Dual room-temperature fluorescent and phosphorescent emission in 8-quinolinolate osmium(II) carbonyl complexes: rationalization and generalization of intersystem crossing dynamics

A new series of quinolinolate osmium carbonyl complexes were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies indicate that these complexes consist of an octahedral ligand arrangement with one chelating quinolinolate, one tfa or halide ligand, and three mutually orthogonal terminal CO ligands. Variation of the substituents on quinolinolate ligands imposes obvious electronic or structural effects, while changing the tfa ligand to an electron-donating iodide slightly increases the charge density on the central osmium atom. These Os(II) complexes show salient dual emissions consisting of fluorescence and phosphorescence, the spectral properties and relaxation dynamics of which have been studied comprehensively. The results, in combination with the theoretical approaches, lead us to propose that the emission mainly originates from the quinolinolate pi pi* state. Both experimental and theoretical approaches generalize various types of intersystem crossing versus those of the tris(quinolinolate) iridium Ir(Q)3, and their relative efficiencies were accessed on the basis of the associated frontier orbital configurations. Our results suggest that [1d(pi)pi* absolute value(H(so))3 pi pi*] (or [3d(pi)pi* absolute value(H(so))1 pi pi*]) in combination with a smaller deltaE(S1-T1) gap (i.e., increasing the MLCT (d(pi)pi*) character) is the main driving force to induce the ultrafast S1 --> T1 intersystem crossing in the third-row transition metal complexes, giving the strong phosphorescent emission.     

Hybridized local and charge-transfer excited state fluorophores enabling organic light-emitting diodes with record high efficiencies close to 20%

Pure organic emitters with full utilization of triplet excitons are in high demand for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Herein, through modulation of electron donors and introduction of phenyl rings as π spacers, we present three pure organic fluorophores (BCz, BTCz and BPTCz) with the hybridized local and charge-transfer (HLCT) excited state feature for OLED fabrication. Importantly, the introduction of π spacers in BPTCz not only enhances locally excited character with a fast radiative decay but also promotes intermolecular interactions to suppress non-radiative decays, contributing to a high solid-state fluorescence efficiency over 90%. Significantly, BPTCz not only endows its doped OLEDs with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 19.5%, but also its non-doped OLED with a high EQE of 17.8%, and these outstanding efficiencies are the state-of-the-art performances of HLCT-based OLEDs.

Three purely organic fluorophores with a hybridized local and charge-transfer excited state feature are presented and enabled organic light-emitting diodes with record high external quantum efficiencies close to 20%.     

Thermodynamics of binding of 2-methoxy-3-isopropylpyrazine and 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine to the major urinary protein

In the present study we examine the thermodynamics of binding of two related pyrazine-derived ligands to the major urinary protein, MUP-I, using a combination of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), X-ray crystallography, and NMR backbone (15)N and methyl side-chain (2)H relaxation measurements. Global thermodynamics data derived from ITC indicate that binding is driven by favorable enthalpic contributions, rather than the classical entropy-driven hydrophobic effect. Unfavorable entropic contributions from the protein backbone and side-chain residues in the vicinity of the binding pocket are partially offset by favorable entropic contributions at adjacent positions, suggesting a "conformational relay" mechanism whereby increased rigidity of residues on ligand binding are accompanied by increased conformational freedom of side chains in adjacent positions. The principal driving force governing ligand affinity and specificity can be attributed to solvent-driven enthalpic effects from desolvation of the protein binding pocket.     

Compact beam expander based on planar structure to avoid inner focus

Optical Review - Based on the planar optical theory, compact beam expanders are proposed to miniaturize the dimension of an optical system. Both simulated and experimental results have demonstrated...     

Nitro-oxidized carboxycellulose nanofibers from moringa plant: effective bioadsorbent for mercury removal

Cellulose - Mercury contamination in drinking water is a worldwide problem due to its severely harming effects on the human body. A nanostructured natural bioadsorbent, carboxycellulose nanofiber...     

Synthesis of novel copolymer：Poly(p-dioxanone-co-L-phenylalanine)

In order to expand the application of poly(p-dioxanone) or PPDO in biomedical area,a series of novel copolymers were synthesized successfully by one-step,melted copolymerization of p-dioxanone(PDO) and L-phenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride(L-Phe-NCA) monomers.With the in-feed molar ratio of L-PheNCA /PDO equal to 1/20,the conversions of the two kinds of monomers were calculated from ~1H NMR. The average molecular weight and polydispersity of the copolymer increase with the increasing reaction time and catalyst concentration.However,the conversions of the two kinds of monomers did not change with the reaction conditions.A three-step mechanism is presented and proved by high resolution ~1H NMR and IR spectrums.     

Bis‐clickable Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Straightforward Preparation of Light‐Actuated Nanomachines for Controlled Drug Delivery with Active Targeting

Bis(clickable) mesoporous silica nanospheres (ca. 100 nm) were obtained by the co‐condensation of TEOS with variable amounts (2–5 % each) of two clickable organosilanes in the presence of CTAB. Such nanoparticles could be easily functionalized with two independent functions using the copper‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction to transform them into nanomachines bearing cancer cell targeting ligands with the ability to deliver drugs on‐demand. The active targeting was made possible after anchoring folic acid by CuAAC click reaction, whereas the controlled delivery was performed by clicked azobenzene fragments. Indeed, the azobenzene groups are able to obstruct the pores of the nanoparticles in the dark whereas upon irradiation in the UV or in the blue range, their trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization provokes disorder in the pores, enabling the delivery of the cargo molecules. The on‐command delivery was proven in solution by dye release experiments, and in vitro by doxorubicin delivery. The added value of the folic acid ligand was clearly evidenced by the difference of cell killing induced by doxorubicin‐loaded nanoparticles under blue irradiation, depending on whether the particles featured the clicked folic acid ligand or not.     

Emerging Design Principle of Near-Infrared Upconversion Sensitizer Based on Mitochondria-Targeted Organic Dye for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

Upconversion luminescent (UCL) triggered photodynamic therapy (PDT) affords superior outcome for cancer treatment. However, conventional UCL materials which all work by a multiphoton absorption (MPA) process inevitably need extremely high power density far over the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) to laser. Here, a one-photon absorption molecular upconversion sensitizer Cy5.5-Br based on frequency upconversion luminescent (FUCL) is designed for PDT. The unusual super heavy atom effect (SHAE) in Cy5.5-Br strongly enhances its spin-orbit coupling (0.23 cm⁻¹), triplet quantum yield (11.1 %) and triplet state lifetime (18.8 μs) while the potential hot-band absorption of Cy5.5-Br is well maintained. Importantly, Cy5.5-Br can efficiently target the tumour site and kill cancer cells by destroying mitochondria under a biosafety MPE to 808 nm laser. The photostability and antitumor results are obviously superior to that of a Stokes process. This work provides a design criterion for FUCL dyes to realize effective PDT upon a biosafety optical density, possibly bringing more clinical benefits than conventional MPA materials.