Synthesis of Self‐Threading Bithiophenes and their Structure–Property Relationships Regarding Cyclic Side‐Chains with Atomic Precision

We have recently reported a self‐threading polythiophene as a new family of insulated molecular wires. Herein, we focused on the structure–property relationships of the unique three‐dimensional architecture of the monomer. We have synthesized nine self‐threading bithiophene monomers that have cyclic side‐chains of different size and flexibility: i.e., 21‐, 22‐, 23‐, 24‐, 26‐, and 30‐membered rings composed of paraffinic, olefinic, or alkynic chains. To investigate their structure–property relationships, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, UV absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy measurements were conducted. We found that cyclic side‐chains define the movable range of the dihedral angle of the bithiophene backbone, thereby affecting its photophysical properties. Therefore, the ability to design a structure with atomic precision as described herein would lead to the fine‐tuning of the electronic properties of insulated molecular wires.     

X‐Shaped Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Optical Properties and Tunable Assembly Ability

Although a number of synthetic methodologies have been developed to prepare stable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), much less research has been devoted to functionalizing the peripheries of molecules to tune the self‐assembly ability or introduce functional groups without altering their photophysical properties. Herein, we report twisted “X”‐shaped molecules prepared through annulation of hexacene with benzoanthracene on the zigzag edge, and an investigation of their photophysical properties and self‐assembly properties. The shape‐complementary “X”‐shaped molecules prefer to dimerize, while the π‐extension would lead to one‐dimensional π‐stacking. Our findings give some insights into the design of stable PAHs without disturbing the electronic structures.     

Multichannel Conductance of Folded Single‐Molecule Wires Aided by Through‐Space Conjugation

Deciphering charge transport through multichannel pathways in single‐molecule junctions is of high importance to construct nanoscale electronic devices and deepen insight into biological redox processes. Herein, we report two tailor‐made folded single‐molecule wires featuring intramolecular π–π stacking interactions. The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) based break‐junction technique and theoretical calculations show that through‐bond and through‐space conjugations are integrated into one single‐molecule wire, allowing for two simultaneous conducting channels in a single‐molecule junction. These folded molecules with stable π–π stacking interaction offer conceptual advances in single‐molecule multichannel conductance, and are perfect models for conductance studies in biological systems, organic thin films, and π‐stacked columnar aggregates.     

A new methanol solvate and Hirshfeld analysis of π‐stacking in 2,3,6,7,10,11‐hexahydroxytriphenylene solvates

The structure of 2,3,6,7,10,11‐hexahydroxytriphenylene (hhtp) methanol monosolvate, C₁₈H₁₂O₆·CH₃OH, has triclinic symmetry (space group P). The compound has a three‐dimensional layered network structure formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Structure analysis with Hirshfeld surfaces is shown to be a sensitive method for comparing π‐stacking effects in the five known solvates of hhtp. The title structure shows slightly weaker π‐stacking than the dihydrate, but stronger π‐stacking than the other three solvates.     

Novel Conjugated Polymers Based on Dithieno[3,2‐b:6,7‐b]carbazole for Solution Processed Thin‐Film Transistors

Two conjugated polymers (CPs) P‐tCzC12 and P‐tCzC16 comprising alternating dithieno[3,2‐b:6,7‐b]carbazole and 4,4′‐dihexadecyl‐2,2′‐bithiophene units have been designed and synthesized. Upon thermal annealing, they can form ordered thin films in which the polymer backbones dominantly adopted an edge‐on orientation respective to the substrate with a lamellar spacing of ≈24 Å and a π‐stacking distance of ≈3.7 Å. Organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs) were fabricated by solution casting. A hole mobility of 0.39 cm² V⁻¹s⁻¹ has been demonstrated with P‐tCzC16. This value is the highest among the CPs containing heteroacenes larger than 4 rings.     

Regulation of π‐Stacked Anthracene Arrangement for Fluorescence Modulation of Organic Solid from Monomer to Excited Oligomer Emission

The construction and precise control of the face‐to‐face π‐stacked arrangements of anthracene fluorophores in the crystalline state led to a remarkable red shift in the fluorescence spectrum due to unprecedented excited oligomer formation. The arrangements were regulated by using organic salts including anthracene‐1,5‐disulfonic acid (1,5‐ADS) and a variety of aliphatic amines. Because of the smaller number of hydrogen atoms at the edge positions and the steric effect of the sulfonate groups, 1,5‐ADS should prefer face‐to‐face π‐stacked arrangements over the usual edge‐to‐face herringbone arrangement. Indeed, as the alkyl substituents were lengthened, the organic salts altered their anthracene arrangement to give two‐dimensional (2D) edge‐to‐face and end‐to‐face herringbone arrangements, one‐dimensional (1D) face‐to‐face zigzag and slipped stacking arrangements, a lateral 1D face‐to‐face arrangement like part of a brick wall, and a discrete monomer arrangement. The monomer arrangement behaved as a dilute solution even in the close‐packed solid state to emit deep blue light. The 1D face‐to‐face zigzag and slipped stacking of the anthracene fluorophores caused a red shift of 30–40 nm in the fluorescence emission with respect to the discrete arrangement, probably owing to ground‐state associations. On the other hand, the 2D end‐to‐face stacking induced a larger red shift of 60 nm, which is attributed to the excimer fluorescence. Surprisingly, the brick‐like lateral face‐to‐face arrangement afforded a remarkable red shift of 150 nm to give yellow fluorescence. This anomalous red shift is probably due to excited oligomer formation in such a lateral 1D arrangement according to the long fluorescence lifetime and little shift in the excitation spectrum. The regulation of the π‐stacked arrangement of anthracene fluorophores enabled the wide modulation of the fluorescence and a detailed investigation of the relationships between the photophysical properties and the arrangements.     

Crystal Structures and Redox Responses Coupled with Ion Recognition of p‐Benzoquinone‐ and Hydroquinone‐Fused [18]crown‐6

The crystal structures and redox properties of p‐benzoquinone (BQ)‐fused [18]crown‐6 1 and bis‐BQ‐fused [18]crown‐6 2 were examined. The anion radicals of these BQ molecules were stabilized by addition of metal ions, through effective electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged BQ moiety and positively charged ion‐capturing [18]crown‐6 unit. The electrostatic interactions and solvation energy played important roles in determining the magnitudes of anodic redox shifts in the reduction potentials. Regular π‐stacking of BQ units and regular arrays of [18]crown‐6 units were observed in crystal 2 , in which one‐dimensional π‐electron columns were separated by ionic channels. The hydroquinone‐fused [18]crown‐6 molecule 3 and a new BQ‐ and phenol‐fused [18]crown‐6 derivative 4 were obtained as single crystals. The molecular conformations of [18]crown‐6 in crystal 3 and hydrated crystal 3 ?H₂O were different from each other.     

Corannulene‐Fused Anion‐Responsive π‐Conjugated Molecules that Form Self‐Assemblies with Unique Electronic Properties

The fusion of bowl‐shaped π‐conjugated corannulene units to anion‐responsive π‐conjugated dipyrrolyldiketone‐boron complexes resulted in new molecular materials with a unique self‐assembly capability. The bowl‐fused receptor with aliphatic tails could form both supramolecular gels and mesophases through π‐stacking interactions and also exhibited anion‐responsive characteristics. The presence of the π‐bowl unit not only afforded enhanced self‐assembly capability both in solution and in the mesophases, as evidenced by gelation experiments and phase‐transition profiles, but also enhanced intrinsic charge‐carrier mobility.     

Synthetic Methodology for Structurally Defined and Insulated Molecular Wires Bearing Non‐centrosymmetric Conjugated Axle Components via Iterative Intramolecular Slippage

Insulated molecular wires (IMWs) bearing non‐centrosymmetric conjugated axle components were precisely synthesized via iterative cross‐coupling reactions in organic solvents and subsequent intramolecular slippage transformation in aqueous solvents. This programmable synthetic procedure selectively afforded both insulated and uninsulated molecular wires bearing oligo(phenylene ethynylene) and permethylated α‐cyclodextrins with well‐defined conjugation lengths and supramolecular structures. High selectivity of this method was confirmed by NMR and mass spectroscopic analyses. The resultant IMWs exhibited distinct optical properties because of different conjugation lengths and insulated structures. This synthetic strategy for structurally defined IMWs bearing non‐centrosymmetric conjugated axle components could provide a platform for obtaining diverse functionalized materials useful in the fields of non‐centrosymmetric molecular machines and molecular electronics.     

Nanoscopic Imaging of meso‐Tetraalkylporphyrins Prepared in High Yields Enabled by Montmorrilonite K10 and 3 Å Molecular Sieves

We have developed a high‐yielding synthesis of meso‐tetraalkylporphyrins, which previously have been obtained only in lower yields. By employing Montmorrilonite K10 as the acid catalyst and 3 Å molecular sieves as the dehydrating agent, yields that reached 70 % could be achieved with some aliphatic aldehydes. The free‐base porphyrins with decyl ( C10 ) or longer chains were imaged at the single‐molecule level at the solvent/surface interface. Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was used as a π‐stacking surface, whereas 1‐phenyloctane and 1‐phenylnonane were used as solvents. An odd–even effect was observed from C13 to C16 . For C13 a single‐crystal X‐ray structure allowed an unprecedented insight into how packing from two dimensions is expanded into a three‐dimensional crystal lattice.     

Interpreting geometric preferences in π‐stacking interactions through molecular orbital analysis

The preference of π‐stacking interactions for parallel‐displaced (PD) and twisted (TW) conformations over the fully eclipsed sandwich (S) in small π‐stacked dimers of benzene, pyridine, pyrimidine, 1,3,5‐trifluorobenzene, and hexafluorobenzene are examined in terms of enhancement of the inter‐ring density through mixing of the monomer orbitals (MOs). PD and/or TW conformations are consistent with a non‐zero “stack bond order” (SBO), defined in analogy to the bond order of conventional MO theory, as the difference in the occupation of bonding and antibonding π‐type dimer MOs. In the S conformation, the equal number of bonding and antibonding MOs cancel overall stack bonding character between the monomers for an SBO of zero and an overall repulsive interaction. PD from the S shifts the character of at least one antibonding combination of monomer π‐type MOs with nodes perpendicular to the coordinate for PD to bonding, leading to an attractive nonzero SBO. The inter‐ring density measured through the Wiberg bond index analysis shows an enhancement at the PD conformations consistent with greater interpenetration of the monomer densities. This intuitive bonding model for π‐stacking interactions is complementary to highly accurate calculations of π‐stacking energies and allows a predictive understanding of relative stability using cheaper quantum chemical methods.     

Columnar Mesophase Formation of Cyclohexa‐m‐phenylene‐Based Macrocycles

Two novel discotic macrocycles, substituted cyclohexa‐m‐phenylene (CHP) and cyclo‐3,6‐trisphenanthrylene (CTP), and the linear oligomer 3,3′:6′,3′′‐terphenanthrene (TP) as a model substance have been synthesized by repetitive cross‐coupling reactions. To correlate the molecular design with the supramolecular architecture and the established macroscopic order, 2D wide‐angle X‐ray scattering experiments were performed on mechanically extruded filaments. At room temperature in their crystalline phases, all three compounds revealed columnar assemblies in which the macrocycles self‐organized by π‐stacking interactions. The degree of macroscopic order was found to depend upon the planarity and stiffness of the aromatic core. The flexible CHP ring showed a poor macroscopic order of the columnar structures and a low isotropization temperature, whereas the more‐planar, less‐flexible CTP self‐assembled into well‐defined superstructures. The larger π‐stacking area and the more‐pronounced intermolecular interactions for CTP led to the formation of a mesophase over a very large temperature range. The surprising columnar organization of the “open” TP system was explained by back‐folding of the molecule into a ringlike structure.     

Single-chain and monolayered conjugated polymers for molecular electronics

Exploring the charge transport properties and electronic functions of molecules is of primary interest in the area of molecular electronics. Conjugated polymers (CPs) represent an attractive class of molecular candidates, benefiting from their outstanding optoelectronic properties. However, they have been less studied compared with the small-molecule family, mainly due to the difficulties in incorporating CPs into molecular junctions. In this review, we present a summary on how to fabricate CP-based singlechain and monolayered junctions, then discuss the transport behaviors of CPs in different junction architectures and finally introduce the potential applications of CPs in molecular-scale electronic devices. Although the research on CP-based molecular electronics is still at the initial stage, it is widely accepted that (1) CP chains are able to mediate long-range charge transport if their molecular electronic structures are properly designed, which makes them potential molecular wires, and (2) the intrinsic optoelectronic properties of CPs and the possibility of incorporating desirable functionalities by synthetic strategies imply the potential of employing tailor-made polymeric components as alternatives to small molecules for future molecular-scale electronics.     

On‐Top π‐Stacking of Quasiplanar Molecules in Hole‐Transporting Materials: Inducing Anisotropic Carrier Mobility in Amorphous Films

Dimers of partially oxygen‐bridged triarylamines were designed and synthesized as hole‐transporting materials. X‐ray structural analyses revealed that these compounds form on‐top π‐stacking aggregates in the crystalline state. TRMC measurements showed that high levels of anisotropic charge transport were induced in the direction of the π‐stacking. Surprisingly, even in vacuum‐deposited amorphous films, these compounds retained some of the face‐on π‐stacking, thus facilitating an out‐of‐plane carrier mobility.     

Viscoelastic Conjugated Polymer Fluids

The introduction of optoelectronic functions into viscoelastic polymers can yield highly sophisticated soft materials for biomedical devices and autonomous robotics. However, viscoelasticity and excellent optoelectronic properties are difficult to achieve because the presence of a large number of π‐conjugated moieties drastically stiffens a polymer. Here, we report a variation of additive‐free viscoelastic conjugated polymers (VE‐CPs) at room temperature by using an intact π‐conjugated backbone and bulky, yet flexible, alkyl side chains as “internal plasticizers.” Some of these polymers exhibit gel‐ and elastomer‐like rheological behaviors without cross‐linking or entanglement. Furthermore, binary blends of these VE‐CPs exhibit a never‐seen‐before dynamic miscibility with self‐restorable and mechanically induced fluorescence color changes.     

Covalent Organic Framework for Improving Near‐Infrared Light Induced Fluorescence Imaging through Two‐Photon Induction

Fluorescent materials exhibiting two‐photon induction (TPI) are used for nonlinear optics, bioimaging, and phototherapy. Polymerizations of molecular chromophores to form π‐conjugated structures were hindered by the lack of long‐range ordering in the structure and strong π–π stacking between the chromophores. Reported here is the rational design of a benzothiadiazole‐based covalent organic framework (COF) for promoting TPI and obtaining efficient two‐photon induced fluorescence emissions. Characterization and spectroscopic data revealed that the enhancement in TPI performance is attributed to the donor‐π‐acceptor‐π‐donor configuration and regular intervals of the chromophores, the large π‐conjugation domain, and the long‐range order of COF crystals. The crystalline structure of TPI‐COF attenuates the π–π stacking interactions between the layers, and overcomes aggregation‐caused emission quenching of the chromophores for improving near‐infrared two‐photon induced fluorescence imaging.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Anionic Poly(cyclopentadienylene vinylene) and Its Use in Conductive Hydrogels

The use of π‐conjugated polymers (CPs) in conductive hydrogels remains challenging due to the water‐insoluble nature of most CPs. Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) are promising alternatives because they have tunable electronic properties and high water‐solubility, but they are often difficult to synthesize and thus have not been widely adopted. Herein, we report the synthesis of an anionic poly(cyclopentadienylene vinylene) (aPCPV) from an insulating precursor under mild conditions and in high yield. Functionalized aPCPV is a highly water‐soluble CPE that exhibits low cytotoxicity, and we found that doping hydrogels with aPCPV imparts conductivity. We also anticipate that this synthetic strategy, due to its ease and high efficiency, will be widely used to create families of not‐yet‐explored π‐conjugated vinylene polymers.     

Superbenzene–Porphyrin Conjugates

A free‐base porphyrin carrying two hexabenzocoronene (HBC) substituents in a trans arrangement and its zinc complex have been prepared. The compounds were characterized extensively and found to form tricationic dimers in the gas phase. X‐ray crystallography confirms for the zinc complex a profound π‐stacking of the HBC moieties. In contrast, the free‐base porphyrin incarcerates n‐heptane which essentially prevents π‐stacking. Upon excitation of the HBC substituents, efficient energy transfer to the central porphyrin is observed.     

Benzotrithiophene versus Benzo/Naphthodithiophene Building Blocks: The Effect of Star‐Shaped versus Linear Conjugation on Their Electronic Structures

The synthesis, characterization, and optical properties of a novel star‐shaped oligothiophene with a central rigid trithienobenzene (BTT) core and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) units are reported and compared with homologous linear systems based on the benzodithiophene (BDT) and the naphthodithiophene (NDT) units end capped with DPPs. This comparison is aimed at elucidating the effect of the star‐shaped configuration versus linear conformation on the optical and electrical properties. Electronic and vibrational spectroscopies, together with transient absorption spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, and DFT calculations are used to understand not only the molecular properties of these semiconductors, but also to analyze the supramolecular aggregation in these derivatives. We conclude that although the subject star‐shaped derivative is not optimal in terms of π‐conjugation, its extended BTT unit significantly favors intermolecular π‐stacking interactions, which is interesting for their applications in devices. Field‐effect transistors and solar cells were fabricated with these new molecular semiconductors and the performance difference discussed.     

Molecular design of a π‐conjugated single‐chain electronically conductive polymer

This study demonstrates that single‐chain π‐conjugated systems can be made electrically conductive by modifying the molecular structures of both ends of the oligomers making up a polymer. That is, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gaps of a fairly long polyyne‐type oligomer with appropriately modified molecular structures at both ends are found to be on the order of thermal energy by calculations using density functional theory (DFT) with B3LYP functionals. This result applies to molecular structures with characteristic bond alternations. The peculiar bond alternations are caused by competition between two effects of the bond alternations of the two mutually perpendicular π‐conjugated systems, which partially cancel each other out. It is probable that we can design one‐dimensional polymers with HOMO–LUMO gaps small enough to be conductive by combining the above‐mentioned oligomers with each other as monomer units in the polymer. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006