Multiple-State Emissions from Neat,Single-Component Molecular Solids: Suppression of Kasha's Rule

Three rigid and structurally simple heterocyclic stilbene derivatives, (E)-3H,3′H-[1,1′-biisobenzofuranylidene]-3,3′-dione, (E)-3-(3-oxobenzo[c] thiophen-1(3H)-ylidene)isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one, and (E)-3H,3′H-[1,1′-bibenzo[c] thiophenylidene]-3,3′-dione, are found to fluoresce in their neat solid phases, from upper (S₂) and lowest (S₁) singlet excited states, even at room temperature in air. Photophysical studies, single-crystal structures, and theoretical calculations indicate that large energy gaps between S₂ and S₁ states (T₂ and T₁ states) as well as an abundance of intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonds suppress internal conversions of the upper excited states in the solids and make possible the fluorescence from S₂ excited states (phosphorescence from T₂ excited states). These results, including unprecedented fluorescence quantum yields (2.3–9.6 %) from the S₂ states in the neat solids, establish a unique molecular skeleton for achieving multi-colored emissions from upper excited states by “suppressing” Kasha's rule.     

Quantum Dot-Catalyzed Photoreductive Removal of Sulfonyl-Based Protecting Groups

This Communication describes the use of CuInS₂/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) as photocatalysts for the reductive deprotection of aryl sulfonyl-protected phenols. For a series of aryl sulfonates with electron-withdrawing substituents, the rate of deprotection for the corresponding phenyl aryl sulfonates increases with decreasing electrochemical potential for the two electron transfers within the catalytic cycle. The rate of deprotection for a substrate that contains a carboxylic acid, a known QD-binding group, is accelerated by more than a factor of ten from that expected from the electrochemical potential for the transformation, a result that suggests that formation of metastable electron donor–acceptor complexes provides a significant kinetic advantage. This deprotection method does not perturb the common NHBoc or toluenesulfonyl protecting groups and, as demonstrated with an estrone substrate, does not perturb proximate ketones, which are generally vulnerable to many chemical reduction methods used for this class of reactions.     

“Anti‐Electrostatic” Halogen Bonding

Halogen bonding is often described as being driven predominantly by electrostatics, and thus adducts between anionic halogen bond (XB) donors (halogen‐based Lewis acids) and anions seem counterintuitive. Such “anti‐electrostatic” XBs have been predicted theoretically but for organic XB donors, there are currently no experimental examples except for a few cases of self‐association. Reported herein is the synthesis of two negatively charged organoiodine derivatives that form anti‐electrostatic XBs with anions. Even though the electrostatic potential is universally negative across the surface of both compounds, DFT calculations indicate kinetic stabilization of their halide complexes in the gas phase and particularly in solution. Experimentally, self‐association of the anionic XB donors was observed in solid‐state structures, resulting in dimers, trimers, and infinite chains. In addition, co‐crystals with halides were obtained, representing the first cases of halogen bonding between an organic anionic XB donor and a different anion. The bond lengths of all observed interactions are 14–21 % shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii.     

Quantum Dot‐Catalyzed Photoreductive Removal of Sulfonyl‐Based Protecting Groups

This Communication describes the use of CuInS₂/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) as photocatalysts for the reductive deprotection of aryl sulfonyl‐protected phenols. For a series of aryl sulfonates with electron‐withdrawing substituents, the rate of deprotection for the corresponding phenyl aryl sulfonates increases with decreasing electrochemical potential for the two electron transfers within the catalytic cycle. The rate of deprotection for a substrate that contains a carboxylic acid, a known QD‐binding group, is accelerated by more than a factor of ten from that expected from the electrochemical potential for the transformation, a result that suggests that formation of metastable electron donor–acceptor complexes provides a significant kinetic advantage. This deprotection method does not perturb the common NHBoc or toluenesulfonyl protecting groups and, as demonstrated with an estrone substrate, does not perturb proximate ketones, which are generally vulnerable to many chemical reduction methods used for this class of reactions.     

Protonation of polyaniline with lightly sulfonated polystyrene

Protonation of polyaniline base with lightly sulfonated polystyrene in polar solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone was investigated by UV-Vis absorption spectra. As the molar ratio of sulfonated polystyrene/polyaniline increases, the conversion from polyaniline base form to salt form is observed owing to increased protonation. The isosbestic point clearly shows that quinoid unit and semiquinoid unit are in equilibrium. They are functions of the sulfonic acid concentration and solvent media.     

Fluorescence properties of some 2-(4-amino-substituted-3-nitrophenyl)-3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-ones

2-(4-Amino-substituted-3-nitrophenyl)-3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-ones have been studied to evaluate their fluorescence properties and possible use as molecular fluorescent probes. The amino group was substituted with various alkyl moieties possessing a suitable terminal functional group (such as hydroxy or amino group) that could serve to bind a 3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-one (3HQ) fluorescence label to a biomolecule. Besides simple hydrocarbon chains, ligands containing ethylenoxy units as optimal spacers were also tested. The structure-fluorescence properties and theoretical applicability of the studied molecules are discussed.