Synthesis, structure, and properties of supramolecular charge-transfer complexes between bis(18-crown-6)stilbene and ammonioalkyl derivatives of 4,4'-bipyridine and 2,7-diazapyrene

4,4'-Bipyridine and 2,7-diazapyrene derivatives (A) having two ammonioalkyl N-substituents were synthesized. The complex formation of these compounds with bis(18-crown-6)stilbene (D) was studied by spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. In MeCN, π-donor D and π-acceptors A form supramolecular 1:1 (D·A) and 2:1 (D·A·D) charge-transfer complexes. The D·A complexes have a pseudocyclic structure as a result of ditopic binding of the ammonium groups to the crown-ether fragments. The better the geometric matching between the components, the higher the stability of the D·A complexes (log K up to 9.39). A key driving force of the D·A·D complex formation is the excessive steric strain in the precursor D·A complexes. The pseudocyclic D·A complexes involving the ammoniopropyl derivative of 4,4'-bipyridine were obtained as single crystals. Crystallization of the related ammonioethyl derivative was accompanied by transition of the D·A complexes to a structure of the (D·A)(m) coordination polymer type.     

A New Interpretation of Apparent Induction Period in Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in Acid Emulsion

A following new interpretation of apparent induction period is proposed considering the experimental results obtained: octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) is activated by the reaction with acid to generate an activated derivative (A4). A4 reacts with D4 to generate A8, an active species containing eight dimethylsiloxane units. A8 backbites to generate mostly A4 and D4, which causes retardation in polymerization, but occasionally to form A3 and D5. A3 is highly reactive, and when the concentration of A3 exceeds a certain limit, much Ai where i is large enough is formed and promotes fast growth of chain at the interfacial area due to high concentration of D4. The interpretation assumes that A3 accelerates growth of chain faster than other species, and that A8 tends to backbite rather than grow. The interpretation is supported by the experimental results of polymerization conducted with D4 and D3, or D5 and D3 charged.     

A role for highly conserved carboxylate, aspartate-140, in oxygen activation and heme degradation by heme oxygenase-1.

Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the oxygen-dependent degradation of heme to biliverdinIXalpha, CO, and free iron ion via three sequential monooxygenase reactions. Although the distinct active-site structure of HO from cytochrome P450 families suggests unique distal protein machinery to activate molecular oxygen, the mechanism and the key amino acid for the oxygen activation have not been clear. To investigate the functionality of highly conserved polar amino acids in the distal helix of HO-1, we have prepared alanine mutants: T135A, R136A, D140A, and S142A, and found drastic changes in the heme degradation reactions of D140A. In this paper, we report the first evidence that D140 is involved in the oxygen activation mechanism in HO-1. The heme complexes of HO mutants examined in this study fold and bind heme normally. The pK(a) values of the iron-bound water and autoxidation rates of the oxy-form are increased with R136A, D140A, and S142A mutations, but are not changed with T135A mutation. As the wild-type, T135A, R136A, and S142A degrade heme to verdohemeIXalpha with H(2)O(2) and to biliverdinIXalpha with the NADPH reductase system. On the other hand, D140A heme complex forms compound II with H(2)O(2), and no heme degradation occurs. For the NADPH reductase system, the oxy-form of D140A heme complex is accumulated in the reaction, and only 50% of heme is degraded. The stopped flow experiments suggest that D140A cannot activate iron-bound dioxygen and hydroperoxide properly. To investigate the carboxylate functionality of D140, we further replaced D140 with glutamic acid (D140E), phenylalanine (D140F), and asparagine (D140N). D140E degrades heme normally, but D140N shows reactivity similar to that of D140A. D140F loses heme degradation activity completely. All of these results indicate that the carboxylate at position 140 is essential to activate the iron-bound dioxygen and hydroperoxide. On the basis of the present findings, we propose an oxygen activation mechanism involving the hydrogen-bonding network through the bridging water and D140 side chain.     

Studies of translational diffusion in the smectic A phase of a Gay-Berne mesogen using molecular dynamics computer simulation

Molecular dynamics computer simulations are used to determine the self-diffusion coefficients for a Gay-Berne model mesogen GB (4.4,20,1,1) in the isotropic, nematic and smectic A phases along two isobars. The values of the parallel and perpendicular diffusion coefficients, D(parallel) and D(perpendicular), are calculated and compared in the different phases. For the phase sequence isotropic-smectic A, D(perpendicular)*> or =D(parallel)* over the whole smectic A range with the ratio D(parallel)*/D(perpendicular)* decreasing with decreasing temperature. At a higher pressure, a nematic phase is observed between these two phases and we find that D(parallel)*>D(perpendicular)* throughout the nematic region and the inequality D(parallel)*>D(perpendicular)* remains on entering the smectic A phase. However, the ratio D(parallel)*/D(perpendicular)* decreases with decreasing temperature within the smectic A range and eventually this ratio inverts such that D(perpendicular)*>D(parallel)* at low temperatures. The temperature dependence of the parallel diffusion coefficient in the smectic A phase for this model mesogen is compared to that predicted by a theoretical model for diffusion subject to a cosine potential.     

Selective ion binding by protein probed with the statistical mechanical integral equation theory

Selective ion binding by human lysozyme and its mutants is probed with the three-dimensional interaction site model theory which is the statistical mechanical integral equation theory. Preliminary and partial results of the study have been already published (Yoshida, N. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 12042-12043). The calculation was carried out for aqueous solutions of three different electrolytes, CaCl2, NaCl, and KCl, and for four different mutants of the human lysozyme: wild type, Q86D, A92D, and Q86D/A92D, which have been studied experimentally. The discussion of this article focuses on the cleft that consists of amino acid residues from Q86 to A92. For the wild type of protein in the aqueous solutions of all the electrolytes studied, there are no distributions observed for the ions inside the cleft. The Q86D mutant shows essentially the same behavior with that of the wild type. The A92D mutant shows strong binding ability to Na+ in the recognition site, which is in accord with the experimental results. There are two isomers of the Q86D/A92D mutant, e.g., apo-Q86D/A92D and holo-Q86D/A92D. Although both isomers exhibit the binding ability to the Na+ and Ca2+ ions, the holo isomer shows much greater affinity compared with the apo isomer. Regarding the selective ion binding of the holo-Q86D/A92D mutant, it shows greater affinity to Ca2+ than to Na+, which is also consistent with the experimental observation.     

Photostability via sloped conical intersections: a computational study of the excited states of the naphthalene radical cation

On the basis of an extensive ab initio electronic structure study of the ground and excited-state potential energy surfaces of the naphthalene radical cation (N*+), we propose a mechanism for its ultrafast nonradiative relaxation from the second excited state (D2) down to the ground state (D0), which could explain the experimentally observed photostability [Zhao, L.; Lian, R.; Shkrob I. A.; Crowell, R. A.; Pommeret, S.; Chronister, E. L.; Liu, A. D.; Trifunac, A. D. J. Phys. Chem. A., 2004, 108, 25]. The proposed photophysical relaxation pathway involves internal conversion from the D2 state down to the D0 state via two consecutive, accessible, sloped conical intersections (CIs). The two crossings, D0/D1 and D1/D2, are characterized at the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) level. At this level of theory, the D0/D1 crossing is energetically readily accessible, while the D1/D2 CI appears too high in energy to be involved in internal conversion. However, the inclusion of dynamic correlation effects, via single point CASPT2 calculations including excitations out of the valence pi- and sigma-orbitals, lowers the D0 and D2 state energies with respect to D1. Extrapolations at the CASPT2 level predict that the D1/D2 crossing is then significantly lower in energy than with CASSCF indicating that with a higher-level treatment of dynamic correlation it may be energetically accessible following vertical excitation to D2. N*+ is proposed as one of the species contributing to a series of diffuse infrared absorption bands originating from interstellar clouds. Understanding the mechanism for photostability in the gas phase, therefore, has important consequences for astrophysics.     

聚丙烯酰胺/柠檬酸铝胶态分散凝胶性质的研究

用低浓度不同分子量的部分水解聚丙烯酰胺（ Ｈ Ｐ Ａ Ｍ） 和柠檬酸铝制备了胶态分散凝胶（ Ｃ Ｄ Ｇ） ,并用奥氏粘度计、超细粒度分析仪、岩芯流动实验对 Ｃ Ｄ Ｇ 的性质进行了研究．结果表明, Ｃ Ｄ Ｇ 的粘度比 Ｈ Ｐ Ａ Ｍ 粘度低,粒径在４５０ ～５２０ｎ ｍ 之间．岩芯流动实验结果表明, Ｃ Ｄ Ｇ 能够使岩芯的流动阻力大幅度增加,且在岩芯中达到同样的流动阻力所需通过 Ｃ Ｄ Ｇ 的体积与形成 Ｃ Ｄ Ｇ 的 Ｈ Ｐ Ａ Ｍ 的分子量、浓度及岩芯渗透率有关．     

An In Silico investigation for acyclovir and its derivatives to fight the COVID-19: Molecular docking,DFT calculations,ADME and td-Molecular dynamics simulations

In the present work, we have designed three molecules, acyclovir (A), ganciclovir (G) and derivative of hydroxymethyl derivative of ganciclovir (CH₂OH of G, that is D) and investigated their biological potential against the Mpro of nCoV via in silico studies. Further, density functional theory (DFT) calculations of A, G and D were performed using Gaussian 16 on applying B3LYP under default condition to collect the information for the delocalization of electron density in their optimized geometry. Authors have also calculated various energies including free energy of A, G and D in Hartree per particle. It can be seen that D has the least free energy. As mentioned, the molecular docking of the A, G and D against the Mpro of nCoV was performed using iGemdock, an acceptable computational tool and the interaction has been studied in the form of physical data, that is, binding energy for A, G and D were calculated in kcal/mol. It can be seen the D showed effective binding, that is, maximum inhibition that A and G. For a better understanding for the inhibition of the Mpro of nCoV by A, G and D, temperature dependent molecular dynamics simulations were performed. Different trajectories like RMSD, RMSF, Rg and hydrogen bond were extracted and analyzed. The results of molecular docking of A, G and D corroborate with the td-MD simulations and hypothesized that D could be a promising candidate to inhibit the activity of Mpro of nCoV.     

Regioisomeric Effects on the Electronic Features of Indenothiophene‐Bridged D–π‐A′–A DSSC Sensitizers

Two D–π‐A′–A regioisomers (A‐IDT‐D and D‐IDT‐A) featuring 4,4′‐di‐p‐tolyl‐4 H‐indeno[1,2‐b]‐thiophene as a π linker (π) between the diarylamino donor (D) and the pyrimidine–cyanoacrylic acid acceptor (A′–A) have been successfully synthesized and characterized as efficient sensitizers for the dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The different arrangements of the D and A′–A blocks on the unsymmetrical indenothiophene (IDT) core render the dipole of IDT being along (A‐IDT‐D) or opposite (D‐IDT‐A) to the direction of intramolecular (donor‐to‐acceptor) charge transfer, and thus induce variations in the physical properties. The experimental observations correlated well with the theoretical analyses, clearly revealing the trade‐off between the molar extinction coefficient (ε) and the S₀→S₁ transition energy. As a result, a superior ε value was observed for D‐IDT‐A, whereas a bathochromic shift in the absorption occurred in A‐IDT‐D. The larger ε value of D‐IDT‐A together with its more favorable energy level relative to TiO₂ led to a higher power conversion efficiency of 7.41 % for the D‐IDT‐A‐based DSSC, retaining approximately 95 % of the N719‐based DSSC efficiency. This work manifests the clear structure–property relationship for the case of donor and acceptor components being connected by an unsymmetrical π linker and provides insights for molecular engineering of organic sensitizers.     

Relationship between the broad OH stretching band of methanol and hydrogen-bonding patterns in the liquid phase

The OH stretching (nu(OH)) band of methanol observed in condensed phase has been analyzed in terms of hydrogen-bonding patterns. Quantum chemical calculations for methanol clusters have revealed that broadening of the nu(OH) envelope is reasonably reproduced by considering nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions through hydrogen bonding. Because the hydrogen bond formed between donor (D) and acceptor (A) is cooperatively strengthened or weakened by a newly formed hydrogen bond at D or A, we have proposed the following notation for hydrogen-bonding patterns of monohydric alcohols: a(D)DAd(A)a(A), where a is the number of protons accepted by D (a(D)) or A (a(A)), and d(A) is the number of protons donated by A. The indicator of the hydrogen-bond strength, which is given by M(OH) = a(D) + d(A) - a(A), is correlated well with the nu(OH) wavenumber of the methanol molecule D participating in the a(D)DAd(A)a(A) pattern. The correlation between M(OH) and the hydrogen-bonding energy of the a(D)DAd(A)a(A) pattern has also been deduced from the calculation results for the clusters. The nu(OH) bands of methanol measured in the CCl4 solution and pure liquid have been successfully analyzed by the method proposed here.     

Determination of Anafranil in Pharmaceuticals by Difference and Difference-Derivative Spectrophotometry

Abstract

Difference (ΔA) and difference first- (ΔD1) and second- (ΔD2) derivative spectrophotometric methods are described for the assay and quality control of anafranil, a powerful antidepressant, in pharmaceutical formulations.

The procedures are based upon the measurement of ΔA, ΔD1 and ΔD2 of anafranil in alkaline solutions against their acidic solutions as blanks.

Interferences of the excipients and diluents or irrelevant absorptions are nullified. Calibration graphs of ΔA, ΔD1 and ΔD2 versus the concentration of the drug showed linear relationships up to 10 μg/ml, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9998 to 0.9999.

Detection limits at p = 0.01 level of significance were calculated to be 0.060 (ΔA), 0.056 (ΔD1) and 0.063 (ΔD2) μg/ml. The limits of quantification were 0.45 (ΔA), 0.36 (ΔD1) and 0.81 (ΔD2) μg/ml.

The procedures have been successfully applied to the determination of anafranil in synthetic samples and in commercial pills and injections for this drug with high reliability and repeatability.     

Incorporation of a 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyridazine-1,4(6H)-dione unit into a donor–acceptor triad: synthesis and ion recognition features

A novel directly-linked donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) type system, which is based on 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyridazine-1,4(6H)-dione as the A unit and thiophene as the D units, respectively, is designed, synthesized, and characterized by spectroscopic methods. This novel D–A–D system can be used for the fluorogenic detection of Cu²⁺ among other ions.     

Comparison of the Electrochemical and Luminescence Properties of Two Carbazole‐Based Phosphine Oxide EuIII Complexes: Effect of Different Bipolar Ligand Structures

The photoluminescence (PL), electrochemical, and electroluminescence (EL) properties of Eu^III complexes, [Eu(cppo)₂(tta)₃] ( 1 ) and [Eu(cpo)₂(tta)₃] ( 2 ; TTA=2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) with two carbazole‐based phosphine oxide ligands, 9‐[4‐(diphenylphosphinoyl)phenyl]‐9H‐carbazole (CPPO) and 9‐(diphenylphosphoryl)‐9H‐carbazole (CPO), which have different bipolar structures, donor–π‐spacer–acceptor (D–π–A) or donor–acceptor (D–A) systems respectively, are investigated. The CPPO with D–π–A architecture has improved PL properties, such as higher PL efficiency and more efficient intramolecular energy transfer, than CPO with the D–A architecture. Gaussian simulation proved the bipolar structures and the double‐carrier injection ability of the ligands. The carrier injection abilities of triphenylphosphine oxide, CPO, and CPPO are gradually improved. Notably, the Gaussian and electrochemical investigations indicate that before and after coordination, the carrier injection ability of the ligands show remarkable changes because of the particularity of the D‐π–A and D–A systems. The electrochemical studies demonstrate that coordination induces the electron cloud to migrate from electron‐rich carbazole to electron‐poor diphenylphosphine oxide, and consequently increases the electron‐cloud density on diphenylphosphine oxide, which weakens its ability for electron affinity and induces the elevation of LUMO energy levels of the complexes. Significantly, the π‐spacer in the D–π–A system exhibits a distinct buffer effect on the variation of the electron‐cloud density distribution of the ligand, which is absent in the D–A system. It is demonstrated that the adaptability of the D–π–A systems, especially for coordination, is stronger than that of D–A systems, which facilitates the modification of the complexes by designing multifunctional ligands purposefully. 1 seems favorable as the most efficient electroluminescent Eu^III complex with greater brightness, higher efficiencies, and more stable EL spectra than 2 . These investigations demonstrate that the phosphine oxide ligands with D–π–A architecture are more appropriate than those with D–A architecture to achieve multifunctional electroluminescent Eu^III complexes.     

2-(N,N-二乙基二硫代氨基甲酰氧基)乙酸苄酯存在下苯乙烯光聚合

研究了２ Ｎ, Ｎ 二乙基二硫代氨基甲酰氧基乙酸苄酯（ Ｂｚ Ｄ Ｃ Ａ） 引发的苯乙烯光聚合反应,发现单体转化率和数均分子量（ Ｍｎ） 都随反应时间而增加,在反应时间相同时随着 Ｂｚ Ｄ Ｃ Ａ 浓度的增加单体转化率升高而 Ｍｎ 降低．聚苯乙烯（ Ｐ Ｓ） 的 Ｍｎ 同单体转化率成线性关系并同理论计算值符合得较好．以２ 甲基 ２ 亚硝基丙烷（ Ｍ Ｎ Ｐ） 为捕捉剂用（ Ｅ Ｐ Ｒ） 技术对聚合反应机理进行了研究．认为 Ｂｚ Ｄ Ｃ Ａ 引发的 Ｓｔ 光聚合是一个“活性”聚合过程     

Validation of the Microreader 28A ID System: A 6-dye multiplex amplification assay for forensic application

The Microreader 28A ID System is a new 28-plex genotyping system with 6-dye multiplex amplification, which allows the simultaneous amplification of all 20 Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) core loci (CSF1PO, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D21S11, FGA, TH01, TPOX, vWA, D1S1656, D2S441, D2S1338, D10S1248, D12S391, D19S433, D22S1045), plus five extended STRs loci (D6S1043, Penta D, Penta E, DYS391, SE33), 2 Y-Indels (Rs2032678, Rs771783753), and the amelogenin loci. This system can be used for forensic analyses, such as personal identification, kinship testing, scientific research, database applications, and other aspects of human genetic identification. The validation of the Microreader 28A ID System followed the “Validation Guidelines for DNA Analysis Methods (2016)” described by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods and the regulations published by the China Ministry of Public Security. Our tests included PCR-based studies, sensitivity study, precision and accuracy evaluation, stutter percentage and heterozygous peak height ratio, inhibitor tests, species specificity, and population studies. The validation results suggest that the Microreader 28A ID system is a robust and reliable amplification kit for personal identification, kinship testing, and forensic database applications.     

Genetic polymorphism of 13 non‐CODIS STR loci in three national populations from China

The aim of this study was to investigate a 13 non‐CODIS STR loci database using three national populations from China. A new multiplex PCR system that simultaneously amplified 13 loci in the same PCR reaction was developed. This multiplex system included the 13 STR markers (D3S2402, D3S2452, D3S1766, D3S4554, D3S2388, D3S3051, D3S3053, D4S2364, D4S2404, AC001348A, AC001348B, D17S975, and D17S1294), which were successfully analyzed by using 441 DNA samples from three national populations in China (154 Mongol, 177 Kazakh, and 110 Uigur). Allele frequencies and mutation rates of the 13 non‐CODIS STR loci were investigated. A total of 4–10 alleles at each locus were observed and altogether 84, 88, and 87 alleles for the all selected loci were found in the Mongol, Kazakh, and Uigur, respectively. Eight mutations were detected from the 13 selected loci in 9880 meioses in kinship cases. These results indicate that this multiplex system may provide significant polymorphic information for kinship testing and relationship investigations.     

A triad based on an iridium(III) bisterpyridine complex leading to a charge-separated state with a 120-micros lifetime at room temperature

A triad D-Ir-A, where Ir is an Ir(III) bisterpyridine complex connected through an amidophenyl spacer to D, a triphenylamine electron donor, and to A, a naphthalene bisimide electron acceptor, has been synthesized and electrochemically investigated. The photoinduced processes in the triad, which is more than 4-nm long, have been characterized by steady-state and time-resolved optical spectroscopy by comparison with the model dyads D-Ir, Ir-A, and the reference monomers D, Ir, and A. A sequential electron transfer occurs upon excitation of the D and Ir units, leading to the charge-separated state D+-Ir- -A in 100 % yield and subsequently to D+-Ir-A- in about 10 % yield. The final charge-separated state has a lifetime at room temperature of 120 micros in air-free acetonitrile and of 100 micros in air-equilibrated solvent. Excitation of the A units does not yield intramolecular reactivity, but the resulting triplet-excited state localized on the acceptor, D-Ir-3A, displays intermolecular reactivity.     

Reexamination of the Rehm-Weller data set reveals electron transfer quenching that follows a Sandros-Boltzmann dependence on free energy

In a landmark publication over 40 years ago, Rehm and Weller (RW) showed that the electron transfer quenching constants for excited-state molecules in acetonitrile could be correlated with the excited-state energies and the redox potentials of the electron donors and acceptors. The correlation was interpreted in terms of electron transfer between the molecules in the encounter pair (A*/D ? A(?-)/D(?+) for acceptor A and donor D) and expressed by a semiempirical formula relating the quenching constant, k(q), to the free energy of reaction, ΔG. We have reinvestigated the mechanism for many Rehm and Weller reactions in the endergonic or weakly exergonic regions. We find they are not simple electron transfer processes. Rather, they involve exciplexes as the dominant, kinetically and spectroscopically observable intermediate. Thus, the Rehm-Weller formula rests on an incorrect mechanism. We have remeasured k(q) for many of these reactions and also reevaluated the ΔG values using accurately determined redox potentials and revised excitation energies. We found significant discrepancies in both ΔG and k(q), including A*/D pairs at high endergonicity that did not exhibit any quenching. The revised data were found to obey the Sandros-Boltzmann (SB) equation k(q) = k(lim)/[1 + exp[(ΔG + s)/RT]]. This behavior is attributed to rapid interconversion among the encounter pairs and the exciplex (A*/D ? exciplex ? A(?-)/D(?+)). The quantity k(lim) represents approximately the diffusion-limited rate constant, and s the free energy difference between the radical ion encounter pair and the free radical ions (A(?-)/D(?+) vs A(?-) + D(?+)). The shift relative to ΔG for the overall reaction is positive, s = 0.06 eV, rather than the negative value of -0.06 eV assumed by RW. The positive value of s involves the poorer solvation of A(?-)/D(?+) relative to the free A(?-) + D(?+), which opposes the Coulombic stabilization of A(?-)/D(?+). The SB equation does not involve the microscopic rate constants for interconversion among the encounter pairs and the exciplex. Data that fit this equation contain no information about such rate constants except that they are faster than dissociation of the encounter pairs to (re-)form the corresponding free species (A* + D or A(?-) + D(?+)). All of the present conclusions agree with our recent results for quenching of excited cyanoaromatic acceptors by aromatic donors, with the two data sets showing indistinguishable dependencies of k(q) on ΔG.     

Modulation of FRET efficiency by donor-acceptor ratio in co-condensed fluorophore-silica nanoconjugates

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in nanocomposites is an important step in many applications. In order to maximize the amount of energy transferred from donor, D, to an acceptor, A, it is essential to minimize self-quenching of the donor. In the present work, fluorescein (D) and rhodamine B (A) are covalently bound into silica nanoshells (C-dye-SNS) with varying D:A ratio where the amount of A has been held constant. The total number of dye molecules is varied from 24 to 140 per nanoshell keeping the number of A molecules at ~13 ​± ​2 molecules per particle. In these conditions, FRET is found to be governed by the D:A ratio. An energy transfer process associated with maximum efficiency of 77% with time constant of 130 ps has been observed in these nanoconjugates. Fast fluorescence decays for D and corresponding risetime for A are observed in the present systems, unlike in those with high concentration of D and A (~1000 molecules/nanoshell). Thus, the presently used dye concentrations are found to be more appropriate than the higher concentration used earlier.     

Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Based on (Donor‐π‐Acceptor)2 Dyes With Dithiafulvalene as the Donor

Dipolar metal‐free sensitizers (D‐π‐A; D=donor, π=conjugated bridge, A=acceptor) consisting of a dithiafulvalene (DTF) unit as the electron donor, a benzene, thiophene, or fluorene moiety as the conjugated spacer, and 2‐cyanoacrylic acid as the electron acceptor have been synthesized. Dimeric congeners of these dyes, (D‐π‐A)₂, were also synthesized through iodine‐induced dimerization of an appropriate DTF‐containing segment. Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with the new dyes as the sensitizers have cell efficiencies that range from 2.11 to 5.24 %. In addition to better light harvesting, more effective suppression of the dark current than the D‐π‐A dyes is possible with the (D‐π‐A)₂ dyes.