Imaging by sensitized oxygenations of photochromic anthracene films: examination of effects that improve performance and reversibility

The aliphatic anthracene compound 1 and the oligomeric anthracene 2 were synthesized. Thin films of 1 and 2 mixed with the sensitizers tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and methylene blue (MB) were irradiated with visible light in air. Upon formation of singlet oxygen, the anthracene units were converted quantitatively to the corresponding endoperoxides. Heating of the irradiated samples afforded the parent anthracenes with high yields. Here, we demonstrate that the kinetics and reversibility of this reaction strongly depend on the microenvironment of the anthracene groups in the two compounds. The photooxidation of thin films of 1 is accompanied by interesting changes in the morphology of the film and allows the first application of 1 as a nondestructive negative-tone photoresist for lithography and as an oxidizing ink. The morphology of 2 remained unchanged after photooxidation as a result of the stabilizing oligomer backbone. This stabilizing effect significantly improves the photochromic performance of 2. The reversibility of the photooxidation is very high (>90 %) for oligomeric films of 2 after several cycles of irradiation and heating. Decomposition of the anthracene and a loss of the activity of the sensitizer diminish slightly the performance of the monomeric species.     

Concentration‐Dependent Self‐Assembly of a Novel Comb Oligomer Having Rigid Binaphthyl Macrocyclic Pendants

Summary: The synthesis and self‐assembly of a comb oligomer having rigid racemic binaphthyl macrocyclic pendant groups are described. The coupling of two structural motifs at the molecular level, e.g., a nanometer‐size chiral cavity, and a flexible polymeric backbone, could lead to new opportunities in molecular recognition and separation. The macrocyclic monomers were synthesized followed by introduction of an acrylate side‐group, and through free‐radical polymerization, they yielded a comb oligomer. Most importantly, this novel oligomer can self‐assemble into solid or hollow spheres when tetrahydrofuran (THF) solutions of the oligomer at different concentrations are dropped onto the surface of water. The morphology of the solid or hollow spheres was observed by TEM, ESEM and DLS.

A schematic illustration of the processes of self‐assembly of the oligomer.     

含联萘基元的刚性环状齐聚物手性孔穴的振动圆二色谱研究

纳米尺度刚性环状齐聚物因其具有独特的孔穴结构,在基础与应用研究中引起了人们的广泛关注.当具有功能基团的分子骨架形成环状结构时,这种功能分子孔穴在分子识别及主-客体化学等方面具有广阔的应用前景.含有手性基团的手性大环分子具有特定的手性孔穴,在手性拆分、手性识别等方面引起了各国研究者的兴趣.     

Chiral molecular switches based on binaphthalene molecules with anthracene moieties: CD signal due to interchromophoric exciton coupling and modulation of the CD spectrum

By coupling the features of binaphthalene and anthracene, new binaphthalenes with two anthracene moieties were designed and synthesized, aiming at developing chiral molecular switches. A strong CD signal with negative sign due to the interchromophoric exciton coupling was observed for (S)-1 with -(CH2)2 as the linker. This new CD signal became weak and the sign reversed by changing the linker to -(CH2)3 in (S)-2 and -(CH2)6 in (S)-3. For (S)-4 with -(CH2)11 as the linker, no such CD signal was detected. Photodimerization of two anthracene moieties in these binaphthalene molecules can occur. The results show that the CD spectra of (S)-1, (S)-2, (S)-3, and (R)-1 can be reversibly modulated by alternating UV light irradiation and heating. Therefore, chiral molecular switches based on new binaphthalenes with two anthracene moieties are achieved.     

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.     

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.     

Synthesis,characterization and thermooxidative stability of addition polymers from 1,4,5,8-tetrahydro-1,4;5,8-diepoxyanthracene and anthracene end-capped imide oligomers

A series of Diels–Alder addition-type copolymers prepared from 1,4,5,8-tetrahydro-1,4;5,8-diepoxyanthracence and anthracene end-capped 6F-PDA imide oligomers were characterized. The composition of the anthracene end-capped imide oligomers was found to be sensitive to monomer molar ratios and the mode of monomer addition. The resistance of the copolymer to thermooxidative degradation at 316 and 371°C was compared with a similar commercial polymer called Avimid-N prepared from 4,4′-hexafluoroisopropylidene-2,2′ bis(phthalic acid anhydride) and para-and meta-phenylene diamine, abbreviated 6F-PDA. There are strong indications that the copolymers undergo degradation initially by unzipping the diepoxyanthracene unit from the anthracene end-capped 6F-PDA oligomer unit (Avimid-N like repeat unit), followed by a slower degradation of the more stable residual 6F-PDA unit. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Naphthalene- and anthracene-based aromatic foldamers with iminodicarbonyl linkers: their stabilities and application to a chiral photochromic system using retro [4 + 4] cycloaddition

A circular dichroism (CD) spectral study on chiral aromatic chain imides possessing anthracene and naphthalene moieties with bulky N substituents showed that their helical chirality based on folding remained for a reasonably long time without racemization in solution. Racemization due to conformational equilibration occurred very slowly, requiring over 1 week at ambient temperature. Their CD spectra both in solution and in the solid state gave similar CD signals, suggesting retention of helicity observed in the solid state even after dissolving. As an application of this novel chiral folding of aromatic chain imides, a chiral photochromic system was investigated based on the photo [4 + 4] cycloaddition and its thermal cycloreversion of an anthracene-naphthalene system. The foldamer possessing an anthracene moiety in the center connected with two naphthalene moieties below and above it by iminodicarbonyl linkers was prepared for this purpose. Induced CD was observed for the foldamer with (S)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl substituents at the imide nitrogen atoms. Chiral photochromic cycles were monitored by CD spectral measurement.     

An Hg2+-gated chiral molecular switch created by using binaphthalene molecules with two anthracene units and two 1,3-dithiole-2-thione (1,3-dithiole-2-one) units

By integrating the features of anthracene, 1,3-dithiole-2-thione, and binaphthalene units, (S)-1 and its analogue (S)-2, which contains two 1,3-dithiole-2-one units instead of 1,3-dithiole-2-thione, were studied for creating a new molecular regulation system and building a gated chiral molecular switch. The results show that the photodimerization is controlled by the remote functional-group transformation of C=S into C=O, thus providing an elegant example of molecular regulation. The photodimerization of two anthracene units induces circular dichroism (CD) spectral variation. Overall, the CD spectrum can be remotely modulated by Hg2+ in (S)-1, which leads to an Hg2+-gated chiral molecular switch.     

刚性环状低聚物的二维有序单分子膜结构

近十年来 ,为了解决耐高温高分子材料加工温度高、熔体粘度大等问题 ,材料学家们研制和开发了一系列刚性环状齐聚物 ,如环状聚芳醚酮[1] 、环状聚芳醚砜[2 ] 和环状聚苯硫醚[3] 等 .但早期人们主要把含有刚性链段的环状齐聚物 (RCO)作为结构材料研究 .1 993年 ,Miyashita[4 ] 等发现 ,含有近似刚性的酰胺键的手性环状二苯胺低聚物具有与经典 LB分子相似的双亲性 ,可以获得手性 LB膜 .近来我们合成了一系列直径可控、含有不同活性功能基团的 RCO.RCO是一类潜力巨大的有机纳米功能材料 ,其具有以下性质 :(1 )纳米空穴直径稳定且可控 ;(2…     

A new chiral anthracene for the asymmetric Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder sequence

(-)-(R)-9-(1,2-Dimethoxyethyl)anthracene (8) is successfully employed as a chiral template in the Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder sequence for the preparation of alpha,beta-unsaturated lactams. The cycloadditions proceed with complete diastereoselectivity, and regioselectivity in subsequent transformations of the carbonyl groups is also excellent. Flash vacuum pyrolysis accomplishes the cycloreversion.     

Synthesis of complementary double-stranded helical oligomers through chiral and achiral amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges and chiral amplification in their double-helix formation

A series of complementary molecular strands from 2-mer to 5-mer that are composed of m-terphenyl units bearing chiral/achiral amidine or achiral carboxyl groups linked via Pt(II) acetylide complexes were synthesized by sequential stepwise reactions, and their chiroptical properties on the double-helix formation were investigated by circular dichroism (CD) and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. In CHCl(3), the "all-chiral" amidine strands consisting of (R)- or (S)-amidine units formed preferred-handed double helices with the complementary achiral carboxylic acid strands through the amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges, resulting in characteristic induced CDs in the Pt(II) acetylide complex regions, indicating that the chiral substituents on the amidine units biased a helical sense preference. The Cotton effect patterns and intensities were highly dependent on the molecular lengths. The complementary double-helix formation was also explored using the chiral/achiral amidine strands with different sequences in which a chiral amidine unit was introduced at the center (center-chiral) or a terminus (edge-chiral) of the amidine strands. The effect of the sequences of the chiral and achiral amidine units on the amplification of chirality (the "sergeants and soldiers" effect) in the double-helix formation was investigated by comparing the CD intensities with those of the corresponding all-chiral amidine double helices with the same molecular lengths. Variable-temperature CD experiments of the all-chiral and chiral/achiral amidine duplexes demonstrated that the Pt(II)-linked complementary duplexes are dynamic and their chiroptical properties including the chirality transfer from the chiral amidine unit to the achiral amidine ones are significantly affected by the molecular lengths, sequences, and temperatures. On the basis of the above results together with molecular dynamics simulation results, key structural features of the Pt(II)-linked oligomer duplexes and the effect of the chiral/achiral amidine sequences on the amplification of chirality are discussed.     

A Pyrene-Modified Serinol Nucleic Acid Nanostructure Converts the Chirality of Threoninol Nucleic Acids into Circularly Polarized Luminescence Signals

Herein is reported a circularly polarized luminescent (CPL) probe that can respond to the chirality of nucleic acids. An achiral nanostructure was prepared by the hybridization of symmetric serinol nucleic acid (SNA) containing pyrene-modified residues. When chiral oligomers that were complementary to the SNA were added, they induced helicity into the SNA nanowire. Efficient circular dichroism (CD) signal amplification was observed when pyrene was attached to uracil bases through a rigid alkynyl linker. Both CPL and CD signals were observed; they depended on the chirality of the added acyclic threoninol nucleic acid (aTNA) oligomer. This system can be used to convert the chirality of chiral biomolecules into chiroptical signals.     

Enantiopure anthrylene-ethynylene cyclic tetramer and racemization via rotation of anthracene unit about acetylenic axes

Four anthracene and four acetylene units are used to construct a chiral pi-conjugate macrocycle, the chirality of which is due to the restricted rotation about acetylenic axes. Enantiomers were readily resolved by chiral HPLC and racemized slowly even at 70 degrees C.     

Fluorescent studies of two new binaphthyl-azacrown-anthracene fluorophores with metal ions and chiral guests: dual fluorescent detection via binaphthyl and anthracene groups

Two new binaphthyl-azacrown-anthracene fluorophores were synthesized. These new fluorescent receptors exhibited large fluorescent changes with aqueous Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. Interestingly, the fluorescent emissions from the binaphthyl and anthracene groups using different excitation wavelengths showed different patterns in the presence of metal ions. The chiral recognitions of these receptors with chiral ammonium guests were also examined.     

Enantiodifferentiating Photodimerization of a 2,6-Disubstituted Anthracene Assisted by Supramolecular Double-Helix Formation with Chiral Amines

A novel 2,6-anthrylene-linked bis(m-terphenylcarboxylic acid) strand ( 1 ) self-associates into a racemic double-helix. In the presence of chiral mono- and diamines, either a right- or left-handed double-helix was predominantly induced by chiral amines sandwiched between the carboxylic acid strands with accompanying stacking of the two prochiral anthracene linker units in an enantiotopic face-selective way, as revealed by circular dichroism and NMR spectral analyses. The photoirradiation of the optically active double helices complexed with chiral amines proceeded in a diastereo- (anti or syn) and enantiodifferentiating way to afford the chiral anti-photodimer with up to 98 % enantiomeric excess when (R)-phenylethylamine was used as a chiral double-helix inducer. The resulting optically active anti-photodimer can recognize the chirality of amines and diastereoselectively complex with chiral amines.     

Insight into the stereoselectivity of PPL-catalyzed formation of polyesters from phenyl glycidyl ether and succinic anhydride

Analysis of the stereoselectivity that would be expected in the Pig Pancreatic Lipase-catalyzed oligomerization of succinic anhydride and phenyl glycidyl ether is carried out.The results show that no stereoselection was recorded at any step of the suggested mechanism of the process: opening of the chiral epoxide into 1,2-diol, nucleophilic attack of the chiral acylenzyme by a chiral diol, or by the hydroxyl group of a growing oligomer.     

Complexation behaviour of a CT complex composed of 9,10-bis(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)anthracene and viologen derivatives

A chiral charge-transfer (CT) complex was formed using achiral 9,10-bis(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)anthracene (BDHA) as an electron donor and achiral 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride (MVCl₂) as an electron acceptor. This chiral CT complex can include n-alkyl alcohol molecules as guests. On the other hand, when 1,1′-diphenyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride and 1,1′-dibenzyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride were used as electron acceptors, achiral CT complexes without guests were formed. It was found that the chiral crystallisation of the BDHA/MVCl₂–CT host system was caused by steric and electric intermolecular interactions between host component molecules BDHA and MVCl₂ during crystallisation.     

Anthracene derivatives bearing thiourea and glucopyranosyl groups for the highly selective chiral recognition of amino acids: opposite chiral selectivities from similar binding units

Two new anthracene thiourea derivatives, 1 and 2, were investigated as fluorescent chemosensors for the chiral recognition of the two enantiomers of alpha-amino carboxylates. Especially, host 2 displayed K(L)/K(D) values as high as 10.4 with t-Boc alanine. Furthermore, the D/L selectivity of hosts 1 and 2 is opposite, even though both hosts bear the same glucopyranosyl units. These intriguing opposite D/L binding affinities by 1 and 2 were obtained without/with H-pi interaction between anthrancene moiety and the methyl groups, which were explained by extensive high-level theoretical investigations taking into account the dispersion energy as well as the 2D-NMR chemical shifts.     

Self-assembly of folded m-phenylene ethynylene oligomers into helical columns

Circular dichroism spectroscopy has been used to study the self-assembly of two series of m-phenylene ethynylene oligomers in highly polar solvents. The helical conformation of shorter oligomer lengths was found to be stabilized in aqueous acetonitrile solutions, while longer oligomers began to interact intermolecularly. The intermolecular aggregation of the oligomers in aqueous solutions revealed a chain length dependent association that required the presence of a stable helical conformation. Evidence for intermolecular interactions is provided by Sergeants and Soldiers experiments in which the twist sense bias of a chiral oligomer is transferred to an achiral oligomer.