Synthesis and characterization of novel (oligo)thienyl-imidazo-phenanthrolines as versatile π-conjugated systems for several optical applications

A series of new heterocyclic chromophores 3-6 were synthesized in moderate to excellent yields by condensation of 5,6-phenantroline-dione with formyl-thiophene derivatives 1-2 in the presence of ammonium acetate in glacial acetic acid. These chromophores possess an (oligo)thienyl π-conjugated system attached to an imidazo-phenanthroline moiety. These derivatives were evaluated concerning their solvatochromic properties, thermal stabilities, and molecular optical nonlinearities.     

Synthesis and characterization of new thienylpyrrolyl-benzothiazoles as efficient and thermally stable nonlinear optical chromophores

The synthesis and full characterization of new chromophores with second-order nonlinearities containing thienylpyrrolyl and benzothiazolyl moieties are reported. The solvatochromic behavior of the compounds was investigated. The hyperpolarizabilities β of derivatives 4-6 were measured using hyper-Rayleigh scattering and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to evaluate their thermal stability. The experimental results indicate that strong nonlinearity is balanced by good thermal stability especially for chromophores 6b and 6c, making them good candidates for NLO applications.     

Novel 5-(oligofluorenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline type ligands: synthesis, linear and two-photon absorption properties

The synthesis and characterization of new 1,10-phenanthroline-based chromophores LT1, LT2 and LD1 featuring fluorene unit(s) are reported. Their absorption and emission as well as their two-photon absorption properties in the 450-650 nm spectral range are discussed in comparison with the parent 1,10-phenanthroline and already described ligands L1 and L2.     

Ferrocenyl D-π-A conjugated polyenes with 3-dicyanomethylidene-1-indanone and 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylidene)indane acceptor groups: Synthesis, linear and second-order nonlinear optical properties and electrochemistry

Second-order nonlinear optical chromophores incorporating the ferrocenyl group as an electron donor and 3-dicyanomethylidene-1-indanone and 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylidene)indane acceptor groups, connected by a conjugated polyenic bridge of varied length (2[n] and 3[n], respectively) have been synthesized. The electronic absorption spectra of these compounds display in the visible region bands attributable to π-π* and metal-to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions. The energies of these transitions are close to those reported earlier for ferrocenyl D-π-A chromophores with the strongest acceptor groups, e.g., with the 3-dicyanomethylidene-2,3-dihydrobenzothiophene-1,1-dioxide group (1[n]) [V. Alain, M. Blanchard-Desce, C.-T. Chen, S.R. Marder, A. Fort, M. Barzoukas, Synt. Met. 81 (1996) 133]. The solid-state structure of 2[3], determined by X-ray diffraction shows a significant reduction of the bond length alternation (BLA), 0.05 Å, suggesting high first hyperpolarizability. However, a centrosymmetrical packing of molecules of this compound in the crystal excludes its second harmonic generation ability. The μβ values of 2[n] and 3[n], determined by the EFISH technique at 1907 nm are high and increase with the increasing length of the conjugated π-bridge. The highest value of μβ (8720 × 10⁻⁴⁸ esu) was determined for 3[4], which is close to that reported for 1[4] (11 200 × 10⁻⁴⁸ esu), the highest value found for a ferrocenyl D-π-A chromophore until now.     

New S,O-acetals from (1R)-(−)-myrtenal as chiral auxiliaries in nucleophilic additions

Treatment of hydroxythiol 4 with α,α-diethoxyacetophenone at room temperature yielded a mixture of epimeric S,O-acetals 6 and 7 (1:4, 92% yield), which were efficiently separated by flash chromatography. The OTBS derivatives 8 and 9 were treated with several Grignard reagents to afford carbinols 10 and 13 respectively (85-99% yield, >95% dr). After successive hydrolysis and reduction of 10 and 13 it is possible to obtain either enantiomer of diols 16 in high optical purity (>95% er).     

π-Sufficient heteroaromatic compounds fused naphthalimide unit as novel solvatochromic fluorophores

The carbazoles 1 and dibenzofurans 2 having naphthalimide unit were synthesized by the cross coupling reaction of 4-bromonaphthalimide 3 with aniline and phenol derivatives followed by the intramolecular cyclization, respectively. The chromophores 1c and 2c substituted methoxy group exhibited the strong fluorescence solvatochromism.     

Design, synthesis, and characterization of the electrochemical, nonlinear optical properties, and theoretical studies of novel thienylpyrrole azo dyes bearing benzothiazole acceptor groups

Two series of related donor-acceptor conjugated heterocyclic azo dyes based on the thienylpyrrole system, functionalized with benzothiazol-2-yl (5-6) or benzothiazol-6-yl acceptor groups (7) through an NN bridge, have been synthesized by azo coupling using 1-alkyl(aryl)thienylpyrroles (1) and benzothiazolyl diazonium salts (2-4) as coupling components. Their optical (linear and first hyperpolarizability), electrochemical, and thermal properties have been examined. Optimized ground-state molecular geometries and estimates of the lowest energy single electron vertical excitation energies in dioxane solutions were obtained using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level. Hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) in dioxane solutions using a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm was employed to evaluate their second-order nonlinear optical properties. Of these systems, the benzothiazol-2-yl-diazenes 5-6 exhibit the largest first hyperpolarizabilities (β=460-660×10⁻³⁰ esu, T convention) compared to benzothiazol-6-yl-diazenes 7 (β=360-485×10⁻³⁰ esu, T convention). Good to excellent thermal stabilities were also obtained for all azo dyes (235-317 °C). This multidisciplinary study showed that modulation of the optical and electronic properties can be achieved by introduction of the benzothiazole acceptor group in the thienylpyrrole system through position 2 or 6 of the benzothiazole heterocycle.     

Synthesis, chiroptical properties and photoinduced birefringence of optically active methacrylic copolymers bearing side-chain bisazoaromatic moieties

Three series of optically active photochromic copolymers, deriving from methyl methacrylate (MMA) and the chiral bisazoaromatic monomers (S)-3-methacryloyloxy-1-[4′-phenylazo-(4-azobenzene)]-pyrrolidine [(S)-MPAAP], (S)-3-methacryloyloxy-1-[4′-cyanophenylazo-(4-azobenzene)]-pyrrolidine [(S)-MPAAP-C] and (S)-3-methacryloyloxy-1-[4′-nitrophenylazo-(4-azobenzene)]-pyrrolidine [(S)-MPAAP-N], have been prepared and characterized in solution and in the solid state with the aim to evaluate the effect on their chiroptical and thermal properties originated by the insertion of inactive MMA groups along the main chain. The optical activity displayed by the bisazo polymers is discussed in terms of extent of chiral conformation assumed by the macromolecules as a consequence of dipole-dipole interactions between the bisazoaromatic chromophores.The photoinduction of birefringence has been assessed on thin films of the investigated copolymers in order to evaluate their behaviour as materials for optical data storage. The results are interpreted in terms of copolymer composition and conformational stiffness of the bisazoaromatic chromophoric co-units, which are responsible for the optical response rates, and are compared to those of the similar derivatives containing only one azo bond. The observed enhanced thermal properties and the temporal stability appear of interest for a potential use of these materials in nano technologies for all-optical data manipulation and in optoelectronics.     

Synthesis, structure and mesomorphism of new cholesteric monomers and smectic comblike polymers

Seven new cholesteric monomers (M-1−M-7) and the corresponding smectic comblike polymers containing cholesteryl groups (P-1−P-7) were synthesized. The chemical structures and purity were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and elemental analyses. The specific optical rotations were evaluated with a polarimeter. The mesomorphism was investigated by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The specific optical rotation values of these monomers and polymers with the same numbers of phenyl ring and terminal groups were nearly equal, however, they decreased with increasing the aryl numbers in the mesogenic core. M-1−M-7 showed oily streak texture and focal conic texture, or fingerprint texture, or spiral texture of cholesteric phase. P-1−P-7 showed the smectic A phase. The melting, clearing, and glass transition temperatures increased, and the mesophase temperature ranges widened with increasing the aryl number in the mesogenic core. Surprisingly, although the molecular structures of M-6 and M-7 were similar to those of M-4, namely the mesogenic cores contained three phenyl rings, their phase behavior had a considerable difference, and T_m and T_i of M-6 and M-7 were less than those of M-4. In addition, M-6 and M-7 also showed an obvious glass transition. TGA showed that all the polymers had good thermal stabilities.     

Synthesis, photophysical properties, and theoretical studies on pyrrole-containing bromo Re(I) complex

Two bromo rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes with the formula of [Re(CO)₃(L)Br], where L = 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen-Re) and 5-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (Pyph-Re), were successfully synthesized with the aim to analyze the effect of the pyrrole (Py) moiety on the photophysical properties of Pyph-Re. It was found that the triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer dπ (Re) → π*(N-N) emission of Phen-Re and Pyph-Re centered at ca. 527 nm with the luminescence quantum yield (LQY) of 0.015 and ca. 578 nm with the LQY of 0.011, respectively. At the same time, the geometrical structures of the ground state and the absorption spectral properties of Phen-Re and Pyph-Re were also calculated with the 6-31G* basis set employed on C, H, N, O, and Br atoms, and LANL2DZ adopted on Re atom. According to the experimental and theoretical analysis, the red-shift of the photoluminescent spectrum and the lower LQY of Pyph-Re should be mainly attributed to the narrower energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and the more LLCT transition ration of Pyph-Re, respectively.     

A bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based fluorescence chemosensor for paraquat and diquat

A bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based host to which are covalently attached two pyrene groups as fluorescence chromophores was designed and synthesized. Its complexations with paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ) were studied by proton NMR, ESI mass spectrometry, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Its chemosensor behavior to PQ and DQ was revealed by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. This new host can function as a fluorescence chemosensor for PQ and DQ due to the inhibition of photoinduced electron transfer between the bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10 moiety and the pyrene groups by the addition of PQ (or DQ).     

Macrocyclic vs acyclic derivatives of chiral bis(oxazolines); ligand distortion and enantioselectivity of Pd(II) complexes in catalytic allylic alkylation

Pd(II) complexes of acyclic (1,2;4,5) and macrocyclic (3,6-10) derivatives of 1,5-bis(oxazolines), are tested in the enantioselective allylic alkylation of racemic 1,3-diphenyl-3-acetoxyprop-2-ene (14) by dimethylmalonate anion to allyl malonate derivative 15. Conformation in solution of representative allyl Pd(II) complexes 12 and 13 is studied by 2D NMR and CD spectroscopy. 2D NMR data reveal loss of C₂ symmetry of the ligands in Pd(II)allyl-bis(oxazoline) complexes. CD spectra indicate distortion of the bidentate ligand in the complex and a conformationally forced larger twist between two chromophores in the macrocyclic complex. Only moderate variation of enantioselectivity with the length and ring size of the ligand is observed, and a rationale offered.     

Synthesis, conformation and PKC isozyme surrogate binding of indolinelactam-Vs, new conformationally restricted analogues of (−)-indolactam-V

New conformationally restricted analogues of tumor promoter (−)-indolactam-V (1), indolinelactam-Vs (8, 11) and their hexyl derivatives at position 1 or 7 (9, 10, 12, 13), were synthesized from 1. (3R)-Indolinelactam-V (8) adopted a conformation similar to the twist form of 1 with a cis amide, while the conformation of (3S)-indolinelactam-V (11) was close to that of the sofa form of 1 with a trans amide. 7-Hexyl derivatives of 8 and 11 (10, 13) showed binding affinities for C1 domains of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes compared to 1, but exhibited little selectivity among these PKC isozymes. However, introduction of the hexyl group at position 1 of 8 and 11 significantly enhanced their binding selectivity for novel PKC isozymes. The best selectivity for novel PKC isozymes was observed in (3S)-1-hexylindolinelactam-V (12) with a sofa-like conformation. These results suggest that a sofa-restricted analogue of 1 with a hydrophobic chain at an appropriate position would be a promising lead for designing agents with a high selectivity for novel PKC isozymes.     

Novel 2,7-substituted pyrene derivatives: syntheses, solid-state structures, and properties

A novel series of pyrene derivatives 3-6 functionalized with different aromatic substituents at 2,7-positions of the pyrene core have been readily synthesized by Suzuki coupling reactions. Single crystals suitable for X-ray crystallographic analysis of compounds 3-6 were all successfully obtained. The optical, electrochemical, and thermal properties of these newly synthesized compounds were thoroughly investigated and discussed. Theoretical calculation was adopted to study the geometric and electronic structure of compounds 3-6. Additionally, preliminary studies demonstrated that field-effect transistors using compound 3, 5, and 6 performed as p-type semiconductors, in which a field-effect mobility as high as 0.018 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and current on/off ratio of 10⁶ were achieved from compound 6.     

Substitution, dimerization, metalation, and ring-opening reactions of N-fused porphyrins

A variety of reactions such as substitution, dimerization, rhenium(I) metalation, and ring-opening reactions of N-fused porphyrin (NFP) and optical properties of the products are presented. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions under Suzuki or Stille conditions afford aryl and arylethynyl-substituted NFPs (12, 14) and an ethynyl-bridged dimer (15) from 3-bromo-substituted NFP (3b) in 40-98% yields. Treatment of NFP with silver(I) trifluoroacetate in CHCl₃ affords a dimer (22) linked at both C21-positions of the fused rings and its bis-Re(I) metal complex (24) is synthesized. X-ray structures of the 3-trifluoromethyl and 3-phenyl NFP derivatives (9e and 12a) reveal the three-center hydrogen bondings in the core. All the new NFP derivatives display unique absorption spectra, and particularly, ethyne-bridged NFP-dimer (15) shows a remarkable bathochromic shift into a near-infrared region showing an absorption band at 1020 nm with tailing up to 1100 nm. Moreover, alkoxide nucleophiles convert NFP into NCP derivatives by the cleavage of C-N bond in the fused ring, which is useful for the preparation of various C3-substituted NCPs and C21,C21′-linked NCP dimers from NFPs.     

Synthesis,complexation, and mesomorphism of novel calixarene-linked discotic triphenylene based on click chemistry

The novel calixarene-linked discotic triphenylene 5a and 5b were synthesized in good yields via click chemistry. Structural and conformational characterization of new compounds had been achieved by NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. Their liquid crystalline behaviors before and after complexation were studied by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. The neat compounds 5a and 5b showed mesophase but the complexes of 5a and 5b with metallic salts exhibited no liquid crystal behaviors.     

1,6- and 1,7-regioisomers of dinitro- and diamino-substituted perylene bisimides: synthesis,photophysical and electrochemical properties

1,6- and 1,7-regioisomers of dinitro- (1,6-3 and 1,7-3) and diamino-substituted perylene bisimides (1,6-1 and 1,7-1) were synthesized. The regioisomers 1,6-3 and 1,7-3 were successfully separated by high performance liquid chromatography and characterized by 500 MHz ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Subsequently, the reduction of 1,6-3 and 1,7-3 afforded the corresponding diaminoperylene bisimides 1,6-1 and 1,7-1, respectively. This is the first time 1,6-regioisomers of dinitro- and diamino-substituted perylene bisimides are obtained in pure form. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of 1,6-3 and 1,7-3 were found to be almost the same. However, the regioisomers 1,6-1 and 1,7-1 exhibit significant differences in their optical characteristics. The absorption spectrum of 1,6-1 covers a larger part of the visible region compared to that of 1,7-1. Upon excitation, 1,6-1 also show larger dipole moment change than that of 1,7-1. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations are reported on these dyes in order to rationalize their electronic structure and absorption spectra.     

Four-way-output molecular response system based on the dihydrodibenzo[c,g]phenanthrene skeleton: modulation of CD and FDCD activity by acid and electron-transfer

Presence or absence of electron-accepting dye chromophores is the key function for ON/OFF switching of fluorescence from the dihydrodibenzo[c,g]phenanthrene skeleton in 2²⁺/3. The helical fluorophore in 2²⁺ could be generated stereoselectively upon electrolysis of binaphthylic donor 1 through intramolecular chirality transmission. Huge chiroptical signals are easily detected by circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence-detected CD (FDCD) techniques to realize novel four-way-output response.     

Synthesis, characterization, structures and cytotoxic activity of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes containing bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and saccharinate

New palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes containing bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (bpma) and saccharinate (sac), [Pd(bpma)(sac)](sac)·2H₂O (1), [Pt(bpma)(sac)](sac)·2H₂O (2), [Pd(bpma)Cl](sac)·2H₂O (3) and [Pt(bpma)(sac)]Cl·1.5H₂O (4), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR and TG-DTA. A single-crystal X-ray analysis of 3 and 4 proved a distorted square-planar geometry around the metal ions with one tridentate bpma ligand and one Cl or sac monoanion. The [Pd(bpma)Cl]⁺ ions in 3 form dimers by intermolecular N-H?Cl and Pd?Pd interactions. The cations reside in the centers of a hydrogen-bonded honeycomb network formed by the uncoordinated sac ions and the lattice water molecules, while the cations of 4 are connected by N-H?Cl and OW-H?O hydrogen bonds into one-dimensional chains. Cyclic planar tetrameric and trimeric water clusters were observed in 3 and 4, respectively. Cytotoxicity of 1-4 was tested against A549, C6 and CHO cells. Although 2 and 4 have no cytotoxicity, the best results were achieved for 1 and 3. In particular, the cyctotoxic activity of 3 is comparable to cisplatin.     

2-(1-Isopropyl-2-benzimidazolyl)-6-(1-aryliminoethyl)pyridyl transition metal (Fe, Co, and Ni) dichlorides: Syntheses, characterizations and their catalytic behaviors toward ethylene reactivity

A series of 2-(1-isopropyl-2-benzimidazolyl)-6-(1-aryliminoethyl)pyridyl metal complexes [iron (II) (1a-6a), cobalt (II) (1b-6b) and nickel (II) (1c-6c)] were synthesized and fully characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analyses. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of five coordinated complexes 5a, 3b, 5b, 1c and 2c reveal 5a and 5b as distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, and 3b, 1c and 2c as distorted square pyramidal geometry. All complexes performed ethylene reactivity with the assistance of various organoaluminums. The iron complexes displayed good activities in the presence of MAO and MMAO. Upon activated by Et₂AlCl, the cobalt analogues showed moderate ethylene reactivity, while the nickel analogues exhibited relatively higher activities.