ELECTRONIC ABSORPTION PROPERTIES OF SYMMETRICAL DIALKOXYANTHRACENES. LINEAR DICHROISM AND MAGNETIC CIRCULAR DICHROISM*

Abstract— Linear dichroism (LD) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) of symmetrical dialkoxy-anthracenes and some related compounds were recorded in an attempt to elucidate electronic absorption properties and assign the nature of the lowest singlet excited state, recognized to control both the fluorescence and the photodimerization of anthracenes. The spectroscopic measurements proved that the lowest electronic transition is of the ¹L_a type in all the compounds. The peculiar photoreactivity pattern is therefore governed by factors other than an inversion of the order of the ¹L_a and ¹L_b states and may be related to electronic density repartition on the different positions of the anthracene nucleus dictated by the position of the electron-donating substituents.     

(Thio)Amidoindoles and (Thio)Amidobenzimidazoles: An Investigation of Their Hydrogen‐Bonding and Organocatalytic Properties in the Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Lactide

The mechanism of the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide catalyzed by two partner hydrogen‐bonding organocatalysts was explored. New amidoindoles 4 a , c , thioamidoindoles 4 b , d , amidobenzimidazoles 5 a , c , and thioamidobenzimidazoles 5 b , c were synthesized and used as activators of the monomer. In the solid state and in solution, compounds 4 and 5 showed a propensity for self‐association, which was evaluated. (Thio)Amides 4 and 5 do catalyze the ROP of lactide in the presence of a cocatalyst, tertiary amine 3 a or 3 b , which activates the growing polymer chain through hydrogen‐bonding. Reactions were conducted in 2–24 h at 20 °C; conversion yields ranged between 22 and 100 %. A detailed study of the intermolecular interactions undertaken between the participating species showed that, as expected, simultaneous weak hydrogen bonds do exist to activate the reagents. Moreover, interactions have been revealed between the partner catalysts 4 / 5 + 3 . ROP catalyzed by these partner activators is thus governed by multiple dynamic equilibria. The latter should be judiciously adjusted to fine‐tune the catalytic properties of (thio)amides and organocatalysts, more generally.     

Detection of a single DNA base-pair mismatch using an anthracene-tagged fluorescent probe

A novel anthracene-tagged oligonucleotide can discriminate between a fully-matched DNA target sequence and one with a single mismatching base-pair through a remarkable difference in fluorescence emission intensity upon duplex formation.     

Photodimers of a soluble tetracene derivative. excimer fluorescence from the head-to-head isomer

[reaction: see text] Irradiation of 5,12-didecyloxytetracene (1) leads to photodimers P(1) (planosymmetric) and P(2) (centrosymmetric). P(1) is characterized by naphthalene excimer fluorescence, whereas P(2) emits naphthalene monomer fluorescence.     

The role of orientational defects in the photodimerization of 1,5-dichloroanthracene

The photodimerization of 1,5-dichloroanthracene is discussed with particular reference to the mechanism by which the ratio of head-to-head and head-to-tail dimer differs between reaction in the solid and in solution. It is shown that in certain crystallographic space groups linear and planar imperfections will not, of themselves, produce regions of packing suitable for the formation of the “non-topochemical” dimer. A novel type of point defect which may account for the solid state reactivity is described and the extra lattice energy that is associated with this defect calculated.     

2,3-di-n-decyloxy-6,7-dichloroanthracene (Cl2DDOA), a new low-molecular-mass fluorescent organogelator: physical properties and structures

To extend the family of 2,3-didecyloxyanthracene (DDOA, 1), an organogelator having a rodlike shape, a high polarity, and fluorescing properties, the 6,7-dichloro derivative (Cl2DDOA, 2), was designed and prepared. Compound 2 forms gels in alcohols, nitriles, and alkanes. The electronic absorption spectra of the gel show a finer structure than those of the isotropic solutions, pointing to a specific degree of packing of the molecules; such an aggregation mode is also supported by fluorescence data. The gel-to-sol temperatures (Tm) were determined as a function of gelator concentration and the corresponding enthalpies (DeltaHm) were extracted. Scattering experiments have shown that the molecular packing in aggregates of 2 organogels is less reminiscent of the crystalline state than was the situation with DDOA gels. 2 organogels in butanol are made up of 120 A radius fibers much thinner than those observed in DDOA gels (r ca. 300 A) and with rather monodisperse cross sections. In 1-octanol, dodecane, or cyclohexane, the fibrillar organogel networks involve a broader distribution of the related cross sections through anisometric sections of the fibers and/or formation of bundles.     

Energy transfer in self-assembled [N]-acene fibers involving > or =100 donors per acceptor

Anthracene derivatives self-assemble into fibers with a high molecular order, as is evidenced by probing the structure with energy-trapping tetracene analogues. Efficient energy transfer processes involving tens to hundreds of donors per acceptor and high emission quantum yields are outstanding characteristics displayed in these self-assembled fibers.     

Magnetic deformation of self-assembled sexithiophene spherical nanocapsules

We report the experimental observation of magnetic field deformation of spherical nanocapsules, self-assembled from sexithiophene molecules, into oblate spheroids, confirming a long-standing theoretical prediction. The magnetically deformed objects can be trapped in a compatible organogel to make them suitable for further investigations and applications. Our results show that strong magnetic forces can be effectively used, in a contact-free manner, as a tool to control the self-organization of a whole class of functional organic molecules.