N-heterocyclic carbene boranes as electron-donating and electron-accepting components of π-conjugated systems

Give and take: The introduction of NHC-borane moieties to thiophene-based π?skeletons endows a zwitterionic character, which makes the π?system electron-donating, while the NHC ring acts as an electron-accepting moiety. The NHC-borane-substituted thiophene underwent a clean photoisomerization with a drastic color change, however, the expanded bithiophene derivatives were inert to this photoreaction, showed low oxidation potentials, and formed a slipped π-stacked array in the crystal.     

Extended benzodifuran–furan derivatives as example of π-conjugated materials obtained from sustainable approach

The synthesis of extended benzodifuran–furan systems are described as an example of π-conjugated materials prepared by following a green approach with only water being produced as waste and using furan derivatives from renewable sources. Investigation of their optical and electrochemical properties shows that the new compounds present electronic properties compatible for application in organic electronics.     

Survey of recent advances of in the field of π-conjugated heterocyclic azomethines as materials with tuneable properties

This account gives an overview of our recent work in the area of conjugated azomethines derived from 2-aminothiophenes.It will be presented that mild reaction conditions can be used to selectively prepare symmetric and unsymmetric conjugated azomethines.It further will be demonstrated that azomethines consisting of various 5-membered aryl heterocycles lead to chemically,reductively,hydrolytically,and oxidatively robust compounds.The optical and electrochemical properties of these materials can be tuned contingent on the degree of conjugation,type of aryl heterocycle,and by including various electronic groups.The end result is materials having colors spanning 250 nm across the visible spectrum.These colors further can be tuned via electrochemical or chemical doping.The resulting doped states have high color contrasts from their corresponding neutral states.The collective opto-electronic properties and the means to readily tune them,make thiophenoazomethine derivatives interesting materials for potential use in a gamut of applications.     

End-functionalized π-conjugated oligomeric materials for photoelectrical applications

Soluble poly(diphenylacetylene)s (PDA) capped with PhCO- groups (PDA-C) and Ph₂C= groups (PDA-P) were prepared via McMurry reductive coupling of benzil and carbonyl-olefin exchange reaction of tetraphenylethene and benzil, respectively. Fluoren-9-ylidene groups have been introduced into PDA by the McMurry coupling of PDA-C with fluoren-9-one and via copolymerization of benzil and fluoren-9-one. The oligomers prepared are stable in air, soluble in a variety of solvents. They can be processed by casting to form good-quality thin films suitable for measurements of electrical and optoelectrical properties.     

Photochromism of dihydroindolizines. Part 12: synthesis and photochromism of novel π-conjugated rigid dihydroindolizines as potential molecular electronic devices

Novel carbon-rich photochromic dihydroindolizine DHI derivatives and new spirocyclopropenes have been synthesized. Three alternative synthetic pathways for the synthesis of DHI 10 have been established. Different Sonogashira-mediated coupling reactions have been applied to optimize the reaction conditions and to obtain the best yields. Palladium-mediated Sonogashira coupling of DHIs with 4-(thioacetyl)iodobenzene 13 and iodobenzene 17 yielded coupling products, which have potential applications in molecular electronics. Irradiation of photochromic DHIs 10a-f, 12a-f, 14a-f, 16a-f and 18a-f with polychromatic light leads to betaines 9a-f, 13a-f, 15a-f, 17a-f and 19a-f. The coloured betaine forms are obvious in CH₂Cl₂ solution with concentration of 1×10⁻⁵ mol/L at room temperature because of their slower 1,5-electrocyclization. All the absorption maxima of the coloured betaines were found to be in the visible region and lie between 524 (betaine 9a) and 639 nm (betaine 15f). The kinetics of the thermal 1,5-electrocyclization was studied using multichannel UV-vis spectrophotometry. The kinetic measurements showed that the half-lives of the coloured betaines are in the second domain and lie between 112 and 1379 s. A highly pronounced increase in the half-lives of betaines bearing dimethyl substituted pyridazine compared with non-substituted pyridazine betaines was monitored. A large increase in the photostability of both DHIs and betaines under investigation compared with the standard DHI was observed. The charged zwitterionic betaine structures were stabilized by increasing the solvent polarity due to the electrostatic interactions between them. The tuning of the absorption maxima and the kinetic properties by changing the substitution in the fluorene part (region A) and pyridazine part (region C) will help these compounds to find their applications.     

Titanylation and vanadylation of highly π-conjugated porphyrins

We report the efficient synthesis of tetrabicycloporphyrin titanyl and vanadyl without decomposition of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene unit. The complexes were heated under vacuum to give titanyl and vanadyl tetrabenzoporphyrins in 100% yield. We also titanylated and vanadylated tetra[2,3]naphthoporphyrin and tetra[2,3]anthraporphyrin, which have a greater degree of π conjugation than tetrabenzoporphyrin.     

Ortho-branched ladder-type oligophenylenes with two-dimensionally π-conjugated electronic properties

The synthesis, photochemical and electrochemical properties, and electronic structures of a series of star-shaped ladder-type oligophenylenes Sn (n = 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22), including one multibranched case S19mb, are reported and compared with the linear para-phenylene ladders Rn (n = 2-5 and 8) and the stepladder analogues SFn (n = 10, 16, and 22). The n value refers to the number of π-conjugated phenylene rings. Functionalized isotruxenes are the key synthetic building blocks, and S22 is the largest monodispersed ladder-type oligophenylene known to date. The Sn systems possess the structural rigidity of Rn and the ortho-para phenylene connectivity of SFn. Consequently, Sn represents the first class of branched chromophores with fully two-dimensional conjugation in both ground- and excited-state configurations. Evidences include the excellent linear correlations for the optical 0-0 energies or the first oxidation potentials of Sn and Rn against the reciprocal of their n values, delocalized HOMO and LUMO based on density functional theory calculations, and molecule-like fluorescence anisotropy. The resulting model of effective conjugation plane (ECP) for the two-dimensional π-conjugated systems compliments the concept of effective conjugation length (ECL) for one-dimensional oligomeric systems. Other implications of the observed structure-property relationships are also included.     

Synthesis of 1,2,5,6- and 1,4,5,8-anthracenetetrone: Building blocks for π-conjugated small molecules and polymers

Reliable reactions for the synthesis of two interesting anthracenetetrones have been identified and optimized. Both syntheses start from dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinones and were selected for maximized efficiency and minimized workload. Work-up of all reactions can be achieved without column chromatography, which facilitates further scale-up. So far, both target compounds are considerably underexplored despite their promising molecular structure for use in devices and in organic synthesis, especially as building blocks for π-conjugated compounds. The crystal structure of 1,4,5,8-anthracentetrone is reported.     

Reviewing extrapolation procedures of the electronic properties on the π-conjugated polymer limit

In this article, the extrapolation procedures of π-π* electronic transition energy on π-conjugated oligomers are reexamined. Different models, including the simplest coupled oscillator, the free electron, the Hückel approach, the molecular exciton model, and some specific fitting-functions, are compared using the transition energies derived from theoretical calculations on three thiophene-based oligomer series. Specifically, oligomers of up to 30 repeating units have been considered to include the saturation effects as a function of chain length. The coupled oscillator model of W. Kuhn and the fitting-function of Hirayama are the models that present the better suit on the transition energy interpolation as a function of chain length. Using only the first four oligomers of the series (n = 2 up to 8) yields an estimation of the transition energy on the polymer limit with an average error of ～1.5%. The vertical and adiabatic ionization potential present a better fit with the Hückel model approach. Finally, implications of the environmental polarity on the electronic properties, molecular geometry, charge distribution, and aromaticity are shortly discussed.     

Conformational and electronic consequences in crafting extended, π-conjugated, light-harvesting macrocycles

The synthesis of a new series of free‐base, Ni^II and Zn^II 2,3,12,13‐tetra(ethynyl)‐5,10,15,20‐tetraphenyl porphyrins is described. Upon heating, two of the four ethynyl moieties undergo Bergman cyclization to afford the monocyclized 2,3‐diethynyl‐5,20‐diphenylpiceno[10,11,12,13,14,15‐jklmn]porphyrin in 30 %, 10 %, and trace yields, respectively. The structures of all products were investigated by using quantum chemical calculations and the free‐base analogue was isolated and crystallized; all compounds show significant deviation from the idealized planar structure. No fully‐cyclized bispiceno[20,1,2,3,4,5,10,11,12,13,14,15‐fghij]porphyrin was isolated from the reaction mixture. To understand why only two of the four enthynyl groups undergo Bergman cyclization, the reaction coordinates were examined by using DFT at the PWPW91/cc‐pVTZ(‐f) level coupled to a continuum solvation model. The barrier to cyclization of the second pair of ethynyl groups was found to be 5.5 kcal mol^?1 higher than the first, suggesting a negative cooperative effect and significantly slower rate for the second cyclization. Cyclization reactions for model porphyrin–enediynes with ethene‐ and H‐functionality substitutions at the meso‐phenyl rings were also examined, and found to have a similar barrier to diradical formation for the second cyclization event as for the first in these highly planar molecules. By enforcing an artificial 30° cant in two of the pyrrole rings of the porphyrin, the second barrier was increased by 2 kcal mol^?1 in the ethene model system; this suggests that the disruption of the π conjugation of the extended porphyrin structure is the cause of the increased barrier to the second cyclization event.     

DNA-templated assembly of dyes and extended π-conjugated systems

This feature article reports on the use of DNA as a template to assemble dyes and π-conjugated systems with the aim to construct functional multicomponent nanostructures that have a well-defined size, shape and sequence.     

Boron-bridged π-conjugated ladders as efficient electron-transporting emitters

Four diboron-bridged ladder molecules 1-4 have been designed and synthesized. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the bulky phenyl substituents on boron centers efficiently prevented π stacking of the luminescent ladder unit. Characterizations of these complexes demonstrated that the construction of diboron-containing ladder-type skeletons endowed these materials with good thermal stability, high fluorescence quantum yields, and strong electron affinity. The highly efficient nondoped organic light-emitting diodes using complexes 1 and 2 as electron-transporting emitters exhibited maximum luminance values of 16,930 and 18,060 cd/m(2) with turn-on voltages of 3.5 and 2.5 V as well as maximum luminous efficiencies of 6.4 and 5.4 cd/A, respectively.     

Synthesis and physical properties of π-conjugated metallacycle polymers of cobalt and ruthenium

Recent studies on two types of π-conjugated metallacylce polymers are reviewed. Reaction of CpCo(PPh₃)₂ with conjugated diacetylenes afford poly(arylene cobaltacyclopentadienylene) and that of CpRuBr(cod) does poly(arylene ruthenacyclopentrienylene)s in ambient conditions. Regioselectivity of the former metallacycling reacion is not perfect (at most 80% of the 2,5-diaryl selectivity) but that of the latter is satisfactory (∼100% of the 2,5-diaryl selectivity) for the formation of π-conjugated structure. Electrochemical oxidation of the cobaltacyclopentadiene polymer and reduction of the ruthenacycle polymer occur facilely and quasi-reversibly by the contribution of metal d-orbitals. Physical properties in undoped (neutral) and doped (charged) sates show the behavior of electronic band structure derived from the organic π-conjugated main chain strongly coupled with the metal d-orbitals. This affords, for example, photoconductivity in the neutral form of the cobaltacylopentadiene polymer and ferromagnetic interaction in the reduced form of the ruthenacyclopentatriene polymer.     

Syntheses and properties of linear π-conjugated molecules composed of 1-azaazulene and azulene

Two compounds, 6-(1-azaazulen-2-yl)ethynylazulene (8) and 6-(2-azulenyl)ethynylazulene (10), were synthesized using the Sonogashira-Hagihara cross-coupling reaction followed by decarboxylation with concentrated phosphoric acid. Compounds 8 and 10 were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Based on the results, both compounds were confirmed to have π-conjugation throughout their molecular structures. The acidic responsivity of compounds 8 and 10 was evaluated using UV–Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Compound 8 was found to be highly sensitive to trifluoroacetic acid, with its 1-azaazulenyl moiety acting as a base. Compound 10 generated azulenium cations when mixed with excess amounts of trifluoroacetic acid.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of five-membered ring π-conjugated materials based on bisthiazol-2-yl-amine and their metal complexation studies

Poly(5,5′-(2-hexyldecyl)-bisthiazol-2-yl-amine) (PBTA) is prepared by nickel(0) mediated Yamamoto-type coupling. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of PBTA in THF solution displays pure blue emission with a peak centered at 444 nm without any shoulder peaks and the HOMO and LUMO values for PBTA are estimated to be 5.11  and 2.90 eV, respectively. In addition, we have synthesized a novel bisthiazol-2-yl-amine (BTA)-cored donor-acceptor (D-A) chromophore system, namely 5-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-N-(5-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)thiazol-2-yl)-N-octylthiazol-2-amine (2-TPA-BTA) in which the electron-donating (D) moiety is triphenylamine group and the electron-withdrawing (A) unit is thiazole group. Furthermore, in this report, we present the complexation studies of both the BTA and 2-TPA-BTA chromophores with Cu(II) and Pd(II), respectively. The crystal structures are established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. These studies not only provide the general photophysical principles of the materials based on BTA moiety but also encourage progress toward realizing the full potential of its hybrid metal-organic frameworks.     

Features of charge carrier concentration and mobility in π-conjugated polymers

We show the possibilities of experimental investigation of charge carrier mobility and concentration features by extraction methods of equilibrium, photoexcited and injected charge carriers in π-conjugated polymers, where, due to relatively high conductivity, the classic time-of-flight method is inappropriate.     

Topography of scalar fields: molecular clusters and π-conjugated systems

The pioneering works due to Bader and co-workers have generated widespread interest in the study of the topography of molecular scalar fields, the first step of which is the identification and characterization of the corresponding critical points (CPs). The topography of a molecular system becomes successively richer in going from the bare nuclear potential (BNP) to the molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) through the molecular electron density (MED). The present work clearly demonstrates, through the study of some π-conjugated test molecules as well as molecular clusters, that the CPs could be economically located by following this path within ab initio level theory. Further, the topography mapping of large molecules, especially at a higher level of theory, is known to be a demanding task. However, it is rendered possible by following the above sequential mapping assisted by a divide-and-conquer-type method termed as the molecular tailoring approach (MTA). This is demonstrated with the topography mapping of β-carotene and benzene nonamer at MP2 and a (H(2)O)(32) cluster at the HF level of theory, which are rather challenging problems with contemporary off-the-shelf computer hardware.     

Development of Functionalized Cyclotriveratrylene Analogues: Introduction of Withdrawing and π-Conjugated Groups

Cyclotriveratrylene analogues (CTVs) are supramolecular bowl-shaped molecules known for their ability to complex organic and organometallic guests, to form liquid crystals, polymers, or nanostructures. In this Article, we report the synthesis of new cyclotriveratrylene analogues with fluorescence properties in which various electron-withdrawing or π-extended conjugated groups are appended to the wide rim ortho to the methoxy-donating groups. Synthetically, these functionalized CTVs cannot be obtained as CTVs with electron-rich functions by the typical method (i.e., the trimerization of the corresponding benzyl alcohol) but are prepared from a common key intermediate, the C(3)-triiodocyclotriveratrylene (CTV-I(3)), in good yields. Despite the synthetic difficulties encountered due to the presence of three reactive centers, we have demonstrated the possibility of performing Sonogashira coupling and Huisgen cycloaddition reactions directly to the CTV core for the first time. CTVs with π-extended conjugated groups reveal interesting fluorescence profiles. More broadly, this study utilizes CTV-I(3) to introduce novel functionalities into CTVs to keep exploring their potential applications.     

Ferromagnetic spin-delocalized electron donors for multifunctional materials: π-conjugated benzotriazinyl radicals

We have developed new synthetic methodology for benzotriazinyl radicals that exhibit spin delocalization, low oxidation potentials, and ferromagnetic interactions in the solid state via π-π interactions, making them promising candidates for multifunctional magnetic materials.     

Quantum-coherence and correlations in π-conjugated molecules and multichromophoric systems

Chemistry is intrinsically founded on quantum mechanical principles and examples of quantum-mechanical phenomena abound on a range of energy and length scales. In this article some examples of quantum-mechanical phenomena that can be probed by optical spectroscopy are discussed. Recent experimental studies of quantumcoherence in electronic energy transfer in π-conjugated polymers are reported as examples of weak correlations. The nature of the electron-hole binding energy for excitons in organic systems is investigated as a case of intermediate correlations. Possible experimental probes of strong correlations involved in chemical reactions are critically examined in the final section of the paper.