Near-Infrared-III-Absorbing and -Emitting Dyes: Energy-Gap Engineering of Expanded Porphyrinoids via Metallation

The synthesis of organometallic complexes of modified 26π-conjugated hexaphyrins with absorption and emission capabilities in the third near-infrared region (NIR-III) is described. Symmetry alteration of the frontier molecular orbitals (MOs) of bis-Pd^II and bis-Pt^II complexes of hexaphyrin via N-confusion modification led to substantial metal d_π–p_π interactions. This MO mixing, in turn, resulted in a significantly narrower HOMO–LUMO energy gap. A remarkable long-wavelength shift of the lowest S₀→S₁ absorption beyond 1700 nm was achieved with the bis-Pt^II complex, t -Pt₂-3 . The emergence of photoacoustic (PA) signals maximized at 1700 nm makes t -Pt₂-3 potentially useful as a NIR-III PA contrast agent. The rigid bis-Pd^II complexes, t -Pd₂-3 and c -Pd₂-3 , are rare examples of NIR emitters beyond 1500 nm. The current study provides new insight into the design of stable, expanded porphyrinic dyes possessing NIR-III-emissive and photoacoustic-response capabilities.     

Silver Corrole Complexes: Unusual Oxidation States and Near‐IR‐Absorbing Dyes

Macrocycles such as porphyrins and corroles have important functions in chemistry and biology, including light absorption for photosynthesis. Generation of near‐IR (NIR)‐absorbing dyes based on metal complexes of these macrocycles for mimicking natural photosynthesis still remains a challenging task. Herein, the syntheses of four new Ag^III corrolato complexes with differently substituted corrolato ligands are presented. A combination of structural, electrochemical, UV/Vis/NIR‐EPR spectroelectrochemical, and DFT studies was used to decipher the geometric and electronic properties of these complexes in their various redox states. This combined approach established the neutral compounds as stable Ag^III complexes, and the one‐electron reduced species of all the compounds as unusual, stable Ag^II complexes. The one‐electron oxidized forms of two of the complexes display absorptions in the NIR region, and thus they are rare examples of mononuclear complexes of corroles that absorb in the NIR region. The appearance of this NIR band, which has mixed intraligand charge transfer/intraligand character, is strongly dependent on the substituents of the corrole rings. Hence, the present work revolves round the design principles for the generation of corrole‐based NIR‐absorbing dyes and shows the potential of corroles for stabilizing unusual metal oxidation states. These findings thus further contribute to the generation of functional metal complexes based on such macrocyclic ligands.     

Molecular Design Principles for Near‐Infrared Absorbing and Emitting Indolizine Dyes

Desirable components for dye‐sensitzed solar cell (DSC) sensitizers and fluorescent imaging dyes include strong donating building blocks coupled with well‐balanced acceptor functionalities for absorption beyond the visible range. We have evaluated the effects of increasing acceptor strengths and incorporation of dye morphology controlling groups on molar absorptivity and absorption breadth with indolizine donor‐based dyes. Indolizine‐based D –A and D –π–A sensitizers incorporating bis‐rhodanine, tricyanofuran (TCF), and cyanoacrylic acid functionalities were analyzed for performance in DSC devices. The TCF derivatives were also evaluated as near‐infrared (NIR)‐emissive materials with the AH25 emissions extending past 1000 nm.     

Design of Photostable,Activatable Near‐Infrared Photoacoustic Probes Using Tautomeric Benziphthalocyanine as a Platform

Near‐infrared (NIR) imaging techniques have attracted significant attention for biological and medicinal applications due to the ability of NIR to penetrate deeply into tissues. However, there are very few stable, activatable molecular probes that can utilize NIR light in the wavelength range beyond 800 nm. Herein, we report a new activatable NIR system for photoacoustic imaging based on tautomeric benziphthalocyanines (BPcs). We found that the existence of a free hydroxyl group is crucial for NIR absorption of BPcs. Synthesized water‐soluble hydroxy BPcs exhibited high photostability and no fluorescence, which are desirable features for photoacoustic imaging. We synthesized BPcs in which the free hydroxyl group was masked by an esterase‐labile or an H₂O₂‐labile group. The photoacoustic signals of these hydroxy‐masked BPcs were increased upon NIR excitation at 880 nm in the presence of esterase or H₂O₂, respectively. These are rare examples of activatable probes utilizing NIR light at around 900 nm.     

Rational Molecular Design and Synthesis of Highly Thermo‐ and Photostable Near‐Infrared‐Absorbing Heptamethine Cyanine Dyes with the Use of Fluorine Atoms

Highly thermo‐ and photostable, near‐infrared‐absorbing heptamethine cyanine dyes were achieved with the use of fluorine‐containing components. In particular, one prepared heptamethine cyanine dye, bearing a tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate as a counter anion and an N‐ethyl‐2,2,2‐trifluoroacetamido group at the meso position, showed not only a high decomposition temperature (T_dt), but also very high photostability toward white LED irradiation.     

Direct and Regioselective Amination of β‐Unsubstituted 5,15‐Diazaporphyrins with Amines: A Convenient Route to Near‐Infrared‐Responsive Diazaporphyrin Sensitizers

We have established a convenient method for the base‐promoted direct amination of β‐unsubstituted 5,15‐diazaporphyrins (DAPs) with secondary and primary amines to produce 3,7,13,17‐tetraamino‐ and 3‐amino‐DAPs, respectively, regioselectively. The amino groups attached at the periphery cause significant red shifts of the absorption bands as a result of their perturbation of the HOMO and/or LUMO in the DAP π‐system. The palladium complex of a 3,7,13,17‐tetrakis(diphenylamino)‐DAP generated singlet oxygen in high yield under irradiation with near‐infrared light.     

Low‐Band Gap Polymeric Cyanine Dyes Absorbing in the NIR Region

Two new, fully conjugated polymeric cyanine dyes based on trimethine and heptamethine moieties have been synthesized. Both polymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, UV‐vis and IR spectroscopy, elementary analysis and cyclic voltammetry. The structure of one material could be confirmed with NMR spectroscopy. Upon head‐to‐tail coupling of the dye moieties distinct bathochromic shifts up to 159 nm were observed for the polymers which absorb solely in the near infrared (NIR) region with maxima up to 1 002 nm and very high molar absorption coefficients. This highly efficient absorption in the NIR spectral domain combined with the strong electron accepting properties makes these dyes interesting candidates for many optical applications; investigations on photovoltaic devices based on polymeric cyanine dye/C₆₀ heterojunctions identify one of these possibilities.

     

π‐Extended “Earring” Porphyrins with Multiple Cavities and Near‐Infrared Absorption

β,β‐tripyrrin‐bridged earring porphyrins were synthesized through Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling reactions. These porphyrinoids have multiple cavities and can accommodate two or three metal ions per molecule. The structures of the porphyrins have been elucidated by x‐ray diffraction analysis, and feature curved π planes. The electronic spectra of the porphyrins exhibit near‐infrared (NIR) absorptions and metal insertion leads to red‐shifted and intensified absorption features. Electrochemical analysis and transient absorption measurements indicated that the porphyrins exhibit effective electronic communication between their central and peripheral moieties.     

Keto‐benzo[h]‐Coumarin‐Based Near‐Infrared Dyes with Large Stokes Shifts for Bioimaging Applications

Fluorescence imaging is a promising tool for the visualization of biomolecules in living systems and there is great demand for new fluorescent dyes that absorb and emit in the near‐infrared (NIR) region. Herein, we constructed three new fluorescent dyes ( NBC dyes) based on keto‐benzo[h]coumarin ( k‐BC ) and benzopyrilium salts. These dyes showed large Stokes shifts (>100 nm) and NIR emission (>800 nm). The relationship between the structures and optical properties of these dyes was further investigated by using density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6‐3G level of theory. Fluorescence images indicated that the fabricated dyes exhibited good photostability and low cytotoxicity and, thus, have potential applications as imaging agents in living cells and animals.     

Bright,Stable, and Biocompatible Organic Fluorophores Absorbing/Emitting in the Deep Near‐Infrared Spectral Region

Small‐molecule organic fluorophores spectrally active in the 800–950 nm region are sought‐after for their broad potential in biomedical and material applications. We have developed a new family of brightly fluorescent dyes ( ECX ) to meet this challenge. ECX dyes are transparent to the visible region, while strongly absorbing in the NIR region at approximately 880 nm. They emit at around 915 nm with a fluorescence quantum yield up to 13.3 %. ECX dyes exhibit high chemostability, high photostability, and low tendency to aggregate. Other merits of ECX dyes include low degree of solvatochromism and facile post‐synthetic derivatization. ECX dyes potentially make available the 800–950 nm region for spectroscopic and microscopic applications and are also expected to find broad material applications.     

Near‐IR Absorbing Nickel(II) Porphyrinoids Prepared by Regioselective Insertion of Silylenes into Antiaromatic Nickel(II) Norcorrole

The treatment of an antiaromatic norcorrole Ni^II complex with a kinetically stabilized silylene provided ring‐expansion products in excellent yields through the highly regio‐ and stereoselective insertion into the β‐β pyrrolic C? C bonds. The resultant Ni^II porphyrinoid monoinsertion product exhibited relatively strong near‐IR absorption bands due to the small HOMO–LUMO gap in spite of the disrupted cyclic π‐conjugation by the silicon atom.     

Pyrrolopyrrole Cyanine Dyes: A New Class of Near‐Infrared Dyes and Fluorophores

NIRer there : Pyrrolopyrrole cyanine (PPCys) dyes, a new class of near‐infrared (NIR) fluorophores, are obtained by condensation of heteroarylacetonitrile and diketopyrrolopyrrole compounds (see picture). Complexation with BF₂ or BPh₂ yields strongly fluorescent, photostable NIR dyes that show high absorption cross‐sections and fluorescence quantum yields. Furthermore, alteration of the heterocycle can tune the main absorption between λ = 684 and 864 nm.

     

Molecular Engineering of Push–Pull Porphyrin Dyes for Highly Efficient Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: The Role of Benzene Spacers

Porphyrins have drawn much attention as sensitizers owing to the large absorption coefficients of their Soret and Q bands in the visible region. In a donor and acceptor zinc porphyrin we applied a new strategy of introducing 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole (BTD) as a π‐conjugated linker between the anchoring group and the porphyrin chromophore to broaden the absorption spectra to fill the valley between the Soret and Q bands. With this novel approach, we observed 12.75 % power‐conversion efficiency under simulated one‐sun illumination (AM1.5G, 100 mW cm^?2). In this study, we showed the importance of introducing the phenyl group as a spacer between the BTD and the zinc porphyrin in achieving high power‐conversion efficiencies. Time‐resolved fluorescence, transient‐photocurrent‐decay, and transient‐photovoltage‐decay measurements were employed to determine the electron‐injection dynamics and the lifetime of the photogenerated charge carriers.     

Sensitisation of the Near‐Infrared Emission of NdIII from the Singlet State of Porphyrins Bearing Four 8‐Hydroxyquinolinylamide Chelates

The α₄ atropoisomer of a tetraaryl porphyrin and its Pd^II complex, both bearing four hydroxyquinolinyl chelating units pre‐organised on the same face of the porphyrin backbone, bind a Nd^III centre thus affording either a mononuclear or a heterobinuclear anionic species, respectively. The near‐infrared emission of the lanthanide centred at 1064 nm is observed upon excitation of the Soret band at 425 nm. Sensitisation proceeds mainly from the singlet state of the porphyrin.