A p‐Quinodimethane‐Bridged Porphyrin Dimer

A p‐quinodimethane (p‐QDM)‐bridged porphyrin dimer 1 has been prepared for the first time. An unexpected Michael addition reaction took place when we attempted to synthesize compound 1 by reaction of the cross‐conjugated keto‐linked porphyrin dimers 8 a and 8 b with alkynyl/aryl Grignard reagents. Alternatively, compound 1 could be successfully prepared by intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation of the diol‐linked porphyrin dimer 14 with concomitant oxidation in air. Compound 1 shows intense one‐photon absorption (OPA, λ_max=955 nm, ε=45400 M ^?1 cm^?1) and a large two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section (σ⁽²⁾_max=2080 GM at 1800 nm) in the near‐infrared (NIR) region due to its extended π‐conjugation and quinoidal character. It also exhibits a short singlet excited‐state lifetime of 25 ps. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 displays multiple redox waves with a small electrochemical energy gap of 0.86 eV. The ground‐state geometry, electronic structure, and optical properties of 1 have been further studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and compared with those of the keto‐linked dimer 8 b . This research has revealed that incorporation of a p‐QDM unit into the porphyrin framework had a significant impact on its optical and electronic properties, leading to a novel NIR OPA and TPA chromophore.     

NIR‐to‐NIR Two‐Photon Scanning Laser Microscopy Imaging of Single Nanoparticles Doped by YbIII Complexes

The photophysical and nonlinear optical properties of water‐soluble chromophore‐functionalised tris‐dipicolinate complexes [LnL₃]^3? (Ln=Yb and Nd) are thoroughly studied, revealing that only the Yb^III luminescence can be sensitized by a two‐photon excitation process. The stability of the complex in water is strongly enhanced by embedding in dispersible organosilicate nanoparticles (NPs). Finally, the spectroscopic properties of [NBu₄]₃[YbL₃] are studied in solution and in the solid state. The high brightness of the NPs allows imaging them as single objects using a modified two‐photon microscopy setup in a NIR‐to‐NIR configuration.     

N‐Annulated Perylene‐Substituted and Fused Porphyrin Dimers with Intense Near‐Infrared One‐Photon and Two‐Photon Absorption

Fusion of two N‐annulated perylene (NP) units with a fused porphyrin dimer along the S₀–S₁ electronic transition moment axis has resulted in new near‐infrared (NIR) dyes 1 a / 1 b with very intense absorption (ε>1.3×10⁵ M ^?1 cm^?1) beyond 1250 nm. Both compounds displayed moderate NIR fluorescence with fluorescence quantum yields of 4.4×10^?6 and 6.0×10^?6 for 1 a and 1 b , respectively. The NP‐substituted porphyrin dimers 2 a / 2 b have also been obtained by controlled oxidative coupling and cyclodehydrogenation, and they showed superimposed absorptions of the fused porphyrin dimer and the NP chromophore. The excited‐state dynamics of all of these compounds have been studied by femtosecond transient absorption measurements, which revealed porphyrin dimer‐like behaviour. These new chromophores also exhibited good nonlinear optical susceptibility with large two‐photon absorption cross‐sections in the NIR region due to extended π‐conjugation. Time‐dependent density functional theory calculations have been performed to aid our understanding of their electronic structures and absorption spectra.     

A Highly Efficient Near‐Infrared‐Emissive Copolymer with a N=N Double‐Bond π‐Conjugated System Based on a Fused Azobenzene–Boron Complex

Fused azobenzene–boron complexes (BAzs) show highly efficient near‐infrared (NIR) emission from the nitrogen–nitrogen double bond (N=N) containing π‐conjugated copolymer. Optical measurements showed that BAz worked as a strong electron acceptor because of the intrinsic electron deficiency of the N=N double bond and the boron–nitrogen (B?N) coordination which dramatically lowered the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the azobenzene ligand. The simple donor–acceptor (D–A) type copolymer of bithiophene (BT) and BAz exhibited intense photoluminescence (PL) in the NIR region both in the dilute solution (λ_PL=751 nm, Φ_PL=0.25) and in the film (λ_PL=821 nm, Φ_PL=0.038). The BAz monomer showed slight PL in the dilute solution, and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) was detected. We proposed that N=N double bonds should be attractive and functional building blocks for designing π‐conjugated materials.     

NIR light and enzyme dual stimuli‐responsive amphiphilic diblock copolymer assemblies

Using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and macromolecular azo coupling reaction, both o‐nitrobenzyl (ONB) group and azobenzene group were efficiently incorporated into the center of the amphiphilic diblock copolymer chain. The prepared diblock copolymer was well characterized by UV–vis, ¹H NMR, and GPC methods. Self‐assembly of the amphiphilic copolymer in selected solvents can result in uniform self‐assembly aggregates. In the presence of external stimuli [upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)/NIR light or enzyme], the amphiphilic diblock copolymer chain could be broken by the cleavage of ONB or azobenzene group, which would lead to the disruption of the self‐assembly aggregates. This photo‐ and enzyme‐triggered disruption process was proved by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and GPC method. Fluorescence emission spectra measurements indicated that the release of Nile red, a hydrophobic dye, encapsulated by the self‐assembly aggregates, could be successfully realized under the NIR light and enzyme stimuli. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2450–2457     

Boron Difluoride Curcuminoid Fluorophores with Enhanced Two‐Photon Excited Fluorescence Emission and Versatile Living‐Cell Imaging Properties

The synthesis of boron difluoride complexes of a series of curcuminoid derivatives containing various donor end groups is described. Time‐dependent (TD)‐DFT calculations confirm the charge‐transfer character of the second lowest‐energy transition band and ascribe the lowest energy band to a “cyanine‐like” transition. Photophysical studies reveal that tuning the donor strength of the end groups allows covering a broad spectral range, from the visible to the NIR region, of the UV–visible absorption and fluorescence spectra. Two‐photon‐excited fluorescence and Z‐scan techniques prove that an increase in the donor strength or in the rigidity of the backbone results in a considerable increase in the two‐photon cross section, reaching 5000 GM, with predominant two‐photon absorption from the S₀–S₂ charge‐transfer transition. Direct comparisons with the hemicurcuminoid derivatives show that the two‐photon active band for the curcuminoid derivatives has the same intramolecular charge‐transfer character and therefore arises from a dipolar structure. Overall, this structure–relationship study allows the optimization of the two‐photon brightness (i.e., 400–900 GM) with one dye that emits in the NIR region of the spectrum. In addition, these dyes demonstrate high intracellular uptake efficiency in Cos7 cells with emission in the visible region, which is further improved by using porous silica nanoparticles as dye vehicles for the imaging of two mammalian carcinoma cells type based on NIR fluorescence emission.     

Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene‐b‐poly (1,2‐isoprene‐ran‐3,4‐isoprene) block copolymers with azobenzene side groups

Polystyrene‐b‐poly(1,2‐isoprene‐ran‐3,4‐isoprene) block copolymers with azobenzene side groups were synthesized by the esterification of azobenzene acid chloride with polystyrene‐b‐hydroxylated poly(1,2‐isoprene‐ran‐3,4‐isopenre) block copolymers for creating new photochromic materials. The resulting block copolymers with azobenzene side groups were characterized for structural, thermal, and morphological properties. IR and NMR spectroscopies confirmed that the polymers obtained had the expected structures. Differential scanning calorimetric measurements by heating runs clearly showed the glass transitions of polystyrene and polyisoprene main chains and two distinct first‐order transitions at temperatures of azobenzene side groups around 48 and 83 °C. The microstructure of these block copolymer films was investigated using both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and near‐field optical microscopy (NOM). TEM images revealed typical microphase‐separated morphologies such as sphere, cylinder, and lamellar structures. The domain spacing of microphase‐separated cylindrical morphology in the NOM image agreed with that of the TEM results. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2406–2414, 2002     

Vacancy‐Rich Monolayer BiO2−x as a Highly Efficient UV,Visible, and Near‐Infrared Responsive Photocatalyst

Vacancy‐rich layered materials with good electron‐transfer property are of great interest. Herein, a full‐spectrum responsive vacancy‐rich monolayer BiO_2?x has been synthesized. The increased density of states at the conduction band (CB) minimum in the monolayer BiO_2?x is responsible for the enhanced photon response and photo‐absorption, which were confirmed by UV/Vis‐NIR diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and photocurrent measurements. Compared to bulk BiO_2?x, monolayer BiO_2?x has exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B and phenol removal under UV, visible, and near‐infrared light (NIR) irradiation, which can be attributed to the vacancy V_Bi‐O′′′ as confirmed by the positron annihilation spectra. The presence of V_Bi‐O′′′ defects in monolayer BiO_2?x promoted the separation of electrons and holes. This finding provides an atomic level understanding for developing highly efficient UV, visible, and NIR light responsive photocatalysts.     

Vacancy‐Rich Monolayer BiO2−x as a Highly Efficient UV,Visible, and Near‐Infrared Responsive Photocatalyst

Vacancy‐rich layered materials with good electron‐transfer property are of great interest. Herein, a full‐spectrum responsive vacancy‐rich monolayer BiO_2−x has been synthesized. The increased density of states at the conduction band (CB) minimum in the monolayer BiO_2−x is responsible for the enhanced photon response and photo‐absorption, which were confirmed by UV/Vis‐NIR diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and photocurrent measurements. Compared to bulk BiO_2−x, monolayer BiO_2−x has exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B and phenol removal under UV, visible, and near‐infrared light (NIR) irradiation, which can be attributed to the vacancy V_Bi‐O′′′ as confirmed by the positron annihilation spectra. The presence of V_Bi‐O′′′ defects in monolayer BiO_2−x promoted the separation of electrons and holes. This finding provides an atomic level understanding for developing highly efficient UV, visible, and NIR light responsive photocatalysts.     

Photoresponsive Formation of an Intermolecular Minimal G‐Quadruplex Motif

The ability of three different bifunctional azobenzene linkers to enable the photoreversible formation of a defined intermolecular two‐tetrad G‐quadruplex upon UV/Vis irradiation was investigated. Circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopic data showed the formation of G‐quadruplexes with K⁺ ions at room temperature in all three cases with the corresponding azobenzene linker in an E conformation. However, only the para–para‐substituted azobenzene derivative enables photoswitching between a nonpolymorphic, stacked, tetramolecular G‐quadruplex and an unstructured state after E–Z isomerization.     

trans/cis‐Isomerization of Fluorene‐Bridged Azo Chromophore with Significant Two‐Photon Absorbability at Near‐Infrared Wavelength

Azo‐containing materials have been proven to possess second‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, but their third‐order NLO properties, which involves two‐photon absorption (2PA), has rarely been reported. In this study, we demonstrate a significant 2PA behavior of the novel azo chromophore incorporated with bilateral diphenylaminofluorenes (DPAFs) as a π framework. The electron‐donating DPAF moieties cause a redshifted π–π* absorption band centered at 470 nm, thus allowing efficient blue‐light‐induced trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization with a rate constant of 2.04×10^?1 min^?1 at the photostationary state (PSS). The open‐aperture Z‐scan technique that adopted a femtosecond (fs) pulse laser as excitation source shows an appreciably higher 2PA cross‐section for the fluorene‐derived azo chromophore than that for common azobenzene dyes at near‐infrared wavelength (λ_ex=800 nm). Furthermore, the fs 2PA response is quite uniform regardless of the molecular geometry. On the basis of the computational modeling, the intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) process from peripheral diphenylamines to the central azo group through a fluorene π bridge is crucial to this remarkable 2PA behavior.     

Photoswitchable Adhesives Using Azobenzene‐Containing Materials

Photoinduced reversible solid‐to‐liquid transitions of azobenzene‐containing materials can control adhesion. Photoswitchable adhesives based on azobenzene‐containing small molecules and polymers are under intense investigation. The melting points or glass transition temperatures of such azobenzene‐containing materials in trans and cis forms are above and below room temperature, respectively. Photoswitching of these materials results in reversible trans‐cis isomerization and solid‐to‐liquid transitions. The solid trans azobenzene‐containing materials have strong adhesion and the liquid cis azobenzene‐containing materials have weaker adhesion. In this Minireview, we introduce adhesives based on azobenzene‐containing small molecules and polymers. The remaining challenges and perspectives in the field of photoswitchable adhesives using azobenzene‐containing materials are also discussed.     

Synthesis and Nonlinear Optical Properties of a New A-π-A Two-Photon Compound Utilizing Dibenzothiophene as Center

A new two‐photon material, 3E,6E‐bis(2‐pyrid‐4′‐ylvinyl)dibenzothiophene (BPVDBT), has been firstly synthesized by an efficient Pd‐catalyzed Heck coupling route. The single‐ and two‐photon fluorescence, quantum yields, lifetimes, solvent effects of the chromophore were studied in detail and the compound exhibited solvent‐sensitivity. The fluorescence intensity (I_out) and input excitation intensity (I_in) can fit in well with the quadratic parabolas, which indicates that the up‐converted fluorescence was induced by the two‐photon absorption (TPA). TPA cross‐section of BPVDBT has been measured using the two‐photon‐induced fluorescence method, whose value is 14.24×10^?50 cm⁴·s·photon^?1·molecule^?1 at 750 nm. The experimental results confirm that BPVDBT is a good two‐photon absorbing chromophore with an A‐π‐A type.     

Influence of the Metal Ion on the Two‐Photon Absorption Properties of Lanthanide Complexes Including Near‐IR Emitters

The synthesis of tris(2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)lanthanide(III) complexes featuring a diethylaminostyryl‐2,2′‐bipyridine coligand was achieved for lanthanum; the near‐infrared (NIR) emitters neodymium, erbium, and ytterbium; and the transition‐metal yttrium. The photophysical properties were thoroughly studied, and it was demonstrated that the conjugated bipyridine ligand acts as a good antenna for the sensitization of the NIR emitters. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) properties of all five complexes were investigated by using both two‐photon excited fluorescence and the Z‐scan method. We demonstrate that the nature of the rare earth ion has almost no influence on the TPA properties centered on the conjugated bipyridyl ligand. Finally, we show that Yb^III is sensitized by a two‐photon antenna effect, and that Nd^III is mostly sensitized by a one‐photon process involving direct excitation of forbidden f–f transitions.     

Light‐Harvesting Ytterbium(III)–Porphyrinate–BODIPY Conjugates: Synthesis,Excitation‐Energy Transfer,and Two‐Photon‐Induced Near‐Infrared‐Emission Studies

Based on a donor–acceptor framework, several conjugates have been designed and prepared in which an electron‐donor moiety, ytterbium(III) porphyrinate (YbPor), was linked through an ethynyl bridge to an electron‐acceptor moiety, boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY). Photoluminescence studies demonstrated efficient energy transfer from the BODIPY moiety to the YbPor counterpart. When conjugated with the YbPor moiety, the BODIPY moiety served as an antenna to harvest the lower‐energy visible light, subsequently transferring its energy to the YbPor counterpart, and, consequently, sensitizing the Yb^III emission in the near‐infrared (NIR) region with a quantum efficiency of up to 0.73 % and a lifetime of around 40 μs. Moreover, these conjugates exhibited large two‐photon‐absorption cross‐sections that ranged from 1048–2226 GM and strong two‐photon‐induced NIR emission.     

Control of the Helical Chirality of Enantiopure Sulfinyl (Z)‐Azobenzene‐Based Photoswitches

A new class of enantiopure ortho,ortho‐disubstituted azobenzene photoswitches has been synthesized from (S)‐2‐(p‐tolylsulfinyl)benzoquinone and arylhydrazines. The sulfoxide acts as a unidirectional controller of the helical chirality that arises in the Z isomer after photoisomerization. Highly congested E‐azobenzenes 5 c showed two atropisomeric diastereoconformers in the solid state that converged upon irradiation into a unique Z isomer with defined helicity (M), as evident in the X‐ray structure. The chiroptical properties of this three‐state enantiopure switch can be externally tuned both photochemically and/or thermally. Theoretical CD spectra calculated by using time‐dependent DFT methods support the existence of two atropoisomeric E isomers and only one Z isomer with (M) helicity. Complementary to the classical azobenzene‐based switches, the photoswiching event is promoted under green/blue light and do not occur under UV irradiation.     

Click chemistry‐assisted triazole‐substituted azobenzene and fulgimide units in the pendant‐based copoly(decyloxymethacrylate)s for dual‐mode optical switches

Copolymer containing new thermally reversible click chemistry‐assisted triazole‐substituted azobenzene and fulgimide units in the pendant F‐co‐A was prepared by free‐radical solution addition polymerization technique. The F and A were also prepared for comparison. The DSC analysis of F indicates that the polymer possessing the C‐form of fulgimide unit exhibited higher T_m than that of E‐form of the same polymer and revealed that the C‐form of fulgimide unit in F is highly ordered. The cis‐trans back isomerization behavior of the click chemistry‐assisted triazole‐substituted azobenzene unit in film A has thermal irreversibility, while in F‐co‐A it exhibited thermal reversibility. The UV‐exposed film of F‐co‐A heated around T_g leads to cis‐trans back isomerization of azobenzene unit and thermally stable C‐form of fulgimide which retains its conjugated structure where both the photochromic units are converted into planar conformations and exhibit high fluorescence properties. The fluorescence maxima of C‐form in F‐co‐A red shifted compared with F , because the substituted triazole ring in the azobenzene unit stabilized the C‐form of fulgimide unit. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7843–7860, 2008     

5′‐Allyl‐2′‐benzoyloxy‐3′‐methoxy‐4‐nitroazobenzene

The structure of the title compound, 4‐allyl‐2‐methoxy‐6‐[(4‐nitrophenyl)diazenyl]phenyl benzoate, C₂₃H₁₉N₃O₅, displays the characteristic features of azobenzene derivatives. The azobenzene moiety of the molecule has a trans configuration and in this moiety, average C—N and N=N bond lengths are 1.441 (3) and 1.241 (3) Å, respectively.     

Poly(1,4‐diketo‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐alt−3,6‐carbazole/2,7‐fluorene) as high‐performance two‐photon dyes

This article reports the synthesis, one‐ and two‐photon absorption, and excited fluorescence properties of poly(1,4‐diketo‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐alt‐N‐octyl‐3,6‐carbazole/2,7‐fluorene) ( PDCZ / PDFL ). PDCZ and PDFL are synthesized by the Suzuki cross‐coupling of 2,5‐dioctyl‐1,4‐diketo‐3,6‐bis(p‐bromophenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole and N‐octyl‐3,6‐bis(3,3‐dimethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)carbazole or 2,7‐bis(3,3‐dimethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)fluorene and have number‐average molecular weights of 8.5 × 10³ and 1.14 × 10⁴ g/mol and polydispersities of 2.06 and 1.83, respectively. They are highly soluble in common organic solvents and emit strong orange one‐ and two‐photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) in THF solution and exhibit high light and heat stability. The maximal two‐photon absorption cross‐sections (δ) measured in THF solution by the 2PEF method using femtosecond laser pulses are 970 and 900 GM per repeating unit for PDCZ and PDFL , respectively. These 1,4‐diketo‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐containing polymers with full aromatic structure and large δ will be promising high‐performance 2PA dyes applicable in two‐photon science and technology. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 944–951     

Doubly photoresponsive and water‐soluble block copolymers: Synthesis and thermosensitivity

We report the synthesis and investigation of a new type of photoresponsive block copolymers (BCPs). They were designed to comprise two water‐soluble polymers containing two different photoisomerizable moieties (either azobenzene and spiropyran or two different azobenzenes), with the two constituting blocks that, when separated, exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water and can shift their LCST in opposite directions upon photoisomerization (decrease of LCST for one polymer and increase for the other). A variety of such doubly photoresponsive BCPs were synthesized using either azobenzene‐ or spiropyran‐containing poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA), poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly[methoxydi(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] (PDEGMMA). Their thermal phase transition behaviors in aqueous solution before and after simultaneous photoreactions on the two blocks were investigated in comparison with their constituting blocks, by means of solution transmittance (turbidity) and variable‐temperature ¹H NMR measurements. The results show that BCPs displayed a single LCST whose shift upon two photoisomerizations appeared to be determined by the competing and opposing photoinduced effects on the two blocks. Moreover, optically controlling the relative photoisomerization degrees of trans azobenzene‐to‐cis azobenzene and spiropyran‐to‐merocyanine could be used to tune the LCST of BCP solution. This study demonstrates the potential of exploring a more complex photoreaction scheme to optically control the solution properties of water‐soluble thermosensitive BCPs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4055–4066, 2010