σ–π Continuum in Indole–Palladium(II) Complexes

The intrinsic features of (hetero‐arene)–metal interactions have been elusive mainly because the systematic structure analysis of non‐anchored hetero‐arene–metal complexes has been hampered by their labile nature. We report successful isolation and systematic structure analysis of a series of non‐anchored indole–palladium(II) complexes. It was revealed that there is a σ–π continuum for the indole–metal interaction, while it has been thought that the dominant coordination mode of indole to a metal center is the Wheland‐intermediate‐type σ‐mode in light of the seemingly strong electron‐donating ability of indole. Several factors which affect the σ‐ or π‐character of indole–metal interactions are discussed.     

A–π–D–π–A Electron‐Donating Small Molecules for Solution‐Processed Organic Solar Cells: A Review

Organic solar cells based on semiconducting polymers and small molecules have attracted considerable attention in the last two decades. Moreover, the power conversion efficiencies for solution‐processed solar cells containing A–π–D–π–A‐type small molecules and fullerenes have reached 11%. However, the method for designing high‐performance, photovoltaic small molecules still remains unclear. In this review, recent studies on A–π–D–π–A electron‐donating small molecules for organic solar cells are introduced. Moreover, the relationships between molecular properties and device performances are summarized, from which inspiration for the future design of high performance organic solar cells may be obtained.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a [Mo8O26]4– Cluster Derivative with 4‐MePyH+. First β‐Octamolybdate Derivative with π–π Stacking

Dioxobis(pyridine‐2‐thiolate‐N, S)molybdenum(VI) (MoO₂(Py‐S)₂), reacts with of 4‐methylpyridine (4‐MePy) in acetonitrile, by slow diffusion, to afford the title compound. This has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The X‐ray single crystal structure of the complex is described. Structural studies reveal that the molecular structure consists of a β‐Mo₈O₂₆ polyanion with eight MoO₆ distorted edge‐shared octahedra with short terminal Mo–O bonds (1.692–1.714 Å), bonds of intermediate length (1.887–1.999 Å) and long bonds (2.150–2.473 Å). Two different types of hydrogen bonds have been found: N–H···O (2.800–3.075 Å) and C–H···O (3.095–3.316 Å). The presence of π–π stacking interactions and strong hydrogen bonds are presumably responsible for the special disposition of the pyridinic rings around the polyanion cluster.     

Energetic N‐Nitramino/N‐Oxyl‐Functionalized Pyrazoles with Versatile π–π Stacking: Structure–Property Relationships of High‐Performance Energetic Materials

N‐Nitramino/N‐oxyl functionalization strategies were employed to investigate structure–property relationships of energetic materials. Based on single‐crystal diffraction data, π–π stacking of pyrazole backbones can be tailored effectively by energetic functionalities, thereby resulting in diversified energetic compounds. Among them, hydroxylammonium 4‐amino‐3,5‐dinitro‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐olate and dipotassium N,N′‐(3,5‐dinitro‐1H‐pyrazol‐1,4‐diyl)dinitramidate, with unique face‐to‐face π–π stacking, can be potentially used as a high‐performance explosive and an energetic oxidizer, respectively.     

Photophysical properties of σ–π‐conjugated alternating oligothienylene–oligosilylene polymers

UV‐visible absorption and fluorescence properties of three series of σ–π‐conjugated polymers (copolymers of alternative oligothienylene and oligosilylene units) have been studied in dioxane solution. The energies of the absorption maximum, fluorescence maximum, and the 0–0 transition are found to be linearly dependent on the reciprocal of the number of thiophene rings in the repeating unit of the polymer chain, but almost independent of the silicon atom number. The σ–π‐conjugation in the polymers results in red shift in the absorption and fluorescence maxima, higher fluorescence quantum yields, and longer fluorescence lifetimes of the polymers, with respect to their corresponding analogous α‐oligothiophenes. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1873–1880, 1999     

Remote Control of Anion–π Catalysis on Fullerene‐Centered Catalytic Triads

The design, synthesis and evaluation of catalytic triads composed of a central C₆₀ fullerene with an amine base on one side and polarizability enhancers on the other side are reported. According to an enolate addition benchmark reaction, fullerene–fullerene–amine triads display the highest selectivity in anion–π catalysis observed so far, whereas NDI–fullerene–amine triads are not much better than fullerene–amine controls (NDI=naphthalenediimide). These large differences in activity are in conflict with the small differences in intrinsic π acidity, that is, LUMO energy levels and π holes on the central fullerene. However, they are in agreement with the high polarizability of fullerene–fullerene–amine triads. Activation and deactivation of the fullerene‐centered triads by intercalators and computational data on anion binding further indicate that for functional relevance, intrinsic π acidity is less important than induced π acidity, that is, the size of the oriented macrodipole of polarizable π systems that emerges only in response to the interaction with anions and anionic transition states. The resulting transformation is thus self‐induced, the anionic intermediates and transition states create their own anion–π catalyst.     

Oligo(p‐phenyleneethynylene)‐based coil–rod–coil triblock copolymer: Synthesis and controlled self‐organization in solution

The self‐assembling ability of block copolymers offers an attractive strategy for the organization of π‐conjugated polymers. This article reports the synthesis of a coil–rod–coil triblock copolymer consisting of oligo(p‐phenyleneethynylene) as the rodlike segment and polystyrene as the coil‐like segment. The chemical structure of the afforded triblock copolymer has been fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as NMR, Raman, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet–visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The small‐angle neutron scattering and photophysical measurements indicate that this triblock copolymer exhibits unique solvatochromatic behaviors through the interplay of aggregation‐induced π–π stacking and planarization of the conjugated backbone. Supramolecular gel nanostructures have been produced via the controlled assembly of the polymer into H‐aggregates. It has been demonstrated that the use of the solvent composition to influence chain conformations and thus to manipulate the packing of the conjugated polymer blocks is important for achieving control in the assembly of conducting polymers and associated optical characteristics. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6007–6019, 2005     

Supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns in the organic–inorganic hybrid compound bis(4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium) tetrathiocyanatozinc(II)–4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–water (1/2/2)

Zinc thiocyanate complexes have been found to be biologically active compounds. Zinc is also an essential element for the normal function of most organisms and is the main constituent in a number of metalloenzyme proteins. Pyrimidine and aminopyrimidine derivatives are biologically very important as they are components of nucleic acids. Thiocyanate ions can bridge metal ions by employing both their N and S atoms for coordination. They can play an important role in assembling different coordination structures and yield an interesting variety of one‐, two‐ and three‐dimensional polymeric metal–thiocyanate supramolecular frameworks. The structure of a new zinc thiocyanate–aminopyrimidine organic–inorganic compound, (C₆H₉ClN₃)₂[Zn(NCS)₄]·2C₆H₈ClN₃·2H₂O, is reported. The asymmetric unit consist of half a tetrathiocyanatozinc(II) dianion, an uncoordinated 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium cation, a 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine molecule and a water molecule. The Zn^II atom adopts a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry and is coordinated by four N atoms from the thiocyanate anions. The Zn^II atom is located on a special position (twofold axis of symmetry). The pyrimidinium cation and the pyrimidine molecule are not coordinated to the Zn^II atom, but are hydrogen bonded to the uncoordinated water molecules and the metal‐coordinated thiocyanate ligands. The pyrimidine molecules and pyrimidinium cations also form base‐pair‐like structures with an R₂²(8) ring motif via N—H…N hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure is further stabilized by intermolecular N—H…O, O—H…S, N—H…S and O—H…N hydrogen bonds, by intramolecular N—H…Cl and C—H…Cl hydrogen bonds, and also by π–π stacking interactions.     

The structures of MOFs prepared from 1,3,5‐tris [4‐pyridylethynyl]‐benzene and a copper(I) perchlorate complex

Two copper(I)‐based frameworks of complexes {[Cu(L)₂(ClO₄)]?CH₃CN}( 2 ) and {[Cu(L)(ClO₄)]? 2CH₃CN} ( 3 ) (L = 1,3,5‐tris(4‐pyridylethynyl) benzene) were produced by reacting [Cu(MeCN)₄(ClO₄)] with different amounts of a ligand (L) using a hydrothermal method at temperatures of up to 130°C. The nitrogen atoms in the pyridine moieties of the ligand coordinate to the Cu(I) ion. The charge on the Cu(I) ion can be stabilized by extending the degree of conjugation in the system and by taking advantage of its highly symmetrical structure. The large degree of conjugation also supports numerous π–π interactions in the framework.     

Dissecting the concave–convex π‐π interaction in corannulene and sumanene dimers: SAPT(DFT) analysis and performance of DFT dispersion‐corrected methods

The characteristics of the concave–convex π‐π interactions are evaluated in 32 buckybowl dimers formed by corannulene, sumanene, and two substituted sumanenes (with S and CO groups), using symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory [SAPT(DFT)] and density functional theory (DFT). According to our results, the main stabilizing contribution is dispersion, followed by electrostatics. Regarding the ability of DFT methods to reproduce the results obtained with the most expensive and rigorous methods, TPSS‐D seems to be the best option overall, although its results slightly tend to underestimate the interaction energies and to overestimate the equilibrium distances. The other two tested DFT‐D methods, B97‐D2 and B3LYP‐D, supply rather reasonable results as well. M06‐2X, although it is a good option from a geometrical point of view, leads to too weak interactions, with differences with respect to the reference values amounting to about 4 kcal/mol (25% of the total interaction energy). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Photophysical Properties of Intramolecular Charge Transfer in a Tribranched Donor–π–Acceptor Chromophore

The photophysical properties of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in a novel tribranched donor–π–acceptor chromophore, triphenoxazine‐2,4,6‐triphenyl‐1,3,5‐triazine (tri‐PXZ‐TRZ), with thermally activated delayed fluorescence character was investigated in different aprotic solvents by steady‐state spectroscopy and femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy measurements. Increasing the solvent polarity led to a significant increase in the Stokes shift. The large Stokes shift in highly polar solvents was attributed to ICT properties upon excitation; this resulted in a strong interaction between the tri‐PXZ‐TRZ molecule and the surrounding solvent, which led to a strong solvation process. Quantum‐chemical calculations and changes in the dipole moment showed that this compound has a large degree of ICT. Furthermore, an apolar environment helped to preserve the symmetry of tri‐PXZ‐TRZ and to enhance its emission efficiency. The femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy results indicated that the excited‐state dynamics of this push–pull molecule were strongly influenced by solvent polarity through the formation of a solvent‐stabilized ICT state. The excited‐state relaxation mechanism of tri‐PXZ‐TRZ was proposed by performing target model analysis on the femtosecond transient absorption spectra. In addition, the delayed fluorescence of tri‐PXZ‐TRZ was significantly modulated by a potential competition between solvation and intersystem crossing processes.     

Two‐Component Self‐Assembly: Hierarchical Formation of pH‐Switchable Supramolecular Networks by π–π Induced Aggregation of Ion Pairs

Two‐component self‐assembly is a promising approach to construct functional nanomaterials. Interaction of a flexible guanidiniocarbonyl pyrrole tetra‐cation ( 1 ) with naphthalene diimide dicarboxylic acid (NDIDC) in aqueous DMSO leads to the formation of supramolecular networks. First, the carboxylate groups of NDIDC bind to the guanidiniocarbonyl pyrrole cations of 1 in a 1:2 stoichiometry. Further π–π induced aggregation then leads to 3D networks, as established by dynamic light scattering studies (DLS), NMR, fluorescence titration, viscosity measurements, AFM, and TEM microscopy. Due to ion pairing, the resulting aggregates can be switched between the monomers and the aggregates reversibly using external stimuli like protonation or deprotonation. At high concentration, a stable colloidal solution is formed, which shows an extensive Tyndall effect. Increasing the concentrations even further leads to formation of a supramolecular gel.     

Interplay between H‐Bonding and Preorganization in the Evolution of Self‐Assembled Systems

Cooperative π–π interactions and H‐bonding are frequently exploited in supramolecular polymerization; however, close scrutiny of their mutual interplay has been largely unexplored. Herein, we compare the self‐assembly behavior of a series of C₂‐ and C₃‐symmetrical oligophenyleneethynylenes differing in their amide topology (N‐ or C‐centered). This subtle structural modification brings about drastic changes in their photophysical and supramolecular properties, highlighting the reciprocal impact of H‐bonding vs. preorganization on the evolution and final outcome of supramolecular systems.