Boundaries of the Hyperconjugation from π-Extended Six-Membered Phosphorus Heterocycles

In the context of materials science, six-membered phosphorus heterocycles are intriguing building blocks due to their tunable properties through phosphorus post-functionalization and their unique hyperconjugative effects arising from the phosphorus substituents that contribute to further tuning the optoelectronic properties of the system. Seeking for the discovery of improved materials, the latter features have triggered an astonishing evolution of molecular architectures based on phosphorus heterocycles. Theoretical calculations showed that the hyperconjugation causes a reduction in the S₀-S₁ gap, which strongly depends on the nature of both the P-substituent and the π-conjugated core, but where are the limits? Outlining the hyperconjugative effects of six-membered phosphorus heterocycles would allow scientists to know how to design next-generation organophosphorus systems with enhanced properties. Herein, we discovered that, in cationic six-membered phosphorus heterocycles, an increase in the hyperconjugation does not affect the S₀-S₁ gap anymore; i.e., quaternizing the phosphorus atoms leads to properties that go beyond those provoked by hyperconjugative effects. DFT calculations revealed that the latter is particularly marked in phosphaspiro derivatives. Our detailed investigations spotlight the potential of π-extended systems based on six-membered phosphorus spiroheterocycles for accessing properties beyond those achieved to date through hyperconjugative effects, thus laying the groundwork for new research possibilities toward improved organophosphorus systems.

Two-Fold Intramolecular Phosphacyclization: From Fluorescent Diphosphapyrene Salts to Pentavalent Derivatives

The synthesis of π-extended pyrene-based luminescent compounds containing two six-membered phosphacycles has been realized through a two-step synthesis. It involves a Cu(II)-mediated double cyclization of tertiary diphosphane derivatives to afford dicationic molecules with quaternized phosphorus centers. Subsequent transformation of diphosphonium species into the corresponding P-oxide derivatives has been successfully achieved through Pd(0)-assisted cleavage of the P-Ph bonds, which opens a promising way for the functionalization of polyaromatic P-systems.

Excited-state engineering of oligothiophenes via phosphorus chemistry towards strong fluorescent materials

Due to efficient intersystem crossing (ISC), combined with efficient non-radiative processes of the triplet excited state, oligothiophenes generally exhibit very weak photoluminescence. Phosphorus (P)-bridged terthiophenes (P-terThs) and phosphorus (P)-bridged bithiophenes (P-biThs) were synthesized. The diverse and well-defined P-chemistry has been applied to fine tune the photophysical properties of these materials. The asymmetric electronic coupling between the P-center and terThs suppressed the electronic interactions of two terTh and biTh moieties in the ground state S₀. Particularly, P-terThs and P-biThs having a positively charged P(+)-center induce pronounced asymmetric electronic environments on the two terThs and two biThs, respectively, which allows relaxation from the initial excited state via symmetry breaking charge transfer (SBCT) to give the charge separated state S_SBCT. P-terThs and P-biThs having a positively charged P(+)-center exhibit stronger SBCT than others, which may result in a weaker ISC of oligothiophenes, and consequently lead to the photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) being as high as 71% and 39%, respectively. The current study uncovered detailed insights on the effects of phosphorus chemistry on the SBCT of oligothiophenes and their resulting effects on the photophysical properties of P-bridged oligothiophenes, which have not been previously addressed in oligothiophenes.

New frontiers: 1,4-diphosphinines and P-bridged bis(NHCs)

This review describes synthetic concepts and breakthroughs in 1,4-diphosphinine and related P-bridged bis(NHCs) chemistry, covering the last four decades, starting from monocyclic 1,4-dihydro-1,4-diphosphinines in the early 80s to the most recent and promising achievements of tricyclic 1,4-dihydro-1,4-diphosphinines and tricyclic 1,4-diphosphinines. Theoretical aspects are presented for 1,4-dihydro- and 1,4-diphosphinines considering HOMO LUMO situations as well as the degree of aromaticity. Moreover, fundamental characteristics of analytical data of these compounds are highlighted with special focus on substituent effects, structural aspects and trends of electrophilicity. The two P-centers and the heterocyclic rings of 1,4-dihydro- and 1,4-diphosphinines constitute a broad platform for substitution, reduction/oxidation, alkylation, complexation and cycloaddition reactions, i.e., a comprehensive compilation of reactivity aspects is presented. Furthermore, very recent developments in the synthesis and reactivity of tricyclic PV/V- and PIII/III-bridged bis(imidazole-2-ylidenes) will be discussed together with new perspectives derived from an antiaromatic middle ring. In total, our intention is to show new frontiers, i.e., new synthetic paths, thus creating novel opportunities for potential applications in molecular and materials chemistry.

Cationic Organophosphorus Chromophores: A Diamond in the Rough among Ionic Dyes

Tunable electron-accepting properties of the cationic phosphorus center, its geometry and unique preparative chemistry that allows combining this unit with diversity of π-conjugated motifs, define the appealing photophysical and electrochemical characteristics of organophosphorus ionic chromophores. This Minireview summarizes the achievements in the synthesis of the π-extended molecules functionalized with P-cationic fragments, modulation of their properties by means of structural modification, and emphasizes the important effect of cation-anion interactions, which can drastically change physical behavior of these two-component systems.

Radical cations and dications of bis[1]benzothieno[1,4]thiazine isomers

Radical cations and dications of three isomeric bis[1]benzothieno[1,4]thiazines are (electro)chemically generated, spectroscopically characterized and assigned by (TD)DFT calculations.

Facile Synthesis of Nitrogen-Containing Six-Membered Benzofuzed Phenophosphazinine Oxides and Studies of the Photophysical Properties

A facile synthesis of nitrogen-containing six-membered benzofuzed phosphacycles has been described. This cyclization reaction triggered by Tf₂O provides an expedient protocol of phosphacycles with a simple operation at mild conditions. The preliminary photophysical studies of these novel materials reveal that the fluorescence intensity enhances with the molecular aggregation in the solid state and that the introduction of the sterically bulky phenanthrene group into the phosphacycles allows a significant increase in the fluorescence quantum yield.

Simple Route to Synthesize Fully Conjugated Ladder Isomer Copolymers with Carbazole Units

Two isomer polymers, P3 and P6, with fully conjugated ladder structures are presented by simple synthetic routes. The well-defined structures of fully conjugated ladder polymers P3 and P6 were ensured by the high yields of every reaction step. The fully rigid ladder structures were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and photophysical test. Polymers P3 and P6 with bulky alkyl side chains exhibit good solution processability and desirable thermostable properties. After the intramolecular cyclization reaction, the band gaps of polymers P3 and P6 become lower (2.86 eV and 2.66 eV, respectively) compared with polymers P1 and P4. This initial study provides insight for the rational design of fully ladder-conjugated isomeric polymers with well-defined structures.

Phosphindole fused pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles: a new single-molecule junction for charge transport

A new family of phosphindole fused ladder-type heteroacenes with a pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole core were synthesized and characterized, which show good luminescence efficiency, high thermostability and tunable conductance.

Game of Isomers: Bifurcation in the Catalytic Formation of Bis[1]benzothieno[1,4]thiazines with Conformation-Dependent Electronic Properties

Two regioisomers of bis[1]benzothieno[1,4]thiazine are unexpectedly obtained by tuning the catalytic conditions of the intermolecular-intramolecular Buchwald-Hartwig amination. Mechanistic insights and evidence of intermediates support a conclusive mechanistic rationale. Furthermore, a computationally based study on the influence of conformational aspects on the HOMO energy level of anellated 1,4-thiazine paves the way to enhance the electronic properties, thus successfully achieving higher luminescent and easier oxidizable syn- syn bis[1]benzothieno[1,4]thiazines.

Bis[1]benzothieno[1,4]thiazines: Planarity, Enhanced Redox Activity and Luminescence by Thieno-Expansion of Phenothiazine

Twofold Buchwald-Hartwig aminations selectively furnish three regioisomers of bis[1]benzothieno[1,4]thiazines; X-ray structure analyses and DFT calculations were corroborated for correlation of their electronic properties. All regioisomers outscore the parent compound phenothiazine with respect to a low-lying oxidation potential and reversible redox activity. The anti-anti bis[1]benzothieno[3,2-b:2',3'-e][1,4]thiazines possess the lowest oxidation potentials in this series and displayed pronounced green luminescence in solution (Φ_F ≈20 %) and in the solid state. Syn-anti regioisomers were only weakly luminescent in solution, but showed aggregation-induced emission enhancement and solid-state luminescence. Most interestingly, X-ray structure analyses revealed that anti-anti derivatives have an amazingly coplanar structure of the pentacyclic anellated 1,4-thiazine system, emphasizing a structural similarity to heteroacenes. The calculated theoretical nucleus-independent chemical shifts additionally suggested that these 8π-electron core systems can be considered as the first electronically unbiased anellated 1,4-thiazines with antiaromatic character.

Highlights on π-systems based on six-membered phosphorus heterocycles

Herein, we highlight relevant π-systems based on six-membered phosphorus heterocycles as well as their potential in bio- and optoelectronic applications.

Synthesis and photophysical properties of novel benzophospholo[3,2-b]indole derivatives

The parent benzophospholo[3,2-b]indole was prepared by the reaction of dichlorophenylphosphine with a dilithium intermediate, which was prepared in two steps from 2-ethynyl-N,N-dimethylaniline. Using the obtained benzophosphole-fused indole as a common starting material, simple modifications were carried out at the phosphorus center of the phosphole, synthesizing various functionalized analogs. The X-ray structure analysis of trivalent phosphole and phosphine oxide showed that the fused tetracyclic moieties are planar. The benzophosphole-fused indoles, such as phosphine oxide, phospholium salt, and borane complex, exhibited strong photoluminescence in dichloromethane (Φ = 67–75%).