Perylene-Based Smart Fluoroprobe with Dual Function: Ratiometric Response toward Hazardous Organic Peroxides and Pure White Light Generation via Self-Assembly

In this report, we have designed and synthesized a perylene-based smart fluoroprobe (PBE) in which the perylene core has been functionalized with the boronate group at the peri-position. PBE shows a very fast and ratiometric response toward harmful organic peroxides (OPs) generated in old ethereal solvents via auto-oxidation. The response toward OPs takes place with a visible color change from green to yellow, which could be easily observed with the naked eye. The reaction between PBE and OPs involves the cleavage of the boronate group and its consequent conversion into the -OH group. The response of PBE toward OPs was monitored using UV-vis absorption, fluorescence emission, IR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. Additionally, we have also explored the self-assembly of PBE in an organic-aqueous solvent mixture, which shows pure white light emission (WLE) with the CIE coordinates (0.33, 0.33) in a 50% dimethyl sulfoxide-water mixture. This work clearly reveals that PBE fluoroprobe can be employed for sensitive detection of hazardous OPs present in old ethereal solvents. Moreover, the ability of PBE to generate the perfect pure WLE makes it a potential candidate for application in organic light-emitting devices.

Regiochemically Pure 1,6-Ditriflato-Perylene Diimide: Preparation and Transformation

Preparation of regioisomerically pure 1,6-disubstituted perylene diimide (PDI) is not a trivial task owing to the lack of facile synthetic and separation methodologies for the precursors. Herein, we present a simple synthesis for 1,6-ditriflato-PDI (1,6-diOTf-PDI) using 1,6,9,10-tetrabromo-perylene monoimide 1 as the starting material. The selective methoxylation of 1 at the 1,6-position is the key step. Based on a four-step sequence of selective methoxylation, domino carbonylative amidation, demethylation, and triflation, 1,6-diOTf-PDI can be obtained in a satisfactory yield. Moreover, as a building block, 1,6-diOTf-PDIa can readily undergo Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions.

1,7,9,10-Tetrasubstituted PMIs Accessible through Decarboxylative Bromination: Synthesis, Characterization, Photophysical Studies, and Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis

In this work, we present a new synthetic strategy for fourfold-substituted perylene monoimides via tetrabrominated perylene monoanhydrides. X-ray diffraction analysis unveiled the intramolecular stacking orientation between the substituents and semicircular packing behavior. We observed the remarkable influence of the substituent on the longevity and nature of the excited state upon visible light excitation. In the presence of poly(dehydroalanine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) graft copolymers as solubilizing template, the chromophores are capable of sensitizing [Mo3 S13 ]2- clusters in aqueous solution for stable visible light driven hydrogen evolution over three days.

Synthesis and photovoltaic application of NIR-emitting perylene-monoimide dyes with large Stokes-shift

An efficient Sonogashira coupling protocol is developed for tetra-alkynylation at the bay and peri-positions of the perylene-monoimide (PMI) dye in its PMI(Br)4 form. The absorption band for these PMI dyes covered from the visible to Near-infrared (NIR) region and PMI(NMe2)4 is found to exhibit a record-breaking Stokes-shifted NIR emission with good photovoltaic properties.

Synthesis of highly-soluble push-pull perylenemonoimide derivatives by regioselective peri-functionalization for switchable memory applications

A regioselective synthetic protocol is developed via tetrabromination of perylenemonoimide (PMI) which leads to a series of PMI derivatives. The push-pull characteristics of these derivatives are established by spectroscopic and theoretical investigations. Finally, the semiconducting properties of the PMI dyes are utilized for the development of a switchable memory device.

Insights into the effect of donor ability on photophysical properties of dihydroindeno[2,1-c]fluorene-based imide derivatives

The photophysical properties of dihydroindeno[2,1-c]fluorene-based imide (DHIFI) derivatives were investigated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy as well as quantum chemical calculations.

Structurally Simple and Easily Accessible Perylenes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Applicable to Both 1 Sun and Dim-Light Environments

The need for low-cost and highly efficient dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells under both the sunlight and dim light environments is growing. We have devised GJ-series push-pull organic dyes which require only four synthesis steps. These dyes feature a linear molecular structure of donor-perylene-ethynylene-arylcarboxylic acid, where donor represents N,N-diarylamino group and arylcarboxylic groups represent benzoic, thienocarboxylic, 2-cyano-3-phenylacrylic, 2-cyano-3-thienoacrylic, and 4-benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazol-4-yl-benzoic groups. In this study, we demonstrated that a dye without tedious and time-consuming synthesis efforts can perform efficiently. Under the illumination of AM1.5G simulated sunlight, the benzothiadiazole-benzoic-containing GJ-BP dye shows the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.16% with V_OC of 0.70 V and J_SC of 11.88 mA cm^-2 using liquid iodide-based electrolyte. It also shows high performance in converting light of 6000 lx light intensity, that is, incident power of ca. 1.75 mW cm^-2, to power output of 0.28 mW cm^-2 which equals a PCE of 15.79%. Interestingly, the benzoic-containing dye GJ-P with a simple molecular structure has comparable performance in generating power output of 0.26 mW cm^-2 (PCE of 15.01%) under the same condition and is potentially viable toward future application.

Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene with Different Acceptor Units for Tuning Optoelectronic Properties

Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC)-based donor-acceptor dyads were synthesized with three different acceptor units, through two pathways: 1) "pre-functionalization" of monobromo-substituted hexaphenylbenzene prior to the cyclodehydrogenation; and 2) "post-functionalization" of monobromo-substituted HBC after the cyclodehydrogenation. The HBC-acceptor dyads demonstrated varying degrees of intramolecular charge-transfer interactions, depending on the attached acceptor units, which allowed tuning of their photophysical and optoelectronic properties, including the energy gaps. The two synthetic pathways described here can be complementary and potentially be applied for the synthesis of nanographene-acceptor dyads with larger aromatic cores, including one-dimensionally extended graphene nanoribbons.

Panchromatic chromophore–tetrapyrrole light-harvesting arrays constructed from Bodipy, perylene, terrylene, porphyrin, chlorin, and bacteriochlorin building blocks

Five new chromophore–tetrapyrrole arrays bearing an ethynyl linker have been synthesized to explore the effects of chromophore nature and tetrapyrrole attachment site on panchromatic spectral properties.

Synthesis of multi-donor dyes and influence of molecular design on dye-sensitized solar cells

Multi-donor incorporated organic dyes were designed and synthesized and their structure–property relationship was investigated in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs).

Efficient triarylamine-perylene dye-sensitized solar cells: influence of triple-bond insertion on charge recombination

We synthesize two new metal-free donor-acceptor organic dyes (C266 and C267) featuring a N-annulated perylene block. Owing to the improved coplanarity of conjugated units as well as the prolonged conjugation upon inserting a triple bond between the triarylamine and perylene segments, the C267 dye exhibits a slightly red-shifted absorption peak and an enhanced maximum molar absorption coefficient with respect to its reference dye C266, leading to an improved photocurrent output in dye-sensitized solar cells. However, the triple-bond introduction also brings forth an over 100 mV reduced open-circuit photovoltage owing to faster interfacial charge recombination, which presents a clear correlation with a reduced mean thickness of self-assembled dye layer on titania as revealed by X-ray reflectivity measurements. The C266 dye, albeit with a relatively weaker light-harvesting capacity, displays a higher power conversion efficiency of 9.0% under the 100 mW cm(-2), simulated AM1.5G sunlight.

Energy flow dynamics within cofacial and slip-stacked perylene-3,4-dicarboximide dimer models of π-aggregates

Robust perylene-3,4-dicarboximide (PMI) π-aggregates provide important light-harvesting and electron-hole pair generation advantages in organic photovoltaics and related applications, but relatively few studies have focused on the electronic interactions between PMI chromophores. In contrast, structure-function relationships based on π-π stacking in the related perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximides) (PDIs) have been widely investigated. The performance of both PMI and PDI derivatives in organic devices may be limited by the formation of low-energy excimer trap states in morphologies where interchromophore coupling is strong. Here, five covalently bound PMI dimers with varying degrees of electronic interaction were studied to probe the relative chromophore orientations that lead to excimer energy trap states. Femtosecond near-infrared transient absorption spectroscopy was used to observe the growth of a low-energy transition at ~1450-1520 nm characteristic of the excimer state in these covalent dimers. The excimer-state absorption appears in ~1 ps, followed by conformational relaxation over 8-17 ps. The excimer state then decays in 6.9-12.8 ns, as measured by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The excimer lifetimes reach a maximum for a slip-stacked geometry in which the two PMI molecules are displaced along their long axes by one phenyl group (~4.3 Å). Additional displacement of the PMIs by a biphenyl spacer along the long axis prevents excimer formation. Symmetry-breaking charge transfer is not observed in any of the PMI dimers, and only a small triplet yield (<5%) is observed for the cofacial PMI dimers. These data provide structural insights for minimizing excimer trap states in organic devices based on PMI derivatives.

Study on the photophysical and electrochemical property and molecular simulation of broadly absorbing and emitting perylene diimide derivatives with large D–π–A structure

A simple synthetic route to obtain perylene diimide candidate materials with large conjugation, obvious ICT, broad light-absorption/emission, concentration-dependant ð–ð staking induced fluorescence and low-lying LUMO energy level.

Synthesis and photophysical properties of novel phthalocyanine–perylenediimide–phthalocyanine triad and phthalocyanine–perylenediimide dyads

Three novel multi-component chromophores based on phthalocyanine and perylenediimide moieties were synthesized by one condensation reaction.