Dependency of the Dimethyldihydropyrene Photochromic Properties on the Number of Pyridinium Electron-Withdrawing Groups.

Photochromic dimethyldihydropyrenes substituted with electron-withdrawing pyridinium groups have shown an increase of photo-induced ring-opening efficiency and a light sensitivity that is red shifted relative to the unsubstituted compound. However, a recently synthesized tetrapyridinium derivative showed a considerable decrease of the photo-isomerization quantum yield relative to the monopyridinium and bispyridinium derivatives. We provide a rationale for this unexpected photochemical behavior based on the comparative theoretical investigations of the relevant excited states of these systems. In particular, we found that the nature and order of the lowest two excited states depend on the number of pyridinium groups and on the symmetry of the system. While the lowest S1 excited state is photo-active in the monopyridinium and bispyridinium derivatives, the photo-isomerizing state is S2 in the reference unsubstituted compound and both S1 and S2 lead to isomerization in the tetrapyridinium derivative, albeit with a low efficiency. In the latter derivative, the photo-isomerization is hindered by the particular S1 /S2 conical intersection topology.

All Visible Light Switch Based on the Dimethyldihydropyrene Photochromic Core.

Two photoswitchable compounds that can operate under visible light irradiation are prepared and investigated using spectroscopic and computational studies. These all-visible systems are based on the dimethyldihydropyrene (DHP)/cyclophanediene (CPD) photochromic couple connected either to a bipyridine (bpy) unit or to a (tris(bpy)ruthenium(II)) complex through a pyridinium bridge. In these compounds, the DHP to CPD isomerization and the reverse CPD to DHP conversion can be triggered by illumination with red (>630 nm) and blue (460 nm) lights, respectively. The unambiguous and reversible response of these systems triggered by visible light make them potential candidates for biological purposes and electronic devices.

Dynamic Molecular Metamorphism Involving Palladium-Assisted Dimerization of π-Cation Radicals.

A dynamic supramolecular approach is developed to promote the π-dimerization of viologen radicals at room temperature and in standard concentration ranges. The approach involves cis- or trans-protected palladium centers serving as inorganic hinges linking two functionalized viologens endowed with metal-ion coordinating properties. Based on detailed spectroscopic, electrochemical and computational data, we show that the one-electron electrochemical reduction of the viologen units in different dynamic metal/ligand mixtures leads to the formation of the same intramolecular π-dimer, regardless of the initial environment around the metallic precursor and of the relative ratio between metal and ligand initially introduced in solution. The large-scale electron-triggered reorganization of the building blocks introduced in solution thus involves drastic changes in the stoichiometry and stereochemistry of the palladium/viologen complexes proceeding in some cases through a palladium centered trans→cis isomerization of the coordinated ligands.

Redox-Induced Molecular Metamorphism Promoting a Sol/Gel Phase Transition in a Viologen-Based Coordination Polymer.

We have developed a strategy enabling control over the organization of ditopic molecular tectons within a palladium-based self-assembled system. The key electron-responsive sub-unit is a viologen-based mechanical hinge that can toggle under electric stimulation between a folded and a stretched position, the driving force of the folding motion being the π-dimerisation of the electrogenerated viologen cation radicals. The title ditopic tecton features two planar, N2-type, triazole/pyridine-based bidentate binding units, providing the tecton with the ability to chelate two palladium ions both in its folded and in its elongated conformations. Association of this ditopic redox-responsive tecton with palladium to form 1D self-assembled architectures undergoing large scale reorganizations in solution under electric stimulation, has been established on the ground of spectroscopic, electrochemical, spectro-electrochemical and rheological data. Our result reveal that addition of metal leads to a significant stabilization of the π-dimer species in solution and that the redox-triggered reorganisation of the tectons comes along in suitable conditions with a macroscopic sol/gel-type phase transition.

Redox-Triggered Folding of Self-Assembled Coordination Polymers incorporating Viologen Units.

We report the study of stimuli-responsive ZnII and FeII coordination polymers (MC34+ or MC24+ with M=Fe2+ or Zn2+ ). These soluble metallopolymers were formed spontaneously by reaction of an organic ligand (C34+ or C24+ ) with one molar equivalent of metal ions. The C34+ and C24+ ligands incorporate two chelating terpyridine groups bridged by a redox responsive hinge featuring two viologen units (viologen=N,N'-dialkyl-4,4'-bipyridinium) linked either with propyl (C34+ ) or ethyl (C24+ ) chains. The viologen units in the polymer chains were reduced (1 e- per viologen group) either by bulk electrolysis or by visible-light irradiation carried out in the presence of a photosensitizer. The 1 e- reduction of the viologen units in the MC24+ polymers induced a slight decrease in the viscosity of the solutions due to a modification of the overall charge carried by the metallopolymers. In strong contrast, reduction of coordination polymers involving propyl linkers (MC34+ ) led to a remarkable increase (≈+400 %) in observed viscosity. This reversible effect was attributed to a folding of the polymer chains triggered by π-dimerization of the photo-generated viologen cation radicals.

Tetrakis(ethyl-4(4-butyryl)oxyphenyl)porphyrinato zinc complexes with 4,4'-bpyridin: synthesis, characterization, and its catalytic degradation of Calmagite.

This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of a new porphyrins complex:[Zn(TEBOP)(4,4'-bpy)](4,4'-bipyridine)(5,10,15,20-(tetraethyl-4(4-butyryl)oxyphenyl)porphyrinato)zinc(ii) (3). Single crystal X-ray diffraction, photophysical and electrochemical characteristics were studied. The prepared complex, penta-coordinated zinc(ii) porphyrin derivatives shows moderate ruffling distortion and the zinc atom is nearly planar with the porphyrin core. Tolyl and ethyl-4(4-butyryl)oxyphenyl) moieties at the meso positions present a bathochromic shift of the absorption bands, and a notable increase in the absorption coefficient of the Q(0,0) and Q(0,1) bands was observed with a higher fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime compared with the free base porphyrin. The electrochemical investigation shows a reversible reduction of the synthesized complexes. The catalytic power and the adsorption properties of the prepared complexes were studied for Calmagite degradation, an azoic organic dye. The results reveal that the studied compounds could be used as catalysts for the decolourisation of dyes in the presence of H2O2.

Efficient Photoswitch System Combining a Dimethyldihydropyrene Pyridinium Core and Ruthenium(II) Bis-Terpyridine Entities.

Terpyridine ruthenium complexes linked to the dimethyldihydropyrene (DHP) photochromic unit have been synthesized and fully characterized by cyclic voltammetry and absorption and emission spectroscopy. The study of the photoisomerization reaction undergone by the DHP motif under visible light irradiation is reported. In comparison to previous work, the introduction of an electron-withdrawing pyridinium spacer between the chelating terpyridine unit and the DHP skeleton has considerably tuned the photochromic properties of the free ligands and their corresponding complexes in term of time response and photoreversibility. A rapid, reversible, and complete conversion between the closed and the open forms has been clearly evidenced under visible light irradiation. Only slight perturbations have been induced by the presence of ruthenium centers. Experimental findings and their interpretation have been supported by theoretical calculations.

Flexible Viologen Cyclophanes: Odd/Even Effects on Intramolecular Interactions.

The ability of three bis-viologen cyclophanes to act as redox-triggered contractile switches is investigated. Odd/even effects in the formation of cyclic bis-viologens are circumvented by the use of a Zincke salt intermediate and a tetrathiafulvalene template to prepare a flexible cyclophane with hexyl linkers. Comparative spectro-electrochemical studies of this macrocycle with two other pentyl- or heptyl-linked cyclic bis-viologens show that the development of intramolecular interactions in aqueous solution depends on the length of the bridges. This dependence is confirmed by EPR and DFT studies of the magnetic coupling in the diradical dication species. The anti-ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic nature of the coupling depend, respectively, on the odd or even number of methylene groups in the spacer.

Electron-Triggered Metamorphism in Porphyrin-Based Self-Assembled Coordination Polymers.

Viologen-centered electron transfer is used to trigger a complete dissociation of a porphyrin-based supramolecular architecture. In the oxidized state, self-assembly is induced by iterative association of individual porphyrin-based tectons. Dissociation of the self-assembled species is actuated upon changing the redox state of the bipyridium units involved in the tectons from their dicationic state to their radical cation state, the driving force of the disassembling process being the formation of an intramolecularly locked conformation partly stabilized by π-dimerization of both viologen cation radicals.

Dimethyldihydropyrene-cyclophanediene photochromic couple functionalized with terpyridyl metal complexes as multi-addressable redox- and photo-switches.

A series of dimethyldihydropyrene-appended metal complexes has been synthesized and thoroughly characterized using electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. The ring-opening reaction undergone by the dimethyldihydropyrene core under visible light irradiation proceeds much more efficiently when the metal complexes and the photochromic moiety are connected through a pyridinium-bridge vs a phenyl bridge. The clean electrochemical and photochemical responses of these hybrid systems make them good candidates for the conception of new multi-addressable photo- and redox-switches.

Correction: Reactivity of a pyridinium-substituted dimethyldihydropyrene switch under aerobic conditions: self-sensitized photo-oxygenation and thermal release of singlet oxygen.

Correction for 'Reactivity of a pyridinium-substituted dimethyldihydropyrene switch under aerobic conditions: self-sensitized photo-oxygenation and thermal release of singlet oxygen' by Saioa Cobo et al., Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 13886-13889.

Hydrogen-Bond Controlled π-Dimerization in Viologen-Appended Calixarenes: Revealing a Subtle Balance of Weak Interactions.

The intramolecular π-dimerization between two 4,4'-bipyridinium cation radicals directly connected to the wide rim of a calixarene is described. The ability of a phenol-containing calixarene to dimerize in its two-electron-reduced state depends on a subtle balance of weak interactions associated with hydrogen bond formation on the lower rim and orbital overlap between π-radicals on the upper rim.

Reactivity of a pyridinium-substituted dimethyldihydropyrene switch under aerobic conditions: self-sensitized photo-oxygenation and thermal release of singlet oxygen.

The behavior of a pyridinium-substituted dimethyldihydropyrene photo-switch under aerobic conditions was investigated. During irradiation with red light (λ ≥ 630 nm), this compound plays the role of oxygen sensitizer and is quantitatively converted into an endoperoxide derivative. The photo-produced endoperoxide then thermally releases singlet oxygen to regenerate the starting compound.

Chemically and electrochemically triggered assembly of viologen radicals: towards multiaddressable molecular switches.

We have established that bipyridinium radicals can be reversibly π-dimerized under the combined effects of chemical (proton transfer) and electrochemical (electron transfer) stimuli. Our investigations also led to the discovery that a bis-pyridinyl appended calixarene intermediate is involved in a fully reversible redox-triggered σ-dimerization process. The structure of the most stable intramolecular σ-dimer was provided by computational chemistry and its complete conversion into a noncovalent π-dimer could be triggered chemically by addition of protons, leading to the formation of protonated cation radicals. Theoretical data collected with the N-methylated and N-protonated π-dimers also support the existence of multivariant orientations in π-bonded dimers of viologen cation-radicals.

A multi-addressable switch based on the dimethyldihydropyrene photochrome with remarkable proton-triggered photo-opening efficiency.

A series of photochromic derivatives based on the trans-10b,10c-dimethyl-10b,10c-dihydropyrene (DHP, "closed form") skeleton has been synthesized and their photoisomerization leading to the corresponding cyclophanediene (CPD, "open form") isomers has been investigated by UV/Vis and (1) H NMR spectroscopies. Substitution of the DHP core with electron-withdrawing pyridinium groups was found to have major effects on the photoisomerization efficiency, the most remarkable examples being to enhance the quantum yield of the opening reaction and to allow fast and quantitative conversions at much lower radiant energies. This effect was rationalized by theoretical calculations. We also show that the reverse reaction, that is, going from the open form to the closed form, can be electrochemically triggered by oxidation of the CPD unit and that the photo-opening properties of pyridine-substituted DHPs can be efficiently tuned by protonation, the system behaving as a multi-addressable molecular switch. These multi-addressable photochromes show promise for the development of responsive materials.

Redox control of molecular motions in bipyridinium appended calixarenes.

A series of redox-responsive architectures featuring two bipyridinium units introduced onto the lower rim of a calixarene skeleton has been synthesized. The redox-triggered intramolecular dimerization of the reduced bipyridiniums has been investigated by electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and by theoretical chemistry. The spectroscopic signature of the intramolecular dimers was found to evolve significantly with the size of the alkyl linker introduced between the calixarene skeleton and the bipyridinium units. On account of experimental data supported by theoretical calculations, these differences have been attributed to the extent of the orbital overlap in the π-dimerized species, involving either four or only two of the pyridine rings of the bipyridinium radical cations stacked in eclipsed or staggered conformations, respectively.

Long-range electronic connection in picket-fence like ferrocene-porphyrin derivatives.

The effects of a direct connection between ferrocene and porphyrin units have been thoroughly investigated by electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. These data not only reveal that substitution of the porphyrin macrocycle by one, two, three or four ferrocenyl groups strongly affects the electronic properties of the porphyrin and ferrocenyl moieties, they also clearly demonstrate that the metallocene centres are "connected" through the porphyrin-based electronic network. The dynamic properties of selected ferrocene-porphyrin conjugates have been investigated by VT NMR and metadynamic calculations. 1,3-Dithiolanyl protecting groups have been introduced on the upper rings of the ferrocene fragments to allow a straightforward and easy access to redox active picket-fence porphyrins. X-ray diffraction analyses of the zinc(II) 5-[1'-[2-(1,3-dithiolanyl)]ferrocenyl]-10,15,20-tri(p-tolyl)porphyrin and 5,15-bis[1'-[2-(1,3-dithiolanyl)]ferrocenyl]-10,20-bis(p-tolyl)porphyrin complexes reveal the existence of S-Zn bonds involved in supramolecular arrays. The solid state analysis of the trans-5,15-di-(1'-(formyl)ferrocenyl)-10,20-di-(p-tolyl)-porphyrinatozinc(II) complex, obtained by deprotection of the dithiolane substituted analog, is conversely found in the crystal lattice as a monomer exhibiting a hexacoordinated zinc metal centre.

Redox-responsive porphyrin-based molecular tweezers.

Pinching pacman! Switching between the "open" and "closed" arrangements of pacman-like bisporphyrin architectures can be achieved by redox control of noncovalent interactions (see figure). The open/close molecular motion, triggered by reduction of π-dimerizable bipyridinium units, has been shown to allow the complexation of a bidentate ligand pinched between both metalloporphyrins.

Electrochemical synthesis of a thiophene-containing cyclo[9]pyrrole.

A new member of the cyclo[n]pyrrole class of expanded porphyrins could be prepared from the corresponding thiophene-containing terpyrrole precursor through use of a mild electrochemical oxidative procedure. The isolated macrocycle, featuring nine heterocyclic subunits directly connected through their α,α'-positions, is the largest cyclo[n]pyrrole derivative reported to date (see figure).

Redox control of rotary motions in ferrocene-based elemental ball bearings.

Rotational motions of ferrocene-based carousels have been achieved by electron transfer centered on π-dimerizable 4,4'-bipyridinium substituents introduced on both cyclopentadienyl rings through covalent linkers of different size, geometry, and flexibility. Detailed spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical analyses demonstrate that rigid and fully conjugated linkers allow the quantitative formation of intramolecular π-dimers resulting from optimized orbital overlaps within the HOMO of the electrochemically generated bis-radical species. The tetra-cationic "charge-repelled" conformers, the self-assembled π-dimers, and their electron triggered interconversions have been investigated by UV-vis, NMR, and ESR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, X-ray diffraction analysis, and theoretical calculations. These studies support the conclusion that the rotation of both cyclopentadienyl rings in ferrocene can be controlled electrochemically using noncovalent reversible interactions arising from π-radical coupling processes.