Investigating the effects of side chain length on the AIE properties of water-soluble TPE derivatives

The emissive properties of fluorophores in aggregated state are important for the development of bio-sensors or bio-imaging reagents. So three water-soluble TPE derivatives with different lengths of side chains have been synthesized and we investigated the effects of side chains on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties in the aggregated states. The results indicate that side chains on the fluorophores play a pivotal role in their emission in aggregated state mediated by heparin or solid state, because the coplanarity of these TPE derivatives was affected by side chains. The rates of radiative decay k_f and non-radiative decay k_nr have been obtained through the quantum yields and lifetime, and a larger k_f and smaller k_nr were present for compound TPE-C4N, suggesting that the aggregated TPE-C4N should posses the most remarkable fluorescent property.     

AIE Ligand Constructed Zn(Ⅱ)Complex with Reversible Photo-induced Color and Emission Changes

Fluoran salicylaldehyde hydrazone metal complex(FSHMC)is a kind of recently reported photo-responsive system,which has the advantages of simple synthesis,multiple colors as well as distinct color change before and after UV light irradiation.However,the emission property of FSHMC is relatively unitary.In solid state,especially,only fluorescence quench is induced after UV light irradiation,which limits their applications.In this work,a typical aggregation-induced emission(AIE)moiety of tetraphenylethene(TPE)was introduced to the design of FSHMC.The obtained FSHMC,2-Zn,exhibited reversible color and fluorescence changes upon UV light irradiation.Due to the AIE feature of compound 2,2-Zn exhibited different emission changes upon UV light irradiation in THF and in solid matrix,because of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET)process from TPE moiety to rhodamine B moiety.     

Donor-Acceptor Typed AIE Luminogens with Near-infrared Emission for Super-resolution Imaging

Aggregation-induced emission(AIE)luminogens(AIEgens)with high brightness in aggregates exhibit great potentials in biological imaging,but these AIEgens are seldom applied in super-resolution biological imaging,especially in the imaging by using the structural illumination microscope(SIM).Based on this consideration,we synthesized the donor-acceptor typed AIEgen of DTPA-BTN,which not only owns high brightness in the near-infrared(NIR)emission region from 600 nm to 1000 nm(photoluminescence quantum yield,PLQYs=11.35%),but also displays excellent photo-stability.In addition,AIE nanoparticles based on 4,7-ditriphenylamine-[1,2,5]-thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine(DTPA-BTN)were also prepared with highly emissive features and excellent biocompatibility.Finally,the developed DTPA-BTN-based AIE nanoparticles were applied in the super-resolution cellular imaging via SIM,where much smaller full width at half-maximum values and high signal to noise ratios were obtained,indicating the superior imaging resolution.The results here imply that highly emissive AIEgens or AIE nanoparticles can be promising imaging agents for super-resolution imaging via SIM.     

Synthesis and properties of a graphene-like macrocycle based on tetraphenylethene

In this work, tetraphenylethene macrocycles are selectively synthesized in one step from McMurry coupling reaction of 1,1-bis(4-phenylcarbonyl)-2,2-diphenylethene in 45% overall yield. A more planar cyclized compound can be obtained by oxidization of tetraphenylethene macrocycles with iron (III) chloride in nitromethane. Their unusual optical properties and electrical properties are explored. The measured mobilities are 0.7022 and 0.0055 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The decomposition temperatures are also measured by thermal gravimetric analysis as, respectively 342 °C and 455 °C, indicating good thermal stabilities. The understanding of the structure and properties will benefit to the chemical synthesis of graphene.     

Restriction of Intramolecular Motion(RIM): Investigating AIE Mechanism from Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Mechanistic studies promote scientific development from phenomena to theories.Aggregation-induced emission(AIE),as an unusual photophysical phenomenon,builds the bridge between molecular science and aggregate mesoscience.With the twenty-year development of AIE,restriction of intramolecular motion(RIM)has been verified as the working mechanism of AIE effect.In this review,these mechanistic works about RIM are summarized from experimental and theoretical perspectives.Thereinto,the experimental studies are introduced from three parts:external rigidification,structural modification and structural characterization.In the theoretical part,calculations on the low-frequency motion of AIEgens have been performed to prove the RIM mechanism.By virtue of the theoretical calculations,some new mechanisms are proposed to supplement the RIM,such as restriction of access to conical intersection,suppression of Kasha transition,restriction of access to dark state,etc.It is foreseeable that the RIM mechanism will unify the photophysical theories for both molecules and aggregates,and inspire more progress in aggregate science.     

Aggregation-induced Emission Fluorogen as Mammalian Cell Cytoplasmic Tracker with Long Retention Time and High Photo-stability

Fluorescent probes used for cell imaging are powerful tools in cell-based assays and research.In this study,we exhibited a water-soluble aggregation-induced emission fluorogen(AIEgen),BSPO-TPE,specifically stained cytoplasm in live cells and had an excellent photostability when compared to that of two widely used commercial fluorescent dyes.The long cytoplasm retention time of BSPO-TPE demonstrated its suitability as a live cell cytoplasm tracker.     

Recent Process of Photo-responsive Materials with Aggregation-induced Emission

The research of photo-responsive materials, with changed absorption and emission under light stimulus, has drawn more and more attention due to their wide applications. However, most of them suffered from the notorious aggregation-caused quenching(ACQ) effect, which often led to the unconspicuous luminescent change in photo-responsive process. To solve this problem, the strategy of combining aggregation-induced emission(AIE) and photochromic properties was utilized, which largely enriched the phenomenon and application of photo-responsive materials. This short review summarized the recent progress of photo-responsive AIE materials with changed UV absorbance or PL phenomenon under UV-irradiation, including the types of molecular structures, internal mechanisms and the practical applications. Also, some outlooks were given on the further exploration of this field at the end of this paper.     

聚合物聚集诱导发光体系及机理研究进展

聚集态诱导发光(AIE)现象自2001年被发现以来发展十分迅速,从早期的小分子体系逐渐发展到高分子聚合物体系。与传统的小分子相比,聚合物体系的AIE材料能够克服加工上的难题,为制备高效发光器件创造了良好条件。AIE机理随着体系的开发不断发展,其核心依然是分子聚集态变化导致的辐射跃迁渠道,每一种AIE现象的形成往往需要几个因素协同作用,机理的不断完善一方面很好地解释了现有的AIE现象,另一方面为开发出新的AIE体系奠定了理论基础。本文总结了几种在小分子基础上形成的聚合物AIE体系,并在现有的机理基础上介绍了几种较新的AIE机理。     

Synthesis and properties of new luminescent hole transporting materials of triarylamine with dehydroabietic acid methyl ester moieties

A series of triarylamines based on dehydroabietic acid methyl ester moieties (6a–h) were synthesized for possible application as hole transporting materials for organic electroluminescent devices. The target compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR, and mass spectrometry. Their optical, electrochemical, and thermal properties were investigated using UV–vis, PL spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. CV measurements show that the compounds present suitable HOMO values (in a range of −4.63 to −5.11 eV) for hole injection, which is confirmed by theoretical calculations. All compounds were thermally stable. Organic light-emitting diode devices having 6f, 6g, and 6h as a hole transporting layer showed better performance of maximum brightness, turn-on voltage, and maximum luminous efficiency than a comparable device NPB. These compounds could be excellent candidates for applications in OLED devices.     

Synthesis of a new macrocyclic compound and its self-assembly

A new macrocyclic compound has been synthesized by condensation of pyridine-1-oxide-2,6-dialdehyde with diethylenetria-mine. The self-assemly behaviours were studied by X-ray diffraction. The results show that the self-assembly were controlled by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking effects.     

三芳胺-吡嗪类供体-受体型聚集诱导发光分子的合成及性能表征综合创新实验

为了提升学生的基础有机合成技能及综合实验创新能力,介绍了一类含三芳胺及吡嗪单元的供体-受体型聚集诱导发光分子的合成、性能表征及分析。通过本综合创新实验的学习,学生将进一步了解有机荧光材料,尤其是聚集诱导发光材料的发光机理及潜在应用。本实验不仅有利于提升学生在减压蒸馏、萃取、干燥和柱层析分离等操作方面的实验技能,也将进一步促进其对核磁共振仪、高分辨质谱仪、紫外-可见吸收光谱仪及稳态-瞬态荧光光谱仪等仪器的熟悉和掌握。最终,通过课堂理论及综合实验学习的相互结合,进一步拓展学生视野并锻炼学生综合创新实验能力,为培养其良好的科学研究素养奠定基础。     

Asymmetric Catalytic Assembly of Triple-Columned and Multilayered Chiral Folding Polymers Showing Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE)

Unprecedented chiral multilayer folding 3D polymers have been assembled and regulated by uniform and differentiated aromatic chromophore units between naphthyl piers. Screening catalysts, catalytic systems and monomers were proven to be crucial for asymmetric catalytic Suzuki–Miyaura polycouplings for this assembly. X-ray crystallography of the corresponding dimers and trimers revealed the absolute configuration and the intermolecular packing pattern. Up to 61 960 M_w/41 900 M_n and m/z 4317 for polymers and oligomers, as confirmed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and MALDI-TOF MS, indicated that these frameworks were composed of multiple stacked layers. The resulting multiple π-assemblies exhibited remarkable optical properties in aggregated states (photoluminescence in solids and aggregation-induced emission in solutions), as well as reversible redox properties in electrochemical performance.     

Fluorescent Detection of Cu(Ⅱ) by Chitosan-based AIE Bioconjugate

Detection of Cu(Ⅱ) is very important in disease diagnose, biological system detection and environmental monitoring. Previously, we found that the product TPE-CS prepared by attaching the chromophores of tetraphenylethylene(TPE) to the chitosan(CS) chains showed excellent fluorescent properties. In this study, we tried to use TPE-CS for detecting Cu(Ⅱ) because of the stable complexation of CS with heavy metals and the luminosity mechanism of the Restriction of Intramolecular Rotations(RIR) for aggregation-induced emission(AIE)-active materials. The fluorescence intensity changed when TPE-CS was contacted with different metal ions, to be specific, no change for Na~+, slightly increase for Hg~(2+), Pb~(2+), Zn~(2+), Cd~(2+), Fe~(2+), Fe~(3+) due to the RIR caused by the complexation between CS and metal ions. However, for Cu~(2+), an obvious fluorescence decrease was observed because of the Photoinduced-Electron-Transfer(PET). Moreover, we found that the quenched FL intensity of TPE-CS was proportional to the concentration of Cu(Ⅱ) in the range of 5 μmol/L to 100 μmol/L, which provided a new way to quantitatively detect Cu(Ⅱ) . Besides, TPE-CS has excellent water-solubility as well as absorbability(the percentage of removal, R = 84%), which is an excellent detection probe and remover for Cu(Ⅱ) .     

Synthesis,spectra and X-ray crystal structure of a new type of macrocyclic hexanuclear iron(III) cluster

A macrocyclic iron(III) 18-azametallacrown-6 compound, [Fe₆(5-Brashz)₆(H₂O)₆]?·?20H₂O(5-Brashz?=?N-acetyl-(5-bromosalicylhydrazide)), where the pentadentate ligands bridge the metal ions, was synthesized and characterized. Due to the meridional coordination of the ligand to the metal ion, the ligand is not only bridging the ring metal ions using a hydrazide N–N group, but also enforcing the stereochemistry of the metal ions as a propeller shape with alternating Λ/Δ configuration. The disc-shaped hexanuclear cluster is about 14.5?Å in diameter, 16.8?Å in thickness and has a vacant cavity in the center of the cluster.     

Squaraine Dyes: Interaction with Bovine Serum Albumin to Investigate Supramolecular Adducts with Aggregation‐Induced Emission (AIE) Properties

Bovine serum albumin (BSA)–squaraine supramolecular adducts with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods. While squaraine dyes showed a very low fluorescence quantum yield in water, a great enhancement in the fluorescence of the aggregated BSA adducts was achieved due to the abnormal aggregation‐induced emission properties of squaraines. The adducts formation was studied from a kinetic point of view showing unexpected structure–properties relationships.     

Tetraphenylethylene and N-isopropylacrylamide block polymer-grafted carbon dots with their application in cellular imaging

Carbon dots (CDs) grafted with block polymer of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and N-isopropylacrylamide (CD-g-poly(TPE-block-NIPAM)) were synthesized, which are aggregation-induced emission (AIE) nanoparticles. The CD-g-poly(TPE-block-NIPAM) exhibited different fluorescence behaviors in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and water. In THF, the CD-g-poly(TPE-block-NIPAM) could fluoresce, but only from CDs, and the TPE block showed no fluorescence. The fluorescence of CDs was quenched ,and the TPE block showed AIE, when the CD-g-poly(TPE-block-NIPAM) were dispersed in water. The CD-g-poly(TPE-block-NIPAM) showed no cytotoxicity, which could be easily internalized by human breast cancer cells and human embryonic kidney cells with high fluorescence, and they can be used as fluorescent tracers for living cells.     

Reinvestigation of the synthesis of “covalent-assembly” type probes for fluoride ion detection. Identification of novel 7-(diethylamino)coumarins with aggregation-induced emission properties

An unprecedented C-3 functionalization of 4-(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde through a Friedel-Crafts type alkylation reaction has been discovered during the synthesis of “covalent-assembly”-based fluorescent probes for detection of fluoride ions. The resulting Friedel-Crafts adduct was successfully used for the preparation of two novel 8-substituted 7-(diethylamino)coumarin dyes. The photophysical study of these fluorophores has enabled us to highlight their remarkable aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties characterized by a yellow-orange emission of aggregates in water. Therefore, 4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)benzyl substituent was identified as a novel AIE-active moiety which could be seen as a possible alternative to popular tetraphenylethylene (TPE).     

Synthesis of a series of ethylene glycol modified water-soluble tetrameric TPE-amphiphiles with pyridinium polar heads: Towards applications as light-up bioprobes in protein and DNA assay,and wash-free imaging of bacteria

Available online Development of water soluble AIE-active “light-up” bioprobes for the detection of biomacromolecules has drawn huge research interests in recent past. In this study, a series of ethylene glycol modified water soluble tetrameric tetraphenylethylene amphiphiles with pyridinium polar heads (TPE-xEG-Py, x = 3, 4, 6 or 1a-c) have been synthesized by varying the ethylene glycol spacer. Their unique structure allows them to form vesicles and other nanoaggregates in aqueous solutions. These amphiphiles were successfully utilized for fluorimetric detection and quantitation of BSA and DNA based on the electrostatic interactions to trigger AIE-emission from the TPE moiety. The electrostatic interaction was also proved very effective in wash-free imaging of both Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria with up to 92 folds increase in fluorescence response within bacterial concentration 0–12 × 10⁸ CFU mL^?1. The strategy is advantageous due to cost-effective and easy synthesis, high water solubility, and fast response.     

Synthesis, characterization, and electroluminescent properties of star shaped donor-acceptor dendrimers with carbazole dendrons as peripheral branches and heterotriangulene as central core

Luminescent and redox-active heterotriangulene-based dendrimers (G1 and G2) of first and second generation have been synthesized, and their photophysical properties, oxidation behaviors, and applications in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been investigated. The dendrimers show efficient aggregation-induced emissions originated from the carbazole dendrons, heterotriangulene core, intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT), and intermolecular aggregation absorptions. Highest-occupied molecular orbital and lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO and LUMO) values were acquired using UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The OLEDs fabricated with G1 and G2 as non-doping emitters exhibit exclusive aggregation-induced luminescence peaking at 600 and 630 nm, respectively, and demonstrate a good performance with maximum luminance of 1586 cd m⁻² at current efficiency of 5.3 cd A⁻¹ for G1 and 827 cd m⁻² at current efficiency of 6.9 cd A⁻¹ for G2.     

AIE荧光聚合物RAFT可控合成与表征及光物理性质研究

聚集诱导发光(AIE)分子是与传统的聚集态荧光淬灭染料分子具有截然相反的光物理性质的新型有机发光材料,可广泛应用于化学/生物传感、生物探针与成像、诊疗一体化和光电子器件等诸多领域中。本论文通过可逆加成-断裂链转移(RAFT)聚合方法,可控合成了侧链型四苯乙烯TPE聚丙烯酸酯AIE聚合物。通过实验条件的优化与探索,尤其采用半衰期较短、活性更高的偶氮二异庚腈(ABVN)取代常规的偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)引发剂,将原来超过12 h的过夜反应前沿科研实验,改造为较短的3–5 h聚合反应时间内即可达到中等收率和较好的聚合物产品质量,使其成为一个适合本科教学环境的新创实验。本实验融合了无水无氧操作技术、柱层析分离纯化、RAFT可控聚合和GPC分子表征技术、FTIR、NMR、UV-Vis、荧光光谱等多种现代实验技术和表征方法,考查了所合成四苯乙烯TPE侧基的AIE聚合物的光物理性质,测定其溶液中的相对荧光量子产率达17%。