Triarylamine: Versatile Platform for Organic, Dye-Sensitized, and Perovskite Solar Cells

Fluorescent small molecules with alternating triarylamine-substituted selenophenothiophene and triarylborane: synthesis, photophysical properties and anion sensing studies

Two novel D-π-A fluorophores based on selenopheno[3,2-b]thiophene, possessing triphenylamine and 4,4'-dimethoxytriphenylamine units as donors and dimesitylborane as an acceptor, linked through a π-conjugated thiophene spacer (BTPAST and BOMeTPAST, respectively) were synthesized. Their photophysical properties were investigated in both solution and the state of aggregation and compared to those of their corresponding donor parts, having no dimesitylborane units (TPAST and OMeTPAST). All the compounds displayed large Stokes shifts between 100 and 140 nm with positive solvatochromism in solvents having different polarities. While BTPAST displayed both aggregation induced emission (AIE) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) characteristics, the others preponderated with TICT effects. The sensing abilities of BTPAST and BOMeTPAST towards different anions were studied. Both exhibited chromogenic and fluorogenic responses to small anions such as fluoride and cyanide, for which the detection limits were found to be 0.12 and 2.43 ppm with BTPAST and 0.59 and 0.92 ppm with BOMeTPAST, respectively. These results provide guidance for the development of novel fused selenophenothiophene sensors in the field of anion sensing.

Clarifying the Adsorption of Triphenylamine on Au(111): Filling the HOMO-LUMO Gap

In this article, we analyze the electronic structure modifications of triphenylamine (TPA), a well-known electron donor molecule widely used in photovoltaics and optoelectronics, upon deposition on Au(111) at a monolayer coverage. A detailed study was carried out by synchrotron radiation-based photoelectron spectroscopy, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and ab initio calculations. We detect a new feature in the pre-edge energy region of the N K-edge NEXAFS spectrum that extends over 3 eV, which we assign to transitions involving new electronic states. According to our calculations, upon adsorption, a number of new unoccupied electronic states fill the energy region between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the free TPA molecule and give rise to the new feature in the pre-edge region of the NEXAFS spectrum. This finding highlights the occurrence of a considerable modification of the electronic structure of TPA. The appearance of new states in the HOMO-LUMO gap of TPA when adsorbed on Au(111) has crucial implications for the design of molecular nanoelectronic devices based on similar donor systems.

Solid-State C-N Cross-Coupling Reactions with Carbazoles as Nitrogen Nucleophiles Using Mechanochemistry

The palladium-catalyzed solid-state C-N cross-coupling of carbazoles with aryl halides via a high-temperature ball-milling technique has been reported. This reaction allowed simple, fast, and efficient synthesis of N-arylcarbazole derivatives in good to excellent yields without the use of large amounts of organic solvents in air. Importantly, the developed solid-state coupling approach enabled the cross-coupling of poorly soluble aryl halides with large polyaromatic structures that are barely reactive under conventional solution-based conditions.

Characterization of the Interfacial Orientation and Molecular Conformation in a Glass-Forming Organic Semiconductor

The ability to control structure in molecular glasses has enabled them to play a key role in modern technology; in particular, they are ubiquitous in organic light-emitting diodes. While the interplay between bulk structure and optoelectronic properties has been extensively investigated, few studies have examined molecular orientation near buried interfaces despite its critical role in emergent functionality. Direct, quantitative measurements of buried molecular orientation are inherently challenging, and many methods are insensitive to orientation in amorphous soft matter or lack the necessary spatial resolution. To overcome these challenges, we use polarized resonant soft X-ray reflectivity (p-RSoXR) to measure nanometer-resolved, molecular orientation depth profiles of vapor-deposited thin films of an organic semiconductor Tris(4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl)amine (TCTA). Our depth profiling approach characterizes the vertical distribution of molecular orientation and reveals that molecules near the inorganic substrate and free surface have a different, nearly isotropic orientation compared to those of the anisotropic bulk. Comparison of p-RSoXR results with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and optical spectroscopies reveals that TCTA molecules away from the interfaces are predominantly planar, which may contribute to their attractive charge transport qualities. Buried interfaces are further investigated in a TCTA bilayer (each layer deposited under separate conditions resulting in different orientations) in which we find a narrow interface between orientationally distinct layers extending across ≈1 nm. Coupling this result with molecular dynamics simulations provides additional insight into the formation of interfacial structure. This study characterizes the local molecular orientation at various types of buried interfaces in vapor-deposited glasses and provides a foundation for future studies to develop critical structure-function relationships.

Accurate predictions of the electronic excited states of BODIPY based dye sensitizers using spin-component-scaled double-hybrid functionals: a TD-DFT benchmark study

The vertical excitation energies of 13 BODIPY based dye sensitizers are benchmarked by means of TD-DFT, using 36 functionals from different DFT rungs. Most TD-DFT results were found to overestimate the excitation energies, and show mean absolute error (MAE) values in the range 0.2-0.5 eV. The dispersion-corrected, spin-component-scaled, double-hybrid (DSD) functionals DSD-BLYP and DSD-PBEP86 were found to have the smallest MAE values of 0.083 eV and 0.106 eV, respectively, which is close to the range of average errors found in the more expensive coupled-cluster methods. Moreover, DSD-BLYP and DSD-PBEP86 functionals show excellent consistency and quality of results (standard deviation = 0.048 eV and 0.069 eV respectively). However, the range separated hybrid (RSH) and the range separated double hybrid (RSDH) functionals were found to provide the best predictability (linear determination coefficient R 2 > 0.97 eV).

Assessment of time-dependent density functionals for the electronic excitation energies of organic dyes used in DSSCs

The absorption spectra modeled as the vertical excitation energies of 13 dye sensitizers used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are benchmarked by means of time-dependent (TD)-DFT, using 36 functionals from different DFT rungs.

Synthesis of Sterically Encumbered Di- and Triarylamines by Palladium-Catalysed C-N Coupling Reactions at Mild Reaction Conditions

The synthesis of bulky, ortho-substituted triarylamines often represents a synthetic challenge, but is highly desirable due to the use of these compounds in organic electronics. Here, we report on a...

Electrochemical Reductive Arylation of Nitroarenes with Arylboronic Acids

The synthesis of diarylamine is extremely important in organic chemistry. Herein, a novel electrochemical reductive arylation of nitroarenes with arylboronic acids was developed. A variety of diarylamines were synthesized without the need for transition-metal catalysts. The reaction could be scaled up efficiently in a flow cell and several derivatization reactions were carried out smoothly. Cyclic voltammetry experiments and mechanism studies showed that acetonitrile, formic acid, and triethyl phosphite all played a role in promoting this reductive arylation transformation.

Dephosphinylative [4 + 2] Benzannulation of Phosphinyl Ynamines: Application to the Modular Synthesis of Polycyclic Aromatic Amines

A series of 9-amino-10-halophenanthrenes were synthesized through a one-pot process, including dephosphinylative Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling of 2-bromobiphenyls with air-stable phosphinyl ynamines, followed by halonium-promoted [4 + 2] benzannulation of the resulting 2-(aminoethynyl)biphenyls. Nonsubstituted and methyl-substituted 2-bromobiphenyls rapidly underwent the Sonogashira-Hagihara aminoethynylation and the halogenative Friedel-Crafts benzannulation to provide the corresponding amino(halo)phenanthrenes in high yields, while electron-sufficient and -deficient substrates did slowly undergo the former and the latter to result in low yields, respectively. This protocol worked well for the syntheses of highly π-extended aminophenanthrenes and aminobenzonaphthothiophenes with different optical properties. Further application of this approach between 2,2″- and 2',5'-dibromo-p-terphenyls with phosphinyl ynamines led to the regioselective formation of 6,13-diamino-5,12-dihalo- and 5,12-diamino-6,13-dihalo-dibenz[a,h]anthracenes via dual aminoethynylation and [4 + 2] benzannulation. The obtained analogues showed different ultraviolet-visible absorption and photoluminescence spectra with different emission quantum yields in CH₂Cl₂ solution and the powder state.

Triphenylamine/4,4'-Dimethoxytriphenylamine-Functionalized Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Fluorophores with a High Quantum Efficiency: Synthesis and Photophysical Properties

A wide series of 10 new triphenylamine (TPA)/4,4'-dimethoxytriphenylamine (TPA(OMe)₂)-functionalized thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) fluorophores, 4a-e and 5a-e, bearing different electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents (-PhCN, -PhF, -PhOMe, -Ph, and -C₆H₁₃) at the terminal thienothiophene units were designed and synthesized by the Suzuki coupling reaction. Their optical and electrochemical properties were investigated by experimental and computational studies. Solid-state fluorescent quantum yields were recorded to be from 20 to 69%, and the maximum solution-state quantum efficiency reached 97%. Moreover, the photophysical characterization of the novel chromophores demonstrated a significant Stokes shift, reaching 179 nm with a bathochromic shift. They exhibited tuning color emission from orange to dark blue in solution and showed fluorescence lifetime reaching 4.70 ns. The relationship between triphenylamine (TPA)/4,4'-dimethoxytriphenylamine (TPA(OMe)₂)-derived triarylamines and different functional groups on thieno[3,2-b] thiophene units was discussed.

Polycyclic Arenes Dihydrodinaphthopentacene-based Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells Application

In this paper, two D-π-D type compounds, C1 and C2, containing dihydrodinaphthopentacene (DHDNP) as a π-bridge, p-methoxydiphenylamine and p-methoxytriphenylamine groups as the donor groups were synthesized. The four 4-hexylphenyl groups at the sp³ -carbon bridges of DHDNP were acquainted with control morphology and improving solubility. The light absorption, energy level, thermal properties, and application as hole-transporting materials in perovskite solar cells of these compounds were fully investigated. The HOMO/LUMO levels and energy gaps of these DHDNP-based molecules are suitable for use as hole-transporting materials in PSCs. The best power conversion efficiencies of the PVSCs based on the C1 and C2 are 15.96% and 12.86%, respectively. The performance of C1 is comparable to that of the reference compound spiro-OMeTAD (16.38%). Compared with spiro-OMeTAD, the C1-based PVSC device showed good stability, which was slightly decreased to 98.68% of its initial efficiency after 48 h and retained 81% of its original PCE after 334 h without encapsulation. These results reveal the potential usefulness of the DHDNP building block for further development of economical and highly efficient HTMs for PVSCs.

Butterfly-Like Triarylamines with High Hole Mobility and On/Off Ratio in Bottom-Gated OFETs

Highly π-extended butterfly-shaped triarylamine dyads with aryleneethynylene spacer were constructed using an efficient synthetic route. These aryleneethynylene-bridged dyads are highly fluorescent and exhibited high HOMO levels, and low bandgaps, which are suitable for high-performance p-type OFETs. The field-effect transistors were fabricated through a solution-processable method and exhibited promising p-type performance with field-effect mobility up to 4.3 cm² /Vs and high I_on/off of 10⁸ under ambient conditions.

Assembled triphenylamine bis-urea macrocycles: exploring photodriven electron transfer from host to guests

Absorption of electronic acceptors in the accessible channels of an assembled triphenylamine (TPA) bis-urea macrocycle 1 enabled the study of electron transfer from the walls of the TPA framework to the encapsulated guests. The TPA host is isoskeletal in all host-guest structures analyzed with guests 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole, 2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone and I₂ loading in single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations. Analysis of the crystal structures highlights how the spatial proximity and orientation of the TPA host and the entrapped guests influence their resulting photophysical properties and allow direct comparison of the different donor-acceptor complexes. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy shows that upon complex formation 1·2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone exhibits a charge transfer (CT) transition. Whereas, the 1·2,1,3-benzothiadiazole complex undergoes a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) upon irradiation with 365 nm LEDs. The CT absorptions were also identified with the aid of time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. Cyclic voltammetry experiments show that 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole undergoes reversible reduction within the host-guest complex. Moreover, the optical band gaps of the host 1·2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone (1.66 eV), and host 1·2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (2.15 eV) complexes are significantly smaller as compared to the free host 1 material (3.19 eV). Overall, understanding this supramolecular electron transfer strategy should pave the way towards designing lower band gap inclusion complexes.

Polymer Dots with Enhanced Photostability, Quantum Yield, and Two-Photon Cross-Section using Structurally Constrained Deep-Blue Fluorophores

Semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) have emerged as versatile probes for bioanalysis and imaging at the single-particle level. Despite their utility in multiplexed analysis, deep blue Pdots remain rare due to their need for high-energy excitation and sensitivity to photobleaching. Here, we describe the design of deep blue fluorophores using structural constraints to improve resistance to photobleaching, two-photon absorption cross sections, and fluorescence quantum yields using the hexamethylazatriangulene motif. Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to characterize the electronic structure of these chromophores on the atomic scale as well as their intrinsic stability. The most promising fluorophore was functionalized with a polymerizable acrylate handle and used to give deep-blue fluorescent acrylic polymers with M_n > 18 kDa and Đ < 1.2. Nanoprecipitation with amphiphilic polystyrene-graft-(carboxylate-terminated poly(ethylene glycol)) gave water-soluble Pdots with blue fluorescence, quantum yields of 0.81, and molar absorption coefficients of (4 ± 2) × 10⁸ M^-1 cm^-1. This high brightness facilitated single-particle visualization with dramatically improved signal-to-noise ratio and photobleaching resistance versus an unencapsulated dye. The Pdots were then conjugated with antibodies for immunolabeling of SK-BR3 human breast cancer cells, which were imaged using deep blue fluorescence in both one- and two-photon excitation modes.

Cu-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Nitroarenes with Aryl Boronic Acids to Construct Diarylamines

The development and study of a simple copper-catalyzed reaction of nitroarenes with aryl boronic acids to form diarylamines that uses phenyl silane as the stoichiometric terminal reductant is described. This cross-coupling reaction requires as little as 2 mol % of CuX and 4 mol% of diphosphine for success and tolerates a broad range of functional groups on either the nitroarene or the aryl boronic acid with to afford the amine in good yield. Mechanistic investigations established that the cross-coupling reaction proceeds via a nitrosoarene intermediate and that copper is required to catalyze both the deoxygenation of the nitroarene to afford the nitrosoarene and C-NAr bond formation of the nitrosoarene with the aryl boronic acid.

S,C,C- and O,C,C-Bridged Triarylamines and Their Persistent Radical Cations

This work reports the synthesis, crystal structures, and electronic properties of structurally constrained S,C,C- and O,C,C-bridged triarylamine derivatives and their persistent radical cations. O,C,C-Bridged triphenylamines and a dinaphthylphenylamine were obtained through a straightforward synthetic protocol. Similar to a previously reported S,C,C-bridged triphenylamine, the O,C,C-bridged triarylamines were easily oxidized to afford the corresponding radical cations, which were obtained as hexachloroantimonate salts. X-ray crystallographic analyses showed almost planar structures for these O,C,C-bridged triarylamine radical cations, which represent new members of the family of planar triarylamine radical cations without substituents on the aryl rings. Detailed investigations of the electronic properties of the S,C,C- and O,C,C-bridged triarylamine radical cations demonstrated that the spin and positive charge are sufficiently delocalized over the planar triarylamine scaffolds. The results provide the following insights into the effects of the bridging unit (sulfur vs oxygen) and the dibenzo-annulation on the spin delocalization in the bridged triarylamine radical cations: (1) An effective decrease of the spin density on the nitrogen atom is observed for the sulfur bridge relative to the oxygen bridge; and (2) a moderate decrease of the spin density on the oxygen atom rather than the nitrogen atom is induced by the dibenzo-annulation.

High-Performance Simple Nonfused Ring Electron Acceptors with Diphenylamino Flanking Groups

Four simple nonfused ring electron acceptors (H-2F, CH₃-2F, OCH₃-2F, and SCH₃-2F) were designed and synthesized. The use of diphenylamine derivatives as the flanking group for the construction of nonfused ring electron acceptors can improve solubility, avoid the formation of oversized aggregates, and enhance the intramolecular charge-transfer effect to extend absorption spectra. The substituent group at the diphenylamine unit has a great impact on the absorption and energy level of acceptors, electron mobility and morphology of blend films. Unlike the other three acceptors, CH₃-2F can form ordered molecular stacking and a face-on orientation in the donor/acceptor blend film. A single-crystal analysis demonstrates that CH₃-2F can form a two-dimensional electron transport network. Among these four acceptors, CH₃-2F-based organic solar cells provide the highest PCE of 12.28%. Our work has demonstrated that triarylamine is a helpful construction unit for low-cost and high efficiency nonfused ring electron acceptors.

Reductive C-N Coupling of Nitroarenes: Heterogenization of MoO3 Catalyst by Confinement in Silica

The construction of C-N bonds with nitroaromatics and boronic acids using highly efficient and recyclable catalysts remains a challenge. In this study, nanoporous MoO₃ confined in silica serves as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for C-N cross-coupling of nitroaromatics with aryl or alkyl boronic acids to deliver N-arylamines and with desirable multiple reusability. Experimental results suggest that silica not only heterogenizes the Mo species in the confined mesoporous microenvironment but also significantly reduces the reaction induction period and regulates the chemical efficiency of the targeted product. The well-shaped MoO₃ @m-SiO₂ catalyst exhibits improved catalytic performance both in yield and turnover number, in contrast with homogeneous Mo catalysts, commercial Pd/C, or MoO₃ nanoparticles. This approach offers a new avenue for the heterogeneous catalytic synthesis of valuable bioactive molecules.

Materials Design and Optimization for Next-Generation Solar Cell and Light-Emitting Technologies

We review some of the most potent directions in the design of materials for next-generation solar cell and light-emitting technologies that go beyond traditional solid-state inorganic semiconductor-based devices, from both the experimental and computational standpoints. We focus on selected recent conceptual advances in tackling issues which are expected to significantly impact applied literature in the coming years. Specifically, we consider solution processability, design of dopant-free charge transport materials, two-dimensional conjugated polymeric semiconductors, and colloidal quantum dot assemblies in the fields of experimental synthesis, characterization, and device fabrication. Key modeling issues that we consider are calculations of optical properties and of effects of aggregation, including recent advances in methods beyond linear-response time-dependent density functional theory and recent insights into the effects of correlation when going beyond the single-particle ansatz as well as in the context of modeling of thermally activated fluorescence.

Dendritic-Like Molecules Built on a Pillar[5]arene Core as Hole Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Multi-branched molecules have recently demonstrated interesting behaviour as charge-transporting materials within the fields of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). For this reason, extended triarylamine dendrons have been grafted onto a pillar[5]arene core to generate dendrimer-like compounds, which have been used as hole-transporting materials (HTMs) for PSCs. The performances of the solar cells containing these novel compounds have been extensively investigated. Interestingly, a positive dendritic effect has been evidenced as the hole transporting properties are improved when going from the first to the second-generation compound. The stability of the devices based on the best performing pillar[5]arene material has been also evaluated in a high-throughput ageing setup for 500 h at high temperature. When compared to reference devices prepared from spiro-OMeTAD, the behaviour is similar. An analysis of the economic advantages arising from the use of the pillar[5]arene-based material revealed however that our pillar[5]arene-based material is cheaper than the reference.

On the adsorption mechanism of caffeine on MAPbI3 perovskite surfaces: a combined UMC-DFT study

Recently, it was experimentally shown that the performance and thermal stability of the perovskite MAPbI₃ were improved upon the adsorption of a molecular layer of caffeine. In this work, we used a hybrid methodology that combines uncoupled monte carlo (UMC) and density functional theory (DFT) simulations to carry out a detailed and comprehensive study of the adsorption mechanism of a caffeine molecule on the surface of MAPbI₃. Our results showed that the adsorption distance and energy of a caffeine molecule on the MAPbI₃ surface are 2.0 Å and -0.3 eV, respectively. The caffeine/MAPbI₃ complex presents a direct bandgap of 2.38 eV with two flat intragap bands distanced 1.15 and 2.18 eV from the top of valence bands. Although the energy band levels are not significantly shifted by the presence of caffeine, the interaction MAPbI₃/perovskite is enough to affect the bands' dispersion, particularly the conduction bands.

Incorporating Photochromic Triphenylamine into a Zirconium-Organic Framework for Highly Effective Photocatalytic Aerobic Oxidation of Sulfides

A zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) was successfully constructed via solvothermal assembly of a triphenylamine-based tricarboxylate ligand and Zr(IV) salt, the structure simulation of which revealed that it possesses a two-dimensional layered framework with a relatively rare dodecnuclear Zr₁₂ cluster as the inorganic building unit. The inherent photo-responsive property derived from the incorporated photochromic triphenylamine groups combined with its high stability makes the constructed MOF an efficient heterogeneous photocatalyst for the oxidation of sulfides, which is a fundamentally important reaction type in both environmental and pharmaceutical industries. The photocatalytic activity of the constructed MOF was first investigated under various conditions with thioanisole as a representative sulfide substrate. The MOF exhibited both high efficiency and selectivity on aerobic oxidation of thioanisole in methanol utilizing molecular oxygen in air as the oxidant under blue light irradiation for 10 h. Its high photocatalytic performance was also observed when extending the sulfide substrate to diverse thioanisole derivatives and even a sulfur-containing nerve agent simulant (2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide). The high photocatalytic efficiency and selectivity to a broad set of sulfide substrates make the triphenylamine-incorporating zirconium-based MOF a highly promising heterogeneous photocatalyst.

Nickel-Catalyzed N,N-Diarylation of 8-Aminoquinoline with Large Steric Aryl Bromides and Fluorescence of Products

A simple and efficient methodology for the synthesis of large sterically hindered triarylamines in a single step was developed. A direct N,N-diarylation of 8-aminoquinoline with sterically hindered bromides, making use of inexpensive nickel as a catalyst and simple sodium salt as a base, gives the products in good to excellent yields. Various bromides and substituted 8-aminoquinolines are tolerated. Preliminary fluorescence results indicate that these sterically hindered and conjugated triarylamines may have some potential in material chemistry.

Hexaarylbenzene based high-performance p-channel molecules for electronic applications

Hexaarylbenzene-based molecules find potential applications in organic electronics due to wider energy gap, high HOMO level, higher photoconductivity, electron-rich nature, and high hole-transporting property. Due to the unique propeller structure, these molecules show low susceptibility towards self-aggregation. This property can be tailored by proper molecular engineering by the incorporation of appropriate groups. Therefore, hexaarylbenzene chromophores are widely used as the materials for high-efficiency light-emitting materials, charge transport materials, host materials, redox materials, photochemical switches, and molecular receptors. This review highlights the diverse structural modification techniques used for the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical structures. Also, the potential applications of these molecules in organic light-emitting diodes, organic field-effect transistors, organic photovoltaics, organic memory devices, and logic circuits are discussed.

Step-saving synthesis of star-shaped hole-transporting materials with carbazole or phenothiazine cores via optimized C-H/C-Br coupling reactions

In most research papers, synthesis of organic hole-transporting materials relies on a key-reaction: Stille cross-couplings. This requires tedious prefunctionalizations including the preparation and treatment of unstable organolithium and toxicity-concern organotin reagents. In contrast to traditional multistep synthesis, this work describes that a series of star-shaped small molecules with a carbazole or phenothiazine core can be efficiently synthesized through a shortcut using optimized direct C–H/C–Br cross-couplings as the key step, thus avoiding dealing with the highly reactive organolithium or the toxic organotin species. Device fabrication of perovskite solar cells employing these molecules (6–13) as hole-transporting layers exhibit promising power conversion efficiencies of up to 17.57%.

Carbazole or phenothiazine core-based hole-transport materials are facilely accessed by an optimized synthesis-shortcut. Perovskite solar cell devices with 6–13 demonstrate PCEs of up to 17.57%.

Thiophene-Fused Naphthodiphospholes: Modulation of the Structural and Electronic Properties of Polycyclic Aromatics by Precise Fusion of Heteroles

For polycyclic aromatics with heterole-fused structures, the orientation of fused heterole rings as well as the geometry of their fused structures has a large impact on the physicochemical properties. In this study, a series of isomers of thiophene-fused naphthodiphospholes was designed and synthesized. Systematic investigation unveiled the explicit impact of heterole-fused structures on their structural and electronic properties. The isomers with 1,2/5,6-fused structure display phosphorescence due to enhanced spin-orbit coupling, whereas the isomers with 2,3/6,7-fused structure exhibit intense fluorescence. The trans isomers exhibited 1D slip π-stacked arrangement. In contrast, the cis isomers displayed 2D herringbone structure or columnar structure with a cavity. Therefore, the precisely controlled fusion of heterole rings is a universal approach to uncover their intrinsic properties for versatile applications as organic functional materials.

Optical and electrochemical effects of triarylamine inclusion to alkoxy BODIPY-based derivatives

Three new triphenylamine-BODIPY dyads BDPT1–3 have been designed and synthesized.

Organo-redox-catalysis for the difunctionalization of alkenes and oxidative Ritter reactions by C–H functionalization

Roll over transition metals-triarylamines are redox-catalysts, enabling olefin difunctionalization and C–H functionalization reactions by activating benzoyl peroxide.

One-pot, three-component regioselective coupling reaction of triphenylamine/carbazole derivatives with [60]fullerene and indoles via an “umpolung relay” strategy

An “umpolung relay” three-component regioselective coupling reaction of triphenylamine/carbazole derivatives with C60 and indoles was developed, which features high regioselectivity, broad substrate scope, and excellent functional group tolerance.

Triphenylamine/Tetracyanobutadiene-Based π-Conjugated Push-Pull Molecules End-Capped with Arene Platforms: Synthesis, Photophysics, and Photovoltaic Response

π-Conjugated push-pull molecules based on triphenylamine and 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene (TCBD) have been functionalized with different terminal arene units. In solution, these highly TCBD-twisted systems showed a strong internal charge transfer band in the visible spectrum and no detectable photoluminescence (PL). Photophysical and theoretical investigations revealed very short singlet excited state deactivation time of ≈10 ps resulting from significant conformational changes of the TCBD-arene moiety upon photoexcitation, opening a pathway for non-radiative decay. The PL was recovered in vacuum-processed films or when the molecules were dispersed in a PMMA matrix leading to a significant increase of the excited state deactivation time. As shown by cyclic voltammetry, these molecules can act as electron donors compared to C₆₀ . Hence, vacuum-processed planar heterojunction organic solar cells were fabricated leading to a maximum power conversion efficiency of ca. 1.9 % which decreases with the increase of the arene size.

Rutheniumethynyl-Triarylamine Organic-Inorganic Mixed-Valence Systems: Regulating Ru-N Electronic Coupling by Different Aryl Bridge Cores

Four rutheniumethynyl-triarylamine complexes 1-4 with different aryl bridge cores were prepared. The solid structures of complexes 2-4 were fully confirmed by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. Two consecutive one-electron oxidation processes of complexes 1-4 were attributed to the ruthenium and nitrogen centers, as revealed by cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammogram. Results also showed decreasing potential difference ΔE of complexes 1, 3, and 4, with the largest value for 2. Upon chemical oxidation of complexes 1-4 by 1.0 eq oxidation reagents FcPF₆ or AgSbF₆ , the mixed-valence complexes, except for 2⁺ , show characteristic broad NIR absorptions in the UV-vis-NIR spectroscopic experiments. NIR multiple absorptions were assigned to NAr₂ →RuCp*(dppe) intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) and metal-to-ligand charge transfer transitions by TDDFT calculations. Coupling parameter (H_ab ) from Hush theory revealed that increasing electronic communication in 1⁺ , 3⁺ , and 4⁺ . Electron density distribution of the HOMO for neutral molecules (1, 3, and 4) and spin density distribution of the corresponding single-oxidized states (1⁺ , 3⁺ , and 4⁺ ) increases progressively on the bridge as the size of the aromatic system increases, proving incremental contributions from bridge cores during oxidation.