of the 1,2- and 1,8-DNO₂N. The observed red shifts in the absorption maxima of the T₁ states are indicative of the extent to which electronic charge is transferred intramolecularly during the T₁ → T_n transitions. Furthermore, the increased lifetime of the T₁ states with increasing solvent polarity indicates the intramolecular charge transfer character of the T₁ states. Changes of dipole moments accompanying the T₁ → T_n transitions as well as rate constants for electron or proton transfer and hydrogen abstraction reactions involving the T₁ states of 1,2- and 1,8-DNO₂N and tributyl tin hydride (Bu₃SnH) as the hydrogen donor were determined together with the activation energy of the hydrogen abstraction reaction for the case of 1,2-DNO₂N. The spectroscopic and kinetic data obtained in this work demonstrate that the triplet states of 1,2- and 1,8-DNO₂N behave like n → π* states in nonpolar media while in polar solvents the n → π* character of these states is reduced with a simultaneous increase in their intramolecular charge transfer character.     

Synthesis and photoinduced intramolecular processes of fulleropyrrolidine-oligothienylenevinylene-ferrocene triads

Two new triads based on N-methylfulleropyrolidine, oligothienylenevinylenes (nTV) and ferrocene (Fc), namely C(60)-nTV-Fc (n=2, 4) have been synthesized. A HOMO-LUMO gap as low as 1.09-1.11 eV was experimentally determined by cyclic voltammetry. In both polar and nonpolar solvents, photoinduced charge-separation (CS) processes in C(60)-nTV-Fc predominantly take place from the singlet excited states of C(60) and nTV; this result was indicated by steady and time-resolved emission spectroscopy. In the case of C(60)-4TV-Fc, the CS state was indicated by the nanosecond transient absorption spectra. In C(60)-2TV-Fc, although the CS process was also confirmed by the fluorescence quenching in nonpolar and polar solvents, the lifetimes of the CS states were shorter than those of C(60)-4TV-Fc. It was revealed that the introduction of Fc donor moiety at the end of the longer nTV chain in the C(60)-nTV dyad systems effectively increases the CS efficiency and the lifetimes of CS states.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Liquid-Crystalline Tetraoxapentacene Derivatives Exhibiting Aggregation-Induced Emission

A series of new tetrakis(dialkoxyphenyl) dicyanotetraoxapentacene derivatives ( 1 a – c ) were prepared by reaction of the appropriate terphenyl diols with tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile in good yields. Compounds 1 b and 1 c , which bear hexyloxy and decyloxy side chains, exhibited columnar hexagonal mesophases, as shown by polarized optical microscopy, variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of methoxy-substituted 1 a revealed that the dicyanotetraoxapentacene core is highly planar, consistent with the notion that these molecules are able to stack in columnar mesophases. A detailed photophysical characterization showed that these compounds exhibit aggregation-induced emission in solution, emission in nonpolar solvents, weak emission in polar solvents, and strong emission in the solid state both as powder and in thin films. These observations are consistent with a weakly emissive charge-transfer state in polar solvents and a more highly emissive locally excited state in nonpolar solvents.     

Formation of molecular bundles from self-assembly of symmetrical poly(oxyalkylene)-diamido acids

Sodium salts of poly(oxypropylene)-trimellitic amido acid (POP-amido acid), prepared from the reaction of POP-diamines and trimellitic anhydride, were found to self-assemble into orderly molecular bundles. The POP-amido acid has a symmetrical structure consisting of a hydrophobic POP middle block (2000 g/mol) and four symmetrical carboxyl end groups. By dissolving in water and evaporating on a polyether sulfone film, the POP-amido acid molecules self-assembled into a unique array with average dimensions of 7-13 nm in width, 2-5 nm in height, and 20-50 nm in length, observed by atomic force microscope. Varied morphologies were also observed when varying the pH, solvents, evaporating rate, concentration, and substrate surface. Unlike the common surfactants of single head-to-tail structure and the naturally occurring phospholipids of one head and two tails, the synthesized POP derivative is a symmetrical structure of four hydrophilic heads and one long hydrophobic block. Through the complementary noncovalent bonding forces, the molecules tend to align into molecular bundles or loops as the primary structure. The formation of different morphologies is controlled by the intermolecular forces including hydrogen bonding, aromatic pi-pi stacking, ionic charge, and hydrophobic interaction, in a concerted manner.     

Synthesis, characterization, and photophysical study of fluorescent N-substituted benzo[ghi]perylene "swallow tail" monoimides

A set of N-substituted benzoperylene monoimide (BPI) fluorophores was synthesized and characterized structurally and photophysically. Condensation of benzo[ghi]perylene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride in the presence of "swallow tail" alkyl amines produced fluorophores that are soluble in a range of organic solvents, highly absorbing in the near-UV (ε(334) = 79,000 M(-1) cm(-1)), and fluorescent in the visible range. Photophysical behavior of the compounds was studied with steady-state and time-correlated single photon counting. The synthesized BPIs exhibit positive solvachromatic emission (λ(em) (hexane) = 469 nm; λ(em) (ethanol) = 550 nm) as a function of solvent polarity with little change in their excited-state lifetime (9.6-6.5 ns) and fluorescence quantum yield (0.27-0.44) over the polarity range studied. Solvachromatic shifts were analyzed using the Lippert-Mataga approach. In nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents evidence of dual emission from closely spaced (562 cm(-1)) S(1) and S(2) excited states is observed. Preliminary peak assignments for the anomalous S(2) emission are made.     

Self-assembled nanotapes of oligo(p-phenylene vinylene)s: sol-gel-controlled optical properties in fluorescent pi-electronic gels

A rational approach to the design of supramolecular organogels of all-trans oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) (OPV) derivatives, a class of well-known organic semiconductor precursors, is reported. Self-assembly of these molecules induced gelation of hydrocarbon solvents at low concentrations (<1 mM), resulting in high aspect ratio nanostructures. Electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies revealed twisted and entangled supramolecular tapes of an average of 50-200 nm in width, 12-20 nm in thickness, and several micrometers in length. The hierarchical growth of the entangled tapes and the consequent gelation is attributed to the lamellar-type packing of the molecules, facilitated by cooperative hydrogen bonding, pi stacking, and van der Waals interactions between the OPV units. Gelation of OPVs induced remarkable changes in the absorption and emission properties, which indicated strong electronic interaction in the aggregated chromophores. Comparison of the absorption and emission spectra in the gel form and in the solid film indicated a similar chromophore organization in both phases. The presence of self-assembled aggregates of OPVs was confirmed by solvent- and temperature-dependent changes in the absorption and emission properties, and by selective excitation experiments. This is the first detailed report of the gelation-induced formation of OPV nanotapes, assisted by weak, nondirectional hydrogen-bonding motifs and pi-pi stacking. These findings may provide opportunities for the design of a new class of functional soft materials and nanoarchitectures, based on pi-conjugated organic semiconductor-type molecules, thereby enabling the manipulation of their optical properties.     

Effect of surfactant and solvent properties on the stacking behavior of non-aqueous suspensions of organically modified clays

Montmorillonite clay was treated with quaternary ammonium surfactants with 1-3 long chains of 10-18 carbons to form organoclays which can be suspended in non-aqueous solvents. The effects of surfactant chain length, number of long chains, and the properties of the solvent on the colloidal behavior of the surfactant coated clay plates were studied using small-angle X-ray scattering. The scattering data were modeled using a one-dimensional aggregation theory to describe the stacking of the clay plates. The plates self-organize into stacks with a reproducible basal spacing in the range of 30-50 A, and for each surfactant, the basal spacing falls into one of two preferred distances. We interpret this by considering that the surfactant layer on the clay has two strata, one being the polar near-clay headgroup region and the other the nonpolar alkane chain region. Polar solvents will swell the polar stratum preferentially while nonpolar solvents will swell the nonpolar stratum of the surfactant. As the nonpolar stratum is larger than the polar one, the nonpolar solvents increase the basal spacing between the clay plates more than the polar solvents. The number of long chains on the surfactant does not have an effect on the basal spacing, as the density of surfactant molecules on the surface is low enough to allow the unimpeded swelling of the chains. The one-dimensional aggregation theory can be used to determine the number of plates in a stack, but the effect of changing clay particle size or concentration is not as great as would be expected from this theory. This may be due to the formation of large-scale structures in the suspensions which prevent a true equilibrium stack size being attained.     

4-Dimethylaminochalcone as fluorescent probe: effect of the medium polarity on relaxation processes in the excited state

Relaxation processes in a 4-dimethylaminochalcone molecule after excitation with a light pulse of duration 70 fs were studied. During 0.4–1 ps after excitation, an absorbance of an excited state S₁ with a maximum at 460 nm is formed in both polar and nonpolar media. Subsequent relaxation processes depend on the polarity of the medium. In nonpolar hexane, the 4-dimethylaminochalcone molecule transits to the triplet state having an absorption maximum at 570 nm (lifetime longer than 600 ps) for 20 ps. In polar aprotic acetonitrile, the absorbance at 460 nm decreases slowly (during hundreds of picoseconds), indicating that the molecules return to the ground state. The induced emission from the level S₁ in a region of 520–550 nm and fluorescence from the same level with a maximum at 537 nm are also observed in acetonitrile. Thus, a reason for a sharp decrease in the fluorescence yield on going from polar to nonpolar media was found. The mechanism of fluorescence quenching of 4-dimethylaminochalcone in nonpolar media is confirmed by the data on phosphorescence. The phosphorescence of 4-dimethylaminochalcone is observed at–196 °C in nonpolar solvents, indicating a triplet excited state, while no phosphorescence is revealed in polar solvents.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1607–1610, August, 2004.