Distortion-Controlled Redshift of Organic Dye Molecules

It is shown, quantum chemically, how structural distortion of an aromatic dye molecule can be leveraged to rationally tune its optoelectronic properties. By using a quantitative Kohn-Sham molecular orbital (KS-MO) approach, in combination with time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT), the influence of various structural and electronic tuning parameters on the HOMO-LUMO gap of a benzenoid model dye have been investigated. These parameters include 1) out-of-plane bending of the aromatic core, 2) bending of the bridge with respect to the core, 3) the nature of the bridge itself, and 4) π-π stacking. The study reveals the coupling of multiple structural distortions as a function of bridge length and number of bridges in benzene to be chiefly responsible for a decreased HOMO-LUMO gap, and consequently, red-shifting of the absorption wavelength associated with the lowest singlet excitation (λ≈560 nm) in the model cyclophane systems. These physical insights together with a rational approach for tuning the oscillator strength were leveraged for the proof-of-concept design of an intense near-infrared (NIR) absorbing cyclophane dye at λ=785 nm. This design may contribute to a new class of distortion-controlled NIR absorbing organic dye molecules.

Chemistry of Herz radicals: a new way to near-IR dyes with multiple long-lived and differently-coloured redox states

A new synthetic methodology based on the self-condensation of 1,2,3-benzodithiazolyl diradicals (Herz radicals) produces unprecedented 5-6-6-6-5 and 5-6-7-6-5 pentacyclic sulfur-nitrogen near-IR dyes featuring up to five multiple long-lived and differently coloured redox-states.

A remarkably air-stable quinodimethane radical cation

An ambient-stable radical cation of a Thiele's hydrocarbon derivative has been synthesized and its properties have been explored using a combined experimental and computational approach.

Unprecedented intramolecular pancake bonding in a {Dy2} single-molecule magnet

The first example of unique coordination induced intramolecular pancake bonding was achieved through the reduction of two bis(pyrazolyl)-tetrazine ligands.

Through-space aromatic character in excimers

Aromaticity, though widely used to delineate diverse photochemical phenomena, remains to be examined in excimers, a fundamental and extensively studied entity in the excited states. Herein, the first theoretical evidence for the excited state through-space aromatic character in triplet state (T1) excimers of benzene, naphthalene and anthracene is reported using multiple aromaticity descriptors based on magnetic, electronic and geometric criteria. The calculated chemical shifts and induced current densities manifest the presence of transannular π-electronic currents in the excimers. The results open up enormous research potential from exploring the possibility of through-space aromatic character in singlet excimers to its possible implications in photoexcited state processes of aromatic supramolecular systems.

Air-Stable Thin Films with High and Anisotropic Electrical Conductivities Composed of a Carbon-Centered Neutral π-Radical

Air-stable thin films (50-720 nm thickness) composed of a carbon-centered neutral π-radical with high and anisotropic electrical conductivities were fabricated by vapor deposition of 4,8,12-trioxotriangulene (TOT). The thin films were air-stable over 15 months and were the aggregate of TOT microcrystals, in which a one-dimensional π-stacking column was formed through the strong singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO)-SOMO interaction with two-electron-multicenter bond among the spin-delocalized π-planes. The orientations of the one-dimensional column of TOT were changed depending on the deposition rate and substrates, where face-on-oriented thin films were epitaxially grown on the graphite 0001 surface, and edge-on-oriented thin films were grown on glass, SiO2, and indium tin oxide substrates under a high-deposition rate condition. The films showed high electrical conductivities of 2.5 × 10-2 and 5.9 × 10-5 S cm-1 along and perpendicular to the π-stacking column, respectively, for an edge-on oriented thin film.

Stabilization of Pancake Bonding in (TCNQ)2 .- Dimers in the Radical-Anionic Salt (N-CH3-2-NH2-5Cl-Py)(TCNQ)(CH3CN) Solvate and Antiferromagnetism Induction

We report a new antiferromagnetic radical-anion salt (RAS) formed from 7,7,8,8-tetracyanquinonedimethane (TCNQ) anion and 2-amino-5-chloro-pyridine cation with the composition of (N-CH3-2-NH2-5Cl-Py)(TCNQ)(CH3CN). The crystallographic data indicates the formation of (TCNQ)2 .- radical-anion π-dimers in the synthesized RAS. Unrestricted density functional theory calculations show that the formed π-dimers characterize with strong π-stacking "pancake" interactions, resulting in high electronic coupling, enabling efficient charge transfer properties, but π-dimers cannot be stable in the isolated conditions as a result of strong Coulomb repulsions. In a crystal, where (TCNQ)2 .- π-dimers bound in the endless chainlets via supramolecular bonds with (N-CH3-2-NH2-5-Cl-Py)+ cations, the repulsion forces are screened, allowing for specific parallel π-stacking interactions and stable radical-anion dimers formation. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility and magnetization confirm antiferromagnetic properties of RAS, what is in line with the higher stability of ground singlet state of the radical-anion pair, calculated by means of the DFT. Therefore, the reported radical-anion (N-CH3-2-NH2-5Cl-Py)(TCNQ)(CH3CN) solvate has promising applications in novel magnetics with supramolecular structures.

Electronic and geometric structure analysis of neutral and anionic alkali metal complexes of the CX series (X = O, S, Se, Te, Po): The case of M(CX) n = 1-4 (M = Li, Na) and their dimers

Bonding mechanisms, potential energy curves, accurate structures, energetics, and electron affinities are obtained for all M(CX)_1-3 species with M = Li, Na, and X = O, S, Se, Te, and Po, at the coupled-cluster level with triple-ζ quality basis sets. We discuss and rationalize the trends within different molecular groups. For example, we found larger binding energies for M = Li, for CX = CPo, and for the tri-coordinated (n = 3) complexes. All three facts are explained by the fact that the global minimum of the titled complexes originate from the first excited ² P (2p¹ for Li or 3p¹ for Na) state of the metal, with each ligand forming a dative bond with the metal. All of the complexes, except Na(CO)₃ , have stable anions, and their electron affinity increases as MCX < M(CX)₃ < M(CX)₂ . This sequence is attributed to the binding modes of these complexes. The Li(CO)₃ and Li(CS)₃ complexes are able to accommodate a fourth ligand, which is attached to the system electrostatically. Finally, two Li(CO)₃ molecules can bind together covalently to make the ethane analog. The staggered conformer was found lower in energy and unlike ethane the CO ligands bend toward the neighboring Li(CO)₃ moiety. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Importance of Electronic Dimensionality in Multiorbital Radical Conductors

The exceptional performance of oxobenzene-bridged bis-1,2,3-dithiazolyls 6 as single-component neutral radical conductors arises from the presence of a low-lying π-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, which reduces the potential barrier to charge transport and increases the kinetic stabilization energy of the metallic state. As part of ongoing efforts to modify the solid-state structures and transport properties of these so-called multiorbital materials, we report the preparation and characterization of the acetoxy, methoxy, and thiomethyl derivatives 6 (R = OAc, OMe, SMe). The crystal structures are based on ribbonlike arrays of radicals laced together by S···N' and S···O' secondary bonding interactions. The steric and electronic effects of the exocyclic ligands varies, affording one-dimensional (1D) π-stacked radicals for R = OAc, 1D cofacial dimer π-stacks for R = SMe, and a pseudo two-dimensional (2D) brick-wall arrangement for R = OMe. Variable-temperature magnetic and conductivity measurements reveal strong antiferromagnetic interactions and Mott insulating behavior for the two radical-based structures (R = OAc, OMe), with lower room-temperature conductivities (σ_RT ≈ 1 × 10^-4 and ∼1 × 10^-3 S cm^-1, respectively) and higher thermal activation energies ( E_act = 0.24 and 0.21 eV, respectively) than found for the ideal 2D brick-wall structure of 6 (R = F), where σ_RT ≈ 1 × 10^-2 S cm^-1 and E_act = 0.10 eV. The performance of R = OMe, OAc relative to that of R = F, is consistent with the results of density functional theory band electronic structure calculations, which indicate a lower kinetic stabilization energy of the putative metallic state arising from their reduced electronic dimensionality.

Pancakes under Pressure: A Case Study on Isostructural Dithia- and Diselenadiazolyl Radical Dimers

The isostructural dimers of the 1,4-phenylene-bridged bis-1,2,3,5-dithia- and bis-1,2,3,5-diselenadiazolyl diradicals 1,4-S/Se are small band gap semiconductors. The response of their molecular and solid state electronic structures to pressure has been explored over the range 0-10 GPa. The crystal structures, which consist of cofacially aligned (pancake) π-dimers packed into herringbone arrays, experience a continuous, near-isotropic compression. While the intramolecular covalent E-E (E = S/Se) bonds remain relatively unchanged with pressurization, the intradimer E···E separations are significantly shortened. Molecular and band electronic structure calculations using density functional theory methods indicate that compression of the π-dimers leads to a widening of the gap Δ E between the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals of the dimer, an effect that offsets the expected decrease in the valence-to-conduction band gap E_g occasioned by pressure-induced spreading of the valence and conduction bands. Consistent with the predicted consequences of this competition between intra- and interdimer interactions, variable temperature high pressure conductivity measurements reveal at best an order-of-magnitude increase in conductivity with pressure for the two compounds over the pressure range 0-10 GPa. While a small reduction in the thermal activation energy E_act with increasing pressure is observed, extrapolation of the rate of decrease suggests a projected onset of metallization ( E_act ≈ 0) in excess of 20 GPa.

Spin splittings from first-order symmetry-adapted perturbation theory without single-exchange approximation

The recently proposed spin-flip symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SF-SAPT) first-order exchange energy [Patkowski et al., J. Chem. Phys. 148, 164110 (2018)] enables the standard open-shell SAPT approach to treat arbitrary spin states of the weakly interacting complex. Here, we further extend first-order SF-SAPT beyond the single-exchange approximation to a complete treatment of the exchanges of electrons between monomers. This new form of the exchange correction replaces the single-exchange approximation with a more moderate single-spin-flip approximation. The newly developed expressions are applied to a number of small test systems to elucidate the quality of both approximations. They are also applied to the singlet-triplet splittings in pancake bonded dimers. The accuracy of the single-exchange approximation deteriorates at short intermolecular separations, especially for systems with few electrons and for the high-spin state of the complex. In contrast, the single-spin-flip approximation is exact for interactions involving a doublet molecule and remains highly accurate for any number of unpaired electrons. Because the single-exchange approximation affects the high-spin and low-spin states of pancake bonded complexes evenly, the resulting splitting values are of similar accuracy to those produced by the formally more accurate single-spin-flip approximation.

Solid-State rGO-PEDOT:PSS Transducing Material for Cost-Effective Enzymatic Sensing

Performance of a sensing device is dependent on its construction material, especially for components that are directly involved in transporting and translating signals across the device. Understanding the morphology and characteristics of the material components is therefore crucial in the development of any sensing device. This work examines the morphological and electrochemical characteristics of reduced graphene oxide interspersed with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (rGO-PEDOT:PSS) used as a transducer material deposited on a commercially available screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). Electron microscopy shows that PEDOT:PSS is interspersed between rGO layers. Raman and XRD analyses suggest that the graphene crystallinity in GO-PEDOT:PSS and rGO-PEDOT:PSS remains intact. Instead, PEDOT:PSS undergoes a change in structure to allow PEDOT to blend into the graphene structure and partake in the π-π interaction with the surface of the rGO layers. Incorporation of PEDOT:PSS also appears to improve the electrochemical behavior of the composite, leading to a higher peak current of 1.184 mA, as measured by cyclic voltammetry, compared to 0.522 mA when rGO is used alone. The rGO-PEDOT:PSS transducing material blended with glucose oxidase was tested for glucose detection. The sensitivity of glucose detection was shown to be 57.3 µA/(mM·cm²) with a detection limit of 86.8 µM.

Towards understanding π-stacking interactions between non-aromatic rings

The first systematic study of π interactions between non-aromatic rings, based on the authors' own results from an experimental X-ray charge-density analysis assisted by quantum chemical calculations, is presented. The landmark (non-aromatic) examples include quinoid rings, planar radicals and metal-chelate rings. The results can be summarized as: (i) non-aromatic planar polyenic rings can be stacked, (ii) interactions are more pronounced between systems or rings with little or no π-electron delocalization (e.g. quinones) than those involving delocalized systems (e.g. aromatics), and (iii) the main component of the interaction is electrostatic/multipolar between closed-shell rings, whereas (iv) interactions between radicals involve a significant covalent contribution (multicentric bonding). Thus, stacking covers a wide range of interactions and energies, ranging from weak dispersion to unlocalized two-electron multicentric covalent bonding ('pancake bonding'), allowing a face-to-face stacking arrangement in some chemical species (quinone anions). The predominant interaction in a particular stacked system modulates the physical properties and defines a strategy for crystal engineering of functional materials.

A Concise Synthetic Strategy for Accessing Ambient Stable Bisphenalenyls toward Achieving Electroactive Open-Shell π-Conjugated Materials

Open-shell, π-conjugated molecules represent exciting next-generation materials due to their unique optoelectronic and magnetic properties and their potential to exploit unpaired spin densities to engineer exceptionally close π-π interactions. However, prior syntheses of ambient stable, open-shell molecules required lengthy routes and displayed intermolecular spin-spin coupling with limited dimensionality. Here we report a general fragment-coupling strategy with phenalenone that enables the rapid construction of both biradicaloid (Ph₂- s-IDPL, 1) and radical [10(OTf)] bisphenalenyls in ≤7 steps from commercial starting materials. Significantly, we have discovered an electronically stabilized π-radical cation [10(OTf)] that shows multiple intermolecular closer-than-vdW contacts (<3.4 Å) in its X-ray crystal structure. DFT simulations reveal that each of these close π-π interactions allows for intermolecular spin-spin coupling to occur and suggests that 10(OTf) achieves electrostatically enhanced intermolecular covalent-bonding interactions in two dimensions. Single crystal devices were fabricated from 10(OTf) and demonstrate average electrical conductivities of 1.31 × 10^-2 S/cm. Overall, these studies highlight the practical synthesis and device application of a new π-conjugated material, based on a design principle that promises to facilitate spin and charge transport.

The reaction of phenoxatellurine with single-electron oxidizers revisited

Baking Pancakes: Dicationic products of the single-electron oxidation of phenoxatellurine.

Influence of organic cations on the stacking of semiquinone radical anions

A series of salts of tetrachloro- and tetrabromosemiquinone radical anions reveal four types of stacks: 1) pancake bonded dimers, 2) pancake-bonded trimers, 3) equidistant radicals and 4) a novel type of equidistant stacks of partially charged radicals.

Experimental and Computational Evidence for "Double Pancake Bonds": The Role of Dispersion-Corrected DFT Methods in Strongly Dimerized 5-Aryl-1λ2,3λ2-dithia-2,4,6-triazines

Crystal structures are reported for bicyclic 3-CF₃C₆H₄CN₅S₃ and monocyclic 3-CF₃C₆H₄CN₃S₂, the latter of which is strongly dimerized in a cis-cofacial geometry [3-CF₃C₆H₄CN₃S₂]₂. The title compounds have previously been characterized in solution by NMR, displaying spectra that are consistent with the structure of [3-CF₃C₆H₄CN₃S₂]₂ in the crystal with anti-oriented CF₃ substituents. The interannular binding was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) methods. However, the DFT-optimized geometry spreads the aryl rings too far apart (centroid-centroid distances of ≥4.353 Å versus experimental distance of 3.850 Å). Significant improvements are obtained with dispersion-corrected DFT functionals B3LYP-D3, B3LYP-D3BJ, M062X, and APFD using the 6-311+G(2d,p) basis set. However, all of these overbind the aryl rings with centroid-centroid distances of 3.612, 3.570, 3.526, and 3.511 Å, respectively. After selecting B3LYP-D3BJ/6-311+G(2d,p) as the best method, five alternative dimer geometries were tested, and all were found to be binding; however, anti cofacial-4 (matching the structure in the solid state) is the most stable. Computed energies of the remainder are as follows: +7.0 kJ mol^-1 (syn-cofacial-5), +26.7 kJ mol^-1 (anti-cofacial-64), +27.0 kJ mol^-1 (syn-cofacial-150), +102.0 kJ mol^-1 (S,S-antarafacial), and +103.7 kJ mol^-1 (S,N-antarafacial), where the suffixes are torsional angles around the CN₃S₂ thiazyl ring centroids. The binding in the four most stable cofacial dimers may be described by "double pancake bonding".