A panchromatic boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel distyryl-substituted boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) dye displays interesting properties as a sensitizer in DSSC systems, opening the way to further exploration of structure-efficiency correlation within this class of dyes.     

Bismuth- and lead-texaphyrin complexes: towards potential α-core emitters for radiotherapy

Lead(II)-texaphyrins and the first discrete binuclear μ-oxo bismuth(III)-texaphyrin are reported. The latter was characterized via single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Cell proliferation assays using the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line were used to determine the cytotoxicity of the complexes.     

Photoinduced Reduction of PtIV within an Anti‐Proliferative PtIV–Texaphyrin Conjugate

In an effort to increase the stability and control the platinum reactivity of platinum–texaphyrin conjugates, two Pt^IV conjugates were designed, synthesized, and studied for their ability to form DNA adducts. They were also tested for their anti‐proliferative effects using wild‐type and platinum‐resistant human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780 and 2780CP, respectively). In comparison to an analogous first‐generation Pt^II chimera, one of the new conjugates provided increased stability in aqueous environments. Using a combination of ¹H NMR spectroscopy and FAAS (flameless atomic‐absorption spectrometry), it was found that the Pt^IV center within this conjugate undergoes photoinduced reduction to Pt^II upon exposure to glass‐filtered daylight, resulting in an entity that binds DNA in a controlled manner. Under conditions in which the Pt^IV complex is reduced to the corresponding Pt^II species, these new conjugates demonstrated potent anti‐proliferative activity in both test ovarian cancer cell lines.     

A Thermal and Photostable Reference Probe for Qf Measurements: Chloroform Soluble Perylene 3,4,9,10-Tetracarboxylic Acid-bis-N,N-Dodecyl Diimide

The synthesis of a chloroform soluble perylene 3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylic acid-bis-N, N′-dodecyl diimide via condensation of perylene 3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylic dianhydnde and 1, 12-diamino dodecane is described. The thermal analysis is shown thermal stabilities above 400°C. Thermal and photostable dye is measured to have a fluorescence quantum yield of unity, Q_f = 1.00, in chloroform solutions. Perylene bis-dodecyl diimide is an ideal reference probe for fluorescence quantum yield measurements in 500–650 nm region and a reliable soluble photosensitizer for solar photochemical applications.     

Application of NMR spectroscopy of chiral association complexes. 13—electron donor–acceptor complexes between racemic carbazolo[3,4-c]carbazoles and an optically active acceptor

Strong electron donor–acceptor (EDA) association between carbazolo[3,4-c]carbazoles and an optically active tetranitrofluorenone derivative was detected by UV–visible spectroscopy and by ¹H NMR shifts. ¹H NMR splittings at low temperatures are due to diastereomeric association complexes and, thus, prove the chirality of carbazolocarbazoles.     

Multicomponent Assembly of Macrocycles and Polymers by Coordination of Pyridyl Ligands to 1,4‐Bis(benzodioxaborole)benzene

Multicomponent reactions between 1,4‐benzenediboronic acid, catechol, and different pyridyl ligands are reported. The condensation of 1,4‐benzenediboronic acid with catechol gives 1,4‐bis(benzodioxaborole)benzene. Upon crystallization, the ester aggregates with the N‐donor ligands through dative B? N bonds. Depending on the nature of the pyridyl ligand, molecularly defined macrocycles or polymeric structures are obtained. 1D polymers are formed with 4,4‐bipyridine and 1,2‐di(4‐pyridyl)ethylene, whereas a 2D network is obtained with the tetradentate ligand tetra(4‐pyridylphenyl)ethylene. These results highlight the utility of dative B? N bonds in structural supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering.     

[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline acceptor‐based donor–acceptor–donor‐type polymers: Effect of strength and size of donors on the band gap

Electrochromic polymers based on [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline acceptor and thiophene, 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene and 3,3‐didecyl‐3,4‐proylenedioxythiophene donors, namely poly(6,7‐diphenyl‐4,9‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline) ( P1 ), poly(4‐(2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxin‐5‐yl)‐9‐(2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxin‐7‐yl)‐6,7‐diphenyl‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline) ( P2 ), and poly(4‐(3,3‐didecyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐thieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxepin‐6‐yl)‐9‐(3,3‐didecyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐thieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxepin‐8‐yl)‐6,7‐diphenyl‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline) ( P3 ), respectively, were electrochemically and/or chemically synthesized and characterized. Electrochemical and optical properties of the polymers were then investigated. The results, which were obtained electrochemically and optically, indicate that the polymers bearing the same acceptor and different donor units have a band gap range of 0.59–1.24 eV depending on the strength and size of the donor units and band gap determination method. A significant finding in this study was the phenomenon that when the acceptor is physically huge, the general rule that a weak donor would have a high band gap whereas a strong donor would have low band gap can be broken due to the torsional angles/steric hindrances involved with physically large donor molecules. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3483–3493     

Hybrid solar cells using nanorod zinc oxide electrodes and perylene monoimide–monoanhydride dyes

Hybrid solar cells have been fabricated using perylene monoimide–monoanhydride dyes with nanorod zinc oxide electrodes as electron transporting layers. We have investigated the influence of the spacer alkyl chain length of perylene monoimide–monoanhydride (PMIMA) dyes on the device performance in hybrid solar cells using nanorod zinc oxide electrodes. Nanorod zinc oxide electrodes with 50–150 nm of diameter were synthesized in the presence of PEG400 by using microwave heating method. We observed that the dyes with longer and brunched alkyl chains exhibit higher efficiencies in hybrid solar cells. We report the highest efficiency obtained with zinc oxide nanorods under standard conditions for perylene monoimide–monoanhydride derivative with PMIMA_1 that performs 400 mV open circuit voltage, 2.81 mA/cm² short-circuit current and 0.59% overall conversion efficiency.     

Unexpected Cyclization of Dipyridyl-glycoluril in the Presence of Formaldehyde and Strong Acid: A New Scaffold with a Potential as an Anion Receptor

In an attempted synthesis of peripherally pyridine-substituted cucurbituril, an unexpected cyclized product was obtained. A careful NMR analysis followed by mass spectrometry and preliminary crystallographic analyses, helped us in resolving the structure. The structure has two quaternized pyridine functionalities and a groove suitable as a potential receptor site. In addition, just like the parent glycoluril structure, two remaining urea-derived nitrogens can be alkylated by alkyl halides. Thus, we believe this high yielding reaction may become an entry point to a new class of anion receptors.