Diphenyldihydropentalenediones: Wide Singlet-Triplet Energy Gap Compounds Possessing the Planarly Fixed Diene Subunit.

2,2,5,5-Tetramethyl-3,6-diphenyl-2,5-dihydropentalene-1,4-dione (PD-H) and its dimethoxy (PD-OCH3) and bis(trifluoromethyl) derivatives (PD-CF3) were developed as a new class of compounds possessing a wide excited singlet-triplet energy gap. The PD derivatives would also have a high energy level of the triplet-excited state (E T) due to the planarity of the fused-diene subunit. The results of photophysical studies revealed that the energy level of the singlet-excited state (E S) and E T of PD-H are 2.88 and 1.43 eV, respectively. These values indicate that PD-H has the energy relationship, E S > 2E T, required for it to be a singlet fission (SF) material. Moreover, the introduction of electron-donating or -withdrawing groups on the benzene rings in PD-H enables fine-tuning of E S and E T. The results of transient absorption spectroscopic studies show that PD-H, PD-OCH3, and PD-CF3 in CH2Cl2 have respective T1 lifetimes of 71, 118, and 107 µs, which are long enough to utilize its triplet exciton in other optoelectronic systems. These findings suggest that the PDs are potential candidates for SF materials with high E T levels.

Elongation of Triplet Lifetime Caused by Intramolecular Energy Hopping in Diphenylanthracene Dyads Oriented to Undergo Efficient Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Upconversion†.

Triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA)-assisted photon upconversion (TTA-UC) in three dyads (DPA-Cn-DPA), comprised of two diphenylanthracene (DPA) moieties connected by nonconjugated C1, C2, and C3 linkages (Cn), has been investigated. The performance of these dyads as energy acceptors in the presence of the energy donor platinum octaethylporphyrin are characterized by longer triplet lifetimes (τT) and different TTA rate constants than those of the parent DPA. The larger τT of the linked systems, caused by "intramolecular energy hopping" in the triplet dyad 3DPA*-Cn-DPA, results in a low threshold intensity, a key characteristic of efficient TTA-UC.

A leaning amine-ketone dyad with a nonconjugated linker: solvatofluorochromism and dual fluorescence associated with intramolecular charge transfer.

Dyad 4, comprising a triphenylamine (TPA) electron donor and 1,4-pentadien-3-one (pentadienone) electron acceptor tethered by a nonconjugated linker, displays solvatofluorochromism (SFC) and dual fluorescence associated with intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in the excited state. While the fluorescence arises from a locally excited state of 4 (LE-4*) in saturated hydrocarbon solvents, the fluorescence from the ICT state of 4 (ICT-4*) occurs in aprotic solvents. ICT-4* has a much greater dipole moment than its corresponding ground state. The results of theoretical calculations suggest that the conversion of LE-4* to ICT-4* involves a unique structural change like a leaning of the pentadienone moiety. Two factors are responsible for the significant SFC displayed by 4, the first being the high electron-donating and -accepting abilities of the respective locally excited TPA and pentadienone moieties in LE-4* and the other being a rigid ethano bridge that links the two moieties in ICT-4*. The former property facilitates photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) and the latter prevents full single electron transfer (SET) by prohibiting direct π-conjugation and the spatial approach of the two dyad components. Consequently, these electronic and geometrical features lead to SFC arising from a large dipole moment change caused by ICT and partial intramolecular SET.

Cooperative effects of o- and m-methyl groups on the intramolecular charge-transfer emission properties of dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluorides.

The photophysical properties of o-tolyl-, m-tolyl-, and p-xylyl-substituted asymmetric diaroylmethanatoboron difluorides in a mixture of CH2Cl2 and c-C6H12, and in the crystalline state were determined. In solution, the fluorescence (FL) properties of these substances are controlled by the position and number of methyl groups on the phenyl rings. An especially interesting finding is that FL from the p-xylyl derivative occurs from an excited state which possesses intramolecular charge-transfer character caused by the o- and m-methyl groups cooperatively. The results of X-ray crystallographic analysis reveal that these asymmetric diaroylmethanatoboron difluorides form dyads through orbital overlap of neighboring molecules. This phenomenon governs the unique FL properties of these substances in the solid state.

Organic Molecular Layer with High Electrochemical Bistability: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of a Dynamic Redox System with Lipoate Units for Binding to Au(111).

Biphenyl-2,2'-diylbis(10-methyl-9-methyleneacridan)-type electron donor 1, which has two tethered cyclic disulfide units at the 6,6'-positions, was designed and synthesized as the first member of a dynamic redox (dyrex) system that can form molecular layers on a Au(111) electrode. Upon the two-electron (2 e) oxidation of 1, the persistent dicationic dye 22+ was generated with the formation of a new C-C bond, which is reversibly cleaved upon 2 e reduction to regenerate 1 (dyrex behavior). Similar dyrex interconversion occurs in the molecular layer of 1 on gold. The chemical identities of 1/Au and electrochemically generated 22+ /Au were unambiguously determined by in situ IR spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflection mode. In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was conducted under electrochemical conditions to examine the surface structure of 1 adsorbed on a Au(111) electrode. Although no long-range-ordered morphology was found in the STM image of 1, an in situ STM study of the potential-induced dyrex reaction of 1 to 22+ showed that the grained spots in the image became slightly brighter.

Room-Temperature Phosphorescence of Crystalline Metal-Free Organoboron Complex.

The photoluminescence (PL) properties of a metal-free organoboron complex, bis(4-iodobenzoyl)methanatoboron difluoride (1BF2 ), were elucidated. At room temperature, 1BF2 emits blue fluorescence (FL) in nBuCl upon photoexcitation. In contrast, crystals of 1BF2 emit green PL comprised of FL and phosphorescence (PH). The room-temperature PH of crystalline 1BF2 is a consequence of 1) suppression of thermal deactivation of the S1 and T1 excited states and 2) enhancement of intersystem crossing (ISC) from the S1 to T2 or T1 . The results of X-ray crystallographic and theoretical studies supported the proposal that the former (1) is a result of intermolecular interactions caused by π-stacking in the rigid crystal packing structure of 1BF2 . The latter (2) is an effect of not only the heavy-atom effect of iodine, but also the continuous π-stacking alignment of 1BF2 molecules in crystals, which leads to a forbidden S1 →S0 transition and a small energy gap between the S1 and T2 or T1 .

Amorphous Solid Simulation and Trial Fabrication of the Organic Field-Effect Transistor of Tetrathienonaphthalenes Prepared by Using Microflow Photochemical Reactions: A Theoretical Calculation-Inspired Investigation.

The p-type organic semiconductor (OSC) material tetrathieno[2,3-a:3',2'-c:2″,3″-f:3‴,2‴-h]naphthalene (2TTN) and its alkyl-substituted derivatives C(n)-2TTNs (n = 6, 8, and 10) have been developed based on the results of theoretical calculation-inspired investigation. A hole mobility for amorphous C(n)-2TTNs (10(-2)-10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)) was accurately predicted by using a novel statistical method in which the geometric mean of the mobilities for many individual small molecular flocks in an amorphous solid was obtained by using molecular mechanical molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemical calculations. The simulation also suggests that upon increasing the length of alkyl chains in C(n)-2TTNs the mobilities become smaller as a consequence of a decrease in transfer integral values. C(n)-2TTNs are synthesized in a microflow reactor through photoreactions of the corresponding precursors. C(n)-2TTNs are then utilized in the fabrication of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Although spin-coated thin films of C(n)-2TTNs are crystalline, the hole mobilities (10(-2)-10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)) of trial OFETs decrease upon elongation of the alkyl chains. This finding parallels the results of theoretical simulation. The simulation method for amorphous solids developed in this effort should become a useful tool in studies aimed at designing new OSC materials.

New Fluorescence Domain "Excited Multimer" Formed upon Photoexcitation of Continuously Stacked Diaroylmethanatoboron Difluoride Molecules with Fused π-Orbitals in Crystals.

The crystal-packing structures of seven derivatives of diaroylmethanatoboron difluoride (1 a-gBF2 ) are characterized by no overlap of the π-conjugated main units of two adjacent molecules (type I), overlap of the benzene ring π-orbitals of two adjacent molecules (type II), and overlap of the benzene and dihydrodioxaborinine rings π-orbitals of adjacent molecules (type III). The crystal-packing structures govern the fluorescence (FL) properties in the crystalline states. The FL domain that is present in type I crystals, in which intermolecular orbital interactions are absent, leads to excited monomer-like FL properties. In the case of the type II crystals, the presence of intermolecular overlap of the benzene rings π-orbitals generates new FL domains, referred to as "excited multimers", which possess allowed S0 -S1 electronic transitions and, as a result, similar FL lifetimes at longer wavelengths than the FL of the type I crystals. Finally, intermolecular overlap of the benzene and dihydrodioxaborinine ring π-orbitals in the type III crystals leads to "excited multimer" domains with forbidden S0 -S1 electronic transitions and longer FL lifetimes at similar wavelengths as that in type I crystals.

Bis(10-methylacridinium)s as a versatile platform for redox-active functionalized dyes and novel structures.

10-Methylacridinium is a stable aromatic cation exhibiting yellow-orange color and strong green fluorescence (FL), and can be used as a versatile building block in constructing a wide variety of novel π-electron systems. The dications with the two chromophores connected by a proper π spacer undergo reversible "dyrex" (dynamic redox) behavior, and C-C bond formation/cleavage is accompanied by their redox reactions. The prototype is biphenyl-2,2'-diylbis(10-methylacridinium), which exhibits electrochromic response with ON/OFF switching of FL during the reversible interconversion with the di(spiroacridan)-type electron donor. Slight structural alteration under the concept of "MFMS" (maximum function on the minimum skeleton) endowed the dyrex system with metal-binding or chiroptical properties, which could be modified by the redox reactions. Some of the di(spiroacridan) derivatives generated from bis(10-methylacridinium)s have extreme structural parameters, such as the greatest C-C bond length ever reported.

The "excited state C-C bond cleavage-luminescence" phenomenon of a biphenyl-substituted methylenecyclopropane triggered by intermolecular energy transfer from triplet benzophenone.

Existence of the "excited state C-C bond cleavage-luminescence" phenomenon was demonstrated by utilizing intermolecular energy transfer from the excited-triplet benzophenone to 2,2-di(4-biphenylyl)-1-methylenecyclopropane (3). An excellent linear relationship between the intensity of the excitation laser light and that of luminescence clearly shows that formation of the corresponding excited trimethylenemethane biradical (3)4˙˙* proceeds via a one-photon route.

The lifetime and efficiency of triplet-triplet fluorescence from the excited state of a TMM biradical determined using transient emission spectroscopy by two-color two-laser flash photolysis.

The single laser flash photolysis (FP) of 2-(4-benzoylphenyl)-2-phenyl-1-methylenecyclopropane gave rise to a ground state trimethylenemethane (TMM) biradical with absorption bands at 362 and 545 nm and an excited state of this biradical that displays triplet-triplet fluorescence at 580 nm. The excited biradical is likely formed via an expected two-photon process as well as an unexpected one-photon process. The fluorescence quantum yield of the excited biradical, 0.021, was successfully determined by employing a two-color two-laser FP technique.

Remarkable effects of terminal groups and solvents on helical folding of o-phenylene oligomers.

Although o-phenylene oligomers (OP(n)R) made of dimethoxyphenylene units are thought to be intrinsically dynamic due to π-electronic repulsion, we show that they fold into a regular helical geometry in CH(3)CN when they carry terminal groups such as CH(3), CH(2)OH, Br, CO(2)Bn, and NO(2). We evaluated their helical inversion kinetics via optical resolution of long-chain oligomers (e.g. 16- and 24-mers) by chiral HPLC. OP(24)Br at 298 K shows a half-life for the optical activity of 5.5 h in CH(3)OH/water (7/3 v/v) and requires 34 h for complete racemization. The perfectly folded helical conformers of OP(n)R, unlike their imperfectly folded ones, are devoid of extended π-conjugation and show a cyclic voltammogram featuring reversible multistep oxidation waves.

Redox-responsive molecular helices with highly condensed π-clouds.

Helices have long attracted the attention of chemists, both for their inherent chiral structure and their potential for applications such as the separation of chiral compounds or the construction of molecular machines. As a result of steric forces, polymeric o-phenylenes adopt a tight helical conformation in which the densely packed phenylene units create a highly condensed π-cloud. Here, we show an oligomeric o-phenylene that undergoes a redox-responsive dynamic motion. In solution, the helices undergo a rapid inversion. During crystallization, however, a chiral symmetry-breaking phenomenon is observed in which each crystal contains only one enantiomeric form. Crystals of both handedness are obtained, but in a non-racemic mixture. Furthermore, in solution, the dynamic motion of the helical oligomer is dramatically suppressed by one-electron oxidation. X-ray crystallography of both the neutral and oxidized forms indicated that a hole, generated upon oxidation, is shared by the repeating o-phenylene units. This enables conformational locking of the helix, and represents a long-lasting chiroptical memory.

Drastic change in racemization barrier upon redox reactions: novel chiral-memory units based on dynamic redox systems.

The helical configuration of dication dyes 2(2+) with a dihydrodibenzoxepin unit remained unchanged even at high temperature, whereas the corresponding neutral electron donors 1 with a tetrahydrophenanthroxepin skeleton easily underwent racemization. Due to their electrochemical bistability, electron exchange between 1 and 2(2+) is prohibited. Thus, the above electrochromic pairs can serve as novel chiral-memory units where redox reactions trigger switching between an "erasable/writable"-state (1) and a "memorizing"-state (2(2+)).

Butane-1,4-diyl dications stabilized by steric factors: electrochiroptical response systems based on reversible interconversion between dihydro[5]helicene-type electron acceptors and electron-donating 1,1'-binaphthyls.

Incorporation in the dihydro[5]helicene framework prevents deprotonation of the title dications by steric factors, thus allowing their isolation as deeply colored stable salts. Based on the reversible interconversion with the electron-donating binaphthylic diolefins, they constitute a new class of electrochromic systems, in which C-C bond making/breaking is accompanied by two-electron transfer. Optically pure (R)-binaphthylic donors are interconvertible with the 1,4-dications with the R,R-configuration. The very large molar ellipticity makes it possible for them to be used as electrochiroptical response systems, by which the electrochemical input is transduced into two spectral outputs, i.e. UV-Vis and circular dichroism. Structurally related push-pull-type bis(quinonemethide)s also exhibit a similar multi-output electrochemical response.

First stable 7,7,8,8-tetraaryl-o-quinodimethane: isolation, X-ray structure, electrochromic response of 9,10-bis(dianisylmethylene)-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene.

Oxidative cyclization of 2,2'-bis(dianisylethenyl)biphenyl yielded the dicationic salt of phenanthrene-9,10-diylbis(dianisylmethylium), which in turn afforded the severely congested title molecule as the first stable tetraaryl-o-quinodimethane derivative upon reduction.

Electrochiroptical response of 2,2'-(2,2-diarylethenyl)binaphthyl-type electron donors that undergo reversible C-C bond formation/breaking upon two-electron transfer.

2,2'-[2,2-Bis(4-dimethylaminophenyl)ethenyl]biphenyl (1) is a strong electron donor that undergoes oxidative C-C bond formation to give a stable dication rac-2(2+), the 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivative substituted with two bis(4-dimethylaminophenyl)methylium chromophores. This dication salt regenerates the starting diolefin 1 by reductive C-C bond breaking, thus realizing a new electrochromic system with high electrochemical bistability and a vivid change in color from yellow to deep blue. Similarly, the binaphthylic diolefin rac-3 and the helicene-type dication rac-4(2+) are interconvertible upon two-electron transfer. Both the UV-vis and CD spectra changed drastically upon electrochemical transformation between optically pure 3 and 4(2+), which represents a new electrochiroptical system.