Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer in 2-(2'-Hydroxyphenyl)pyrimidines: Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Theoretical Studies.

The development of fluorescence materials with switched on/off emission has attracted great attention owing to the potential application of these materials in chemical sensing. In this work, the photophysical properties of a series of original 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)pyrimidines were thoroughly studied. The compounds were prepared by following well-established and straightforward methodologies and showed very little or null photoluminescence both in solution and in the solid state. This absence of emission can be explained by a fast proton transfer from the OH group to the nitrogen atoms of the pyrimidine ring to yield an excited tautomer that deactivates through a nonradiative pathway. The key role of the OH group in the emission quenching was demonstrated by the preparation of 2'-unsubstituted derivatives, all of which exhibited violet or blue luminescence. Single crystals of some compounds suitable for an X-ray diffraction analysis could be obtained, which permitted us to investigate inter- and intramolecular interactions and molecular packing structures. The protonation of the pyrimidine ring by an addition of trifluoroacetic acid inhibited the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process, causing a reversible switch on fluorescence response detectable by the naked eye. This acidochromic behavior allows 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)pyrimidines to be used as solid-state acid-base vapor sensors and anticounterfeiting agents. Extensive density functional theory and its time-dependent counterpart calculations at the M06-2X/6-31+G** level of theory were performed to rationalize all the experimental results and understand the impact of protonation on the different optical transitions.

Understanding the Driving Mechanisms of Enhanced Luminescence Emission of Oligo(styryl)benzenes and Tri(styryl)-s-triazine.

This work is focused on unraveling the mechanisms responsible for the aggregation-induced enhanced emission and solid-state luminescence enhancement effects observed in star-shaped molecules based on 1,3,5-tris(styryl)benzene and tri(styryl)-s-triazine cores. To achieve this, the photophysical properties of this set of molecules were analyzed in three states: free molecules, molecular aggregates in solution, and the solid state. Different spectroscopy and microscopy experiments and DFT calculations were conducted to scrutinize the causative mechanisms of the luminescence enhancement phenomenon observed in some experimental conditions. Enhanced luminescence emission was interpreted in the context of short- and long-range excitonic coupling mechanisms and the restriction of intramolecular vibrations. Additionally, we found that the formation of π-stacking aggregates could block E/Z photoisomerization through torsional motions between phenylene rings in the excited state, and hence, enhancing the luminescence of the system.

Photophysical features and semiconducting properties of propeller-shaped oligo(styryl)benzenes.

Electronic, optical, and semiconducting properties of a series of propeller-shaped oligo(styryl)benzenes have been systematically investigated to monitor the effect of the number of styryl branches (three, four, and six) around a central benzene core. In order to clarify the relationships between their structures and properties, Density Functional Theory calculations were carried out at several levels of theory considering solvents with different polarity. Absorption and vibrational Raman spectroscopies showed that cruciform, four-branched derivatives present the most effective π-conjugation in agreement with the lowest calculated bond length alternation and bandgap. Deviations from the mirror image symmetry between absorption and fluorescence spectra were related to changes in the molecular conformation upon electronic excitation. Furthermore, in order to investigate the semiconducting behavior of oligo(styryl)benzenes, molecular structure changes and different electronic properties related to ionization processes were calculated and analyzed. Hole and electron reorganization energies were also computed to provide a first approximation on the n- or p-type character of these compounds. In some cases, electron reorganization energies comparable to common n-type semiconductors were found.

Understanding Electron Transport in Disk-Shaped Triphenylene-Tris(naphthaleneimidazole)s through Structural Modification and Theoretical Investigation.

Disk-shaped molecules with large aromatic π-surfaces are a class of organic semiconductors in which the charge-carrier transport properties could be greatly facilitated by preferred intermolecular stacking of the π-surfaces. The optical and electronic properties are not only determined by the core aromatic structure of these disk-shaped molecules but are also strongly dependent on the side chains, which directly impact the molecular self-assembly behavior in condensed phases. Triphenylene-tris(naphthaleneimidazole) (TP-TNI) is a recently reported n-type semiconductor featuring a large π-core and branched side chains, with an electron-transporting mobility reaching 10-4 cm2 V-1 s-1. To further improve material performance, a detailed study is needed to understand the dependence of carrier transport properties on both the core electronic structure and side chain. Here, we present the detailed synthesis and characterization of a TP-TNI derivative bearing linear side chains, which has demonstrated a field-effect electron-transport mobility of up to 1.3 × 10-3 cm2 V-1 s-1. The more than 1 order improvement in electron-transport properties over the branched side chain homologue can be correlated to ordered twisted packing in the thin film, as revealed by in situ variable temperature grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering studies. In-depth theoretical understanding of the frontier orbitals, reorganization energies, and charge-transfer integrals of TP-TNI molecules has provided further insight into the relationship between the molecular stacking geometry and charge-transport properties.

A combined experimental and DFT investigation on the structure and CO-releasing properties of mono and binuclear fac-ReI(CO)3 complexes with 5-pyridin-2-ylmethylene-amino uracils.

The synthesis, structure and CO-releasing properties of a number of new tricarbonyl rhenium(i) complexes with 5-substituted-6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracils are reported and their structural features discussed on the basis of both spectral and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The 5-substituent library includes -N[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-2py (DAAUPic) and -CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N-N[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-2py (FDUHzPic) as additional metal binding components and chloride, acetonitrile or pyridine acting as ancillary ligands. The compounds have been identified by elemental analysis, NMR, MS and IR spectroscopy. In addition, [ReCl(CO)3(DAAUPic)], [Re(CO)3(FDUHzPic)py]ClO4, [Re(CO)3(FDUHzPic)py]PF6, [Re2Cl2(CO)6(FDUHzPic)] and [Re2Cl(CO)6(FDUHzPicH-1)(H2O)] structures have been solved by X-ray diffraction methods. These studies have clearly shown that the preferred coordination mode to rhenium takes place through the (N1F,N52)-pyridin-2-yl-methyleneamine moiety, the uracil coordinative availability (O4-N51 or N6-N51) being used only to bind the second metal center. The CO-releasing ability of these rhenium compounds has been investigated by the reaction with myoglobin; the corresponding studies have revealed that two of the mononuclear complexes and their related binuclear analogues are able to release CO to a moderate extent. This ability has also been theoretically assessed through a QTAIM analysis. The results, although non-conclusive, may explain somehow possible different preferences in CO releasing power after a comparison between the nature of Re-CO links in mononuclear and binuclear compounds.

Effect of five-membered ring and heteroatom substitution on charge transport properties of perylene discotic derivatives: A theoretical approach.

Density functional theory calculations were carried out to investigate the evolvement of charge transport properties of a set of new discotic systems as a function of ring and heteroatom (B, Si, S, and Se) substitution on the basic structure of perylene. The replacement of six-membered rings by five-membered rings in the reference compound has shown a prominent effect on the electron reorganization energy that decreases ∼0.2 eV from perylene to the new carbon five-membered ring derivative. Heteroatom substitution with boron also revealed to lower the LUMO energy level and increase the electron affinity, therefore lowering the electron injection barrier compared to perylene. Since the rate of the charge transfer between two molecules in columnar discotic systems is strongly dependent on the orientation of the stacked cores, the total energy and transfer integral of a dimer as a disc is rotated with respect to the other along the stacking axis have been predicted. Aimed at obtaining a more realistic approach to the bulk structure, the molecular geometry of clusters made up of five discs was fully optimized, and charge transfer rate and mobilities were estimated for charge transport along a one dimensional pathway. Heteroatom substitution with selenium yields electron transfer integral values ∼0.3 eV with a relative disc orientation of 25°, which is the preferred angle according to the dimer energy profile. All the results indicate that the tetraselenium-substituted derivative, not synthetized so far, could be a promising candidate among those studied in this work for the fabrication of n-type semiconductors based on columnar discotic liquid crystals materials.

Electronic and Morphological Studies of Conjugated Polymers Incorporating a Disk-Shaped Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Unit.

As more research findings have shown the correlation between ordering in organic semiconductor thin films and device performance, it is becoming more essential to exercise control of the ordering through structural tuning. Many recent studies have focused on the influence of side chain engineering on polymer packing orientation in thin films. However, the impact of the size and conformation of aromatic surfaces on thin film ordering has not been investigated in great detail. Here we introduce a disk-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon building block with a large π surface, namely, thienoazacoronenes (TACs), as a donor monomer for conjugated polymers. A series of medium bandgap conjugated polymers have been synthesized by copolymerizing TAC with electron donating monomers of varying size. The incorporation of the TAC unit in such semiconducting polymers allows a systematic investigation, both experimentally and theoretically, of the relationships between polymer conformation, electronic structure, thin film morphology, and charge transport properties. Field effect transistors based on these polymers have shown good hole mobilities and photoresponses, proving that TAC is a promising building block for high performance optoelectronic materials.

A DFT approach to the charge transport related properties in columnar stacked π-conjugated N-heterocycle cores including electron donor and acceptor units.

We present a density functional theory (DFT) study on charge-transport related properties in a series of discotic systems based on 1,3,5-triazine and tris[1,2,4]triazolo[1,3,5]triazine central cores as electron acceptor units, and phenyl-thiophene and N-carbazolyl-thiophene segments as electron donor units. The presence of both electron donor and acceptor moieties in the π-conjugated core could lead to new discotic liquid crystal (DLC) materials which are predicted to display ambipolar charge transport behavior in such a way that electrons could move through the central part of the next cores while holes mainly do through the peripheral groups. A significant increase in hole mobility when N-carbazolyl is present as an electron donor unit in the peripheral region is predicted. In addition, a detailed topological analysis of the electron charge density within the framework provided by Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) has been performed in order to characterize intra- and intermolecular interactions in terms of hydrogen bonds and/or π···π stacking which contribute to the stabilization of the columnar stack and the helical self-assembly at the molecular scale.

Heteropolyhedral silver compounds containing the polydentate ligand N,N,O-E-[6-(hydroxyimino)ethyl]-1,3,7-trimethyllumazine. Preparation, spectral and XRD structural study and AIM calculations.

The oxime derived from 6-acetyl-1,3,7-trimethyllumazine (1) ((E-6-(hydroxyimino)ethyl)-1,3,7-trimethylpteridine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione, DLMAceMox) has been prepared and its molecular and crystal structure determined from spectral and XRD data. The oxime ligand was reacted with silver nitrate, perchlorate, thiocyanate, trifluoromethylsulfonate and tetrafluoroborate to give complexes with formulas [Ag(2)(DLMAceMox)(2)(NO(3))(2)](n) (2), [Ag(2)(DLMAceMox)(2)(ClO(4))(2)](n) (3), [Ag(2)(DLMAceMox)(2)(SCN)(2)] (4), [Ag(2)(DLMAceMox)(2)(CF(3)SO(3))(2)(CH(3)CH(2)OH)]·CH(3)CH(2)OH (5) and [Ag(DLMAceMox)(2)]BF(4) (6). Single-crystal XRD studies show that the asymmetrical residual unit of complexes 2, 3 and 5 contains two quite different but connected silver centers (Ag1-Ag2, 2.9-3.2 Å). In addition to this, the Ag1 ion displays coordination with the N5 and O4 atoms from both lumazine moieties and a ligand (nitrato, perchlorato or ethanol) bridging to another disilver unit. The Ag2 ion is coordinated to the N61 oxime nitrogens, a monodentate and a (O,O)-bridging nitrato/perchlorato or two monodentate O-trifluoromethylsulfonato anions. The coordination polyhedra can be best described as a strongly distorted octahedron (around Ag1) and a square-based pyramid (around Ag2). The Ag-N and Ag-O bond lengths range between 2.22-2.41 and 2.40-2.67 Å, respectively. Although the structure of 4 cannot be resolved by XRD, it is likely to be similar to those described for 2, 3 and 5, containing Ag-Ag units with S-thiocyanato terminal ligands. Finally, the structure of the tetrafluoroborate compound 6 is mononuclear with a strongly distorted tetrahedral AgN(4) core (Ag-N, 2.27-2.43 Å). Always, the different Ag-N distances found clearly point to the more basic character of the oxime N61 nitrogen atom when compared with the pyrazine N5 one. A topological analysis of the electron density within the framework provided by the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) using DFT(M06L) levels of theory has been performed. Every Ag-Ag and Ag-ligand interaction has been characterized in terms of Laplacian of the electron density, [nabla](2)ρ(r), and the total energy density, H(r).

Density functional theory study of the optical and electronic properties of oligomers based on phenyl-ethynyl units linked to triazole, thiadiazole, and oxadiazole rings to be used in molecular electronics.

In the present work, we have studied from a theoretical perspective the geometry and electronic properties of the series of related compounds 2,5-bis(phenylethynyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2,5-bis(phenylethynyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, and 2,5-bis(phenylethynyl)-1,2,4-triazole as candidates for electron-conducting polymers and compounds with desirable (opto)electronic properties. The effect of the ethynyl group (-C[Triple Bond]C-) on the structure and electronic properties was also studied. The influence of planarity on electrical conductivity has been studied by a natural-bond-orbital analysis. The (opto)electronic properties and conducting capability were investigated through the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gap, excitation energy, bond length alternation, LUMO energy, electron affinities, and intramolecular reorganization energy. Finally, the evolution of some properties such as optical bandgap and electron affinity with the increase of the number of repeat units in the oligomer chain has been checked.

Theoretical study of the effect of ethynyl group on the structure and electrical properties of phenyl-thiadiazole systems as precursors of electron-conducting materials.

2,5-Bis(phenylethynyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole (PhEtTh) and 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (PhTh) are expected to be building blocks for polymer materials that could be employed to conduct electricity due to their narrow highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) energy gaps. In this work, a theoretical, comparative study about the effect of the ethynyl group on the planarity and electrical conductivity of this kind of systems has been carried out. Thus, several ab initio (Hartree-Fock, Moller-Plesset) and DFT (B3LYP, B3PW91, M05, M05-2X) methods and basis sets (6-31G(*), 6-31G+G(**), 6-311G(**), cc-pVDZ, cc-pVTZ) have been tested. As a result, PhEtTh showed better properties for its use as electric conducting material relative to PhTh due to its smaller HOMO-LUMO gap, as well as its enhanced trend to retain the planarity provided the reduction in steric hindrances that the ethynyl group (-C[triple bond]C-) permits. Solvent effects were also modeled for ethanol and chloroform under the conductor-like polarizable continuum model approximation. Finally, electronic transitions in gas and solution phases were predicted by using TDDFT approximation in order to compare the theoretical lambda(max) with the experimental values reported in literature for both compounds.

Molecular structure, vinyl rotation barrier, and vibrational dynamics of 2,6-dichlorostyrene. A theoretical and experimental research.

The molecular structure of 2,6-dichlorostyrene has been analyzed at MP2 and DFT levels using different basis sets concluding in a nonplanar geometry. The influence of either the level of theory or the nature of the substituent has been assessed. The vinyl-phenyl torsion barrier has also been investigated as a function of level of theory. The ultimate factors responsible for the torsion barrier have been studied using two different partitioning schemes, i.e., the total electronic potential energy and the natural bond orbital, NBO. A topological analysis of the electron density within the atom-in-molecule, AIM, theory predicts soft intramolecular chlorine (ring)-hydrogen (vinyl) contacts when the system becomes planar. A first complete vibrational study has been performed using theoretical data and experimental vibrational frequencies from IR, Raman and, for the first time, inelastic neutron scattering, INS, spectra. The new assignment proposed is based on a scaled quantum mechanical, SQM, force field and the wavenumber linear scaling, WLS, approach.