Dual-emissive photoluminescent Langmuir-Blodgett films of decatungstoeuropate and an amphiphilic iridium complex

Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of the decatungstoeuropate [Eu(W(5)O(18))(2)](9-) (EuW(10)) and the amphiphilic Ir complex 1 have been successfully fabricated by using the adsorption properties of the EuW(10) polyanion dissolved in the aqueous subphase onto a positively charged 1 monolayer at the air-water interface. The compression isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) of monolayers of 1 on pure water (1 monolayer) and on a subphase containing 10(-6) M EuW(10) and 10(-3) M NaCl (1/EuW(10) monolayer) have been studied. Infrared and UV-vis spectroscopy of the transferred LB films indicate that EuW(10) and 1 molecules are incorporated within these LB films. X-ray reflectivity (SXR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments indicate that LB films of 1 present a heterogeneous morphology while 1/EuW(10) films show a flatter and more homogeneous surface as well as a layered structure with a periodicity of 4.1 nm. Mixed monolayers of 1 and DODA (dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide) have been prepared with EuW(10) polyanions in the subphase to control the concentration of 1 and EuW(10) polyanions within the LB films. AFM and SXR experiments with the transferred LB films show that the dilution of 1 with DODA improves the layered structure. The luminescence of 1 is partially quenched by EuW(10) in the 1/EuW(10) LB films, while emission from EuW(10) is not detected. On the other hand, emission from both entities is preserved in the LB films prepared from mixed DODA/1 monolayers, in which the red and yellow emissions arise independently from EuW(10) and 1, respectively. The different DODA:1 ratios lead to changes in the emission color. Therefore, they constitute a promising color-tunable luminescent material.

Tuning Coordination Environments Through Ligand Redox Chemistry: the Thiol - Disulfide Reaction

Oxidative coupling of 6-(pyridin-2-yl)pyridine-2(1H)-thione yields 1,2-bis(2,2′-bipyridin-6-yl)disulfide (4), which can act as a bis(chelate) to a single zinc(ii) centre. The effects on the solid-state structure of introducing a methyl substituent into each 6-position of 4 have been examined. Ligand 4 functions as a bridging ligand in [Cu2(μ-4)(μ-6)]4+ in which ligand 6 is 1,2-bis(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridin-4′-yl)disulfide; [Cu2(μ-4)(μ-6)]4+ self-assembles from the components according to the preference shown by copper(ii) for a five-coordinate {Cu(bpy)(tpy)} environment. Reaction of 4 with [Cu(NCMe)4][PF6] leads to a product, tentatively formulated as {[Cu(4)][PF6]}n, which, in air, undergoes oxidation of both copper and ligand to yield [Cu(5)2] (H5 = 2,2′-bipyridine-6-sulfonic acid), the solid state structure of which is presented.

All-optical integrated logic operations based on chemical communication between molecular switches

Molecular logic gates process physical or chemical "inputs" to generate "outputs" based on a set of logical operators. We report the design and operation of a chemical ensemble in solution that behaves as integrated AND, OR, and XNOR gates with optical input and output signals. The ensemble is composed of a reversible merocyanine-type photoacid and a ruthenium polypyridine complex that functions as a pH-controlled three-state luminescent switch. The light-triggered release of protons from the photoacid is used to control the state of the transition-metal complex. Therefore, the two molecular switching devices communicate with one another through the exchange of ionic signals. By means of such a double (optical-chemical-optical) signal-transduction mechanism, inputs of violet light modulate a luminescence output in the red/far-red region of the visible spectrum. Nondestructive reading is guaranteed because the green light used for excitation in the photoluminescence experiments does not affect the state of the gate. The reset is thermally driven and, thus, does not involve the addition of chemicals and accumulation of byproducts. Owing to its reversibility and stability, this molecular device can afford many cycles of digital operation.