Direct Evidence of Significantly Different Chemical Behavior and Excited‐State Dynamics of 1,7‐ and 1,6‐Regioisomers of Pyrrolidinyl‐Substituted Perylene Diimide

Novel bay‐functionalized perylene diimides with additional substitution sites close to the perylene core have been prepared by the reaction between 1,7(6)‐dibromoperylene diimide 6 (dibromo‐PDI) and 2‐(benzyloxymethyl)pyrrolidine 5 . Distinct differences in the chemical behaviors of the 1,7‐ and 1,6‐regioisomers have been discerned. While the 1,6‐dibromo‐PDI produced the corresponding 1,6‐bis‐substituted derivative more efficiently, the 1,7‐dibromo‐PDI underwent predominant mono‐debromination, yielding a mono‐substituted PDI along with a small amount of the corresponding 1,7‐bis‐substituted compound. By varying the reaction conditions, a controlled stepwise bis‐substitution of the bromo substituents was also achieved, allowing the direct synthesis of asymmetrical 1,6‐ and 1,7‐PDIs. The compounds were isolated as individual regioisomers. Fullerene (C₆₀) was then covalently linked at the bay region of the newly prepared PDIs. In this way, two separate sets of perylene diimide–fullerene dyads, namely single‐bridged (SB‐1,7‐PDI‐C₆₀ and SB‐1,6‐PDI‐C₆₀) and double‐bridged (DB‐1,7‐PDI‐C₆₀ and DB‐1,6‐PDI‐C₆₀), were synthesized. The fullerene was intentionally attached at the bay region of the PDI to achieve close proximity of the two chromophores and to ensure an efficient photoinduced electron transfer. A detailed study of the photodynamics has revealed that photoinduced electron transfer from the perylene diimide chromophore to the fullerene occurs in all four dyads in polar benzonitrile, and also occurs in the single‐bridged dyads in nonpolar toluene. The process was found to be substantially faster and more efficient in the dyads containing the 1,7‐regioisomer, both for the singly‐ and double‐bridged molecules. In the case of the single‐bridged dyads, SB‐1,7‐PDI‐C₆₀ and SB‐1,6‐PDI‐C₆₀, different relaxation pathways of their charge‐separated states have been discovered. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first observation of photoinduced electron transfer in PDI‐C₆₀ dyads in a nonpolar medium.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Optical Properties of Terminally Sulfur‐Functionalized Core‐Substituted Naphthalene‐Bisimide Dyes

The synthesis, characterization, and optical properties of a series of new 2,6‐disubstituted naphthalene‐bisimide dyes as molecular rods comprising terminal AcS groups is reported. The first series of dyes ( 1 – 3 ), comprising phenylhetero (Ph‐X) core substituents, cover a broad range of the VIS spectrum, ranging from yellow ( 2 ) over red ( 3 ) to blue ( 1 ). The second series of dyes contains benzylhetero (Bn‐X) core substituents ( 4 – 7 ). For the same heteroatom connecting the substituent to the naphthalene core, both series were found to display comparable colors. For the second series, the colors were blue ( 4 ), red ( 5 ), and violet ( 6, 7 ). The Ph‐X‐substituted dyes 1 – 3 are nonfluorescent, in contrast to the Bn‐X‐substituted compounds 4 – 7 . This rich variety of optical features that can be adjusted by rather small alterations of the core substituents makes these structurally very comparable molecular rods ideal candidates for optically triggered molecular‐transport investigations. Also, thanks to the terminal AcS groups, these compounds can be placed between nobel‐metal electrodes for optically triggered transport experiments.     

2‐Substituted dATP Derivatives as Building Blocks for Polymerase‐Catalyzed Synthesis of DNA Modified in the Minor Groove

2′‐Deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) derivatives bearing diverse substituents (Cl, NH₂, CH₃, vinyl, ethynyl, and phenyl) at position 2 were prepared and tested as substrates for DNA polymerases. The 2‐phenyl‐dATP was not a substrate for DNA polymerases, but the dATPs bearing smaller substituents were good substrates in primer‐extension experiments, producing DNA substituted in the minor groove. The vinyl‐modified DNA was applied in thiol–ene addition and the ethynyl‐modified DNA was applied in a CuAAC click reaction to form DNA labelled with fluorescent dyes in the minor groove     

Synthesis,Photophysical Properties and Computational Studies of beta‐Substituted Porphyrin Dyads

Beta‐pyrrole‐substituted porphyrin dyads connected by ethynyl linkage to N‐butylcarbazole or triphenylamine donors are reported. Donor‐π‐acceptor type beta‐substituted porphyrin dyads and their Zn(II) and Pd(II) complexes were characterized by MALDI‐MS, NMR, UV‐vis absorption, fluorescence and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The S₁ emission dynamics were analyzed by time‐resolved spectroscopy (TCSPC); dyads exhibited efficient energy transfer up to 93% from beta‐donors (N‐butylcarbazole or triphenylamine group) to the porphyrin core. The efficiency of energy transfer for the beta‐substituted porphyrin dyads were much higher than those of the corresponding meso‐substituted porphyrin dyads, reflecting enhanced communications between the beta‐donors and the porphyrin core. The Pd(II) dyads, showed characteristic phosphorescence in the near IR region and very efficient singlet oxygen quantum yields (53–60%); these dyads are promising candidates for photocatalytic oxidations of organic compounds. The donor‐acceptor interaction between the porphyrin core and the beta‐donors was supported by the DFT studies in the porphyrin dyads.     

Bay区取代苝二酰亚胺分子构型及聚集调控:邻位甲基位阻效应

设计并合成了2种苝二酰亚胺分子PBI1和PBI2,研究了bay区的苯氧基团邻位甲基取代对分子构型及分子聚集的影响.通过对单晶结构的分析,发现邻位甲基的引入明显影响苝二酰亚胺分子构型,使得4个苯氧基呈中心对称分布.由于甲基的空间位阻效应,有效地减弱了分子间π-π相互作用,从而提高了分子的溶解性与溶液加工成膜性.研究结果表明,在π共轭分子结构中的关键位置引入小的甲基取代基能够显著调控分子的聚集行为,有效减少光电材料分子中非光电活性(增溶性基团)的含量,对光电材料分子的设计合成具有重要的指导意义.     

Terminal end‐group efficiency for the nematic phase using model bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes

The synthesis is reported of new liquid crystals incorporating the 1,4‐disubstituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring and a series of substituents in a terminal position on the molecular core. The nature of the terminal substituent is varied from apolar with a small dipole moment to polar with a strong dipole moment. The angle of the dipole moment with respect to the molecular axis is also varied. An updated order of terminal group efficiency for substituents in a terminal position for the nematic phase is provided. The bicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring shields halogen substituents in a lateral position on phenyl rings attached to the bicyclooctane ring to a small degree and reduces the steric efects of these substituents, giving rise to high relative nematic–isotropic transition temperatures.     

Tetraaryl ZnII Porphyrinates Substituted at β‐Pyrrolic Positions as Sensitizers in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: A Comparison with meso‐Disubstituted Push–Pull ZnII Porphyrinates

A facile and fast approach, based on microwave‐enhanced Sonogashira coupling, has been employed to obtain in good yields both mono‐ and, for the first time, disubstituted push–pull Zn^II porphyrinates bearing a variety of ethynylphenyl moieties at the β‐pyrrolic position(s). Furthermore, a comparative experimental, electrochemical, and theoretical investigation has been carried out on these β‐mono‐ or disubstituted Zn^II porphyrinates and meso‐disubstituted push–pull Zn^II porphyrinates. We have obtained evidence that, although the HOMO–LUMO energy gap of the meso‐substituted push–pull dyes is lower, so that charge transfer along the push–pull system therein is easier, the β‐mono‐ or disubstituted push–pull porphyrinic dyes show comparable or better efficiencies when acting as sensitizers in DSSCs. This behavior is apparently not attributable to more intense B and Q bands, but rather to more facile charge injection. This is suggested by the DFT electron distribution in a model of a β‐monosubstituted porphyrinic dye interacting with a TiO₂ surface and by the positive effect of the β substitution on the incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectra, which show a significant intensity over a broad wavelength range (350–650 nm). In contrast, meso‐substitution produces IPCE spectra with two less intense and well‐separated peaks. The positive effect exerted by a cyanoacrylic acid group attached to the ethynylphenyl substituent has been analyzed by a photophysical and theoretical approach. This provided supporting evidence of a contribution from charge‐transfer transitions to both the B and Q bands, thus producing, through conjugation, excited electrons close to the carboxylic anchoring group. Finally, the straightforward and effective synthetic procedures developed, as well as the efficiencies observed by photoelectrochemical measurements, make the described β‐monosubstituted Zn^II porphyrinates extremely promising sensitizers for use in DSSCs.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of DDT,its analogues and related compounds

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of mono- and disubstituted aromatic compounds including DDT, its analogues, homologues, derivatives and certain model compounds have been studied. The Savitsky scheme of carbon chemical shifts in disubstituted benzenes is applicable to these compounds. The data obtained show that in mono- and disubstituted aromatic compounds containing two different substituents in the α- and β-positions of the side chain, the substituted ring carbon atom shifts follow the additivity rule and can be calculated from substituent increments. Mutual effects of substituents in the ring and in the side chains are analysed. The chlorine atoms in α-position to the phenyl ring give rise to an additive α-effect of about 25 ppm, as in perchloroalkanes. The influence of a β-chlorine atom in the side chain on the substituted carbon atom in the ring is, however, only 3 ppm as against the usual value of about 10 ppm for the β-effect in alkyl chains. Moreover, the first β-chlorine substituent has no noticeable influence on the substituted ring carbon chemical shift: the effect of 3 ppm is transferred to the para-carbon atom almost without attenuation. The ring substituted carbon atom signal shifts caused by the γ-effect of chlorine in the side chain are similar to those observed in aliphatic chains. The ortho-chlorine substituents shift the side chain α-carbon atom signal by 3.6-5.2 ppm to high field compared to para-chlorophenyl compounds. This is similar to the chlorine γ-effect in aliphatic chains.     

Asymmetric anionic polymerizations of 7‐(o‐substituted phenyl)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone methides: Electrostatic interaction and steric,inductive, and resonance effects of the ortho‐substituent on the optical activity

7‐(o‐Substituted phenyl)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone methides which have an electron‐donating methoxy‐(o‐OMe, 2a ) and methyl‐ (o‐Me, 2b ) substituents or an electron‐withdrawing cyano‐ (o‐CN, 2c ) and trifluoromethyl‐ (o‐CF₃, 2d ) substituents at the ortho‐position of the aromatic ring and 7‐(m‐substituted phenyl)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone methide with an electron‐withdrawing trifluoromethyl‐ (m‐CF₃, 2e ) substituent at the meta‐position of the aromatic ring were synthesized, and their asymmetric anionic polymerizations using the complex of lithium 4‐isopropylphenoxide with (?)‐sparteine were carried out in toluene at 0 °C. The polymers with negative optical activity were obtained for all of five monomers, and their specific rotation values largely changed depending upon the substituents of the monomers. On the basis of the comparison of various substituents effects, it was found that the specific rotation of obtained polymers is significantly affected by the electronic effects such as inductive and resonance effects rather than the steric and electrostatic effects of the substituent. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 1048–1058     

Synthesis and Characterization of Far‐Red/NIR‐Fluorescent BODIPY Dyes,Solid‐State Fluorescence,and Application as Fluorescent Tags Attached to Carbon Nano‐onions

A series of π‐extended distyryl‐substituted boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives with intense far‐red/near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence was synthesized and characterized, with a view to enhance the dye’s performance for fluorescence labeling. An enhanced brightness was achieved by the introduction of two methyl substituents in the meso positions on the phenyl group of the BODIPY molecule; these substituents resulted in increased structural rigidity. Solid‐state fluorescence was observed for one of the distyryl‐substituted BODIPY derivatives. The introduction of a terminal bromo substituent allows for the subsequent immobilization of the BODIPY fluorophore on the surface of carbon nano‐onions (CNOs), which leads to potential imaging agents for biological and biomedical applications. The far‐red/NIR‐fluorescent CNO nanoparticles were characterized by absorption, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopies, as well as by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy.     

A Perylene Bisimide Cyclophane as a “Turn‐On” and “Turn‐Off” Fluorescence Probe

A rigid, covalently linked perylene‐3,4:9,10‐tetracarboxylic acid bisimide (PBI) cyclophane was synthesized by imidization of a bay‐substituted perylene bisanhydride with p‐xylylenediamine. The interchromophoric distance of approximately 6.5 Å establishes an ideal rigid cavity for the encapsulation of large aromatic compounds such as perylene and anthracene with binding constants up to 4.6×10⁴ M ^?1 (in CHCl₃). For electron‐poor guest molecules, the complexation process is accompanied by a significantly increased fluorescence, whereas the emission intensity is dramatically quenched by more electron‐rich guests because of the formation of charge‐transfer complexes. Furthermore, the influence of the PBI core twist on the binding constant results in a remarkable selectivity towards more flexible aromatic guest molecules.     

Flexible Tuning of Unsaturated β‐Substituents on Zn Porphyrins: A Synthetic,Spectroscopic and Computational Study

A series of zinc porphyrins substituted at adjacent β‐positions with a CN group and para‐substituted ethenyl/ethynyl‐phenyl group have been studied using electronic absorption spectroscopy, resonance Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The oxidative nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen was utilized for the introduction of a cyano substituent on the porphyrin ring. This modification has a remarkable electronic effect on the ring. The resulting porphyrin cyanoaldehyde was further modified in Wittig condensations to give series of arylalkene‐ and arylalkyne‐substituted derivatives. This substitution pattern caused significant redshifting and broadening of the B band, tuning from 433–446 nm. Additionally the Q/B band intensity ratios show much higher values than observed for the parent porphyrin ZnTPP (0.20 vs. 0.03). Careful analysis of the electronic transitions using DFT and resonance Raman spectroscopy reveal that the substituent does not significantly perturb the electronic structure of the porphyrin core, which is still well described by Gouterman’s four‐orbital model. However, the substituents do play a role in elongating the conjugation length and this results in the observed spectral changes.     

Nucleophilic Fluorination of α‐Aroylphosphinates with Morpholinosulfur Trifluoride

Nucleophilic fluorination of aroyl‐phenyl‐phosphinates is highly dependent on the nature of the alkoxy substituents attached to the phosphoryl group. A reaction of aroyl‐phenyl‐phosphinates with morpholinosulfur trifluoride was shown to be a convenient synthetic method for high‐yield synthesis of α,α‐difluorobenzyl‐phenyl‐phosphinates using steric protection of the phosphoryl group by a bulky isopropoxy substituent. The methyl esters of aroylphosphinic acids in the same reaction conditions yield (fluoro‐diaryl‐methyl)‐pentafluorophosphates as the main reaction products.     

Investigations on regio‐ and stereoselectivities in cycloadditions involving α‐ (3‐pyridyl)‐N‐phenylnitrone: Development of an efficient route to novel nicotine analogs

Thermal reactions of hitherto α‐(3‐pyridyl)‐N‐phenylnitrone ( 1 ) with mono‐substituted electron‐rich and electron‐neutral dipolarophiles are regio‐, and stereo‐selective (exo‐selective), controlled by LUMO ‐ dipole ‐ HOMO‐ dipolarophile interaction, and furnish syn‐5‐substituted‐3‐(3‐pyridyl)‐isoxazolidines ( 5 ) in high yields. With electron deficient dipolarophiles such as acrylonitrile there is observed a loss of regioselectivity as well as stereoselectivity and the regioselectivity is reversed in reactions with methyl vinyl ketone and methyl acrylate, due to intervention of HOMO‐dipole ‐ LUMO‐dipolarophile interaction, affording 4‐substi‐tuted‐3‐(3‐pyridyl)‐isoxazolidines ( 7 ) as major products. Reactions of nitrone ( 1 ) with disubstituted dipolarophiles such as methyl methacrylate and ethyl coronate furnish methyl syn‐5‐methy‐3‐pyridyl‐1‐phenyl‐isoxazolidine‐5‐carboxylate ( 8 ) and ethyl anti‐5‐methy‐3‐pyridyl‐1‐phenyl‐isoxazolidine‐4‐carboxylate ( 10 ), respectively, in high yields. Reaction with N‐Phenylmaleimide affords novel isoxazolidino‐pyrro‐lidinediones bearing a 3‐pyridyl moiety ( 11, 12 ). A mechanistic rationalization of the obtained results in terms of electronic, steric and secondary interactions is proffered.     

Synthesis and Predetermined Supramolecular Chirality of Carbohydrate‐Functionalized Perylene Bisimide Derivatives

Eight carbohydrate‐modified perylene bisimides ( PBI‐4 lac‐2 lac , PBI‐4 lac‐2 Man , PBI‐4 lac‐2 Gal , PBI‐4 lac‐2 Mal , PBI‐4 Man‐2 Man , PBI‐4 Man‐2 lac , PBI‐4 Man‐2 Gal and PBI‐4 Man‐2 Mal ) were synthesized, and the following predetermined supramolecular chirality rule was found: perylene bisimides modified with disaccharides (D ‐lactose and D ‐maltose) at the imide position generated right‐handed chirality, and those modified with monosaccharides (D ‐mannose and D ‐galactose) generated left‐handed chirality, when D ‐lactose or D ‐mannose was substituted in the bay positions of perylene bisimides with amide bonds as the linking spacers. These results may be because of the difference in the stacking angle of the perylene bisimide backbones induced by the steric effect and the additional hydrogen bonds between the disaccharide residues. This study provides an important design rule for predetermined chiral self‐assembly of perylene bisimides.     

Competition Between π–π and CH/π Interactions: A Comparison of the Structural and Electronic Properties of Alkoxy‐Substituted 1,8‐Bis((propyloxyphenyl)ethynyl)naphthalenes

The structural and electronic consequences of π–π and C?H/π interactions in two alkoxy‐substituted 1,8‐bis‐ ((propyloxyphenyl)ethynyl)naphthalenes are explored by using X‐ray crystallography and electronic structure computations. The crystal structure of analogue 4 , bearing an alkoxy side chain in the 4‐position of each of the phenyl rings, adopts a π‐stacked geometry, whereas analogue 8 , bearing alkoxy groups at both the 2‐ and the 5‐positions of each ring, has a geometry in which the rings are splayed away from a π‐stacked arrangement. Symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory analysis was performed on the two analogues to evaluate the interactions between the phenylethynyl arms in each molecule in terms of electrostatic, steric, polarization, and London dispersion components. The computations support the expectation that the π‐stacked geometry of the alkoxyphenyl units in 4 is simply a consequence of maximizing π–π interactions. However, the splayed geometry of 8 results from a more subtle competition between different noncovalent interactions: this geometry provides a favorable anti‐alignment of C?O bond dipoles, and two C?H/π interactions in which hydrogen atoms of the alkyl side chains interact favorably with the π electrons of the other phenyl ring. These favorable interactions overcome competing π–π interactions to give rise to a geometry in which the phenylethynyl substituents are in an offset, unstacked arrangement.     

1,8‐Naphthalimide‐Substituted BODIPY Dyads: Synthesis,Structure, Properties,and Live‐Cell Imaging

A set of 1,8‐naphthalimide (NPI)‐substituted 4,4‐difluoroboradiaza‐s‐indacene (BODIPY) dyads 1 a – 1 c were designed and synthesized by the Pd‐catalyzed Sonogashira cross‐coupling reaction of ethynyl substituted NPI 1 with the meso‐, β‐, and α‐halogenated BODIPYs a , b , and c , respectively. The BODIPY 1 c exhibits redshifted absorption, which suggests better electronic communication with substitution at the α‐position of BODIPY compared with at the meso and β positions, which was further supported by time‐dependent DFT calculations. The optical band gap follows the order 1 a > 1 b > 1 c . The single‐crystal X‐ray structures of dyads 1 a – 1 c are reported, which reflect planar orientations of the BODIPY units with respect to the NPIs. The DFT‐optimized structures show good correlation with the experimental data obtained from the single‐crystal X‐ray structures. The packing diagram of 1 a shows a sheet‐like arrangement, 1 b forms a ladder‐like structural motif, and 1 c forms a complex 3D structural arrangement. The dyads 1 a – 1 c show low cytotoxicity (IC₅₀>100 μm ). The confocal microscopy studies with HeLa and A375 cells (when treated with dyads 1 a – 1 c ) show that all the dyads easily enter the cell membrane and show significant multicolor intracellular fluorescence covering the entire visible range with clear emissions in blue, green, and red channels.     

Synthesis and Properties of 2‐Phenylbenzoxazole‐Based Luminophores for in situ Photopolymerized Liquid‐Crystal Films

We report the synthesis of a series of blue‐emitting 2‐phenylbenzoxazoles (PBOs) substituted at either the 5‐ or 6‐position of the benzoxazole ring and the para‐position of the phenyl substituent. The thermal and optical properties of the materials can be rationalized in terms of the position of the substituent at the benzoxazole moiety and the electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating character of the substituents. From the results, we conclude that the combination of an electron‐donating substituent at the benzoxazole fragment and an electron‐withdrawing one at the phenyl fragment has a more marked effect on the electronic properties of the aromatic PBO core than other possibilities. This particular combination gives luminophores that are suitable for optical applications on the basis of their high emission efficiency and photostability. In view of that, oriented films were prepared by in situ polymerization of a mixture of a liquid crystalline direactive matrix containing 5% (w/w) of the luminophore. The films exhibit linearly polarized emission.     

1-萘甲酰苯胺和2-萘甲酰苯胺的分子内电荷转移研究

A series of 1-naphthanilides (1) and 2-naphthanilides (2) with varied substituents at the para- or meta-position of anilino phenyl ring were prepared and their absorption and fluorescence spectra in a nonpolar solvent cyclohexane were investigated. An abnormal long wavelength emission assigned to the charge transfer (CT) state was found for all of the prepared naphthanilides in cyclohexane. A linear free energy correlation between the CT emission energies and the Hammett constants of the substituent was found within series 1 and 2. The value of the linear slope with 1 (0.42 eV) was higher than that with 2 (0.32 eV) being close to that of the substituted benzanilides 3 (0.31 eV) The higher slope value suggested higher charge separation extent in the CT state of 1 than that of 2. It was found that the corresponding linear slope of anilino-substituted benzanilides remained unchanged when para-, meta-, ortho-, or ortho, ortho-methyls were introduced into the anilino moiety, which ruled out the possible contribution of the difference in the steric effect and the electron accepting ability of the naphthoyl acceptor in 1 and 2. Compared with the early reported N-substituted-benzoyl-aminonaphthalene derivatives 4 and 5, it was considered that 1-naphthoyl enhanced the charge transfer in 1 and the proximity of its ^1La and ^1Lb states was suggested to be responsible. It was shown that 1- and/or 2-substituted naphthalene cores acting as either electron acceptor (naphthoyl) or electron donor (aminonaphthalene) were different in not only electron accepting (donating) ability but also shaping the charge transfer pathway.     

Synthesis of Luminescent Ethynyl‐Extended Regioisomers of Borate Complexes Based on 2‐(2′‐Hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole

A series of thirteen luminescent tetrahedral borate complexes based on the 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO) core is presented. Their synthesis includes the incorporation of an ethynyl fragment by Sonogashira cross‐coupling reaction, with the goal of extending the conjugation and consequently redshifting their emission wavelength. Different regioisomers, substituted in the 3‐, 4‐, or 5‐position of the phenolate side of the HBO core, were studied in order to compare their photophysical properties. The complexes were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and NMR, UV/Vis, and emission spectroscopy in solution and in the solid state. In all cases, complexation to boron leads to a donor–acceptor character that impacts their photophysical properties. Complexes with a 3‐ or 5‐substituted fragment display mild to pronounced internal charge transfer (ICT), a feature strengthened by the presence of p‐dibutylaminophenylacetylene in the molecular structure, protonation of the nitrogen atom of which leads to a significant blueshift and an increase in quantum yield. On the contrary, when the ethynyl module is grafted on the 4‐position, narrow, structured, symmetrical absorption/emission bands are observed. Moreover, the fact that protonation has little effect on the emission maximum wavelength reveals singlet excited‐state decay. Solid‐state emission properties reveal a redshift compared to solution, explained by tight packing of the π‐conjugated systems and the high planarity of the dyes. Subsequent connection of these complexes to other photoactive subunits (BODIPY, Boranil) provides dyads in which efficient cascade energy transfer is observed.