Recent advances in organic mechanofluorochromic materials

Mechanofluorochromic materials, which are dependent on changes in physical molecular packing modes, have attracted considerable interest over the past ten years. In this review, recent progress in the area of pure organic mechanofluorochromism is summarized, and majority of the reported organic mechanofluorochromic systems are discussed, along with their derived structure-property relationships. The existence of a structural relationship between aggregation-induced emission compounds and mechanofluorochromism is recognized based on our recent results, which considered aggregation-induced emission compounds as a well of mechanofluorochromic materials. The established structure-property relationship will guide researchers in identifying and synthesizing more mechanofluorochromic materials.     

Tetraphenylethene-based highly emissive fluorescent molecules with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and various mechanofluorochromic characteristics

Three tetraphenylethene-based compounds with different substituents were successfully synthesized. All these fluorescent molecules exhibited typical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect. In addition, these luminogens showed various mechanochromic luminescence phenomena. Moreover, the mechanofluorochromic behavior of luminogen 1 was self-reversible.     

A new organic far-red mechanofluorochromic compound derived from cyano-substituted diarylethene

A new cyano-substituted diarylethene derivative (R-NH₂) with reversible far-red mechanofluorochromic property was synthesized and confirmed by standard spectroscopic methods. To the best of our knowledge, the 684 nm red-shifted wavelength of the ground R-NH₂ is the longest wavelength that has appeared in the literature. The mechanofluorochromic mechanism was investigated by small and wide-angle X-ray scattering and was ascribed to the destruction of crystalline structure. More in-depth study by infrared spectra and time-resolved emission-decay behaviors showed that the changes of C–H out-of-plane bending vibrations in aryl group of the compound and the obvious increase of fluorescence lifetime might be the fundamental reasons. The synthetic strategy reported here can be extended to prepare more and more long-wavelength emission mechanofluorochromic materials, which can broaden the scope of application of such materials and for thoroughly understanding the mechanofluorochromic mechanism.     

Aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE)-active mechanofluorochromic tetraphenylethene derivative bearing a rhodamine unit

A novel tetraphenylethene derivative with a rhodamine unit was successfully synthesized via high-efficiency Suzuki coupling reaction. The highly solid-state emissive target fluorescent molecule exhibited significative aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) feature. Furthermore, the luminogen showed reversible mechanochromic luminescence behavior involving color change from orange to red. In addition, the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) test results verified that the mechanofluorochromic phenomenon of luminogen 1 was attributed to a morphological transformation between the crystalline and amorphous states.     

Mechanofluorochromic Materials Based on Aggregation‐Induced Emission‐Active Boron Ketoiminates: Regulation of the Direction of the Emission Color Changes

We report a series of mechanofluorochromic (MFC) compounds based on organoboron complexes with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics. We synthesized a variety of boron ketoiminates and investigated the effect of the substituents on the optical properties by altering the end groups in the compounds. The synthesized boron ketoiminates showed AIE properties and MFC behavior. Interestingly, the hypsochromic and bathochromic shifts of the emission bands individually observed for boron ketoiminates depended on the chemical structures of the end groups. From the X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses, it was confirmed that the MFC property of boron ketoiminates should be derived from a phase transition between crystalline and amorphous states. In addition, the direction of the peak shifts of the emission bands was controlled by the degree of steric hindrance of the end group.     

Mechanofluorochromism of 1‐Alkanoylaminopyrenes

To create a new series of mechanofluorochromic materials and to elucidate the mechanism of the phenomenon of mechanofluorochromism, 1‐alkanoylaminopyrenes including 1‐acetylaminopyrene (AAPy), 1‐octanoylaminopyrene (OAPy), and 1‐stearoylaminopyren (SAPy) were prepared. It was found that these materials exhibited mechanofluorochromism with emission colors in the crystalline samples changing reversibly from bluish purple to yellowish green, which could be induced by mechanical grinding. X‐ray crystal structure analysis, electronic absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopies, as well as fluorescence lifetime analysis and powder X‐ray diffraction analysis of AAPy suggested that the present mechanofluorochromism was caused by developing crystal defects through grinding. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds were suggested to play an important role in the occurrence of mechanofluorochromism, suppressing the face‐to‐face overlapping of pyrene moieties to form excimers in the pristine crystal.     

White‐Light Emission Strategy of a Single Organic Compound with Aggregation‐Induced Emission and Delayed Fluorescence Properties

A novel white‐light‐emitting organic molecule, which consists of carbazolyl‐ and phenothiazinyl‐substituted benzophenone (OPC) and exhibits aggregation‐induced emission‐delayed fluorescence (AIE‐DF) and mechanofluorochromic properties was synthesized. The CIE color coordinates of OPC were directly measured with a non‐doped powder, which presented white‐emission coordinates (0.33, 0.33) at 244 K to 252 K and (0.35, 0.35) at 298 K. The asymmetric donor–acceptor–donor′ (D‐A‐D′) type of OPC exhibits an accurate inherited relationship from dicarbazolyl‐substituted benzophenone (O2C, D‐A‐D) and diphenothiazinyl‐substituted benzophenone (O2P, D′‐A‐D′). By purposefully selecting the two parent molecules, that is, O2C (blue) and O2P (yellow), the white‐light emission of OPC can be achieved in a single molecule. This finding provides a feasible molecular strategy to design new AIE‐DF white‐light‐emitting organic molecules.     

Real-Time Fluorescence Visualization of Nanoparticle Aggregation and the Polymorph-Transition Process of a Mechanofluorochromic Difluoroboron-β-Diketone Derivative

The use of organic nanomaterials in biomedical and optical devices has been widely studied. The key to improving the performance and stability of these devices is to control the fabrication process, which determines the phase stability and photophysical properties. In this study, fluorescence changes were observed during the reprecipitation process of mechanofluorochromic molecules of dibenzoyl(methanato)boron difluoride. The cyan-emission phase (C-phase) was first identified. The time evolution of the resolved fluorescence spectra revealed that the green-emission phase (G-phase) was formed from the amorphous phase with yellow emission via the C-phase, in addition to the direct formation of the G-phase. Combined with the results of the investigation into the thermal properties, the fluorescence changes clearly indicate a two-step nucleation process and Ostwald's rule of stages for polymorph transition, which enables us to not only provide guidance for controlling the fabrication process but also propose the ripening process for organic nanoparticle formation.     

Molecular Packing-Controlled Mechanical-Induced Emission Enhancement of Tetraphenylethene-Functionalised Pyrazoline Derivatives

Organic mechanofluorochromic (MFC) materials with mechanical-induced emission enhancement (MIEE) are scarce. Herein, Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active tetraphenylethene-functionalised pyrazoline derivatives with various non-conjugated substituent groups (Br, F, N,N-dimethylamino and cyano groups for TPEB, TPEF, TPEN and TPECN, respectively) were designed and synthesised. The fluorescence spectra of the compounds in the solid state were sensitive to mechanical stimuli and exhibited unique MFC properties. The solid fluorescence peaks of all compounds were red shifted, whereas the quantum yields of TPEB, TPEF and TPEN were increased and that of TPECN was slightly reduced after grinding. The MIEE mechanism was systematically investigated through structure–property relationship studies. The results showed that the pyrazoline ring of TPEB with MIEE property formed H-dimer aggregates with weak π–π stacking in the solid state. After grinding, the synergistic effects of conformational planarization and destructive π–π interactions induced the red shift of the fluorescence peak and the intensity enhanced. TPECN formed incompact J-aggregates with weak intermolecular interactions instead. The conformational planarization and increased intermolecular interactions induced by grinding led to the red-shifted peak and the slightly reduced intensity. These results clearly demonstrated that the translation of packing arrangements is an efficient method to design MIEE materials, which opens a new scope for designing unique MFC materials.     

Dual Chromophoric Meso-Aryl BODIPYs with Aggregation Induced Red-Emission Characteristics: Optical Properties and their Application in Fe3+ Detection

Herein, we report the design of meso-aryl BODIPYs as a structural motif for aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) to aggregation-induced emission (AIE) transformation. A series of meso-aryl BODIPY derivatives were synthesized, by systematically increasing the size of the chromophore at the meso-position from phenyl to pyrene. The effect of various factors, such as the aryl ring size, solvents, viscosity, and metal cations, on the photophysical properties was analyzed. The emission properties are well correlated with the flexibility of the aromatic ring for free rotation around the C_aryl−C_BODIPY bond. Accordingly, meso-phenanthrene BODIPY ( PhB ) has the highest emission characteristics. The emission property of less bulky aryl-substituted BODIPYs increases by increasing the solvent viscosity. The interaction of Fe³⁺ ions with aryl-BODIPYs provides a prominent photophysical response based on Lewis-acid supported decomplexation of BF₂ in aryl-BODIPYs. The bichromophoric meso-aryl BODIPYs exhibit notable intramolecular excitation energy transfer from the aromatic ring to the BODIPY core, which is higher in meso-anthracene BODIPY( AB ). Hence, decorating BODIPYs with polycyclic aromatic systems generates a twisted structure, which inhibits the π-π stacking between the planar aromatic molecules. This can be proposed as an effective approach at the molecular level to convert planar aryl luminophores having ACQ to AIEgens. Besides, the meso-pyrene BODIPY derivative shows excellent mechanofluorochromic behaviour.     

基于1,3,5-三嗪的具有力致变色性质的聚集诱导荧光化合物的合成及性质

以1,3,5-三嗪为核, 四苯基乙烯为端基, 合成了两种新型的星状结构分子2,4,6-三(4-(1,2,2-三苯基乙烯基)苯基)-1,3,5-三嗪(TTPE-Tr)和2,4,6-三(4-(1,2,2-三苯基乙烯基)-4-联苯基)-1,3,5-三嗪(TTPE-Ph-Tr), 并利用核磁共振(NMR)、离子化质谱(MALDI-MS)及元素分析等对其进行了结构表征. 通过混合溶剂四氢呋喃(THF)/水析出实验显示, 化合物TTPE-Tr和TTPE-Ph-Tr在纯THF溶剂中无荧光, 而在THF/水混合溶剂中, 当水体积分数增加时呈现荧光增强现象. 通过紫外-可见(UV-Vis)光谱、荧光(PL)光谱、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)证实荧光量子效率的提高是由于分子内电子旋转受限(RIR)导致的. 同时发现化合物TTPE-Tr具有力致变色性质, 简单的研磨使其发光颜色(蓝绿光到黄绿光)及发光强度(Φ_F, 24.4%到14.7%)发生了明显的改变. UV-Vis光谱、PL光谱、X射线衍射(XRD)、荧光寿命和荧光量子效率等测试结果显示, 这种现象是由于力刺激改变了TTPE-Tr的分子堆积形式导致的. 热分析结果显示化合物TTPE-Tr和TTPE-Ph-Tr的热分解温度分别为464和385℃, 具有良好的热稳定性.     

Transient‐Ligand‐Enabled ortho‐Arylation of Five‐Membered Heterocycles: Facile Access to Mechanochromic Materials

Reported herein is the first example of a direct arylation of heteroarenes by a transient‐ligand‐directed strategy without the need to construct and deconstruct the directing group. A wide range of heteroarenes undergoes the coupling with diverse aryl iodides to assemble a large library of highly selective and functionalized 3‐arylthiophene‐2‐carbaldehydes. This route provides an opportunity to rapidly access new mechanofluorochromic materials. Moreover, a novel strategy for mechanochromic luminogens with chromism trends of red‐ and blue‐shifts has been disclosed for the first time by facile functional‐group modifications to a common structural core.     

Ligand-Controlled Direct γ-C−H Arylation of Aldehydes

The first example of Pd^II-catalyzed γ-C(sp³)−H functionalization of aliphatic and benzoheteroaryl aldehydes has been developed using a transient ligand and an external ligand, concurrently. A wide array of γ-arylated aldehydes were readily accessed without preinstalling internal directing groups. The catalytic mechanism was studied by performing deuterium-labelling experiments, which indicated that the γ-C(sp³)−H bond cleavage is the rate-limiting step during the reaction process. This reaction could be performed on a gram scale, and also demonstrated its potential application in the synthesis of new mechanofluorochromic materials with blue-shifted mechanochromic properties.     

Ligand‐Controlled Direct γ‐C−H Arylation of Aldehydes

The first example of Pd^II‐catalyzed γ‐C(sp³)?H functionalization of aliphatic and benzoheteroaryl aldehydes has been developed using a transient ligand and an external ligand, concurrently. A wide array of γ‐arylated aldehydes were readily accessed without preinstalling internal directing groups. The catalytic mechanism was studied by performing deuterium‐labelling experiments, which indicated that the γ‐C(sp³)?H bond cleavage is the rate‐limiting step during the reaction process. This reaction could be performed on a gram scale, and also demonstrated its potential application in the synthesis of new mechanofluorochromic materials with blue‐shifted mechanochromic properties.     

Spectrophotometric determination of cyanide ions through ligand exchange reaction in solution

Summary A simple spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of cyanide ions in aqueous medium, using a heterocyclic azo dye complexed with mercury(II) for the first time, is described. The visual comparative method has been used in which a stronger complexing anion displaces a coloured reagent from the metal-ligand complex. Ammonium (2-amino-3-hydroxy-pyridyl-4 azo)benzene-4-arsonate (AHP-4A) complexed with mercury(II) has been used for the determination of 0.13–1.46g/ml of cyanide ions with fair accuracy. The anion has also been determined, when cyanide ion reacts with mercury(II)-(AHP-4A) complex, probably forming a bridged complex. The increase in absorbance is proportional to the cyanide ion concentration in the range of 0.04–0.37g/ml, but this method is not very precise. The effect of foreign ions has also been studied. The sensitivities of other mercury(II) complexes in the determination of cyanide ions have been compared.

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Zusammenfassung Eine spektrophotometrische Methode zur Bestimmung von Spuren Cyanid in wäßrigem Milieu mit Hilfe eines mit Hg(II) komplexierten heterocyklischen Azofarbstoffes wurde beschrieben. Hierbei verdrängt ein stärker komplexierendes Anion das Farbreagens aus dem Metallkomplex. Ammonium(2-amino-3-hydroxypyridyl-4-azo)benzol-4-arsenat (AHP-4A) in komplexer Verbindung mit Hg(II) wurde für die genaue Bestimmung von 0,13–1,46g CN^–/ml verwendet. Das Anion wurde auch nach der Reaktion von Cyanid mit Hg(II)-(AHP-4A)-Komplex (wahrscheinlich zu einer Brückenverbindung) bestimmt. Der Anstieg der Extinktion ist der Cyanidkonzentration im Gebiet 0,04–0,37g/ml proportional, aber dieses Verfahren ist nicht sehr genau. Der Einfluß von Fremdionen wurde untersucht. Die Empfindlichkeit anderer Hg(II)-Komplexe wurde zum Vergleich herangezogen.

     

Perfluorophenyl‐Bifuran: A Stable and Fluorescent Material Exhibiting Mechanofluorochromic Behavior

π‐Conjugated oligomers and polymers consisting of bifuran units are applied in optoelectronic devices, because bifuran units endow such devices with superior properties compared with their thiophene analogs. However, as is true for most furan oligomers, bifuran oligomers suffer from low photostability, which restricts their application. In this work, we present the synthesis and the photophysical and structural characterization of perfluorinated phenyl bifuran ( PFB‐2F ), which displays high photostability, while maintaining strong fluorescence quantum efficiency in both solution and the solid state. X‐Ray crystallography reveals that, unlike its thiophene analog, PFB‐2F has a completely planar backbone, with slip‐stacked packing and short interplanar distances. PFB‐2F crystals display mechanofluorochromic behavior, which renders perfluorophenyl‐substituted oligofurans potential candidates for both stable optoelectronic devices and responsive optical materials.     

Mechanofluorochromic Carbon Nanodots: Controllable Pressure‐Triggered Blue‐ and Red‐Shifted Photoluminescence

Mechanofluorochromic materials, which change their photoluminescence (PL) colors in responding to mechanical stimuli, can be used as mechanosensors, security papers, and photoelectronic devices. However, traditional mechanofluorochromic materials can only be adjusted to a monotone direction upon the external stimuli. Controllable pressure‐triggered blue‐ and red‐shifted PL is reported for C‐dots. The origin of mechanofluorochromism (MFC) in C‐dots is interpreted based on structure–property relationships. The carbonyl group and the π‐conjugated system play key roles in the PL change of C‐dots under high pressure. As the pressure increases, the enhanced π–π stacking of the π‐conjugated system causes the red‐shift of PL, while the conversion of carbonyl groups eventually induces a blue‐shift. Together with their low toxicity, good hydrophilicity, and small size, the tunable MFC property would boost various potential applications of C‐dots.     

Unusual emissions from low-concentrated porphyrin solutions

This contribution presents fluorescence measurements from highly diluted tetratolylporphyrin (TTP) solutions where acetone has been chosen as solvent. The concentrations of the solutions ranged from 10(-8) to 10(-14) M. Apart the normal S1-S0 fluorescence a new broad emission was recorded below 10(-8) M. This new emission blue-shifted to the S1-S0 fluorescence covered the spectral range between 19000 and 14000 cm(-1). Within the dilution series, both the S1-S0 porphyrin fluorescence and the new emission exhibited a remarkably non-linear concentration-dependence. In the case in which the aggregate emission was strong, little S1-S0 emission could be detected and vice versa. The intensity maximum of the broad emission was detected from a 10(-13) M solution. The supplementary fluorescence was attributed to the presence of assembled molecules. This assumption was established by comparing the measurements with those obtained from 1:1 acetone water solvent mixtures in which the formation of aggregates had been formerly proven. The emission originating from the formation of aggregates was interpreted by a qualitative model considering the energy levels of J-aggregated porphyrins.     

微孔晶体材料C12A7-Cl-的表面氯负离子发射性能和机理

利用飞行时间质谱(TOF-MS)观测到氯负离子从合成的微孔晶体材料C12A7-Cl-(11CaO·7Al2O3·CaCl2)表面发射出来, 详细研究了C12A7-Cl-的发射特性, 包括发射强度分支比、温度效应、电场效应和表观活化能. 在我们的检测范围内从C12A7-Cl-表面发射的离子中绝大部分是氯负离子(最大强度分支比为98%), 此外还有弱的氧负离子和电子发射. 各种离子的绝对发射电流强度都随着表面温度升高或引出电场强度的增加而显著增强, 随着引出电场强度从200增加到1200 V·cm-1, 氯负离子发射的表观活化能从180.9 kJ·mol-1减小到110.0 kJ·mol-1. 氯负离子和C12A7-Cl-表面之间的结合能大约是228 kJ·mol-1. 研究了氯负离子的发射稳定性, 并且应用一种电化学注入法, 以获得持续的氯负离子发射. 基于上述实验还讨论了氯负离子的形成和发射机理. 目前的方法可望被用于发展氯负离子储存/发生器.     

Electroplex emission from a blend of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) and 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1, 10-phenanthroline

The PL and EL spectra of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) : 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1, 10-phenanthroline (BCP) (1:1 w/w) film were found completely different. The PL spectrum is a single peak at 415 nm that originates from excitons emission from PVK, and the tail of the spectrum is suggested to be excimer emission from BCP molecules. However, a new emission at 595 nm was found in the EL spectra of devices ITO/PEDOT:PSS(50 nm)/PVK:BCP(1:1)(100 nm)/Al. After aggregate, exciplex and product of electrochemical reaction were ruled out, the new emission was proposed to be electroplex emission that occurred between PVK and BCP molecules. Under high voltage, only electroplex emission can be observed in the EL spectra.