Evaluation of nonlinear optical susceptibility of polydiacetylenes by third harmonic generation

Nonlinear optical susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ of polydiacetylenes has been evaluated by third harmonic generation. First, in order to obtain the χ⁽³⁾ tensor component along the polymer main chain, thin single crystals of two representative polydiacetylenes, poly-PTS and poly-DCHD were made by utilization of sampling technique in microscopy, i.e., the microtome cutting of single crystal embedded in plastic resin. The THG intensity observed was proportional to cos⁸θ, where θ was the angle between the polymer main chain and the polarization of laser light. The χ⁽³⁾ value of poly-DCHD was found to be rather higher than that of poly-PTS. At resonant wavelength of 1.97 μm, the χ⁽³⁾ of poly-DCHD attained 8 x 10^?10 esu. Furthermore, it was confirmed that when geometrical correction were properly made, the χ⁽³⁾ obtained from polycrystalline thin film of poly-PTS agreed well with that from thin single crystals. Secondary, regarding poly-diphenyldiacetylene derivatives, it was found that the π-conjugation between the polymer main chain and aromatic substituents was effective on the improvement of χ⁽³⁾ values. The χ⁽³⁾ magnitudes of poly-BTFP and poly-DFMP reflect well the dihedral angles between polymer main chain and the phenyl substituents (58° for poly-BTFP and 67° for poly-DFMP) as a measure of π-conjugation. Especially, at nonresonant region of 2.1 μm the χ⁽³⁾ of poly-BTFP is about 5 times greater than that of poly-PTS.     

Synthesis and spectroscopy of anthracene-containing linear and ‘T’-shaped π-conjugated ligands

A range of new π-conjugated ethynyl- and diethynyl-benzene ligands has been synthesised and their spectroscopic characterisation carried out, most notably via IR and ¹H NMR. X-ray crystal structures were obtained for three of these ligands and one unusual ruthenium complex. Both the 4-ethynyl- and 2,5-diethynyl-benzene cores of these compounds have been functionalised through organic transformations by addition of an 9-anthracenyl. This has been attached via a range of linker moieties that vary in both their length and degree of π-conjugation. This has given rise to two groups of compounds with either a linear, e.g., 9-(2-(4-ethynylphenyl)ethynediyl)anthracene and 9-(2-(4-ethynylphenyl)ethyl)anthracene, or ‘T’-shaped morphologies, e.g., 9-(2-(2,5-diethylnylphenyl)ethyl)anthracene.     

Electron delocalization contribution to single crystal thermal expansion of a polydiacetylene

The thermal expansion contribution due to temperature-dependent π-electron delocalization is evaluated from spectral measurements on a single crystal polydiacetylene (poly-2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol bisphenylurethane). The observed temperature independence of backbone associated vibrations (less than ±1 cm^?1 change in ν_C?C and ν_C?C between 25 and 90°C) implies that thermal conformational fluctuations and equilibrium defect formation (which produce a negative thermal expansion coefficient) do not measurably affect π-electron delocalization. The separation of equilibrium defects is either much longer than that of nonequilibrium defects or much longer than required to appreciably limit π-electron delocalization in an effectively defect-free polymer. Arguments presented indicate that, in the experimental temperature interval, the observed thermal expansion coefficient in the chain direction is over an order of magnitude larger than the delocalization-associated contribution.     

Electro-reflectance spectra of one-dimensional excitons in polydiacetylene crystals

Electro-reflectance spectra are reported for two spectroscopically-distinct forms of a polydiacetylene, poly(5,7-decadiyne-1,12-diol-bis phenylurethane). An electric field parallel to the polymer chain axis produces in both types of single crystals (1) a Stark shift of the main absorption peak and (2) a new absorption peak on the high energy side of the main peak. Using a one-dimensional exciton model, the main peak is assigned to the lowest ^tB_u exciton and the field-induced peak is assigned to the higher dipole-forbidden ^tA_g exciton, both associated with the one-dimensional π-electron bands on the polymer chains.     

Organosilicon polymers with alternating σ- and π-conjugated systems

A series of organosilicon polymers containing polysilane and diethynylaryl units along the polymer backbone were synthesized and examined with respect to their optical absorptions. The results indicate that delocalization takes place through the σ–π conjugated system. Lengthening of π-conjugation leads to lower excitation energies while nearly identical UV–vis spectra are observed with increased Si–Si chain length. Introducing a thiophene unit into the π-system instead of a benzene unit leads to a bathochromic shift reflecting greater σ–π delocalization. The polymers undergo photodegradation, probably via cleavage of the Si–Si bonds, and thermal crosslinking by reaction at the C≡C triple bonds. When doped with iodine, these polymers become semiconducting with conductivity of the order of 10^?4 S cm^?1.     

Computationally rational design of metal-involving halogen bonds with π-covalency: Structures and bonding analysis

Traditional π-covalent interactions have been proved in the non-metal halogen bond adducts formed by chloride and halogenated triphenylamine-based radical cations. In this study, we have rationally designed two metal-involving halogen bond adducts with π-covalency property, such as [L1-Pd···I-PTZ]⁺ (i.e., 1) and [L2-Pd···I-PTZ]⁺ (i.e., 2), in which the square-planar palladium complexes serve as halogen bond acceptor and 3,7-diiodo-10H-phenothiazine radical cation (i.e., [I-PTZ]^•+) acts as halogen bond donor. Noncovalent interaction analysis and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analysis revealed that there are notable halogen bond interactions along the Pd···I direction without genuine chemical bond formed in both designed adducts. Energy decomposition analysis together with natural orbital for chemical valence calculations were performed to gain insight into their bonding nature, which demonstrated the presence of remarkable π-covalent interactions and σ-covalent interactions in both 1 and 2. We therefore proposed a new strategy for building the metal-involving halogen bonds with π-covalency property, which will help the further development of new types of halogen bonds.     

Umpolung catalysis: assessment of catalyst and substrate reactivities in acyloin type reactions

The umpolung of aldehydes and acylsilanes in acyloin type reactions is computationally studied by a sequence of model reactions (CPCM-THF B3LYP/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)) with three different types of catalysts. Cyanide, a nucleophilic carbene and a phosphite form adducts, transition structures for [1,2]-H-shifts or [1,2]-SiMe₃-Brook rearrangements and generate the umpoled d¹-species. Aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and acylsilanes (i.e., acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, acylsilane, and benzoylsilane) show that π-conjugation slightly favors the umpolung. For aldehydes, the nucleophilic carbene, N-methylthiazol-2-ylidene, is by far the most reactive catalyst, while cyanide is slightly superior to the glycole based phosphite. For all catalysts, a dramatic decrease of activation barriers is apparent with the acylsilanes due to [1,2]-SiMe₃-Brook rearrangements, thermodynamically formations of d¹-species with strong Si-O bonds become highly favored.     

Hybrid fluorescent nanoparticles fabricated from pyridine-functionalized polyfluorene-based conjugated polymer as reversible pH probes over a broad range of acidity-alkalinity

Conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) were developed based on a polyfluorene-based conjugated polymer with thiophene units carrying pyridyl moieties incorporated in the backbone of polymer chains (PFPyT). Hybrid CPNs fabricated from PFPyT and an amphiphilic polymer (NP1) displayed pH-sensitive fluorescence emission features in the range from pH 4.8 to 13, which makes them an attractive nanomaterial for wide range optical sensing of pH values. The fluorescence of hybrid CPNs based on chemically close polyfluorene derivatives without pyridyl moieties (NP3), in contrast, remains virtually unperturbed by pH values in the same range. The fluorescence emission features of NP1 underwent fully reversible changes upon alternating acidification/basification of aqueous dispersions of the CPNs and also displayed excellent repeatability. The observed pH sensing properties of NP1 are attributed to protonation/deprotonation of the nitrogen atoms of the pyridine moieties. This, in turn, leads to the redistribution of electron density of pyridine moieties and their participation in the π-conjugation within the polymer main chains. The optically transparent amphiphilic polymers also exerted significant influence on the pH sensing features of the CPNs, likely by acting as proton sponge and/or acid chaperone. Figure

pH-sensitive fluorescent nanoparticles were fabricated from pyridine-functionalized conjugated polymer; protonation/deprotonation of the nitrogen atoms of pyridine moieties upon pH changes, which leads to the redistribution of electron density of pyridine moieties and their participation in the π-conjugation with polymer chains, were confirmed.     

Electron-Deficient Polycyclic Molecules via Ring Fusion for n-Type Organic Electrochemical Transistors

The primary challenge for n-type small-molecule organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) is to improve their electron mobilities and thus the key figure of merit μC*. Nevertheless, few reports in OECTs have specially proposed to address this issue. Herein, we report a 10-ring-fused polycyclic π-system consisting of the core of naphthalene bis-isatin dimer and the terminal moieties of rhodanine, which features intramolecular noncovalent interactions, high π-delocalization and strong electron-deficient characteristics. We find that this extended π-conjugated system using the ring fusion strategy displays improved electron mobilities up to 0.043 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ compared to our previously reported small molecule gNR, and thereby leads to a remarkable μC* of 10.3 F cm⁻¹ V⁻¹ s⁻¹ in n-type OECTs, which is the highest value reported to date for small-molecule OECTs. This work highlights the importance of π-conjugation extension in polycyclic-fused molecules for enhancing the performance of n-type small-molecule OECTs.     

Facile Processing of Unsubstituted π-Conjugated Aromatic Polymers through Water-solubilization Using Aromatic Micelles

π-Conjugated aromatic polymers (πCAPs) are central components of functional materials yet suffer from insolubility without multiple covalent substituents on their backbones. We herein disclose a new strategy for the facile processing of unsubstituted heterocyclic πCAPs (i.e., poly(para-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) and poly(benzimidazobenzo-phenanthroline)), independent of the polymer length, via non-covalent encircling with aromatic micelles, composed of bent aromatic amphiphiles, in water. The UV/Visible studies reveal that the efficiencies of the present encircling method are ≈10 to 50-fold higher than those using conventional amphiphiles under the same conditions. The AFM and SEM analyses of the resultant aqueous polymer composites show that otherwise insoluble πCAPs form fine bundles (e.g., ≈1 nm in thickness) in the tubular aromatic micelles, through efficient π-stacking interactions. In the same way, pristine poly(para-phenylene) can be dissolved in water, displaying enhanced fluorescence (10-fold), relative to the polymer solid. Two types of unsubstituted πCAPs are likewise co-encircled in water, indicated by UV/Visible analysis. Importantly, aqueous processing of the encircled πCAPs into free-standing single- or multicomponent films with submicrometer thickness is demonstrated through a simple filtration-annealing protocol.     

π-conjugated columnar polyacetylenes prepared with Rh complex catalysts

Highly stereospecific polymerization of monosubstituted acetylenes was carried out using the Rh complex, [Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]₂ catalysts. The resulting polyacetylenes were characterized in detail by ¹HNMR, ESR, laser Raman, diffuse reflective UV, and wide angle X-ray diffraction methods. The data showed that the Rh complex were the preferred catalyst to selectively yield the corresponding cis-transoid polymers even at room temperature when alcohol, triethylamine or water was used as the polymerization solvent. Additionally, the resulting cis polyacetylenes were found to have a helical form whose polymer is amorphous or composed of pseudohexagonal structures called π-conjugated columnar as self-assembly or super structure. Further compression of the amorphous cis polymers resulted in cis to trans isomerization at room temperature under vacuum, breaking rotationally the cis C=C bonds giving π-radicals called solitons as the origin of a polymer magnet. On the other hand, the π-conjugated columnar was also found to show an extremely longer wavelength absorption compared with that of the amorphous one, although the absorption maximum was shifted to a shorter wavelength when the columnar was destroyed by the compression. Therefore, the formation of the π-conjugated columnar can be considered as a new and quite useful control method concerning color of such conjugated polymers, i.e., a new concept concerning the color of conjugated polymers.     

Single-crystal reflection and Raman spectra of the polydiacetylene THD

The 298 K. Raman and reflection spectra of the polydiacetylene THD, a close structural variant of DCHD, are presented. The polymer double- and triple-bond stretch frequencies are 1485 and 2111 cm⁻¹, respectively, and the lowest electronic transition peaks at 17600 cm⁻¹. The reflection spectrum is more reminiscent of the polydiacetylene TCDU than DCHD.     

Conjugative Stabilization in an “Antiaromatic” System: The Conformational Mobility of 1,5-Bisdehydro[12]annulene

The isodynamical interconversion between the quasiplanar equilibrium conformers 1b and 1c of 1,5-bisdehydro[12]annulene requires a free energy of activation ΔG^# = 4.5 ± 0.2 kcal/mol (120 K) which was determined by line shape analysis of its temperature-dependent NMR. spectrum. Force field calculations indicate that this barrier reflects the energy needed to disrupt the cyclic π-conjugation in going to the nonplanar transition state 1a .     

Nonlinear optical properties of poly(fluorophenyl-diacetylene) evaporated films

A new insoluble polydiacetylene with fluoro-aromatic units directly bound to the π-conjugated main backbone has been obtained via solid-state polymerization induced by UV light, daylight and γ-rays. Third-order harmonic generation has been measured on poly(fluorophenyl-diacetylene) films prepared by the vacuum deposition method. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of this poly(fluorophenyl-diacetylene) film was evaluated as χ⁽³⁾ = 7.3 × 10⁻¹¹ esu.     

1H and 13C nmr study of conformational and electronic structure of 1-vinylpyrroles

The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of some 2-alkyl- and 2,3-dialkyl-1-vinylpyrroles as well as model 1-unsubstituted pyrroles were studied. Alkyi substituents affect electronic structures of the compounds through steric inhibition of p,π-conjugation and π-induction. Correlations of the ¹³C chemical shifts of the pyrrole ring carbon atoms with the total charge density (CNDO/2) of these atoms are established.     

Comparison of luminescent properties of helicene-like bibenzothiophenes with <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-carborane and 5,6-dicarba-<Emphasis Type="Italic">nido</Emphasis>-decaborane

This article describes comparison of the anchoring effect on electronic properties of the helicene-like bibenzothiophene between o-carborane and 5,6-dicarba-nido-decaborane. The o-carborane and nido-decaborane-fused bibenzothiophenes were simultaneously obtained in the same reaction and successfully isolated. Initially, the X-ray single crystal analysis revealed that the helicene-like distorted structure was realized in the nido-decaborane-fused bibenzothiophene. From optical measurements in the solution state, distinct different characteristics depending on the type of anchors were observed. It was summarized that the absorption and luminescent properties originated from weak π-conjugation at the bibenzothiophene moiety in the o-carborane-fused compound were obtained, whereas robust π-conjugation and significant emission from the intramolecular charge transfer state were detected from the nido-decaborane-fused compound. These data can be explained by the theoretical results that π-conjugation was restrictedly developed within the bibenzothiophene moiety in frontier orbitals of the o-carborane-fused compound. In contrast, π-conjugation can be constructed even through the distorted bibenzothiophene because of the nido-decaborane unit. Moreover, the intramolecular charge transfer state should be realized because of electronic interaction involving the nido-decaborane unit in the excited state. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the nido-decaborane-fused compound possessed solid-state emission and mechanochromic luminescent properties. The π-conjugation on the distorted structure supported by the nido-decaborane anchor should play a significant role in suppressing aggregation-caused quenching followed by presenting solid-state emission with stimuli responsiveness.     

Light-Responsive Oligothiophenes Incorporating Photochromic Torsional Switches

We present a quaterthiophene and sexithiophene that can reversibly change their effective π-conjugation length through photoexcitation. The reported compounds make use of light-responsive molecular actuators consisting of an azobenzene attached to a bithiophene unit by both direct and linker-assisted bonding. Upon exposure to 350 nm light, the azobenzene undergoes trans-to-cis isomerization, thus mechanically inducing the oligothiophene to assume a planar conformation (extended π-conjugation). Exposure to 254 nm wavelength promotes azobenzene cis-to-trans isomerization, forcing the thiophenic backbones to twist out of planarity (confined π-conjugation). Twisted conformations are also reached by cis-to-trans thermal relaxation at a rate that increases proportionally with the conjugation length of the oligothiophene moiety. The molecular conformations of quaterthiophene and sexithiophene were characterized by using steady-state UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and quantum-chemical modeling. Finally, we tested the proposed light-responsive oligothiophenes in field-effect transistors to probe the photo-induced tuning of their electronic properties.     

Optical properties of a polydiacetylene crystal: poly-[1,6-di(N-carbazolyl)-2,4-hexadiyne]

Normal incidence reflection spectra and Kramers-Kronig transforms are reported for a polydiacetylene crystal, DCHD (substituent group: N-carbazolymethyl). The lowest energy optical transition for the polymer backbone is found at 15 300 cm^?1, the lowest value obtained thus far for a polydiacetylene. The polymer chain and the carbazolyl substituent group may be treated as isolated chromophores - the former dominating the visible portion of the spectra and the latter dominating the UV portion. Polarization studies for the (001) and (10$\text{1}\text{?}$) faces of DCHD permit unambiguous assignment of the two lowest energy transitions in the carbazolyl group at 28 750 cm^?1 and 33 250 cm^?1 as short- and long-axis polarized, respectively.     

Effect of axial ligands on the photophysical properties of new silicon(IV) phthalocyanines

A series of axial di-substituted silicon(IV) phthalocyanines with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing properties were synthesized. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, IR, and ESI-MS. The effect of axial ligands on the photophysical properties of silicon phthalocyanines was studied by UV/Vis, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic analyses. Compared with silicon phthalocyanines with electron-donating properties, silicon phthalocyanines with electron-withdrawing properties could expand the π-conjugation in the dyes, resulting in a redshift of Q bands, lower fluorescence emission intensity and fluorescence quantum yields, but increasing fluorescence lifetimes. These results strongly suggest that the molecular design of phthalocyanines is essential for construction of photoactive materials.     

Competitive transport of toxic metal ions by polymer inclusion membranes

The paper gives a short overview of application of polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) for separation and removal of metal ions. Investigation of the selective removal of toxic metal ions, i.e. Cr(VI), Cd(II), Zn(II) from acidic chloride aqueous solutions, as well as trace radionuclides, i.e., ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr and ⁶⁰Co from wastewaters using transport across polymer inclusion membranes was studied. The carriers, i.e., tri-n-octylamine for anionic metal species, as well as dibenzo-21-crown-7, tertbutyl-dibenzo-21-crown-7, and dinonylnaphtalenesulfonic acid for metal cations were incorporated into polymer inclusion membranes composed of cellulose triacetate as a support and o-nitrophenyl pentyl ether as a plasticizer. Selective transport of chromium(VI) over zinc(II) and cadmium(II) chloride complexes through PIMs was observed. Competitive transport of trace radionuclide ions, i.e., ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, and ⁶⁰Co from NaNO₃ aqueous solutions across polymer inclusion membranes containing a mixture of dinonylnaphtalenesulfonic acid, and dibenzo-21-crown-7 as the carrier provide the selectivity order Cs(I)>Sr(II)>Co(II).