Fluorescence microscopy investigation on the manipulation of guest species on zeolites

We applied a fluorescence microscopy method to investigate the possibility of molecular manipulation such as intentional transfer of molecules from one zeolite crystal to another. Photophysical and photochemical processes of guest species incorporated in the zeolites were exploited as indicator reactions in order to yield a luminescence color characteristic of individual zeolite particles. Two types of migration mechanisms were observed: a through-space diffusional-transfer mode between separated zeolite crystals and a molecular injection process from a loaded crystal to another unloaded crystal, both in contact. A preferential direction of guest migration was found to exist for a few cases: for instance, aromatics such as phenanthrene and chrysene migrate from the sodium form of zeolite X (Na⁺-X) to thallium-exchanged zeolite X (Tl⁺-X). On the other hand, the migration-assisted formation of charge-transfer complexes between electron-donating arenes such as phenanthrene and chrysene, and electron-accepting 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene, both incorporated into separate zeolite Na⁺-X crystals, takes place as a result of the migration of the donors. The fluorescence microscopy method utilizing photochemistry in zeolites was found to be a powerful technique for the qualitative investigation of the intercrystalline migration and possibly applicable to the observation of particleto-particle molecular manipulation processes.     

The effects of photochemical and mechanical damage on the excited state dynamics of charge-transfer molecular crystals composed of tetracyanobenzene and aromatic donor molecules

Charge-transfer molecular crystals are structurally well-defined systems whose electron transfer dynamics can be studied using time-resolved spectroscopy. In this paper, five 1:1 complexes, consisting of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene as the electron acceptor and durene, 9-methylanthracene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene as electron donors, are studied using time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption in the diffuse reflectance geometry. Two different sample morphologies were studied: single crystals and powders prepared by pulverizing the crystals and diluting them with barium sulfate microparticles. Fluorescence lifetime and transient absorption measurements performed on the crystals and the powders yielded different results. The crystals typically exhibited long-lived monoexponential fluorescence decays, while the powders had shorter multiexponential decays. Exposure of both types of samples to high laser fluence was also shown to induce faster excited state decay dynamics as observed using fluorescence and diffuse reflectance. In addition to the more rapid decays, these molecular crystals exhibited relatively high photobleaching quantum yields on the order of 10(-4). Previous work that interpreted picosecond decays in the transient absorption as evidence for rapid recombination and charge dissociation should be re-evaluated based on the susceptibility of this class of compounds to mechanical and photochemical damage.     

Enhanced and Heteromolecular Guest Encapsulation in Nonporous Crystals of a Perfluorinated Triketonato Dinuclear Copper Complex

The flexible host framework of a perfluorinated mononuclear copper complex, [Cu(L¹)₂] ( 1 , HL¹=3-hydroxy-1,3-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-2-propen-1-one), with a CuO₄ core reversibly encapsulated several organic guest molecules through electrostatic interactions in its crystals. Hence, the corresponding dinuclear complex, [Cu₂(L²)₂] ( 2 , H₂L²=1,5-dihydroxy-1,5-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-1,4-pentadien-3-one), was prepared to enhance guest recognition and the ability to separate molecular mixtures. Complex 2 comprises a Cu₂O₆ core and four pentafluorophenyl groups. In crystal 2 , cavities are formed on the axial sites of the metal core that are surrounded by pentafluorophenyl groups. The crystal of 2 encapsulates various guest molecules, that is, benzene ( 3 ), toluene ( 4 ), xylene ( 5 ), mesitylene ( 6 ), durene ( 7 ), and anisole ( 8 ). X-ray crystallographic and thermogravimetric (TG) studies show that three guest molecules are present in the crystal cavities. The number of guest molecules found in complex 2 was higher than that in complex 1 , for example, ( 2 )₃ ⋅ ( 6 )₁₀> 1⋅ ( 6 )₂, ( 2 )₂ ⋅ ( 7 )₇> 1⋅7 , or 2⋅ ( 8 )₃> 1⋅ ( 8 )₂. Naphthalene ( 9 ), was encapsulated in 2 to give 2⋅ ( 9 )₃, but not in 1 . In the crystal of complex 2 , heteromolecular guest encapsulation was confirmed, designated as 2⋅ ( 3 )₂ ⋅9 . TG analysis indicates that the thermal stability of the guest-included crystals of 2 is higher than that of 1 .     

Characterization of Langmuir-monolayers of molecular clips by means of Brewster-angle-microscopy

Molecular clips are able to selectively bind electron deficient aromatic and aliphatic substrates, and these processes are usually investigated in dilute solutions of organic solvents. Caused by discrepancies between polar and hydrophobic groups, molecular clips are surface-active compounds and, in analogy to surfactants, they can form monomolecular films at the water surface. In this publication, we systematically investigated the self-association process and the phase-behaviour of three different molecular clips with the polar head groups -OCH₂COOH (a), -OCH₂COOEt (b), and -OCONHPh (c) by means of surface-pressure-area-isotherms and Brewster-angle-microscopy (BAM). We observed marked differences for all investigated surface-active compounds. The molecular surface areas of the three clips, determined from pressure-area-isotherms, could be traced back to the molecular diameters of the amphiphilic compounds. In several experiments we investigated the influence of diverse film compression and expansion steps. Hysteresis effects could be explained by different film morphologies. In a series of experiments we could show that the aromatic guest molecule 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB), which strongly binds to molecular clips, did not influence the phase diagrams and film structures.     

Mixed-metal Ionothermal Synthesis of Metallophthalocyanine Covalent Organic Frameworks for CO2 Capture and Conversion

Phthalocyanines (PCs) are intriguing building blocks owing to their stability, physicochemical and catalytic properties. Although PC-based polymers have been reported before, many suffer from relatively low stability, crystallinity, and low surface areas. Utilizing a mixed-metal salt ionothermal approach, we report the synthesis of a series of metallophthalocyanine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) starting from 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene and 2,3,6,7-tetracyanoanthracene to form the corresponding COFs named M-pPPCs and M-anPPCs, respectively. The obtained COFs followed the Irving–Williams series in their metal contents, surface areas, and pore volume and featured excellent CO₂ uptake capacities up to 7.6 mmol g⁻¹ at 273 K, 1.1 bar. We also investigated the growth of the Co-pPPC and Co-anPPC on a highly conductive carbon nanofiber and demonstrated their high catalytic activity in the electrochemical CO₂ reduction, which showed Faradaic efficiencies towards CO up to 74 % at −0.64 V vs. RHE.     

Selective synthesis of 1,3-Di(pyridylimino)-isoindolines from tetracyanobenzene

The synthesis of substituted 1,3-bis-(2-pyridylimino)isoindoline 4 from 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene and 2,6-diaminopyridine under mild and dilute conditions constitutes a new approach to produce a functionalized compound 4. The synthesis of an analogous compound 5 from 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene and 2-amino-6-methylpyridine is also described.     

Progress on the optoelectronic functional organic crystals

Organic crystals constructed by pi-conjugated molecules have been paid great attention to in the field of organic optoelectronic materials. The superiorities of these organic crystal materials, such as high thermal stability, highly ordered structure, and high carrier mobility over the amorphous thin film ma-terials, make them attractive candidates for optoelectronic devices. Single crystal with definite struc-ture provides a model to investigate the basic interactions between the molecules (supramolecular interaction), and the relationship between molecular stacking modes and optoelectronic performance (luminescence and carrier mobility). Through modulating molecular arrangement in organic crystal, the luminescence efficiency of organic crystal has exceeded 80% and carrier mobility has been up to the level of 10 cm2·V?1·s?1. Amplified stimulated emission phenomena have been observed in many crys-tals. In this paper, we will emphatically introduce the progress in optoelectronic functional organic crystals and some correlative principle.     

Growth and characterization of 2-amino-4-picolinium toluene sulfonate single crystal

2-Amino-4-picolinium toluene sulfonate (2A4PTS), a new organic material, was synthesized and grown as single crystals in room temperature by slow evaporation solution growth technique using water as solvent. The crystal structure of 2A4PTS has been determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. 2A4PTS belongs to monoclinic crystal system. The molecular arrangements in the crystal were studied. The structural perfection of the grown crystals has been analysed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) rocking curve measurements. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral studies have been performed to identify the functional groups. The optical transmittance window and the lower cutoff wavelength of the 2A4PTS have been identified by UV–Vis–NIR studies. The nonlinear optical properties have been investigated by Z-scan method. The nonlinear refractive index and linear absorption coefficient of the 2A4PTS are found to be in the order of 10⁻⁸ cm²/W and 10⁻⁴ cm/W, respectively. The laser induced surface damage threshold for the grown crystal was measured using Nd:YAG laser. Thermal analysis carried out on the compound reveals that 2A4PTS is stable up to 133 °C. The microhardness test was carried out and the load dependent hardness was measured.     

Lattice dynamical approach to the phase transition in A-TCNB charge-transfer crystals

Lattice dynamical calculations have been performed for the charge-transfer complex crystal of anthracene with 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene. Application is made to the orientational phase transition observed in this system. The results suggest that the high temperature phase is dynamically disordered and that the phase transition is driven by a librational phonon mode exhibiting soft mode behavior.     

2D Organic Photonics: An Asymmetric Optical Waveguide in Self‐Assembled Halogen‐Bonded Cocrystals

Anisotropic organic molecular construction and packing are crucial for the optoelectronic properties of organic crystals. Two‐dimensional (2D) organic crystals with regular morphology and good photon confinement are potentially suitable for a chip‐scale planar photonics system. Herein, through the bottom‐up process, 2D halogen‐bonded DPEpe‐F₄DIB cocrystals were fabricated that exhibit an asymmetric optical waveguide with the optical‐loss coefficients of R_Backward=0.0346 dB μm^?1 and R_Forward=0.0894 dB μm^?1 along the [010] crystal direction, which can be attributed to the unidirectional total internal reflection caused by the anisotropic molecular packing mode. Based on this crystal direction‐oriented asymmetric photon transport, these as‐prepared 2D cocrystals have been demonstrated as a microscale optical logic gate with multiple input/out channels, which will offer potential applications as the 2D optical component for the integrated organic photonics.     

The Emergence of Organic Single‐Crystal Electronics

Organic semiconducting single crystals are perfect for both fundamental and application‐oriented research due to the advantages of free grain boundaries, few defects, and minimal traps and impurities, as well as their low‐temperature processability, high flexibility, and low cost. Carrier mobilities of greater than 10 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in some organic single crystals indicate a promising application in electronic devices. The progress made, including the molecular structures and fabrication technologies of organic single crystals, is introduced and organic single‐crystal electronic devices, including field‐effect transistors, phototransistors, p‐n heterojunctions, and circuits, are summarized. Organic two‐dimensional single crystals, cocrystals, and large single crystals, together with some potential applications, are introduced. A state‐of‐the‐art overview of organic single‐crystal electronics, with their challenges and prospects, is also provided.     

Spin alignment in the charge transfer phosphorescent state of the tetracyanobenzene-biphenyl complex in crystalline state

Intermolecular charge-transfer phosphorescence and fluorescence were observed for a biphenyl single crystal containing 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene as a guest at various temperatures between 29 and 1.47°K. The non-exponential phosphorescence decay due to the spin alignment in the charge-transfer, triplet state was first observed and the phosphorescence lifetimes of the three sublevels were determined to be 0.9, 2.5, and 7.9 see at 1.47°K.     

苯氰基衍生物气相HeI紫外光电子能谱研究

气相Hel（21．22eV）紫外光电子能谱（UPS）能从孤立分子的分子轨道特性上，给出研究分子的轨道能量、电子结构以及成键特性的大量信息．UPS谱的特性揭示了被电离分子轨道的成键性质，而量子化学计算能正确地指认UPS谱带的归属，从而化合物的UPS研究从分子轨道的属性上提供了研究体系的实验和理论基础．苯基腈（C6H5CN）的UPS已有过研究［1-3］，但作为系列分子的间-二氰基苯（1）、对-二氰基苯（2）、1；2，4，5-四氰基苯（3）的HeI光电子能谱未见报道．这一系列分子的特点是-CN取代的数目和位置不同，通过这些分子UPS的研究找…     

Picosecond time-resolved Sn← S1 absorption spectrum of the tetracyanobenzene-toluene complex

The time-resolved absorption spectrum of the lowest excitcd singlet state (S₁) over the range 3 — 10 ps after 0.5 ps pulse excitation of the charge-transfer complex of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene and toluene shows an evolution with a 5 ± 3 ps time constant due to changes in configurations of the complex in S₁ associated with the reorientational relaxation of the solvent.     

Molecular structure and benzene ring deformation of three cyanobenzenes from gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations

The molecular structures of cyanobenzene, p-dicyanobenzene, and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene have been accurately determined by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio/DFT MO calculations. The equilibrium structures of these molecules are planar, but their average geometries in the gaseous phase are nonplanar because of large-amplitude vibrational motions of the substituents out of the plane of the benzene ring. The use of nonplanar models in electron diffraction analysis is necessary to yield ring angles consistent with the results of MO calculations. The angular deformation of the benzene ring in the three molecules is found to be much smaller than obtained from previous electron diffraction studies, as well as from microwave spectroscopy studies of cyanobenzene. While the deformation of the ring CC bonds and CCC angles in p-dicyanobenzene is well interpreted as arising from the superposition of independent effects from each substituent, considerable deviation from additivity occurs in 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene. The changes in the ring geometry and C ipso-C cyano bond lengths in this molecule indicate an enhanced ability of the cyano group to withdraw pi-electrons from the benzene ring, compared with cyanobenzene and p-dicyanobenzene. In particular, gas-phase electron diffraction and MP2 or B3LYP calculations show a small but consistent increase in the mean length of the ring CC bonds for each cyano group and a further increase in 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene. Comparison with accurate results from X-ray and neutron crystallography indicates that in p-dicyanobenzene the internal ring angle at the place of substitution opens slightly as the molecule is frozen in the crystal. The small geometrical change, about 0.6 degrees , is shown to be real and to originate from intermolecular C identical withN...HC interactions in the solid state.     

Phase diagram of the system KF-K<Subscript>2</Subscript>TaF<Subscript>7</Subscript>-Ta<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>

As an asymmetric organic molecular crystal, p-N,N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DAB) exhibits peculiar optical property. It was first grown by solution technique adopting slow evaporation method at room temperature using CCl₄ as growth medium. The solubility of DAB increases with temperature. Good quality transparent crystals of p-N,N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde were carefully collected and subjected various characterization studies such as UV, FTIR, ¹H and ¹³CNMR spectral studies and thermal (TG-DTG) studies to determine the purity and application oriented properties of the grown crystals.     

Modulating the Electronic and Solid-State Structure of Organic Semiconductors by Site-Specific Substitution: The Case of Tetrafluoropentacenes

The properties as well as solid-state structures, singlet fission, and organic field-effect transistor (OFET) performance of three tetrafluoropentacenes (1,4,8,11: 10 , 1,4,9,10: 11 , 2,3,9,10: 12 ) are compared herein. The novel compounds 10 and 11 were synthesized in high purity from the corresponding 6,13-etheno-bridged precursors by reaction with dimethyl 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate at elevated temperatures. Although most of the molecular properties of the compounds are similar, their chemical reactivity and crystal structures differ considerably. Isomer 10 undergoes the orbital symmetry forbidden thermal [4+4] dimerization, whereas 11 and 12 are much less reactive. The isomers 11 and 12 crystallize in a herringbone motif, but 10 prefers π–π stacking. Although the energy of the first electric dipole-allowed optical transition varies only within 370 cm⁻¹ (0.05 eV) for the neutral compounds, this amounts to roughly 1600 cm⁻¹ (0.20 eV) for radical cations and 1300 cm⁻¹ (0.16 eV) for dications. Transient spectroscopy of films of 11 and 12 reveals singlet-fission time constants (91±11, 73±3 fs, respectively) that are shorter than for pentacene (112±9 fs). OFET devices constructed from 11 and 12 show close to ideal thin-film transistor (TFT) characteristics with electron mobilities of 2×10⁻³ and 6×10⁻² cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively.     

Construction of a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework based on an anionic cadmium(II) coordination network and protonated dipyridine organic cations

As a class of multifunctional materials, crystalline supramolecular complexes have attracted much attention because of their unique architectures, intriguing topologies and potential applications. In this article, a new supramolecular compound, namely catena‐poly[4,4′‐(buta‐1,3‐diene‐1,4‐diyl)dipyridin‐1‐ium [(μ₄‐benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylato‐κ⁶O¹,O^1′:O²:O⁴,O^4′:O⁵)cadmium(II)]], {(C₁₄H₁₄N₂)[Cd(C₁₀H₂O₈)]}_n or {(1,4‐H₂bpbd)[Cd(1,2,4,5‐btc)]}_n, has been prepared by the self‐assembly of Cd(NO₃)₂·4H₂O, benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylic acid (1,2,4,5‐H₄btc) and 1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)buta‐1,3‐diene (1,4‐bpbd) under hydrothermal conditions. The title compound has been structurally characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Each Cd^II centre is coordinated by six O atoms from four different (1,2,4,5‐btc)⁴⁻ tetraanions. Each Cd^II cation, located on a site of twofold symmetry, binds to four carboxylate groups belonging to four separate (1,2,4,5‐btc)⁴⁻ ligands. Each (1,2,4,5‐btc)⁴⁻ anion, situated on a position of symmetry, binds to four crystallographically equivalent Cd^II centres. Neighbouring Cd^II cations interconnect bridging (1,2,4,5‐btc)⁴⁻ anions to form a three‐dimensional {[Cd(1,2,4,5‐btc)]²⁻}_n anionic coordination network with infinite tubular channels. The channels are visible in both the [10] and the [001] direction. Such a coordination network can be simplified as a (4,4)‐connected framework with the point symbol (4²8⁴)(4²8⁴). To balance the negative charge of the metal–carboxylate coordination network, the cavities of the network are occupied by protonated (1,4‐H₂bpbd)²⁺ cations that are located on sites of twofold symmetry. In the crystal, there are strong hydrogen‐bonding interactions between the anionic coordination network and the (1,4‐H₂bpbd)²⁺ cations. Considering the hydrogen‐bonding interactions, the structure can be further regarded as a three‐dimensional (4,6)‐connected supramolecular architecture with the point symbol (4²6⁴)(4²6⁸7·8⁴). The thermal stability and photoluminescence properties of the title compound have been investigated.     

Porphyrin Boxes: Rationally Designed Porous Organic Cages

The porphyrin boxes ( PB‐1 and PB‐2 ), which are rationally designed porous organic cages with a large cavity using well‐defined and rigid 3‐connected triangular and 4‐connected square shaped building units are reported. PB‐1 has a cavity as large as 1.95 nm in diameter and shows high chemical stability in a broad pH range (4.8 to 13) in aqueous media. The crystalline nature as well as cavity structure of the shape‐persistent organic cage crystals were intact even after complete removal of guest molecules, leading to one of the highest surface areas (1370 m²g^?1) among the known porous organic molecular solids. The size of the cavities and windows of the porous organic cages can be modulated using different sized building units while maintaining the topology of the cages, as illustrated with PB‐2 . Interestingly, PB‐2 crystals showed unusual N₂ sorption isotherms as well as high selectivity for CO₂ over N₂ and CH₄ (201 and 47.9, respectively at 273 K at 1 bar).     

几种极性有机晶体的生长习性与形成机理 2: 分子堆积、界面结构与晶体的习性

极性有机晶体在不同的溶剂中具有明显不同的生长习性, 主要有两个方面的原因: 一是极性有机晶体属非中心对称性晶类, 晶体具有极轴, 极轴的存在对分子堆积和晶体生长具有重要影响; 另一是极性有机晶体的界面结构不同, 溶剂与晶体界面的相互作用不同, 使得晶体同一面族的生长速率不同, 从而导致了晶体习性的改变。本文从几种典型极性有机晶体的分子排列和结构特征出发, 着重探讨了极性有机晶体的界面结构的差异对晶体习性的影响; 结合晶体生长界面与溶剂分子的相互作用进一步理解了晶体生长的溶剂效应; 通过理解极性有机晶体的习性机制, 探讨了晶体实际形态的控制。