Additive, modular functionalization of reactive self-assembled monolayers: toward the fabrication of multilevel optical storage media.

We report a novel strategy based on iterative microcontact printing, which provides additive, modular functionalization of reactive SAMs by different functional molecules. We demonstrate that after printing the molecules form an interpenetrating network at the SAM surface preserving their individual properties. We exploited the process by fabricating new optical storage media that consist of a multilevel TAG.

Chemical design enables the control of conformational polymorphism in functional 2,3-thieno(bis)imide-ended materials.

We report a successful chemical design strategy based on the even-odd alkyl end tailoring, which allows us to promote and control conformational polymorphism in single crystal and thin deposits of thienoimide-based molecular semiconductors (Cx-NT4N).

Targeting integrins αvß3 and α5ß1 with new ß-lactam derivatives.

The αvß3 and α5ß1 integrins are widely expressed in different cancer types and recognize the tripeptide Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif present in several extracellular matrix proteins. We report here the design, synthesis and biological activity of some new ß-lactam derivatives specifically designed to target integrins. The new molecules contain the azetidinone as the only cyclic framework armed with carboxylic acid and amine terminals spaced from 9 to 14 atoms to switch on recognition by integrins. All tested molecules showed a concentration-dependent enhancement in fibronectin-mediated adhesion of K562 and SK-MEL-24 cells; in particular 1, expressed a higher affinity towards α5ß1 integrin (EC50 of 12 nM) and 2 was more selective for integrin αvß3 (EC50 of 11 nM).

A time-temperature integrator based on fluorescent and polymorphic compounds.

Despite the variety of functional properties of molecular materials, which make them of interest for a number of technologies, their tendency to form inhomogeneous aggregates in thin films and to self-organize in polymorphs are considered drawbacks for practical applications. Here, we report on the use of polymorphic molecular fluorescent thin films as time temperature integrators, a class of devices that monitor the thermal history of a product. The device is fabricated by patterning the fluorescent model compound thieno(bis)imide-oligothiophene. The fluorescence colour of the pattern changes as a consequence of an irreversible phase variation driven by temperature, and reveals the temperature at which the pattern was exposed. The experimental results are quantitatively analysed in the range 20-200°C and interpreted considering a polymorph recrystallization in the thin film. Noteworthy, the reported method is of general validity and can be extended to every compound featuring irreversible temperature-dependent change of fluorescence.

π-Core tailoring for new high performance thieno(bis)imide based n-type molecular semiconductors.

The synthesis and characterization of two thieno(bis)imide based n-type semiconductors with electron mobilities of up to 0.3 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) are described. The relationships between the electronic features of the π-inner core and the functional properties of the new materials are also discussed.