Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Simple Organic Molecules

This article aims to show the identity of “circularly polarized luminescent active simple organic molecules” as a new concept in organic chemistry due to the potential interest of these molecules, as availed by the exponentially growing number of research articles related to them. In particular, it describes and highlights the interest and difficulty in developing chiral simple (small and non‐aggregated) organic molecules able to emit left‐ or right‐circularly polarized light efficiently, the efforts realized up to now to reach this challenging objective, and the most significant milestones achieved to date. General guidelines for the preparation of these interesting molecules are also presented.     

Dual Upconverted and Downconverted Circularly Polarized Luminescence in Donor–Acceptor Assemblies

Through mimicking both the chiral and energy transfer in an artificial self‐assembled system, not only was chiral transfer realized but also a dual upconverted and downconverted energy transfer system was created that emit circularly polarized luminescence. The individual chiral π‐gelator can self‐assemble into a nanofiber exhibiting supramolecular chirality and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). In the presence of an achiral sensitizer Pd^II octaethylporphyrin derivative, both chirality transfer from chiral gelator to achiral sensitizer and triplet‐triplet energy transfer from excited sensitizer to chiral gelator could be realized. Upconverted CPL could be observed through a triplet–triplet annihilation photon upconversion (TTA‐UC), while downconverted CPL could be obtained from chirality‐transfer‐induced emission of the achiral sensitizer. The interplay between chiral energy acceptor and achiral sensitizer promoted the communication of chiral and excited energy information.     

Near-Infrared Circularly Polarized Luminescence through Intramolecular Excimer Formation of Oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene)-Based Double Helicates

Carbon-based double helicates consisting of two anthracene-containing oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) units and two flexible chiral 1,1′-binaphthyl units or two rigid chiral 9,9′-spirobifluorene units were developed. The curved oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) fragments in the double helicates were successfully constructed by tin-mediated reductive aromatization. Helical oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) double strands fixed by two rigid spirobifluorene units showed little structural change under photoirradiation, thereby emitting circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in the visible region with a high quantum yield (Φ_PL=0.93). In contrast, flexible binaphthyl units induced dynamic structural change of the oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) luminophores under photoirradiation, leading to strong CPL (|g_lum|=1.1×10⁻²) in the near-infrared (NIR) region. UV/Vis, circular dichroism (CD), CPL and NMR spectroscopic analyses of the binaphthyl-hinged double helicate suggested excimer formation between two π-conjugated strands in the excited state. Theoretical calculations highlight the importance of the tightly interlocked excimer structure of the carbon-based double helicate in controlling the angle between the electric and magnetic transition dipole moments for strong NIR CPL generation.     

Ring-Opened Hemiporphyrazines: Helical Molecules Exhibiting Circularly Polarized Luminescence

We designed and synthesized a new type of small helical molecule exhibiting intense circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) ( 1_2H ) by modifying a 20π-electron hemiporphyrazine with a large transition magnetic dipole moment. The hemiporphyrazine ring was opened and one additional pyridine unit was introduced, resulting in an overlap of two pyridine rings. X-ray structure analysis confirmed that 1_2H and its zinc complex ( 1_Zn ) adopt a helical geometry. A racemic mixture of 1_Zn was resolved into two enantiomers ((P)- and (M)- 1_Zn ), which exhibited CPL with a high luminescence dissymmetry factor (g_lum) value of ±2.1×10⁻². The origin of the large g_lum value was rationalized by means of DFT calculations. Helical structures could be formed in a diastereoselective manner by covalently attaching chiral units to the skeleton ( 1’_2H and 1’_Zn ). 1_Zn was found to possess chiral recognition ability for amines.     

手性有机小分子圆偏振发光的研究进展

圆偏振发光不仅能直观地反映手性发光体系的激发态结构信息,而且在3D显示、自旋信息通讯、信息存储与处理、CPL激光、生物探针等领域具有广泛的应用前景.因此,近年来圆偏振发光材料引起了人们越来越多的兴趣与关注,成为有机发光功能材料领域一个新的研究热点.本综述总结近年来关于手性有机小分子圆偏振发光的研究进展,主要围绕具有中心手性、轴手性、面手性和螺旋手性的圆偏振发光有机小分子展开介绍.     

A Doubly Alkynylpyrene‐Threaded [4]Rotaxane That Exhibits Strong Circularly Polarized Luminescence from the Spatially Restricted Excimer

The Sonogashira coupling of γ‐CD‐encapsulated alkynylpyrenes with terphenyl‐type stopper molecules gave a doubly alkynylpyrene‐threaded [4]rotaxane. The rotaxane showed only excimer emission, with a high fluorescence quantum yield of Φ_f=0.37, arising from the spatially restricted excimer within the cavity of the γ‐CD. The excimer emission suffered little from self‐quenching up to a concentration of 1.5×10^?5 M and was circularly polarized with a high g_lum value of ?1.5×10^?2. The strong circularly polarized luminescence may result from the two stacked pyrenes existing in the rotaxane in an asymmetrically twisted manner.     

Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Helically Chiral N,N,O,O‐Boron‐Chelated Dipyrromethenes

Helically chiral N,N,O,O‐boron chelated dipyrromethenes showed solution‐phase circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in the red region of the visible spectrum (λ_em(max) from 621 to 663 nm). The parent dipyrromethene is desymmetrised through O chelation of boron by the 3,5‐ortho‐phenolic substituents, inducing a helical chirality in the fluorophore. The combination of high luminescence dissymmetry factors (|g_lum| up to 4.7 ×10^?3) and fluorescence quantum yields (Φ_F up to 0.73) gave exceptionally efficient circularly polarized red emission from these simple small organic fluorophores, enabling future application in CPL‐based bioimaging.     

Chiral Oligothiophenes with Remarkable Circularly Polarized Luminescence and Electroluminescence in Thin Films

This work reports the first observation of circularly polarized electroluminescence (CPEL) in thin films of self-organized oligothiophenes. Four new 1,4-phenylene and 9H-carbazole-based oligothiophenes were ad hoc designed to ensure efficient spontaneous formation of chiral supramolecular order. They were easily synthesized and their chiroptical properties in thin films were measured. Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra revealed g_lum in the order of 10⁻² on a wide wavelengths range, originating from their self-organized chiral supramolecular organization. These molecules have reasonable properties as organic semiconductors and for this reason they can constitute the active layer of circularly-polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs). Thus, we could investigate directly their electroluminescence (EL) and CPEL, without resorting to blends, but rather in a simple multilayer device with basic architecture. This is the first example of a CP-OLED with active layer made only of a small organic compound.     

AIE Triggers the Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Atomically Precise Enantiomeric Copper(I) Alkynyl Clusters

Atomically precise enantiomeric metal clusters are scarce, and copper(I) alkynyl clusters with intense circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) responses have not been reported. A pair of chiral alkynyl ligands, (R/S)‐2‐diphenyl‐2‐hydroxylmethylpyrrolidine‐1‐propyne (abbreviated as R/S‐DPM ) we successfully prepared and single crystals were characterized of optically pure enantiomeric pair of atomically‐precise copper(I) clusters, [Cu₁₄(R/S‐DPM)₈](PF₆)₆ (denoted as R/S‐Cu₁₄ ), which feature bright red luminescence and CPL with a high luminescence anisotropy factor (g_lum). A dilute solution containing R/S‐Cu₁₄ was nonluminescent and CPL inactive at room temperature. Crystallization‐ and aggregation‐induced emission (CIE and AIE, respectively) contribute to the triggering of the CPL of R/S‐Cu₁₄ in the crystalline and aggregated states. Their AIE behavior and good biocompatibility indicated applications of these copper(I) clusters in cell imaging in HeLa and NG108‐15 cells.     

Helicene Monomers and Dimers: Chiral Chromophores Featuring Strong Circularly Polarized Luminescence

The synthesis and chiroptical properties of a series of enantiomerically pure, C₂-symmetrical carbo[6]helicene dimers are reported. Two helicene cores are connected through a buta-1,3-diyne-1,4-diyl linker or a heteroaromatic bridge and bear arylethynyl substituents at their 15-positions. This ensures the possibility of extended electronic communication throughout the whole molecule. The new chromophores exhibit intense ECD spectra with strong bands in the UV/Vis region well above 400 nm. The anisotropy factor g_abs (defined as Δϵ/ϵ) reaches values up to 0.047, which are unusually large for single organic molecules. They also display blue fluorescence, with good quantum yields (Φ_f∼0.25). The emitted light is circularly polarized to an outstanding extent: in some cases, the luminescence dissymmetry factor g_lum=2(I_L−I_R)/(I_L+I_R) attains values of |0.025|. To the best of our knowledge, such values are among the highest ever reported for non-aggregated organic fluorophores.     

Tunable Excimer Circularly Polarized Luminescence in Isohexide Derivatives from Renewable Resources

Organic compounds showing circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) are at the forefront of novel applications and technologies. Here we show the synthesis and chiroptical properties of pyrene and perylene derivatives of inexpensive chiral scaffolds: isomannide and isosorbide. Low-intensity ECD spectra were obtained, suggesting the absence of chromophore interaction in the ground state, except in the case of isomannide bis-perylenecarboxylate, whose ECD spectrum showed a positive exciton couplet. All isomannide derivatives, with the only exception of the one containing a pyrenecarboxylate and a perylenecarboxylate, exhibited excimer CPL spectra, whereas isosorbide derivatives did not show any CPL. Isomannide derivatives bearing two pyrenecarboxylate or two pyrenylacetate groups showed positive CPL emission with dissymmetry factors up to 10⁻², which depends on the conformational freedom of the appended units. The CPL sign, Stokes shift and order of magnitude of dissymmetry factor were reproduced by excited-state calculations on a representative compound. Interestingly, the mixed derivative containing pyrenic units with different spacing from the isomannide scaffold showed an oppositely signed excimer band with respect to the homo-substituted derivatives.     

Circularly Polarized Luminescence Switching in Small Organic Molecules

The circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) switching is of significant interest for applications in security technologies and sensing devices. Small organic molecules (SOMs) show several advantages over metal complexes, supramolecular assemblies, and polymers. Therefore, the recent progress on the CPL switching in SOMs is here reviewed. The results are summarized based on the strategies used to tune factors that influence the emission properties, and thus, to realize CPL switching. The strategies that have been adopted include promoting the excimer formation of fluorescent units, changing the conformation of fluorophores, tuning the electronic structure of the π-skeleton/substituent, and modulating the intramolecular charge-transfer dynamics.     

手性无机纳米材料圆偏振发光的研究进展

手性无机纳米材料因为具有优异的光物理特性及广泛的应用价值而备受关注。通过采用手性配体对无机纳米材料的表面进行修饰或将无机纳米材料与手性模板进行组装获得的手性结构,可以与光子强烈作用引起偏振态的改变,产生圆偏振光(circularly polarized light, CPL)。从产生机理来讲,CPL主要包括圆偏振荧光和圆偏振散射,在一些情况下这两个机理是共存的。本文总结了硫族半导体纳米材料、金属纳米团簇、钙钛矿、镧系配合物及其他复合纳米材料中CPL的研究进展。此外,还讨论了不同的手性无机纳米材料中CPL的主要来源。本综述得出的结论有望在分子水平上实现对CPL活性材料的各向异性因子进行调控,促进其在量子计算、光学数据存储、信息加密、3D显示器和光学传感等多个领域的发展。     

Control of Circularly Polarized Luminescence by Using Open‐ and Closed‐Type Binaphthyl Derivatives with the Same Axial Chirality

The solution‐dispersed‐state and polymer‐dispersed‐state circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) properties of chiral binaphthyl fluorophores could be controlled by the choice of open‐ or closed‐type substituents on the binaphthyl units and by the axial chirality of the binaphthyls.     

Molecular Design,Circularly Polarized Luminescence,and Helical Self‐Assembly of Chiral Aggregation‐Induced Emission Molecules

Aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) are a new class of luminophors, which are non‐emissive in solution, but emit intensively upon aggregation. By properly designing the chemical structures of the AIEgens, their aggregation process can be tuned towards a desired direction to give diverse novel luminescent architectures of micelles, rods, and helical fibers. AIEgens represent a kind of promising building block for the fabrication of luminescent micro/nanostructures with controllable morphologies. In this review, we describe our recent work in this research area, focusing on the molecular design, circularly polarized luminescence properties, and helical self‐assembly behavior of AIEgens.     

Microscopic Imaging of Chiral Amino Acids in Agar Gel through Circularly Polarized Luminescence of EuIII Complex

We recently found that [Eu(pda)₂]^? (pda: 1,10‐phenanthroline‐2,9‐dicarboxylic acid), which has an achiral structure in crystals, exhibits circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in aqueous solutions containing chiral amino acids such as arginine and histidine. CPL measurements were performed for agar gel, which includes an aqueous solution of [Eu(pda)₂]^? and chiral arginine or histidine. The spectral shape, concentration, and pH dependences on CPL intensity in the agar gels were very close to those in aqueous solutions, indicating that the CPL of the Eu^III complex in the agar gels was induced by mechanism similar to that in aqueous solutions. We performed spatially resolved CPL measurements using a laboratory‐built microscopic CPL spectroscopic system for agar‐gel samples, where d ‐ and l ‐ amino acids were separately dispersed. We successfully recorded CPL imaging maps showing spatial dispersions of d ‐ and l ‐amino acid in the agar gels.     

Control of Circularly Polarized Luminescence by Orientation of Stacked π‐Electron Systems

Planar chiral building blocks based on 4,7,12,15‐tetrasubstituted [2.2]paracyclophanes were obtained via a synthetic route involving an optical resolution step. Planar chiral enantiomers, comprising two fluorophores that were stacked to form a V‐shaped higher‐ordered structure, were synthesized from these building blocks. The V‐shaped molecules emitted intense circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). Their chiroptical properties were compared with those of X‐shaped molecules bearing the same two fluorophores stacked together. The CPL sign of the X‐shaped molecule was opposite to that of the V‐shaped molecule, which is supported by the theoretical results, indicating that the CPL sign can be controlled by the orientation of the stacked fluorophores.     

Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Achiral Carbon Dots in Bi-Solvent Systems Triggered by Supramolecular Self-Assembly

An innovative strategy for circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) of carbon dots (CDs) has been developed: The achiral CDs displayed contrary supramolecular chirality and opposite CPL in two different bi-solvent systems, which are due to the formation of self-assembled helical nanostructures with two diverse assembly modes (P and M) in aggregate state via intermolecular π-π interactions and differential hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) without the need of any additional element of chirality.     

Circularly Polarized Absorption and Luminescence of Semiconductor Eu-OCN Nanocrystals in the Blue Region of the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Semiconductor nanomaterials with efficient polarized-light control in the blue region of the visible spectrum are promising candidates for modern and future photo-information technology, display devices, and optical sensing applications. New-type semiconductor Eu(OCN)₂ nanocrystals with circularly polarized absorption (CD: circular dichroism) and emission (CPL: circularly polarized luminescence) under an applied magnetic field are demonstrated here for the first time. The effective CD signal at 1.6 T was observed at approximately 440 nm. The dissymmetry factor of CPL under 100 K, g_M-CPL, was estimated to be 0.01. These characteristic circularly polarized absorption and emission phenomena of Eu(OCN)₂ nanocrystals should be caused by combination between the “Faraday A and C terms” of the magnetic moment in the excited state. Polarized-light control using Eu(OCN)₂ nanocrystals in the blue-light region of the electromagnetic spectrum is a large first step into a new world of photo-functional semiconductor nanomaterials.