Novel Ladder π‐Conjugated Materials—Sila‐Pentathienoacenes: Synthesis,Structure, and Electronic Properties

A novel series of ladder π‐conjugated materials—sila‐pentathienoacenes ( Si‐PTA ) are synthesized and characterized. Crystal structures of the compounds show that the length of alkyl chains substituting on the thiophene ring has a significant influence on molecular packing. A densely packed structure with an interfacial distance of about 3.66 Å between the adjacent molecules is observed for the compound with shorter alkyl chains. However, a large interfacial distance (7.99 Å) is obtained for another compound because of the insertion of long alkyl chains between two planes. The investigation of the optical and electrochemical properties shows that the silylene bridge incorporated into the pentathienoacene framework exerts a clear effect on the electronic properties by the σ*–π* conjugation. Although only a slight enhancement is observed for the HOMO levels, with respect to that of pentathienoacene, the LUMO levels are significantly lowered. The observed electronic properties are consistent with the theoretical calculations.     

New 3π‐2Spiro Ladder‐Type Phenylene Materials: Synthesis,Physicochemical Properties and Applications in OLEDs

New routes to ladder‐type phenylene materials 1 and 2 are described. The oligomers 1 and 2 , which possess a “3π‐2spiro” architecture, have been synthesized by using extended diketone derivatives 3 and 10 as key intermediates. The physicochemical properties of the new blue‐light emitter 2 were studied in detail and compared with those of the less‐extended 1 . Owing to the recent development of fluorenone derivatives and their corresponding more conjugated analogues as potential electron‐transport materials in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) and as n‐type materials for photovoltaic applications, we also report herein the thermal, optical and electrochemical behavior of the key intermediates, diketones 3 and 10 . Finally, the application of dispiro 2 as a new light‐emitting material in OLEDs is reported.     

Conducting Organic Frameworks Based on a Main‐Group Metal and Organocyanide Radicals

Reactions of the main‐group cation Tl^I with anions of 2,5‐derivatives of TCNQ (TCNQ=7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane) have led to the isolation of a family of unprecedented semiconducting main‐group‐metal–organic frameworks, namely, [Tl(TCNQX₂)], (X=H, Cl, Br, I). A comparison of single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction data revealed the existence of a third polymorph of the previously reported material Tl(TCNQ)] and two distinct polymorphs of [Tl(TCNQCl₂)], whereas only one phase was identified for [Tl(TCNQBr₂)] and [Tl(TCNQI₂)]. These new results are described in the context of the structures of other known binary metal–TCNQ frameworks that display a variety of coordination environments for the central cation, namely, four‐, six‐, and eight‐coordinate, and different arrangements of the adjacent TCNQ radicals—parallel versus perpendicular—in the stacked columns. The halogen substituents affect the structures and the properties of these compounds, owing to both steric and electronic effects as evidenced by the semiconducting properties of crystals of [Tl(TCNQCl₂)] phase I, [Tl(TCNQBr₂)], and [Tl(TCNQI₂)], which correlate well with the distances of adjacent TCNQ radicals in the columns. 1D infinite Hückel model simulations of the band structures of [Tl(TCNQCl₂)] phase I, [Tl(TCNQBr₂)], and [Tl(TCNQI₂)] were conducted with and without consideration of the Tl^I cations, the results of which indicate that the charge mobility does not strictly occur in one dimension. The modulations of the band structures with various assumptions of the energy difference (Δ) between the Tl^I 6s orbital and the TCNQ LUMO orbital were calculated and are discussed in light of the observed properties.     

A Versatile Precursor System for Supercritical Fluid Electrodeposition of Main‐Group Materials

For the first time, a versatile electrolyte bath is described that can be used to electrodeposit a wide range of p‐block elements from supercritical difluoromethane (scCH₂F₂). The bath comprises the tetrabutylammonium chlorometallate complex of the element in an electrolyte of 50×10^?3 mol dm^?3 tetrabutylammonium chloride at 17.2 MPa and 358 K. Through the use of anionic ([GaCl₄]^?, [InCl₄]^?, [GeCl₃]^?, [SnCl₃]^?, [SbCl₄]^?, and [BiCl₄]^?) and dianionic ([SeCl₆]^2? and [TeCl₆]^2?) chlorometallate salts, the deposition of elemental Ga, In, Ge, Sn, Sb, Bi, Se, and Te is demonstrated. In all cases, with the exception of gallium, which is a liquid under the deposition conditions, the resulting deposits are characterised by SEM, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, XRD and Raman spectroscopy. An advantage of this electrolyte system is that the reagents are all crystalline solids, reasonably easy to handle and not highly water or oxygen sensitive. The results presented herein significantly broaden the range of materials accessible by electrodeposition from supercritical fluid and open up the future possibility of utilising the full scope of these unique fluids to electrodeposit functional binary or ternary alloys and compounds of these elements.     

Theoretical Study on the Relationship between Diradical Character and Second Hyperpolarizabilities of Four‐Membered‐Ring Diradicals Involving Heavy Main‐Group Elements

By using spin‐unrestricted density functional theory methods, the relationship between the diradical character y and the second hyperpolarizability γ (the third‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties at the molecular scale) for four‐membered‐ring diradical compounds, that is, cyclobutane‐1,3‐diyl, Niecke‐type diradicals, and Bertrand‐type diradicals, were investigated by focusing on the substitution effects of heavy main‐group elements as well as of donor/acceptor groups on the y and γ values. It has been found that i) γ is enhanced in the intermediate y region for these four‐membered‐ring diradicals, ii) Niecke‐type diradicals with intermediate y values, which are realized by tuning the combination of the main‐group elements involved, exhibit larger γ values than Bertrand‐type diradicals, and iii) the y value and thus γ value can be controlled by modifying the both‐end donor/acceptor substituents attached to carbon atoms in Nicke‐type C₂P₂ diradicals. These results demonstrate that four‐membered‐ring diradicals involving heavy main‐group elements exhibit high controllability of the y and γ, which indicates the potential applications of four‐membered‐ring diradicals as a building block of highly efficient open‐shell NLO materials.     

Metal‐Catalyzed Annulation Reactions for π‐Conjugated Polycycles

The progress of the metal‐catalyzed annulation reactions toward construction of various π‐conjugated polycyclic cores with high conjugation extension is described. This article gives a brief overview of various annulation reactions promoted by metal catalysts including C?H bond functionalization, [2+2+2] cycloaddition, cascade processes, ring closing metathesis, electrophilic aromatization, and various cross‐coupling reactions. A variety of conjugated polycycles with planar, bowl‐shaped, and helical structures have been constructed in high efficiency and selectivity.     

Molecular Nitrides with Titanium and Group 13–15 Elements

Several heterometallic nitrido complexes were prepared by reaction of the imido–nitrido titanium complex [{Ti(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)(μ‐NH)}₃(μ₃‐N)] ( 1 ) with amido derivatives of Group 13–15 elements. Treatment of 1 with bis(trimethylsilyl)amido [M{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃] derivatives of aluminum, gallium, or indium in toluene at 150–190 °C affords the single‐cube amidoaluminum complex [{(Me₃Si)₂N}Al{(μ₃‐N)₂(μ₃‐NH)Ti₃(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)₃(μ₃‐N)}] ( 2 ) or the corner‐shared double‐cube compounds [M(μ₃‐N)₃(μ₃‐NH)₃{Ti₃(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)₃(μ₃‐N)}₂] [M=Ga ( 3 ), In ( 4 )]. Complexes 3 and 4 were also obtained by treatment of 1 with the trialkyl derivatives [M(CH₂SiMe₃)₃] (M=Ga, In) at high temperatures. The analogous reaction of 1 with [{Ga(NMe₂)₃}₂] at 110 °C leads to [{Ga(μ₃‐N)₂(μ₃‐NH)Ti₃(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)₃(μ₃‐N)}₂] ( 5 ), in which two [GaTi₃N₄] cube‐type moieties are linked through a gallium–gallium bond. Complex 1 reacts with one equivalent of germanium, tin, or lead bis(trimethylsilyl)amido derivatives [M{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂] in toluene at room temperature to give cube‐type complexes [M{(μ₃‐N)₂(μ₃‐NH)Ti₃(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)₃(μ₃‐N)}] [M=Ge ( 6 ), Sn ( 7 ), Pb ( 8 )]. Monitoring the reaction of 1 with [Sn{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂] and [Sn(C₅H₅)₂] by NMR spectroscopy allows the identification of intermediates [RSn{(μ₃‐N)(μ₃‐NH)₂Ti₃(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)₃(μ₃‐N)}] [R=N(SiMe₃)₂ ( 9 ), C₅H₅ ( 10 )] in the formation of 7 . Addition of one equivalent of the metalloligand 1 to a solution of lead derivative 8 or the treatment of 1 with a half equivalent of [Pb{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂] afford the corner‐shared double‐cube compound [Pb(μ₃‐N)₂(μ₃‐NH)₄{Ti₃(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)₃(μ₃‐N)}₂] ( 11 ). Analogous antimony and bismuth derivatives [M(μ₃‐N)₃(μ₃‐NH)₃{Ti₃(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)₃(μ₃‐N)}₂] [M=Sb ( 12 ), Bi ( 13 )] were obtained through the reaction of 1 with the tris(dimethylamido) reagents [M(NMe₂)₃]. Treatment of 1 with [AlCl₂{N(SiMe₃)₂}(OEt₂)] affords the precipitation of the singular aluminum–titanium square‐pyramidal aggregate [{{(Me₃Si)₂N}Cl₃Al₂}(μ₃‐N)(μ₃‐NH)₂{Ti₃(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)₃(μ‐Cl)(μ₃‐N)}] ( 14 ). The X‐ray crystal structures of 5 , 11 , 13 , 14 , and [AlCl{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂] were determined.     

Isolable Radical Ions of Main‐Group Elements: Structures,Bonding and Properties

Synthesis of stable main‐group element‐based radicals represents one of the most interesting topics in contemporary organometallic chemistry, because of their vital roles in organic, inorganic and biological chemistry as well as materials science. However, the access of stable main‐group element‐based radicals is highly challenging owing to the lack of energetically accessible orbitals in the main‐group elements. During the last decades, several synthetic strategies have been developed in obtaining these reactive species. Among them, utilizing the sterically demanding substituents and π‐conjugated ligands has proven to be an effective approach. Weakly coordinating ions (WCAs) have also been found to be exceptionally practical in synthesizing radical cations of main‐group elements. By introducing these stabilization methods, we have successfully prepared a variety of radical ions of p‐block elements in the crystalline forms, and investigated their properties by different experimental and quantum chemical calculation methods. According to the investigations, magnetic stability was observed, resulting from the intramolecular electron‐exchange interaction. Furthermore, we also found that the singlet‐triplet energy gaps of the bis(triarylamine) diradical dications can be tunable by varying the temperature. These investigations open new avenues of the main‐group element‐based radicals for a large variety of applications.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Synthesis of 1,3‐Butadiene‐Containing π‐Conjugated Polymers

This work describes the synthesis of π‐conjugated polymers possessing arylene and 1,3‐butadiene alternating units in the main chain by the reaction of α,β‐unsaturated ester/nitrile containing γ‐H with aromatic/heteroaromatic aldehyde compound. By using 4‐(4‐formylphenyl)‐2‐butylene acid ethyl ester as a model monomer, the different polymerization conditions, including catalyst, catalyst amount, and solvent, are optimized. The polymerization of 4‐(4‐formylphenyl)‐2‐butylene acid ethyl ester is carried out by refluxing in ethanol for 72 h with 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) as a catalyst to give a 1,3‐butadiene‐containing π‐conjugated polymer, poly(phenylene‐1,3‐butadiene), in 84.3% yield with and / (PDI) estimated as 6172 and 1.65, respectively. Based on this new methodology, a series of π‐conjugated polymers containing 1,3‐butadiene units with different substituents are obtained in high yields. A possible mechanism is proposed for the polymerization through a six‐membered ring transition state and then a 1,5‐H shift intermediate.

     

Recent Advances in the Field of Main‐Group Mono‐ and Diatomic “Allotropes” Stabilised by Neutral Ligands

The study of ligand stabilised mono‐ and diatomic zero oxidation state complexes is a young and fascinating topic. This area merges the fields of low‐oxidation‐state main‐group chemistry, homoatomic multiple bonding and fundamental coordination chemistry. As with a great deal of recent coordination chemistry within the d‐block, carbene ligands are clearly the star of the show, highlighting their importance within the p‐block as well. This Minireview focuses on the significant developments of the past two years.     

Tuning the Photophysical Properties of BODIPY Molecules by π‐Conjugation with Fischer Carbene Complexes

The synthesis, structure, and photophysical properties of novel BODIPY–Fischer alkoxy‐, thio‐, and aminocarbene dyads are reported. The BODIPY chromophore is directly attached to the carbene ligand by an ethylenic spacer, thus forming donor–bridge–acceptor π‐extended systems. The extension of the π‐conjugation is decisive in the equilibrium geometries of the dyads and is clearly reflected in the corresponding absorption and emission spectra. Whereas the BODIPY fragment is mainly isolated in aminocarbene complexes, it is fully conjugated in alkoxycarbene derivatives. The former thus exhibit the characteristic photophysical properties of BODIPY units, whereas complete suppression of the BODIPY fluorescence emission is observed in the latter, as a direct consequence of the strong electron‐accepting character of the (CO)₅M?C moiety. As the π‐acceptor character of the metal–carbene group can be modified, the electronic properties of the conjugated BODIPY can be tuned. Density functional calculations have been carried out to gain insight into the photophysical properties.     

Structures and Dynamic Solution Behavior of Cationic,Two‐Coordinate Gold(I)–π‐Allene Complexes

A family of seven cationic gold complexes that contain both an alkyl substituted π‐allene ligand and an electron‐rich, sterically hindered supporting ligand was isolated in >90 % yield and characterized by spectroscopy and, in three cases, by X‐ray crystallography. Solution‐phase and solid‐state analysis of these complexes established preferential binding of gold to the less substituted C?C bond of the allene and to the allene π face trans to the substituent on the uncomplexed allenyl C?C bond. Kinetic analysis of intermolecular allene exchange established two‐term rate laws of the form rate=k₁[complex]+k₂[complex][allene] consistent with allene‐independent and allene‐dependent exchange pathways with energy barriers of ΔG^≠₁=17.4–18.8 and ΔG^≠₂=15.2–17.6 kcal mol^?1, respectively. Variable temperature (VT) NMR analysis revealed fluxional behavior consistent with facile (ΔG^≠=8.9–11.4 kcal mol^?1) intramolecular exchange of the allene π faces through η¹‐allene transition states and/or intermediates that retain a staggered arrangement of the allene substituents. VT NMR/spin saturation transfer analysis of [{P(tBu)₂o‐binaphthyl}Au(η²‐4,5‐nonadiene) ]⁺SbF₆^? ( 5 ), which contains elements of chirality in both the phosphine and allene ligands, revealed no epimerization of the allene ligand below the threshold for intermolecular allene exchange (ΔG^≠_298K=17.4 kcal mol^?1), which ruled out the participation of a η¹‐allylic cation species in the low‐energy π‐face exchange process for this complex.