Linker-dependent control of the chiroptical properties of polymethylene-vaulted trans-bis[(ß-iminomethyl)naphthoxy]platinum(II) complexes.

The effects of polymethylene bridges on the chiroptical properties of trans-bis[(ß-iminomethyl)naphthoxy]platinum(II) platforms were examined both experimentally and theoretically using newly designed planar chiral Pt analogues (1) having three-dimensional superstructures. A series of optically pure polymethylene-vaulted Pt complexes (R)- and (S)-1 were synthesized and characterized with regard to the chiroptical behaviour of the trans-bis[(ß-iminomethyl)naphthoxy]platinum(II) platforms. These complexes were found to exhibit structure-dependent chiroptical characteristics in solution, such that the absolute values of specific rotation, the circular dichroism dissymmetry factor (gabs) and the circularly polarized luminescence dissymmetry factor (glum) all increased upon shortening the polymethylene bridges. Density functional theory and time dependent density functional theory calculations were used to analyse vaulted and non-vaulted complexes, which demonstrated that the present linker-dependent chiroptical properties resulted from constraint-induced changes in the square planar Pt coordination centres rather than from chiral distortion along the coordination platforms.

Stimuli-Induced Controls of Magnetic and Photophysical Properties Using Liquescent Open-Shell Ionic Molecular Systems.

This study explores the remarkable properties of liquescent open-shell ionic molecular systems, emphasizing the magnetic and photophysical characteristics arising from their associated structures in the condensed state under various conditions. Well-investigated open-shell molecules, namely, phenothiazine, dihydrophenazine, and tetrathiafulvalene radical cations, and bis(malononitriledithiolato)nickel(III) anionic complexes were examined, and the concept of liquescent open-shell ionic molecular systems was devised. Transformations in their associated structures are induced by external stimuli, resulting in significant variations in their physical properties. These experimental findings open new avenues for exploring and applying stimuli-responsive molecule-based materials.

Needlestick-Stimulation-Induced Conversion of Short-Wave Infrared-Light Transparency Using a Liquescent Radical Anion.

A liquescent salt consisting of a 7,7,8,8-tetracyanquinodimethane (TCNQ) radical anion and a tetra-n-decylammonium ion, 1+•TCNQ•-, exhibits rapid changes in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) light transparency at 1000-1400 nm upon the application of a one-shot needlestick-stimulus. Radical anion salt 1+•TCNQ•- transforms from a blue solid to a green liquid at 90 °C without decomposition under aerated conditions, and remains in the liquid state upon cooling to 70 °C. After applying pressure with a needlestick on a cover glass at 70 °C, the liquid transforms rapidly into the solid state over a timescale of seconds across a centimeter scale of area. Along with the liquid-solid transition, the SWIR-light transparency at 1200 nm completely switches from the "on" to the "off" states. Experimental results, such as electronic spectra and crystal structure analysis, indicates that the SWIR-light absorption in the solid state is due to the existence of a slipped-stacking π-dimer structure for TCNQ•-. The rapid rearrangement is induced by the formation of the π-dimer structures from the monomers of TCNQ•- and the subsequent generations of the solid-state seed.

Temperature-Dependent Modulation of Short-Wave-Infrared Light Transparency Based on Associated Structures of a Liquescent Nickel(III) Complex.

A liquescent bis(malononitriledithiolato)nickel(III) complex with a bis(methoxyethyl)imidazolium cation, 1[Ni(mnt)2 ], exhibits three-stage thermochromic modulation of transparency/absorption in the short-wave-infrared (SWIR) region (1000-2500 nm), driven by associated structural changes. Upon heating, the electronic spectra of 1[Ni(mnt)2 ] in the SWIR region shift to shorter wavelengths accompanying with the solid-liquid phase transition at 76 °C. Further heating to over 109 °C induces a second transition of the electronic spectra, characterized by a blue-shift of the SWIR absorption in the liquid phase. The results of temperature-dependent electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility indicated that the thermochromic changes can be attributed to the two-step dissociation of the associated structures of [Ni(mnt)2 ]- , occurring during the solid-liquid phase transition and the shift of dimer-monomer equilibrium in the liquid state. These changes can be visualized using an SWIR imaging camera under appropriate SWIR lights.

Chiroptical Response Control of Planar and Axially Chiral Polymethylene-Vaulted Platinum(II) Complexes Bearing 1,1'-Binaphthyl Frameworks.

In this study, the synthesis, structure, and chiroptical response control of planar chiral polymethylene-vaulted trans-bis[(ß-iminomethyl)aryloxy]platinum(II) complexes bearing axially chiral 1,1'-binaphthyl ligands are described. A series of enantiopure polymethylene (n = 4-10)-vaulted complexes were prepared in 6 steps using commercially available (R)- or (S)-BINOL as the starting material without an optical resolution process. The trans-coordination and three-dimensional vaulted structures of the platinum complexes were elucidated from X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The complexes were found to show structural dependence of chiroptical responses in the dilute solution state such that the absolute values of [α]D, dissymmetry factors gabs in circular dichroism (CD), and glum in circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) increased upon shortening the length of the polymethylene bridges. The enhanced chiroptical responses were theoretically investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations, and the results are discussed in terms of the molecular structures and transition dipole moments of the ground states. The structural dependence of the chiroptical responses was ascribed to the distortion of the coordination platforms caused by restriction of the vaulting methylene linkers.

On-Demand Control of Short-Wave Infrared Light Transparency Based on Stimuli-Responsive Association of Tetrathiafulvalene Radical Cations.

The light-transmissive properties of a solid-state tetrathiafulvalene radical cation-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, 1-C5 ⋅+ ⋅ NTf2 - , underwent instantaneous changes in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) region (1000-2500 nm) upon exposure to solvent vapor or the application of mechanostress at room temperature. The initial solid state of 1-C5 ⋅+ ⋅ NTf2 - exhibited strong absorption in the near-infrared (NIR; 700-1000 nm) and SWIR regions, whereas the absorption in the SWIR region was significantly diminished in the stimulated state induced by dichloromethane vapor. Upon cessation of vapor stimulation, the solid state spontaneously and promptly reverted to its original state, characterized by absorption bands in the NIR/SWIR region. Moreover, the SWIR absorption was absent upon the application of mechanical stress using a steel spatula. The reversal was fast and occurred within 10 s. These changes were visualized using a SWIR imaging camera under 1450-nm light irradiation. Experimental investigations demonstrated that the transparency to the SWIR light in the solid states was modulated through significant structural transformations of the associated radical cations, with transitions between columnar and isolated π-dimer structures under ambient and stimulated conditions, respectively.

Multistimuli-Responsive Chromism of Vinylene-Linked Bisflavin Based on the Aggregation and Redox Properties.

Multistimuli-responsive chromism was observed for vinylene-linked bisflavin 1 a with an extended π-conjugated platform. The yellow emission of a dilute solution of 1 a in CHCl3 (0.2 mM) observed at 298 K under UV excitation was changed to orange or red emission upon (1) an increase of concentration, (2) a decrease of temperature, and (3) variation of the solvent. This is in contrast to the almost non stimuli-responsive chromism of the N-methylated bisflavin analogue 1 b and monoflavin 2 a. Mechanistic investigation by 1 H NMR analysis under various conditions revealed that the extended π-conjugation platform and imide moiety of 1 a generate controllability in the formation of lower- and higher-ordered aggregates, which induce variation of the emission color upon change. Bisflavin 1 a also exhibited redox-induced chromism, where the orange emission of 1 a was quenched by the addition of hydrazine under anaerobic conditions, and changed back to the original emission upon subsequent bubbling of O2 gas.

Vortex Flow-controlled Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Achiral Pt(II) Complex Aggregates Assembled at the Air-Water Interface.

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) has been researched for various applications by control of characteristics such as chirality and magnitude. Supramolecular chirality has been prepared by vortex motion as a mechanical stimulus; however, CPL has yet to be controlled precisely and reproducibly. In this work, the first precise control of CPL under vortex flow conditions at an air-water interface is reported. The supramolecular chirality of aggregates consisting of an achiral trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(II) complex bearing hexadecyl chains is induced and controlled with vortex flow at the air-water interface, whereas the complex naturally forms an achiral amorphous solid with non-chiroptical properties under non-vortex conditions. The CPL direction and magnitude (glum value) of the Pt(II) complex aggregates can be adjusted precisely according to the vortex conditions, including the rotatory direction and flow rate. Vortex-flow-induced emission enhancement is also observed upon an increase in the rate of the vortex flow.

A Molecule Having 13 Unpaired Electrons: Magnetic Property of a Gadolinium(III) Complex Coordinated with Six Nitronyl Nitroxide Radicals.

A gadolinium(III) complex coordinated with six nitronyl nitroxide radicals showed intriguing temperature-dependent changes in magnetic susceptibilities. The gadolinium(III) ion in the complex is pseudo-eight-coordinated by three singlet-ground-state diradical anion species based on nitronyl nitroxide radicals. The magnetic susceptibility (χpT) of the gadolinium(III) complex at 298 K, whose value corresponded to that of a system with 13 unpaired electrons (seven-spin system), decreased upon a lowering of the temperature to 11 K but increased upon a further lowering of the temperature. Finally, the χpT value at 2 K was found to be higher than that at room temperature. The temperature-dependent magnetic behavior could be explained by a structural change in the diradical anion ligand due to its flexibility.

Origin of the Aggregation-Induced Phosphorescence of Platinum(II) Complexes: The Role of Metal-Metal Interactions on Emission Decay in the Crystalline State.

Discerning the origins of the phosphorescent aggregation-induced emission (AIE) from Pt(II) complexes is crucial for developing the broader range of photo-functional materials. Over the past few decades, several mechanisms of phosphorescent AIE have been proposed, however, not have been directly elucidated. Herein, we describe phosphorescence and deactivation processes of four class of AIE active Pt(II) complexes in the crystalline state based on experimental and theoretical investigation. These complexes show metal-to-ligand and/or metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer emission in crystalline state with different heat resistance against thermal emission quenching. The calculated energy profiles including the minimum energy crossing point between S0 and T1 states were consistent with the heat resistant properties, which provided the mechanism for AIE expression. Furthermore, we have clarified the role of metal-metal interaction in AIE by comparing two computational models.

Rapid Luminescent Enhancement Triggered by One-shot Needlestick-stimulus Using a Liquescent Gold(I) Salt.

Luminescence from a gold(I) complex with an N-heterocycliccarbene-based ligand, 1+ ⋅NTf2- , increased rapidly upon the application of one-shot needlestick-stimulus. The weakly orange-emitting solid-state of 1+ ⋅NTf2- was prepared by cooling its melted liquid to 90 °C. Upon applying a weak pinpoint stimulus with a needle, this weakly orange-emitting solid state transformed into an intensively violet-blue-emitting state on a timescale of seconds. The emission after applying the stimulus could be visualized upon UV excitation even under ambient room light. This sequential phase transition from a stable solid to a liquid and then to a metastable solid could occur repeatedly without any measurable degradation of the complex. Various shapes could be prepared by casting the liquid-state complex into molds of different designs. This rapid response is thought to be triggered by the flexible intermolecular interactions in the kinetically generated aggregates formed upon cooling the liquid state, and by the strong Au-Au interactions in the thermodynamically stable crystals after applying the needlestick-stimulus.

Hysteretic Control of Near-infrared Transparency Using a Liquescent Radical Cation.

A liquescent dihydrophenazine radical cation, 1.+ ⋅NTf2 - , showed drastic changes in near-infrared (near-IR) transparency and opaqueness through hysteretic phase transitions with no measurable degradation of the compound even under aerated conditions. During the heating and slow cooling process (0.5 K min-1 ), its electronic and magnetic properties were altered clearly and repeatedly changed between solid and liquid states. The liquid state was transparent to near-IR light (940 nm), but the solid state was opaque, despite both samples exhibiting a similar green color under room light. Additionally, the liquid state was changed to a glass state under a fast cooling process (2-10 K min-1 ). UV/Vis/near-IR and electron spin-resonance spectroscopy revealed that these drastic changes were attributable to the dynamic dissociation and association of a π-dimer structure for 1.+ accompanying with the solid-liquid phase transitions even under the neat conditions.

Environmentally Benign Strategy for Arylation of Nitronyl Nitroxide Using a Non-Transition Metal Nucleophile.

We have developed a method for the arylation of nitronyl nitroxide without using its transition metal complex as a nucleophile. Various nitronyl nitroxide-substituted π-electronic compounds can be obtained from the parent nitronyl nitroxide and the corresponding aryl iodides using a combination of zero-valent palladium catalysts and a 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',4',6'-triisopropylbiphenyl ligand in the presence of sodium tert-butoxide. The utility of the method has been demonstrated by the direct synthesis of open-shell compounds with giant π-electronic systems, such as 10P.

Emission Control by Molecular Manipulation of Double-Paddled Binuclear PtII Complexes at the Air-Water Interface.

Molecular functions depend on conformations and motions of the corresponding molecular species. An air-water interface is a suitable asymmetric field for the control of molecular conformations and motions under a small applied force. In this work, double-paddled binuclear PtII complexes containing pyrazole rings linked by alkyl spacers were synthesized and their orientations and emission properties dynamically manipulated at the air-water interface. The complexes emerge from water with concurrent variation of interface orientation of the planes of the PtII complexes from perpendicular to parallel during mechanical compression suggesting a unique 'submarine emission'. Phosphorescence of the complexes is quenched at the air-water interface prior to monolayer formation with intensities subsequently rapidly increasing during monolayer compression. These results indicate that asymmetric reactions and motions might be controlled by applying mechanical force at the air-water interface.

Strategy for Stimuli-Induced Spin Control Using a Liquescent Radical Cation.

A liquescent salt based on an N-pentylphenothiazine radical cation (1 •+ ·NTf 2 - ) exhibited a unique crystal-crystal phase transition from a paramagnetic orange solid to a diamagnetic green solid induced by brief, weak, and pinpoint mechanostress. Electron spin resonance and electronic spectroscopies revealed that this unprecedented solid-state spin controllability was attributable to mechanostress-triggered sequential association of the highly mobile radical species occurring under neat conditions.

Data on the characterization of (N-alkylsalicylaldiminato)bis(2-phenylpyridinato)iridium(III).

Herein we report the synthesis, characterization data and photophysical properties of iridium(III) complexes having N-alkylated salicylaldimine and 2-phenylpyridine ligands. The structures of novel iridium complexes were assigned by 1H and 13C NMR, 1H-1H COSY, NOESY, HMQC, HMBC, HRMS, IR and XRD analysis. For further information, we obtained photophysical properties in solution and crystalline states.

Phosphorescent Molecules That Resist Concentration Quenching in the Solution State: Concentration-Driven Emission Enhancement of Vaulted trans-Bis[2-(iminomethyl)imidazolato]platinum(II) Complexes.

In this paper, we describe the first phosphorescent molecules that do not exhibit the concentration quenching in the homogeneous solution state throughout the entire range of concentrations. A series of newly designed polymethylene-vaulted trans-bis[2-(iminomethyl)imidazolato]platinum(II) complexes (1a, n = 10; 1b, n = 12; 1c, n = 14) was prepared by treating [PtCl2(CH3CN)2] with the corresponding N,N'-bis[(1H-imidazol-2-yl)methylene]-1,ω-alkanediamines. The trans coordination and vaulted structures of 1 have been unequivocally established from X-ray diffraction studies. When the concentration of a clear homogeneous solution of 1a-c in organic solvents increases from the diluted to the saturated state, the emission intensity and quantum efficiency increase continuously without concentration quenching at ambient temperature. This is in contrast to the emission profiles of other analogues 2-4 and typical AIEgens, which show ordinary concentration quenching under the same measurement conditions. The present concentration-driven emission enhancement is observed more intensely in a solution of a racemic mixture of 1 in comparison to that of the optically pure solution. Kinetic studies, 1H NMR, XRD analyses, and DFT calculations revealed that this specifically intense emission enhancement of 1 is attributed to an increase in the contribution of a 3MMLCT to 1GS transition, which is caused by the specific ability for the formation of a cofacial association dimer of 1.

Heat-Resistant Properties in the Phosphorescence of trans-Bis[ß-(iminomethyl)aryloxy]platinum(II) Complexes: Effect of Aromaticity on d-π Conjugation Platforms.

The heat-resistant properties towards thermal emission quenching of trans-bis[(ß-iminomethyl)aryloxy]platinum(II) complexes bearing 3-iminomethyl-2-naphtholato- (1), 1-iminomethyl-2-naphtholato- (2), 2-iminomethyl-1-naphtholato- (3), and 2-iminomethyl-1-phenolato (4) moieties, and a mechanistic rationale of these properties, are described in this report. Complex 1 a, with N,N'-dipentyl groups, exhibits intense red emission in 2-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF) at 298 K, whereas the analogues 2 a-4 a are less or non-emissive under the same measurement conditions. All four complexes are highly emissive at 77 K. The heat-resistant properties toward thermal emission quenching (Φ298 K /Φ77 K ) increase in the order 1 a (0.52)>2 a (0.09)>3 a (0.02)>>4 a (0.00). We investigated the emission decay and thermal-deactivation processes using density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent (TD) DFT, and double-hybrid density functional theory (DHDF) calculations of N,N'-diethyl forms 1 b-4 b, and discuss the results with a focus on the energy levels, molecular structures, and electronic configurations in the triplet excited states. The energy differences between the triplet metal-ligand charge transfer (3 MLCT) state and minimum-energy crossing point between the lowest triplet state and singlet ground state (MECP) increase in the order 1 a>2 a, 3 a>4 a, consistent with the experimental results for the heat-resistant properties of these complexes. The origin of the present structure dependence of the 3 MLCT-MECP energy gap is ascribed to the ease or difficulty of the high-lying dσ* orbital participating in the MECP upon thermal structural distortion. The structure dependence in energy gaps between the π* and dσ* orbitals, which is key for facilitating the thermal deactivation process, is rationally correlated with the extent of aromaticity on the coordination platforms (1 b>(2 b, 3 b)>4 b).

Helicity Control of Supramolecular Gel Fibers Consisting of an Achiral NiII Complex in a Chiral Nematic Solvent.

The supramolecular chirality of aggregates consisting of achiral trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)NiII complex 1 bearing long alkyl chains can be generated and controlled precisely in a chiral nematic liquid-crystalline (LC) solvent, whereas the complex naturally forms achiral gel fibers in achiral nematic LC solvents and crystals in nonmesogenic solvents. The direction and intensity of the helicity of the gel fibers of 1 in the LC gel state can be adjusted by means of the nature of the helical twisting and the concentration of the chiral dopants. Helicity control was precisely detected in the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of LC gels and by direct SEM observation of the dried gel fibers. XRD analysis revealed that the flexibility of the herringbone-based lamellar alignment of this complex is the key to the LC-specific gelation and helicity control of the gel fibers.

Dynamic neighbouring participation of nitrogen lone pairs on the chromogenic behaviour of trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) coordination platforms.

The participation of neighbouring nitrogen lone pairs in the chromogenic control of trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) platforms was examined, using newly designed Pt analogues bearing salicylaldehyde hydrazone ligands. A series of non-vaulted and vaulted Pt complexes (1-5) with salicylaldehyde hydrazones as trans-coordinated bidentate ligands were synthesized and characterized with regard to the chromogenic behaviour of the trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) coordination platforms. X-ray diffraction and 2D NMR data demonstrated that, in the case of the non-vaulted N-monomethyl complexes 1, there was significant participation of neighbouring N(2) lone pairs in the d-π conjugation of the trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) platforms owing to conformational fixation arising from intramolecular hydrogen bonding. In contrast, the lone pairs of the N,N-dimethyl analogues 2 made a much less significant contribution to the extension of the d-π conjugation, due to their high conformational mobility. Complexes 1-5 were found to have structure-dependent chromogenic properties in the solution state, such that the absorption spectra of the N-methyl, short-vaulted complexes 1 and 3 exhibited significant hypsochromic shifts relative to the N,N-dimethyl, long-vaulted analogues 2 and 5, which had spectra very similar to that of the trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) complex 6. The introduction of MeO groups at the 3- and 5 positions on the aromatic rings of 1 and 2 gave rise to significant hypsochromic and bathochromic shifts, respectively. In addition, νmax - ET(30) plots for various solvents revealed that complexes 1-5 exhibit negative solvatochromism, in which the data obtained in alcoholic solvents are hypsochromically separated from those in non-alcoholic solvents for 1 and 3, an effect that is not observed for 2 and 5. Complexes 1-5 also exhibit emission enhancement upon addition of excess CH3SO3H in dimethyl sulfoxide, and a significant effect of the linker on quantum yields (Φ77 K) was observed in the case of the vaulted complexes. Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/6-31G*, LanL2DZ) determined that the structure dependence of the chromogenic behaviour of these non-vaulted and polymethylene-vaulted hydrazone complexes can be attributed to variations in the participation of neighbouring nitrogen lone pairs in the d-π conjugation on the trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) coordination platforms.