An anionic organic mixed-valence system with a remarkably well-resolved vibrational structure in its intervalence band

The reduction of a phenylene-bridged bis(dioxaborine) affords a strongly delocalised organic mixed-valence system; for the first time details of the vibrations coupled to the electron transfer have been extracted from the intervalence band.     

Charge‐Transport Properties of F6TNAP‐Based Charge‐Transfer Cocrystals

The crystal structures of the charge‐transfer (CT) cocrystals formed by the π‐electron acceptor 1,3,4,5,7,8‐hexafluoro‐11,11,12,12‐tetracyanonaphtho‐2,6‐quinodimethane (F₆TNAP) with the planar π‐electron‐donor molecules triphenylene (TP), benzo[b]benzo[4,5]thieno[2,3‐d]thiophene (BTBT), benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT), pyrene (PY), anthracene (ANT), and carbazole (CBZ) have been determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD), along with those of two polymorphs of F₆TNAP. All six cocrystals exhibit 1:1 donor/acceptor stoichiometry and adopt mixed‐stacking motifs. Cocrystals based on BTBT and CBZ π‐electron donor molecules exhibit brickwork packing, while the other four CT cocrystals show herringbone‐type crystal packing. Infrared spectroscopy, molecular geometries determined by SCXRD, and electronic structure calculations indicate that the extent of ground‐state CT in each cocrystal is small. Density functional theory calculations predict large conduction bandwidths and, consequently, low effective masses for electrons for all six CT cocrystals, while the TP‐, BDT‐, and PY‐based cocrystals are also predicted to have large valence bandwidths and low effective masses for holes. Charge‐carrier mobility values are obtained from space‐charge limited current (SCLC) measurements and field‐effect transistor measurements, with values exceeding 1 cm² V^?1 s¹ being estimated from SCLC measurements for BTBT:F₆TNAP and CBZ:F₆TNAP cocrystals.     

Electronic coupling in tetraanisylarylenediamine mixed-valence systems: the interplay between bridge energy and geometric factors

We have investigated three organic mixed-valence systems that possess nearly identical inter-redox site distances and differ by the nature of the bridging units benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene: the N,N,N',N'-tetra(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-phenylenene-diamine radical cation (1+), the 1,4-bis(N,N-di(4-methoxyphenyl)-amino)naphthalene radical cation (2+), and the 9,10-bis(N,N-di(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)anthracene radical cation (3+). The electronic interactions in these systems have been studied by means of gas-phase ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, vis/NIR spectroscopy, and electronic-structure calculations. The experimental and theoretical results concur to indicate that the strength of electronic interaction decreases in the following order of bridging units: benzene > naphthalene > anthracene. This finding contradicts the usual expectation that anthracene is superior to benzene as a driving force for electronic communication. We explain these results in terms of a super-exchange mechanism and its strong dependence on steric interactions.     

Borderline class II/III ligand-centered mixed valency in a porphyrinic molecular rectangle

A molecular rectangle of the form ([Re(CO)(3)](2)BiBzIm)(2)-mu,mu'-(LL)(2), where BiBzIm is 2,2'-bisbenzimidazolate and LL are cofacially aligned [5,15-bis(4-ethynylpyridyl)-10,20-bis(n-hexyl)-porphyrinato]zinc ligands, has been examined via electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical, and electronic Stark effect methods. The rectangle displays three electrochemically accessible reductions assigned as LL based. The singly reduced rectangles are part of an unusual class of mixed-valence complexes where cofacial ligands, in this case porphyrins, comprise the degenerate redox centers. Absorption spectra for the singly reduced rectangle show two intense and narrow absorption bands in the near-infrared (NIR) region; the lower energy band is assigned as an intervalence transition. Time-dependent density functional theory electronic structure calculations support the assignment. Curiously, the transition displays a non-Marcus-type solvent dependence. NIR region electroabsorbance measurements of the singly reduced rectangle reveal a small but readily measurable dipole moment change of 0.56 +/- 0.05 eA. On the basis of spectroelectrochemical and electroabsorption measurements, the singly reduced rectangle is assigned as a borderline class II/class III mixed-valence species.     

Synthesis and structure of new Zn(II) and Co(II) coordination polymers with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid

Two new Zn(II) and Co(II) compounds obtained by reactions of tetrafluoroborates of these metals with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic (trimesic) acid (H₃Btc) and 1,3-bis(pyridyl)propane (Bpp) as an additional ligand were studied by X-ray diffraction. The formation of coordination polymers of various dimensionality, {[Zn₄(Bpp)₄(HBtc)₃((Me)Btc)]{(Me)₂HBtc} · 2H2O} _n (I), 1D, and {[Co₄(μ₃-OH)₂(Btc)₂(H₂O)₈] · 4(H₂O)} _n (II), 2D (CIF files CCDC no. 1552167 (I), 1552168 (II)) was demonstrated. Since H3Btc is partially methylated during the reaction, in I, this acid is stabilized in three forms: HBtc^2–, (Me)Btc^2–, and (Me)₂HBtc. The tetrahedral Zn(II) coordination polyhedron is formed by the N₂O₂ set of donor atoms: the O atoms belong to two different carboxylate ligands, HBtc^2– and (Me)Btc^2–, while the N atoms belong to two Bpp ligands. In II, the Bpp ligand is not incorporated in the complex and H₃Btc is coordinated to five metal atoms as a triply deprotonated ligand. Two carboxyl groups are coordinated to Co atoms as bidentate bridging ligands, while the third group is monodentate. The octahedral coordination polyhedra of Co(II) atoms in II are supplemented by terminal water molecules and μ₃-bridging OH^– groups.     

Titanium Nitride Modified Photoluminescence from Single Semiconductor Nanoplatelets

Titanium nitride (TiN) is an alternative plasmonic material that has the potential for visible and near‐infrared optical applications due to its distinct properties. Here, coupling effects between TiN nanohole array films and nearby excitonic emitters, semiconductor nanoplatelets (NPLs), are investigated using single particle spectroscopy. At the emission wavelength of the NPLs, the local field enhancement close to the surface of the TiN nanohole array films induces an increase in the radiative decay rates of the emitters by a factor of up to 2. This effect diminishes quickly as the distance between the TiN nanohole array films and emitters increases. At short wavelengths where the NPLs are excited, the TiN nanohole array films exhibit lossy dielectric characteristics. Local field modification at these wavelengths leads to a reduced local density of electromagnetic states, and hence the photoluminescence intensity of the emitters. This study shows the potential of TiN as an alternative plasmonic material for optoelectronic and photonic applications, especially in the long wavelength ranges.     

Organocatalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of aromatic amines for the preparation of azobenzenes under mild conditions

(Diacetoxyiodo)benzene used as stoichiometrically and catalytically in the preparation of azobenzenes under mild reaction conditions was developed. The metal-free oxidation systems demonstrated wide substituents tolerance, alkyls, halogens, and several versatile functional groups, such as amino, ethynyl, and carboxyl substituents are compatible well, and the corresponding products could be formed with good to excellent yields. In this disclosed method, the more large scale formation of azo compounds also could be carried out successfully. Of note that 3-ethynylbenzenamine applied as a very useful cross dehydrogenative partner, which coupled with different anilines, providing asymmetrical azo compounds with acceptable yields in one step under very mild reaction conditions.     

Intersystem crossing processes in nonplanar aromatic heterocyclic molecules

A comprehensive study of the photophysical properties of a series of monoaza[5]helicenes is presented on the basis of joint optical spectroscopy and quantum chemistry investigations. The molecules have been characterized by absorption and CW/time-resolved luminescence measurements. All quantities related to spin-orbit-coupling processes, such as intersystem crossing rates and radiative phosphorescence lifetimes, were found to depend strongly on the nitrogen position within the carbon backbone. Density functional theory and semiempirical quantum-chemical methods were used to evaluate the molecular geometries, the characteristics of the excited singlet and triplet states, and the spin-orbit coupling matrix elements. We demonstrate that the magnitude of spin-orbit coupling is directly correlated with the degree of deviation from planarity. The trends from the calculated photophysical quantities, namely, radiative fluorescence and phosphorescence decay rates and intersystem crossing rates, of the mono-aza-helicenes are fully consistent with experiment.     

Theoretical study of substitution effects on molecular reorganization energy in organic semiconductors

Chemical substitutions are powerful molecular design tools to enhance the performance of organic semiconductors, for instance, to improve solubility, intermolecular stacking, or film quality. However, at the microscopic level, substitutions in general tend to increase the molecular reorganization energy and thus decrease the intrinsic charge-carrier mobility. Through density functional theory calculations, we elucidate strategies that could be followed to reduce the reorganization energy upon chemical substitution. Specific examples are given here for hole-transport materials including indolo-carbazoles and several triarylamine derivatives. Through decomposition of the total reorganization energy into the internal coordinate space, we are able to identify the molecular segment that provides the most important contributions to the reorganization energy. It is found that when substitution reduces (enhances) the amplitude of the relevant frontier molecular orbital in that segment, the total reorganization energy decreases (increases). In particular, chlorination at appropriate positions can significantly reduce the reorganization energy. Several other substituents are shown to play a similar role, to a greater or lesser extent.     

Synthesis of a functionalized furan via ozonolysis—further confirmation of the Criegee mechanism

A new method for the synthesis of a tetrahydrofuran ring is described which involves ozonolysis of a diene possessing a free hydroxy group in the γ-position. The reaction proceeds via ozone attack on the terminal double bond, cleavage, and intramolecular cyclization through the free hydroxy group. The cyclization event can be rationalized through formation of Criegee’s carbonyl oxide, but not through the ‘unified’ mechanism, thereby lending support to the Criegee mechanism as a method of producing oxygen-containing heterocycles.