Tunable Photochromism in the Robust Dithienylethene‐Containing Phospholes: Design,Synthesis, Characterization,Electrochemistry, Photophysics,and Photochromic Studies

A series of dithienylethene‐containing phosphole derivatives has been designed, synthesized and characterized. One of the compounds has been characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Upon photoexcitation, the compounds exhibit drastic color changes, ascribed to the reversible photochromic behavior. Their photochromic, photophysical and electrochemical properties have been studied. They show photochromic reactivities with high photocyclization quantum yields. Their photophysical and photochromic properties are found to be facilely tuned in this system by substitution at the phosphole backbone, as well as variation on the extent of π‐conjugation of the phosphole backbone. Some selected compounds have been demonstrated to exhibit photochromic properties in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) films.     

Photochromism and Dual‐Color Fluorescence in a Polyoxometalate–Benzospiropyran Molecular Switch

The photophysical properties of a Keggin‐type polyoxometalate (POM) covalently bounded to a benzospiropyran (BSPR) unit have been investigated. These studies reveal that both closed and open forms are emissive with distinct spectral features (λ _em (closed form)=530 nm, λ _em (open form)=670 nm) and that the fluorescence of the BSPR unit of the hybrid is considerably enhanced compared to BSPR parent compounds. While the fluorescence excitation energy of the BSPR reference compounds (370 nm) is close to the intense absorption responsible of the photochromic character (350 nm), the fluorescence excitation of the hybrid is shifted to lower energy (400 nm), improving the population of the emissive state. Combined NOESY NMR and theoretical calculations of the closed form of the hybrid give an intimate understanding of the conformation adopted by the hybrid and show that the nitroaryl moieties of the BSPR is folded toward the POM, which should affect the electronic properties of the BSPR.     

Air‐Stable Spirofluorene‐Containing Ladder‐Type Bis(alkynyl)borane Compounds with Readily Tunable Full Color Emission Properties

A series of air‐stable spiro‐fused ladder‐type boron(III) compounds has been designed, synthesized, and the electrochemistry and photophysical behavior have been characterized. By simply varying the substituents on the pyridine ring and extending the π‐conjugation of the spiro framework, the emission color of these compounds can be easily fine‐tuned spanning the visible spectrum from blue to red. All compounds exhibit a broad and structureless emission band across the entire visible region, assigned as an intramolecular charge‐transfer transition originating from the thiophene of the spiro framework to the pyridine‐borane moieties. In addition, these compounds demonstrate high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 0.81 in dichloromethane solution and 0.86 in doped thin films. Some of the compounds have also been employed as emissive materials, in which solution‐processed organic light‐emitting devices (OLEDs) with tunable emission colors spanning the visible spectrum from blue, green to red have been realized, demonstrating the potential applications of these boron compounds in OLEDs.     

Giant Magnetoresistance in the Half‐Metallic Double‐Perovskite Ferrimagnet Mn2FeReO6

The first transition‐metal‐only double perovskite compound, Mn²⁺₂Fe³⁺Re⁵⁺O₆, with 17 unpaired d electrons displays ferrimagnetic ordering up to 520 K and a giant positive magnetoresistance of up to 220 % at 5 K and 8 T. These properties result from the ferrimagnetically coupled Fe and Re sublattice and are affected by a two‐to‐one magnetic‐structure transition of the Mn sublattice when a magnetic field is applied. Theoretical calculations indicate that the half‐metallic state can be mainly attributed to the spin polarization of the Fe and Re sites.     

Diels‐Alder Reaction in Air‐ and Moisture‐Stable Zinc‐Containing Ionic Liquids

Diels‐Alder reactions in a number of air‐ and moisture‐stable dialkylimidazolium halide‐ZnCl₂ ionic liquids are reported. High yields and high endo selectivities have been observed. The ionic liquids could then be recyclable without loss of reactivity.     

Spectral Identification in the Attogram Regime through Laser‐Induced Emission of Single Optically Trapped Nanoparticles in Air

Current trends in nanoengineering are bringing along new structures of diverse chemical compositions that need to be meticulously defined in order to ensure their correct operation. Few methods can provide the sensitivity required to carry out measurements on individual nano‐objects without tedious sample pre‐treatment or data analysis. In the present study, we introduce a pathway for the elemental identification of single nanoparticles (NPs) that avoids suspension in liquid media by means of optical trapping and laser‐induced plasma spectroscopy. We demonstrate spectroscopic detection and identification of individual 25(±3.7) to 70(±10.5) nm in diameter Cu NPs stably trapped in air featuring masses down to 73±35 attograms. We found an increase in the absolute number of photons produced as size of the particles decreased; pointing towards a more efficient excitation of ensembles of only ca. 7×10⁵ Cu atoms in the onset plasma.     

Synthesis,Photochromic, and Computational Studies of Dithienylethene‐Containing β‐Diketonate Derivatives and Their Near‐Infrared Photochromic Behavior Upon Coordination of a Boron(III) Center

A series of dithienylethene‐containing 1‐thienyl‐3‐aryl‐propane‐1,3‐diones (aryl=phenyl (Ph), thienyl (Th), and 4,5‐bis(2,5‐dimethylthiophen‐3‐yl)thiophen‐2‐yl (DTE‐Th)) and the corresponding boron(III) diketonates, (O^O)BR₂ (R=F, C₆F₅, and Ph), have been designed and synthesized. Their photophysical, electrochemical, and photochromic properties have been studied. Upon coordination of a boron(III) center, the closed forms of the dithienylethene‐containing β‐diketonates show near‐infrared response and the photochromic behavior was also found to be affected by the aryl substituents at the 3‐position of the β‐diketonates. Moreover, computational studies have been performed that help to provide an understanding of the effect of substituents on the photophysical and photochromic properties.     

Synthesis of Air‐ and Moisture‐Stable,Storable Chiral Oxorhenium Complexes and Their Application as Catalysts for the Enantioselective Imine Reduction

Air‐/moisture‐stable, crystalline, and storable chiral salicyloxazoline based oxorhenium(V) complexes have been synthesized and their catalytic application for the asymmetric reduction of ketimines using hydrosilane as hydride source is disclosed. A broad substrate scope, high yields, and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 %) are attained. Furthermore, the syntheses of enantiopure α‐amino esters, γ‐ and δ‐lactams, and isoindolinones have also been carried out using this methodology. Finally, the method has been applied to synthetic targets of pharmaceutical relevance, such as R‐(+)‐salsolidine and R‐(+)‐crispine A.     

Stable,Wavelength‐Tunable Fluorescent Dyes in the NIR‐II Region for In Vivo High‐Contrast Bioimaging and Multiplexed Biosensing

Small‐molecule organic fluorophores, spectrally active in the 900–1700 nm region, with tunable wavelength and sensing properties are sought‐after for in vivo optical imaging and biosensing. A panel of fluorescent dyes ( CX ) has been developed to meet this challenge. CX dyes exhibit the wavelength tunability of cyanine dyes and have a rigidified polymethine chain to guarantee their stability. They are chemo‐ and photo‐stable in an aqueous environment and have tunable optical properties with maximal absorbing/emitting wavelength at 1089/1140 nm. They show great potential in high‐contrast in vivo bioimaging and multicolor detection with negligible optical cross talk. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CX dyes was demonstrated in deep tissue, providing an approach for monitoring drug‐induced hepatotoxicity by detection of OONO^?. This report presents a series of NIR‐II dyes with promising spectroscopic properties for high‐contrast bioimaging and multiplexed biosensing.     

Robust Benzo[g, h, i ]perylenetriimide Dye‐Sensitized Electrodes in Air‐Saturated Aqueous Buffer Solution

Highly electron deficient benzo[ghi]perylenetriimide (BPTI) chromophores were persistently anchored to a metal oxide electrode surface and reversible formation of their radical anions was shown in air‐saturated aqueous buffer solution. Our results show a very low reaction‐rate constant of BPTI^.? with O₂ (k=1.92±0.05×10^?2 s^?1). BPTI is a robust chromophore that can be used as the electron acceptor in molecule‐based artificial photosynthetic devices for direct water splitting in aqueous phase.     

Stable,Wavelength‐Tunable Fluorescent Dyes in the NIR‐II Region for In Vivo High‐Contrast Bioimaging and Multiplexed Biosensing

Small‐molecule organic fluorophores, spectrally active in the 900–1700 nm region, with tunable wavelength and sensing properties are sought‐after for in vivo optical imaging and biosensing. A panel of fluorescent dyes ( CX ) has been developed to meet this challenge. CX dyes exhibit the wavelength tunability of cyanine dyes and have a rigidified polymethine chain to guarantee their stability. They are chemo‐ and photo‐stable in an aqueous environment and have tunable optical properties with maximal absorbing/emitting wavelength at 1089/1140 nm. They show great potential in high‐contrast in vivo bioimaging and multicolor detection with negligible optical cross talk. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CX dyes was demonstrated in deep tissue, providing an approach for monitoring drug‐induced hepatotoxicity by detection of OONO^?. This report presents a series of NIR‐II dyes with promising spectroscopic properties for high‐contrast bioimaging and multiplexed biosensing.