Creation of Ternary Multicomponent Crystals by Exploitation of Charge‐Transfer Interactions

Four new ternary crystalline molecular complexes have been synthesised from a common 3,5‐dinitrobenzoic acid (3,5‐dnda) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (bipy) pairing with a series of amino‐substituted aromatic compounds (4‐aminobenzoic acid (4‐aba), 4‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)benzoic acid (4‐dmaba), 4‐aminosalicylic acid (4‐asa) and sulfanilamide (saa)). The ternary crystals were created through the application of complementary charge transfer and hydrogen‐bonding interactions. For these systems a dimer was created through a charge‐transfer interaction between two of the components, while hydrogen bonding between the third molecule and this dimer completed the construction of the ternary co‐crystal. All resulting structures display the same acid ??? pyridine interaction between 3,5‐dnba and bipy. However, changing the third component causes the proton of this bond to shift from neutral OH ??? N to a salt form, O^? ??? HN⁺, as the nature of the group hydrogen bonding to the carboxylic acid was changed. This highlights the role of the crystal environment on the level of proton transfer and the utility of ternary systems for the study of this process.     

Thermochromism of CuI Tetrakisguanidine Complexes: Reversible Activation of Metal‐to‐Ligand Charge‐Transfer Bands

Tetranuclear, intensely blue‐coloured Cu^I complexes were synthesised in which two Cu₂X₃^? units (X=Br or I) are bridged by a dicationic GFA (guanidino‐functionalised aromatic) ligand. The UV/Vis spectra show a large metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (MLCT) band around 638 nm. The tetranuclear “low‐temperature” complexes are in a temperature‐dependent equilibrium with dinuclear Cu^I “high‐temperature” complexes, which result from the reversible elimination of two CuX groups. A massive thermochromism effect results from the extinction of the strong MLCT band upon CuX elimination with increasing temperature. For all complexes, quantum chemical calculations predict a small and method‐dependent energy difference between the possible electronic structures, namely Cu^I and dicationic GFA ligand (closed‐shell singlet) versus Cu^II and neutral GFA ligand (triplet or broken‐symmetry state). The closed‐shell singlet state is disfavoured by hybrid‐DFT functionals, which mix in exact Hartree–Fock exchange, and is favoured by larger basis sets and consideration of a polar medium.     

Novel Method for the Fabrication of a Charge‐Transfer Complex Crystal by Photoirradiation

A novel method for the fabrication of a charge‐transfer complex crystal was developed. Photoirradiation of a solution of TPP[Co(tbp)(CN)₂] and TPP[Co(Pc)(CN)₂] (tbp=tetrabenzoporphyrin, Pc=phthalocyanine, TPP=tetraphenylphosphonium) gave a molecular conducting crystal of a charge‐transfer complex TPP[Co(tbp)(CN)₂]₂, which was produced by the process in which the photoexcited electron in tbp was transferred from the LUMO of tbp to that of Pc.     

Photomagnetic Switching of Heterometallic Complexes [M(dmf)4(H2O)3(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)5]⋅H2O (M=Nd,La, Gd,Y) Analyzed by Single‐Crystal X‐ray Diffraction and Ab Initio Theory

Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements have been carried out on [Nd(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 1 ; dmf=dimethylformamide), [Nd(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Co(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 2 ), [La(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 3 ), [Gd(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 4 ), and [Y(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 5 ), at 15(2) K with and without UV illumination of the crystals. Significant changes in unit‐cell parameters were observed for all the iron‐containing complexes, whereas 2 showed no response to UV illumination. Photoexcited crystal structures have been determined for 1 , 3 , and 4 based on refinements of two‐conformer models, and excited‐state occupancies of 78.6(1), 84(6), and 86.6(7) % were reached, respectively. Significant bond‐length changes were observed for the Fe–ligand bonds (up to 0.19 Å), the cyano bonds (up to 0.09 Å), and the lanthanide–ligand bonds (up to 0.10 Å). Ab initio theoretical calculations were carried out for the experimental ground‐state geometry of 1 to understand the electronic structure changes upon UV illumination. The calculations suggest that UV illumination gives a charge transfer from the cyano groups on the iron atom to the lanthanide ion moiety, {Nd(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃}, with a distance of approximately 6 Å from the iron atom. The charge transfer is accompanied by a reorganization of the spin state on the {Fe(CN)₆} complex, and a change in geometry that produces a metastable charge‐transfer state with an increased number of unpaired electrons, thus accounting for the observed photomagnetic effect.     

Photocurrent Generation through Charge‐Transfer Processes in Noncovalent Perylenediimide/DNA Complexes

The charge‐transfer process in noncovalent perylenediimide (PDI)/DNA complexes has been investigated by using nanosecond laser flash photolysis (LFP) and photocurrent measurements. The PDI/DNA complexes were prepared by inclusion of cationic PDI molecules into the artificial cavities created inside DNA. The LFP experiments showed that placement of the PDI chromophore at a specific site and included within the base stack of DNA led to the efficient generation of a charge‐separated state with a long lifetime by photoexcitation. When two PDI chromophores were separately placed at different positions in DNA, the yield of the charge‐separated state with a long lifetime was dependent upon the number of A–T base pairs between the PDIs, which was explained by electron hopping from one PDI to another. Photocurrent generation of the DNA‐modified electrodes with the complex was also dependent upon the arrangement of the PDI chromophores. A good correlation was obtained between observed charge separation and photocurrent generation on the PDI/DNA‐modified electrodes, which demonstrated the importance of the defined arrangement and assembly of organic chromophores in DNA for efficient charge separation and transfer in multichromophore arrays.     

Fullerol–Titania Charge‐Transfer‐Mediated Photocatalysis Working under Visible Light

The development of visible‐light‐active photocatalysts is being investigated through various approaches. In this study, C₆₀‐based sensitized photocatalysis that works through the charge transfer (CT) mechanism is proposed and tested as a new approach. By employing the water‐soluble fullerol (C₆₀(OH)_x) instead of C₆₀, we demonstrate that the adsorbed fullerol activates TiO₂ under visible‐light irradiation through the “surface–complex CT” mechanism, which is largely absent in the C₆₀/TiO₂ system. Although fullerene and its derivatives have often been utilized in TiO₂‐based photochemical conversion systems as an electron transfer relay, their successful photocatalytic application as a visible‐light sensitizer of TiO₂ is not well established. Fullerol/TiO₂ exhibits marked visible photocatalytic activity not only for the redox conversion of 4‐chlorophenol, I^?, and Cr^VI, but also for H₂ production. The photoelectrode of fullerol/TiO₂ also generates an enhanced anodic photocurrent under visible light as compared with the electrodes of bare TiO₂ and C₆₀/TiO₂, which confirms that the visible‐light‐induced electron transfer from fullerol to TiO₂ is particularly enhanced. The surface complexation of fullerol/TiO₂ induced a visible absorption band around 400–500 nm, which was extinguished when the adsorption of fullerol was inhibited by fluorination of the surface of TiO₂. The transient absorption spectroscopic measurement gave an absorption spectrum ascribed to fullerol radical cations (fullerol^.+) the generation of which should be accompanied by the proposed CT. The theoretical calculation regarding the absorption spectra for the (TiO₂ cluster+fullerol) model also confirmed the proposed CT, which involves excitation from HOMO (fullerol) to LUMO (TiO₂ cluster) as the origin of the visible‐light absorption.     

Trapping of a Thiolate→Dibromine Charge‐Transfer Adduct by a Macrocyclic Dinickel Complex and Its Conversion into an Arenesulfenyl Bromide Derivative

Stuck on sulfur : The first transition‐metal complexes with S? Br units are surprisingly stable. Solid 3 is stable for at least six months and under vacuum solid 2 does not lose Br₂. The formation of the first structurally characterized transition‐metal arenesulfenyl bromide complex 3 occurs with a change of the spin ground state from S=2 to S=0.

     

Surface‐State‐Mediated Charge‐Transfer Dynamics in CdTe/CdSe Core–Shell Quantum Dots

Herein, we report the synthesis of aqueous CdTe/CdSe type‐II core–shell quantum dots (QDs) in which 3‐mercaptopropionic acid is used as the capping agent. The CdTe QDs and CdTe/CdSe core–shell QDs are characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM), steady‐state absorption, and emission spectroscopy. A red shift in the steady‐state absorption and emission bands is observed with increasing CdSe shell thickness over CdTe QDs. The XRD pattern indicates that the peaks are shifted to higher angles after growth of the CdSe shell on the CdTe QDs. HR‐TEM images of both CdTe and CdTe/CdSe QDs indicate that the particles are spherical, with a good shape homogeneity, and that the particle size increases by about 2 nm after shell formation. In the time‐resolved emission studies, we observe that the average emission lifetime (τ_av) increases to 23.5 ns for CdTe/CdSe (for the thickest shell) as compared to CdTe QDs (τ_av=12 ns). The twofold increment in the average emission lifetime indicates an efficient charge separation in type‐II CdTe/CdSe core–shell QDs. Transient absorption studies suggest that both the carrier cooling and the charge‐transfer dynamics are affected by the presence of traps in the CdTe QDs and CdTe/CdSe core–shell QDs. Carrier quenching experiments indicate that hole traps strongly affect the carrier cooling dynamics in CdTe/CdSe core–shell QDs.     

Charge‐Transfer Interactions in Tris‐Donor–Tris‐Acceptor Hexaarylbenzene Redox Chromophores

Symmetric‐ and asymmetric hexaarylbenzenes (HABs), each substituted with three electron‐donor triarylamine redox centers and three electron‐acceptor triarylborane redox centers, were synthesized by cobalt‐catalyzed cyclotrimerization, thereby forming compounds with six‐ and four donor–acceptor interactions, respectively. The electrochemical‐ and photophysical properties of these systems were investigated by cyclovoltammetry (CV), as well as by absorption‐ and fluorescence spectroscopy, and compared to a HAB that only contained one neighboring donor–acceptor pair. CV measurements of the asymmetric HAB show three oxidation peaks and three reduction peaks, whose peak‐separation is greatly influenced by the conducting salt, owing to ion‐pairing and shielding effects. Consequently, the peak‐separations cannot be interpreted in terms of the electronic couplings in the generated mixed‐valence species. Transient‐absorption spectra, fluorescence‐solvatochromism, and absorption spectra show that charge‐transfer states from the amine‐ to the boron centers are generated after optical excitation. The electronic donor–acceptor interactions are weak because the charge transfer has to occur predominantly through space. Moreover, the excitation energy of the localized excited charge‐transfer states can be redistributed between the aryl substituents of these multidimensional chromophores within the fluorescence lifetime (about 60 ns). This result was confirmed by steady‐state fluorescence‐anisotropy measurements, which further indicated symmetry‐breaking in the superficially symmetric HAB. Adding fluoride ions causes the boron centers to lose their accepting ability owing to complexation. Consequently, the charge‐transfer character in the donor–acceptor chromophores vanishes, as observed in both the absorption‐ and fluorescence spectra. However, the ability of the boron center as a fluoride sensor is strongly influenced by the moisture content of the solvent, possibly owing to the formation of hydrogen‐bonding interactions between water molecules and the fluoride anions.     

Semiconducting Neutral Microstructures Fabricated by Coordinative Self‐Assembly of Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer Tetrathiafulvalene Derivatives

A new class of tetrathiafulvalene‐based microstructures fabricated by coordinative self‐assembly has been prepared by a solution process. Upon incorporation of Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions, 1D wirelike microstructures and spherical polymer particles were achieved, respectively (see picture). The neutral coordination polymers are conductive and magnetic at room temperature without external manipulation.

     

Determination of the Degree of Charge‐Transfer Contributions to Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

We explore the application of a previously suggested formula for determining the degree of charge transfer in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). SERS is often described as a phenomenon which obtains its enhancement from three major sources, namely the surface plasmon resonance, charge‐transfer resonances as well as possible molecular resonances. At any chosen excitation wavelength, it is possible to obtain contributions from several sources and this has led to considerable confusion. The formula for the degree of charge transfer enables one to separate these effects, but it requires that spectra be obtained either at two or more different excitation wavelengths or as a function of applied potential. We apply this formula to several examples, which display rather large charge‐transfer contributions to the spectrum. These are p‐aminothiophenol (PATP), tetracyano‐ ethylene (TCNE) and piperidine. In PATP we can show that several lines of the same symmetry give the same degree of charge transfer. In TCNE we are able to identify the charge‐transfer transition, which contributes to the effect, and are able to independently determine the degree of charge transfer by wavenumber shifts. This enables a comparison of the two techniques of measurement. In piperidine, we present an example of molecule to metal charge transfer and show that our definition of charge transfer is independent of direction.     

Versatile Photophysical Properties of meso‐Aryl‐Substituted Subporphyrins: Dipolar and Octupolar Charge‐Transfer Interactions

Donor–acceptor systems based on subporphyrins with nitro and amino substituents at meta and para positions of the meso‐phenyl groups were synthesized and their photophysical properties have been systematically investigated. These molecules show two types of charge‐transfer interactions, that is, from center to periphery and periphery to center depending on the peripheral substitution, in which the subporphyrin moiety plays a dual role as both donor and acceptor. Based on the solvent‐polarity‐dependent photophysical properties, we have shown that the fluorescence emission of para isomers originates from the solvatochromic, dipolar, symmetry‐broken, and relaxed excited states, whereas the non‐solvatochromic fluorescence of meta isomers is of the octupolar type with false symmetry breaking. The restricted meso‐(4‐aminophenyl) rotation at low temperature prevents the intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT)‐forming process. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section values were determined by photoexcitation at 800 nm in nonpolar toluene and polar acetonitrile solvents to see the effect of ICT on the TPA processes. The large enhancement in the TPA cross‐section value of approximately 3200 GM (1 GM=10^?50 cm⁴ s photon^?1) with donor–acceptor substitution has been attributed to the octupolar effect and ICT interactions. A correlation was found between the electron‐donating/‐withdrawing abilities of the peripheral groups and the TPA cross‐section values, that is, p‐aminophenyl>m‐aminophenyl>nitrophenyl. The increased stability of octupolar ICT interactions in highly polar solvents enhances the TPA cross‐section value by a factor of approximately 2 and 4, respectively, for p‐amino‐ and m‐nitrophenyl‐substituted subporphyrins. On the other hand, the stabilization of the symmetry‐broken, dipolar ICT state gives rise to a negligible impact on the TPA processes.     

Spiroconjugated Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer Emission in Non‐Typical Spiroconjugated Molecules: The Effect of Molecular Structure upon the Excited‐State Configuration

A set of terfluorenes and terfluorene‐like molecules with different pendant substitutions or side groups were designed and synthesized, their photophysical properties and the excited‐state geometries were studied. Dual fluorescence emissions were observed in compounds with rigid pendant groups bearing electron‐donating N atoms. According to our earlier studies, in this set of terfluorenes, the blue emission is from the local π–π* transition, while the long‐wavelength emission is attributed to a spiroconjugation‐like through‐space charge‐transfer process. Herein, we probe further into how the molecular structures (referring to the side groups, the type of linkage between central fluorene and the 2,2′‐azanediyldiethanol units, and—most importantly—the amount of pendant groups), as well as the excited‐state geometries, affect the charge‐transfer process of these terfluorenes or terfluorene‐like compounds. 9‐(9,9,9′′,9′′‐tetrahexyl‐9H,9′H,9′′H‐[2,2′:7′,2′′‐terfluoren]‐9′‐yl)‐1,2,3,5,6,7‐hexahydropyrido[3,2,1‐ij]quinolone (TFPJH), with only one julolidine pendant group, was particularly synthesized, which exhibits complete “perpendicular” conformation between julolidine and the central fluorene unit in the excited state, thus typical spiroconjugation could be achieved. Notably, its photophysical behaviors resemble those of TFPJ with two pendant julolidines. This study proves that spiroconjugation does happen in these terfluorene derivatives, although their structures are not in line with the typical orthogonal π fragments. The spiroconjugation charge‐transfer emission closely relates to the electron‐donating N atoms on the pendant groups, and to the rigid connection between the central fluorene and the N atoms, whereas the amount of pendant groups and the nature of the side chromophores have little effect. These findings may shed light on the understanding of the through‐space charge‐transfer properties and the emission color tuning of fluorene derivatives.     

Cyano Analogues of 7‐Azaindole: Probing Excited‐State Charge‐Coupled Proton Transfer Reactions in Protic Solvents

The interplay between excited‐state charge and proton transfer reactions in protic solvents is investigated in a series of 7‐azaindole (7AI) derivatives: 3‐cyano‐7‐azaindole (3CNAI), 5‐cyano‐7‐azaindole (5CNAI), 3,5‐dicyano‐7‐azaindole (3,5CNAI) and dicyanoethenyl‐7‐azaindole (DiCNAI). Similar to 7AI, 3CNAI and 3,5CNAI undergo methanol catalyzed excited‐state double proton transfer (ESDPT), resulting in dual (normal and proton transfer) emission. Conversely, ESDPT is prohibited for 5CNAI and DiCNAI in methanol, as supported by a unique normal emission with high quantum efficiency. Instead, the normal emission undergoes prominent solvatochromism. Detailed relaxation dynamics and temperature dependent studies are carried out. The results conclude that significant excited‐state charge transfer (ESCT) takes place for both 5CNAI and DiCNAI. The charge‐transfer specie possesses a different dipole moment from that of the proton‐transfer tautomer species. Upon reaching the equilibrium polarization, there exists a solvent‐polarity induced barrier during the proton‐transfer tautomerization, and ESDPT is prohibited for 5CNAI and DiCNAI during the excited‐state lifespan. The result is remarkably different from 7AI, which is also unique among most excited‐state charge/proton transfer coupled systems studied to date.     

Highly Efficient Visible‐to‐NIR Luminescence of Lanthanide(III) Complexes with Zwitterionic Ligands Bearing Charge‐Transfer Character: Beyond Triplet Sensitization

Two zwitterionic‐type ligands featuring π–π* and intraligand charge‐transfer (ILCT) excited states, namely 1,1′‐(2,3,5,6‐tetramethyl‐1,4‐phenylene)bis(methylene)dipyridinium‐4‐olate (TMPBPO) and 1‐dodecylpyridin‐4(1 H)‐one (DOPO), have been prepared and applied to the assembly of lanthanide coordination complexes in an effort to understand the ligand‐direction effect on the structure of the Ln complexes and the ligand sensitization effect on the luminescence of the Ln complexes. Due to the wide‐band triplet states plus additional ILCT excitation states extending into lower energy levels, broadly and strongly sensitized photoluminescence of f→f transitions from various Ln³⁺ ions were observed to cover the visible to near‐infrared (NIR) regions. Among which, the Pr, Sm, Dy, and Tm complexes simultaneously display both strong visible and NIR emissions. Based on the isostructural feature of the Ln complexes, color tuning and single‐component white light was achieved by preparation of solid solutions of the ternary systems Gd‐Eu‐Tb (for TMPBPO) and La‐Eu‐Tb and La‐Dy‐Sm (for DOPO). Moreover, the visible and NIR luminescence lifetimes of the Ln complexes with the TMPBPO ligand were investigated from 77 to 298 K, revealing a strong temperature dependence of the Tm³⁺ (³H₄) and Yb³⁺ (²F_5/2) decay dynamics, which has not been explored before for their coordination complexes.     

EPR Study on the Complex Formed by Charge‐Transfer Process between Ground‐state Acceptor 2, 3‐Dicyano‐5, 6‐dichloro‐1, 4‐benzoquinone and Some Donors and on Cation Radical of Perylene (or Pyrene)

EPR study showed that the semi‐quinone radical anion of 2,3‐dicyano‐5,6‐dichloro‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) was formed in a charge transfer process between ground‐state DDQ as acceptor and each one of following ground state donors, i.e., 4‐methyl‐4′‐tridecyl‐2, 2′‐bipyridyl; 4‐methyl‐4′‐nonyl‐2, 2′‐bipyridyl; bis (2,2′‐bipyridyl) (4‐methyl‐4′‐heptadecyl‐2, 2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium(2+) perchlorate and perylene. EPR study also showed that there are perylene cation radical and pyrene cation radical in the following experimental conditions: (a) in 98% sulfuric add. (b) 10^?3 mol/L perylene (or pyrene) was dissolved in trifluoroacetic acid‐nitrobenzene (1: 1 V/V).     

Organic Super‐Acceptors with Efficient Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer Interactions by [2+2] Cycloadditions of TCNE,TCNQ, and F4‐TCNQ to Donor‐Substituted Cyanoalkynes

Rivaling the best one : Thermal [2+2] cycloadditions of TCNE, TCNQ, and F₄‐TCNQ to N,N‐dimethylanilino‐substituted cyanoalkynes afforded a new class of organic super‐acceptors featuring efficient intramolecular charge‐transfer interactions. These acceptors rival the acceptor F₄‐TCNQ in the propensity for reversible electron uptake as well as in electron affinity (see figure), which makes them interesting as p‐type dopants for potential application in optoelectronic devices.