Unraveling Dual Aggregation‐Induced Emission Behavior in Steric‐Hindrance Photochromic System for Super Resolution Imaging

Unprecedented dual aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) behavior based on a steric‐hindrance photochromic system is presented, with incorporation one or two bulky aryl groups, resulting in different flexibleness. The dual AIE behavior of open and closed isomers can be explained by restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR), restriction of intramolecular vibration (RIV), and intermolecular stacking. The large bulky benzothiophene causes restricted rotation, enhancing the emission of open form in solution and weak π–π molecular packing, thereby efficiently enhancing the luminescence performance in the solid state. With incorporation of two large bulky benzothiophene groups, BBTE possesses the most outstanding AIE activity, undergoing highly efficient and reversible off‐to‐on fluorescence in film upon alternating UV and visible light irradiation along with excellent fatigue resistance. The off‐to‐on fluorescent photoswitch is successfully established in super resolution imaging.     

Cover Picture: Photo‐Induced Spin Transition of Iron(III) Compounds with π–π Intermolecular Interactions (Chem. Eur. J. 14/2009)

Introduction of strong intermolecular interactions leads to the observation of the LIESST effect even for iron(III) spin‐crossover (SCO) compounds. For LIESST iron(III) compounds, both stretching and bending modes are considered in the reaction coordinate diagram. The picture depicts the LIESST mechanism in the reaction coordinate diagram considering both stretching and bending modes for SCO iron(III) compounds. For more information see the Full Paper by S. Hayami, O. Sato et al. on page 3497 ff.

     

Orbital Effect‐Induced Anomalous Anion–π Interactions between Electron‐Rich Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Fluoride

Anion–π interactions generally exist between an anion and an electron‐deficient π‐ring because of the electron‐accepting character of the ring. In this paper, we report orbital effect‐induced anomalous binding between electron‐rich π systems and F^? through anion–π interactions calculated at the MP2/6‐31+G(d,p) and ωB97X‐D/6‐31+G(d,p) levels of theory. We find that anion–π interactions between F^? and electron‐rich π rings increase markedly with increasing number of π electrons and size of the π rings. This is contrary to intuition because anion–π interactions would be expected to gradually decrease because of gradually increasing Coulombic repulsion between the negative charge of the anions and gradually increasing number of π electrons of the aromatic surfaces. Energy decomposition analysis showed that the key to this anomalous effect is the more effective delocalization of negative charge to the unoccupied π* orbitals of larger π rings, which is termed an “orbital effect”.     

Naphthyl Groups in Chiral Recognition: Structures of Salts and Esters of 2‐Methoxy‐2‐naphthylpropanoic Acids

The crystal structures of salt 8 , which was prepared from (R)‐2‐methoxy‐2‐(2‐naphthyl)propanoic acid ((R)‐MβNP acid, (R)‐ 2 ) and (R)‐1‐phenylethylamine ((R)‐PEA, (R)‐ 6 ), and salt 9 , which was prepared from (R)‐2‐methoxy‐2‐(1‐naphthyl)propanoic acid ((R)‐MαNP acid, (R)‐ 1 ) and (R)‐1‐(p‐tolyl)ethylamine ((R)‐TEA, (R)‐ 7 ), were determined by X‐ray crystallography. The MβNP and MαNP anions formed ion‐pairs with the PEA and TEA cations, respectively, through a methoxy‐group‐assisted salt bridge and aromatic CH???π interactions. The networks of salt bridges formed 2₁ columns in both salts. Finally, (S)‐(2E,6E)‐(1‐²H₁)farnesol ((S)‐ 13 ) was prepared from the reaction of (2E,6E)‐farnesal ( 11 ) with deuterated (R)‐BINAL‐H (i.e., (R)‐BINAL‐D). The enantiomeric excess of compound (S)‐ 13 was determined by NMR analysis of (S)‐MαNP ester 14 . The solution‐state structures of MαNP esters that were prepared from primary alcohols were also elucidated.     

Stabilization of High‐Valence Ruthenium with Silicotungstate Ligands: Preparation,Structural Characterization,and Redox Studies of Ruthenium(III)‐Substituted α‐Keggin‐Type Silicotungstates with Pyridine Ligands, [SiW11O39RuIII(Py)]5−

Ruthenium(III)‐substituted α‐Keggin‐type silicotungstates with pyridine‐based ligands, [SiW₁₁O₃₉Ru^III(Py)]^5?, (Py: pyridine ( 1 ), 4‐pyridine‐carboxylic acid ( 2 ), 4,4′‐bipyridine ( 3 ), 4‐pyridine‐acetamide ( 4 ), and 4‐pyridine‐methanol ( 5 )) were prepared by reacting [SiW₁₁O₃₉Ru^III(H₂O)]^5? with the pyridine derivatives in water at 80 °C and then isolated as their hydrated cesium salts. These compounds were characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV/Vis, IR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, titration, and X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) analysis (Ru K‐edge and L₃‐edge). Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of compounds 2 , 3 , and 4 revealed that Ru^III was incorporated in the α‐Keggin framework and was coordinated by pyridine derivatives through a Ru? N bond. In the solid state, compounds 2 and 3 formed a dimer through π? π interaction of the pyridine moieties, whereas they existed as monomers in solution. CV indicated that the incorporated Ru^III–Py was reversibly oxidized into the Ru^IV–Py derivative and reduced into the Ru^II–Py derivative.     

Ferrocene‐Donor and 4,5‐Dicyanoimidazole‐Acceptor Moieties in Charge‐Transfer Chromophores with π Linkers Tailored for Second‐Order Nonlinear Optics

A series of new nonlinear optical chromophores ( 1 – 15 ) that were comprised of ferrocene‐donor and 4,5‐dicyanoimidazole‐acceptor moieties and various π linkers of different length were synthesized. Support for the presence of significant D ? A interactions in these NLO‐phores was obtained from the evaluation of the quinoid character of the 1,4‐phenylene moieties and their electronic absorption spectra, which featured intense high‐energy (HE) bands that were accompanied by less‐intense low‐energy (LE) bands. The redox behavior of these compounds was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and by rotating‐disc voltammetry (RDV); their electrochemical gaps decreased steadily from 2.64 to 2.09 V. In addition to the experimentally obtained data, DFT calculations of their absorption spectra, HOMO/LUMO levels, and second‐order polarizabilities (β) (?2ω,ω,ω) were performed. A structure–property relationship study that was performed by systematically altering the π linker revealed that the intramolecular charge‐transfer and nonlinear optical properties of these inorganic–organic hybrid D? π? A systems ( 1 – 15 ) were primarily affected by: 1) The presence of olefinic/acetylenic subunits; 2) the length of the π linker; and 3) the spatial arrangement (planarity) of the π linker.     

The Role of Substituent Effects in Tuning Metallophilic Interactions and Emission Energy of Bis‐4‐(2‐pyridyl)‐1,2,3‐triazolatoplatinum(II) Complexes

The photoluminescence spectra of a series of 5‐substituted pyridyl‐1,2,3‐triazolato Pt^II homoleptic complexes show weak emission tunability (ranging from λ=397–408 nm) in dilute (10^?6 M ) ethanolic solutions at the monomer level and strong tunability in concentrated solutions (10^?4 M ) and thin films (ranging from λ=487–625 nm) from dimeric excited states (excimers). The results of density functional calculations (PBE0) attribute this “turn‐on” sensitivity and intensity in the excimer to strong Pt–Pt metallophilic interactions and a change in the excited‐state character from singlet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (¹MLCT) to singlet metal‐metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (¹MMLCT) emissions in agreement with lifetime measurements.     

Nonperipherally Octa(butyloxy)‐Substituted Phthalocyanine Derivatives with Good Crystallinity: Effects of Metal–Ligand Coordination on the Molecular Structure,Internal Structure,and Dimensions of Self‐Assembled Nanostructures

To investigate the effects of metal–ligand coordination on the molecular structure, internal structure, dimensions, and morphology of self‐assembled nanostructures, two nonperipherally octa(alkoxyl)‐substituted phthalocyanine compounds with good crystallinity, namely, metal‐free 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25‐octa(butyloxy)phthalocyanine H₂Pc(α‐OC₄H₉)₈ ( 1 ) and its lead complex Pb[Pc(α‐OC₄H₉)₈] ( 2 ), were synthesized. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed the distorted molecular structure of metal‐free phthalocyanine with a saddle conformation. In the crystal of 2 , two monomeric molecules are linked by coordination of the Pb atom of one molecule with an aza‐nitrogen atom and its two neighboring oxygen atoms from the butyloxy substituents of another molecule, thereby forming a Pb‐connected pseudo‐double‐decker supramolecular structure with a domed conformation for the phthalocyanine ligand. The self‐assembling properties of 1 and 2 in the absence and presence of sodium ions were comparatively investigated by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction techniques. Intermolecular π–π interactions between metal‐free phthalocyanine molecules led to the formation of nanoribbons several micrometers in length and with an average width of approximately 100 nm, whereas the phthalocyaninato lead complex self‐assembles into nanostructures also with the ribbon morphology and micrometer length but with a different average width of approximately 150 nm depending on the π–π interactions between neighboring Pb‐connected pseudo‐double‐decker building blocks. This revealed the effect of the molecular structure (conformation) associated with metal–ligand (Pb? N_isoindole, Pb? N_aza, and Pb? O_butyloxy) coordination on the dimensions of the nanostructures. In the presence of Na⁺, additional metal–ligand (Na? N_aza and Na? O_butyloxy) coordination bonds formed between sodium atoms and aza‐nitrogen atoms and the neighboring butyloxy oxygen atoms of two metal‐free phthalocyanine molecules cooperate with the intrinsic intermolecular π–π interactions, thereby resulting in an Na‐connected pseudo‐double‐decker building block with a twisted structure for the phthalocyanine ligand, which self‐assembles into twisted nanoribbons with an average width of approximately 50 nm depending on the intertetrapyrrole π–π interaction. This is evidenced by the X‐ray diffraction analysis results for the resulting aggregates. Twisted nanoribbons with an average width of approximately 100 nm were also formed from the lead coordination compound 2 in the presence of Na⁺ with a Pb‐connected pseudo‐double‐decker as the building block due to the formation of metal–ligand (Na? N_aza and Na? O_butyloxy) coordination bonds between additionally introduced sodium ions and two phthalocyanine ligands of neighboring pseudo‐double‐decker building blocks.     

Insights into the AIEE of 1,8‐Naphthalimides (NPIs): Inverse Effects of Intermolecular Interactions in Solution and Aggregates

Systematic structural perturbation has been used to fine‐tune and understand the luminescence properties of three new 1,8‐naphthalimides (NPIs) in solution and aggregates. The NPIs show blue emission in the solution state and their fluorescence quantum yields are dependent upon their molecular rigidity. In concentrated solutions of the NPIs, intermolecular interactions were found to quench the fluorescence due to the formation of excimers. In contrast, upon aggregation (in THF / H₂O mixtures), the NPIs show aggregation‐induced emission enhancement (AIEE). The NPIs also show moderately high solid‐state emission quantum yields (ca. 10–12.7 %). The AIEE behaviour of the NPIs depends on their molecular rigidity and the nature of their intermolecular interactions. The NPIs 1 – 3 show different extents of intermolecular (π–π and C?H???O) interactions in their solid‐state crystal structures depending on their substituents. Detailed photophysical, computational and structural investigations suggest that an optimal balance of structural flexibility and intermolecular communication is necessary for achieving AIEE characteristics in these NPIs.     

Stacking‐Induced Diamagnetic/Paramagnetic Conversion of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐2(3 H)‐one Derivatives: Near‐Infrared Absorption and Magnetic Properties in the Solid State

Herein, we present three imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐2(3 H)‐one derivatives that are diamagnetic in solution, but paramagnetic in the solid state, possibly owing to a stacking‐induced formation of phenoxide‐type radicals. Notably, a larger bathochromic shift of the absorption (even up to the near‐ infrared region) of these three compounds was observed in the solid state than in solution, which was attributable to the ordered columnar stacking arrangements or their single‐electron character as radicals in the solid state. Interestingly, compared to that in solution, (E)‐3‐(pyridin‐4′‐ylmethylene)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine 2(3 H)‐one displayed a largely red‐shifted emission (centered at 660 nm, with tailing above 800 nm) in the solid state. A larger bathochromic shift (260 nm) of the emission is an indication of better order and tight stacking in the solid state, which is brought about by the rigid and polar acceptor. These three compounds also reveal different magnetic susceptibilities at 300 K, thus implying that they possess various columnar stacking structures. Most interestingly, these three radicals exhibit unusual ferromagnetic‐to‐antiferromagnetic phase transitions, which can be attributed to anisotropic contraction and non‐uniform slippage of the columnar stacking chains.     

Supramolecular architectures in CoII and CuII complexes with thiophene‐2‐carboxylate and 2‐amino‐4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine ligands

The coordination chemistry of mixed‐ligand complexes continues to be an active area of research since these compounds have a wide range of applications. Many coordination polymers and metal–organic framworks are emerging as novel functional materials. Aminopyrimidine and its derivatives are flexible ligands with versatile binding and coordination modes which have been proven to be useful in the construction of organic–inorganic hybrid materials and coordination polymers. Thiophenecarboxylic acid, its derivatives and their complexes exhibit pharmacological properties. Cobalt(II) and copper(II) complexes of thiophenecarboxylate have many biological applications, for example, as antifungal and antitumor agents. Two new cobalt(II) and copper(II) complexes incorporating thiophene‐2‐carboxylate (2‐TPC) and 2‐amino‐4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine (OMP) ligands have been synthesized and characterized by X‐ray diffraction studies, namely (2‐amino‐4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine‐κN)aquachlorido(thiophene‐2‐carboxylato‐κO)cobalt(II) monohydrate, [Co(C₅H₃O₂S)Cl(C₆H₉N₃O₂)(H₂O)]·H₂O, (I), and catena‐poly[copper(II)‐tetrakis(μ‐thiophene‐2‐carboxylato‐κ²O:O′)‐copper(II)‐(μ‐2‐amino‐4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine‐κ²N¹:N³)], [Cu₂(C₅H₃O₂S)₄(C₆H₉N₃O₂)]_n, (II). In (I), the Co^II ion has a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment involving one O atom from a monodentate 2‐TPC ligand, one N atom from an OMP ligand, one chloride ligand and one O atom of a water molecule. An additional water molecule is present in the asymmetric unit. The amino group of the coordinated OMP molecule and the coordinated carboxylate O atom of the 2‐TPC ligand form an interligand N—H…O hydrogen bond, generating an S(6) ring motif. The pyrimidine molecules also form a base pair [R₂²(8) motif] via a pair of N—H…N hydrogen bonds. These interactions, together with O—H…O and O—H…Cl hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions, generate a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture. The one‐dimensional coordination polymer (II) contains the classical paddle‐wheel [Cu₂(CH₃COO)₄(H₂O)₂] unit, where each carboxylate group of four 2‐TPC ligands bridges two square‐pyramidally coordinated Cu^II ions and the apically coordinated OMP ligands bridge the dinuclear copper units. Each dinuclear copper unit has a crystallographic inversion centre, whereas the bridging OMP ligand has crystallographic twofold symmetry. The one‐dimensional polymeric chains self‐assemble via N—H…O, π–π and C—H…π interactions, generating a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture.     

Self‐Assembly of Dialkyltin Moieties and Mercaptobenzoic Acid into Macrocyclic Complexes with Hydrophobic “Pseudo‐Cage” or Double‐Cavity Structures: Supramolecular Infrastructures Involving Intermolecular C?H⋅⋅⋅S Weak Hydrogen Bonds and π–π Interactions

Four novel organotin complexes of two types—[R₂Sn(o‐SC₆H₄CO₂)]₆ (R=Me, 1 ?H₂O; nBu, 2 ) and {[R₂Sn(m‐CO₂C₆H₄S)R₂Sn(m‐SC₆H₄CO₂)SnR₂]O}₂ (R=Me, 3 ; nBu, 4 )—have been prepared by treatment of o‐ or m‐mercaptobenzoic acid and the corresponding R₂SnCl₂ (R=Me, nBu) with sodium ethoxide in ethanol (95 %). All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy, TGA, and X‐ray crystallography diffraction analysis. The molecular structure analyses reveal that both 1 and 2 are hexanuclear macrocycles with hydrophobic “pseudo‐cage” structures, while 3 and 4 are hexanuclear macrocycles with double‐cavity structures. Furthermore, the supramolecular structure analyses show that looser and more intriguing supramolecular infrastructures were also found in complexes 1 – 4 , which exist either as one‐dimensional chains of rings or as two‐dimensional networks assembled from the organometallic subunits through intermolecular C? H???S weak hydrogen bonds (WHBs) and π–π interactions.     

Induced Super‐Halogen Behavior of Metal Moieties in Halogen‐Doped Clusters: LinI(‐) and AlnI(‐), n = 13, 1, 2, 3.

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