Synthesis of Luminescent Ethynyl-Extended Regioisomers of Borate Complexes Based on 2-(2′-Hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole

Bright ESIPT emission from 2,6-di(thiazol/oxazol/imidazol-2-yl)phenol derivatives in solution, aggregation and solid states

Most luminophores often suffer from the problem of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) or fluorescence disappearance in dilute solution. It is significant to bridge the gap between ACQ and AIE. In this work, a facile but effective strategy was proposed for the fabrication of always-on luminophores based on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism, and six luminophores emitting bright fluorescence in solution, aggregation and solid states were synthesized from 5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde. All these ESIPT systems show only keto emission owing to their congested structures which block the breakage of intramolecular hydrogen bond (O-H⋯N) by solvation, and subsequently make enol emission impossible. Three of these luminophores are prone to convert into the corresponding phenolate anions emitting blue-shifted emission, which enable them to sense pH variation in the weakly basic range. Furthermore, white-light emission was achieved by combining two of them which show complementary-color fluorescence, and one of them was utilized for bioimaging of living Hela cells and the high-resolution image was obtained.

Boranils: Versatile Multifunctional Organic Fluorophores for Innovative Applications

Multifunctional stimuli-responsive fluorophores showing bright environment-sensitive emissions have fueled intense research due to their innovative applications in the fields of biotechnologies, optoelectronics, and materials. A strong structural diversity is observed among molecular materials, which has been enriched over the years with a growing responsiveness to stimuli. Boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes have long been the flagship of emissive boron complexes due to their outstanding properties until a decade ago when analogues based on N^O, N^N, or N^C π-conjugated chelates emerged. The finality of developing borate dyes was to compensate for BODIPYs’ lack of solid-state fluorescence and small Stokes shifts while keeping their excellent optical properties in solution. Among them, the borate complexes based on a salicylaldimine ligand, called by the acronym boranils appear as the most promising, owing to their facile synthesis and dual-state emission properties. Boranil dyes have proven to be good alternatives to BODIPY dyes and have been applied in applications such as bioimaging, bioconjugation, and detection of biosubstrates. Meanwhile, ab initio calculations have rationalized experimental results and provided insightful feedback for future designs. This review article aims at providing a concise yet representative overview of the chemistry around the boranil core with the subsequent applications.

Recent Trends in the Design, Synthesis, Spectroscopic Behavior, and Applications of Benzazole-Based Molecules with Solid-State Luminescence Enhancement Properties

Molecules that exhibit solid-state luminescence enhancement, i.e. the rare property to be more strongly emissive in the solid state than in solution, find an increasing number of applications in the fields of optoelectronic and nanophotonic devices, sensors, security papers, imaging, and theranostics. Benzazole (BZ) heterocycles are of particular value in this context. The simple enlargement of their π-electron system using a -C=C-Ar or -N=C-Ar moiety is enough for intrinsic solid-state luminescence enhancement (SLE) properties to appear. Their association with a variety of polyaromatic motifs leads to SLE-active molecules that frequently display attractive electroluminescent properties and are sensitive to mechanical stimuli. The excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process that takes place in some hydroxy derivatives reinforces the SLE effect and enables the development of new sensors based on a protection/deprotection strategy. BZ may also be incorporated into frameworks that are prototypical aggregation-induced enhancement (AIE) luminogens, such as the popular tetraphenylethene (TPE), leading to materials with excellent optical and electroluminescent performance. This review encompasses the various ways to use BZ units in SLE systems. It underlines the significant progresses recently made in the understanding of the photophysical mechanisms involved. A brief overview of the synthesis shows that BZ units are robust building blocks, easily incorporated into a variety of structures. Generally speaking, we try to show how these small heterocycles may offer advantages for the design of increasingly efficient luminescent materials.

Substituted 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-quinazolin-4-ones and their difluoroboron complexes: Synthesis and photophysical properties

2-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-3H-quinazolin-4-ones with diverse substituents at phenol ring and their six-membered difluoroboron complexes have been synthesized via few-stage approach. The photophysical properties of target compounds have been investigated in two solvents as well as in the solid state. The nature of substituents and substitution point in the phenol moiety of ligands and resulting BF₂-complexes on the photophysical properties of dyes have been explored. The complex bearing two t-Bu groups proved to be the most emissive in solid state, whereas its 5-methoxy and 4-diethylamino counterparts possess strong emission in toluene solution. The dyes exhibited large Stokes shifts which was attributed to excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). Additionally, fluorescence of quinazolinones in the mixture of THF/water was studied. All ligands demonstrated emission enhancement with increase of water fraction which was due to aggregation induced emission.

Synthesis structural and spectroscopic properties of quinoxaline-bridged bisBODIPYs

Two novel quinoxaline-bridged bisBODIPYs have been synthesized by the condensation of 2,3-bis(5-formylpyrrol-2-yl)quinoxaline with 3-ethyl-2,4-dimethylpyrrole followed by a modification using a Knoevenagel reaction. They were well characterized by X-ray diffraction, NMR, HRMS UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. These two quinoxaline-bridged bisBODIPYs have unusual broad absorption bands, which are different from those of typical BODIPYs They exhibit broad red-shifted emission bands centered at around 610 nm and 730 nm respectively with larger Stokes shifts at the range of 1421–2136 cm[Formula: see text] Both bisBODIPYs show different extent solvent-dependent fluorescence and exhibit fluorescence quenching in polar solvents due to the existence of possible intramolecular charge transfer.

Fluorescent phenoxy benzoxazole complexes of zirconium and hafnium: synthesis, structure and photo-physical behaviour

A series of ten heteroleptic and homoleptic mononuclear Zr(iv) and Hf(iv) complexes bearing differently substituted phenoxy-benzoxazole ligands was synthesised. The complexes were characterised by 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy as well as by elemental analyses and X-ray diffraction experiments. The molecular structures show octahedral or tetragonal-antiprismatic coordination motifs at the metal atom. The crystal packing patterns depend on the substitution of the ligands. The intermolecular interactions in the solid state are governed by weak π-π interactions, and are also dependent on the ligand structure. Photo-physical investigations reveal that all ten complexes show a ligand-centered fluorescence with emission maxima in the blue region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

N,O π-Conjugated 4-Substituted 1,3-Thiazole BF2 Complexes: Synthesis and Photophysical Properties

A series of 1,3-thiazole-based organoboron complexes has been designed and synthesized by acylation of 2-amino 4-subsituted 1,3-thiazoles with (4-dimethylamino)benzoyl chloride and the subsequent BF₂ complexation reaction. The influence of substituents in position 4 of the thiazole ring on photophysical properties of the complexes has been investigated. Synthesized thiazolo[3,2-c][1,3,5,2]oxadiazaborinines mainly showed intensive fluorescence in solutions. Complex with a 4,5-unsubstituted thiazole unit demonstrated an aggregation induced emission (AIE) effect and a very high fluorescent quantum yield (94%) in the solid state because of the inhibition of π-π/π-n interactions in the molecular packing.

Fluorescent mesogenic boron difluoride complexes derived from heterocyclic benzoxazoles

One new series of boron difluoride complexes 1 derived from heterocyclic benzoxazoles 2 was reported, and their mesomorphic and optical properties were also investigated. One single crystal of the mesogenic BF₂ complex 1a (m = 12, n = 8) was obtained, and its single crystal and molecular structure were resolved. The geometry coordination at the central boron atom is tetrahedral. It crystallizes in a triclinic space group P1[combining macron] with Z = 4. The overall molecular shape was described as slightly bent Z-shapes, and the molecular length was ca. 34.06 Å. Weak intramolecular and intermolecular H-bonds observed in the crystal lattice were attributed to the formation of mesophases. The results indicated that benzoxazoles 2a (n = 6, 8, 12) formed monotropic SmA phases, while boron difluoride complexes 1a (n = 6, 8, 12, 16) exhibited monotropic SmC mesophases. In contrast, all compounds of 2b and 1b (m = 1, n = 12 for all) were not mesogenic. Boron complexes 1 emitted a pronounced violet emission at λ_max = 399 nm in solution at room temperature.

Synthesis and fluorescence properties of novel squarylium–boron complexes

Novel squarylium–boron complexes showed a significantly enhanced fluorescence quantum yield compared to the corresponding uncomplexed squarylium dyes.

Competitive excited-state single or double proton transfer mechanisms for bis-2,5-(2-benzoxazolyl)-hydroquinone and its derivatives

The excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanisms of 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO), bis-2,5-(2-benzoxazolyl)-hydroquinone (BBHQ) and 2,5-bis(5'-tert-butyl-benzoxazol-2'-yl)hydroquinone (DHBO) have been investigated using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The calculated vertical excitation energies based on the TDDFT method reproduced the experimental absorption and emission spectra well. Three kinds of stable structures were found on the S1 state potential energy surface (PES). A new ESIPT mechanism that differs from the one proposed previously (Mordzinski et al., Chem. Phys. Lett., 1983, 101, 291. and Lim et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128, 14542.) is proposed. The new mechanism includes the possibility of simultaneous double proton transfer, or successive single transfers, in addition to the accepted single proton transfer mechanism. Hydrogen bond strengthening in the excited state was based on primary bond lengths, angles, IR vibrational spectra and hydrogen bond energy. Intramolecular charge transfer based on the frontier molecular orbitals (MOs) also supports the proposed mechanism of the ESIPT reaction. To further elucidate the proposed mechanism, reduced dimensionality PESs of the S0 and S1 states were constructed by keeping the O-H distance fixed at a series of values. The potential barrier heights among the local minima on the S1 surface imply competitive single and double proton transfer branches in the mechanism. Based on the new ESIPT mechanism, the observed fluorescence quenching can be satisfactorily explained.

2,4 and 2,5-bis(benzooxazol-2′-yl)hydroquinone (DHBO) and their borate complexes: synthesis and optical properties

2,4 and 2,5-bis(benzooxazol-2′-yl)hydroquinone (DHBO) scaffolds show fluorescence stemming from an ESIPT process but also act as chelates toward boron fragments.

Effects of cyano groups on the properties of thiazole-based β-ketoiminate boron complexes: aggregation-induced emission and mechanofluorochromism

The triphenylamine-functionalized thiazole-based β-ketoiminate boron complexBF2-TT-CNexhibited strong cyano-dependent aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and mechanofluorochromic (MFC) properties.

Synthesis, Absorption, and Electrochemical Properties of Quinoid-Type Bisboron Complexes with Highly Symmetrical Structures

Novel bisboron complexes of bidentate ligands consisting of 1,4-benzoquinone and two pyrrole rings were synthesized by using a simple two-step reaction. In solution, the bisboron complexes showed absorption maxima at ∼620 and 800 nm, which were attributed to the allowed S0 → S2 and forbidden S0 → S1 transitions, respectively. The bisboron complexes did not show any fluorescence, probably because of their highly symmetrical structure which forbids the S0 → S1 transition. Bisboron complexes underwent a two-electron reduction to yield the corresponding aromatic dianion, which showed absorption maxima at ∼410 nm.

Strategy to enhance solid-state fluorescence and aggregation-induced emission enhancement effect in pyrimidine boron complexes

The synthesis and the solution/solid-state fluorescence properties of pyrimidine-based monoboron complexes differing in terms of the substituents [either two fluorine atoms (BF2 complex) or two phenyl groups (BPh2 complex)] on the boron atom are reported herein. Unrestricted C-Ar intramolecular rotation in the non-, trifluoromethyl-, and cyano-substituted derivatives resulted in negligible fluorescence in solution. On the other hand, methoxy- and dimethylamino-substituted analogues caused the restriction of the C-Ar intramolecular rotation and consequently resulted in relatively strong fluorescence in solution. The non-, trifluoromethyl-, and cyano-substituted derivatives showed a pronounced aggregation-induced emission enhancement effect. Dimethylamino-substituted derivatives exhibited solvatochromism in the fluorescence spectra. Substitution with BPh2 effectively enhanced the fluorescence quantum yield compared to the corresponding BF2 complexes in the solid-state.

Synthesis of novel boron chelate complexes and proposed mechanism of new rearrangement

We synthesized novel boron chelate complexes by the reaction of pyrazoline derivatives and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate followed by a new rearrangement. The structures of the compounds were characterized by IR, NMR and HRMS, especially, a typical compound 3c was confirmed by X-ray single crystal analysis. We proposed a mechanism of the rearrangement. Moreover, the absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of these compounds were measured.

Design, synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties of 2-(4,5-diphenyl-1-p-aryl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol-based boron complexes

New hybrid organic–inorganic boron compounds using an imidazole core have been readily synthesized from commercially available simple starting materials.

Dipyrrolylquinoxaline difluoroborates with intense red solid-state fluorescence

Dipyrrolylquinoxalines and their BF₂ complexes were synthesized and characterized by their X-ray structural analysis, optical and electrochemical properties. These dyes exhibit strong broad absorption in the visible region and intensely tunable solid-state fluorescence.

Tuning of the colour and chemical stability of model boranils: a strong effect of structural modifications

An improved approach to luminescent diphenylborinic complexes with functionalized salicydeneaniline ligands was developed. A strong effect of structural modifications on their stability and optical properties was established.

Panchromatic luminescence from julolidine dyes exhibiting excited state intramolecular proton transfer

The panchromatic emission from julolidine dyes modified for ESIPT is modulated by the substituent on the phenyl ring (R = I, CCH).

Maleimide fused boron–fluorine complexes: synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties

Novel boron fluorine complex molecules were designed and synthesized using the maleimide core moiety.

A BODIPY/pyrene-based chemodosimetric fluorescent chemosensor for selective sensing of hydrazine in the gas and aqueous solution state and its imaging in living cells

A BODIPY-based pyrenebutyrate-linked (BPB) chromogenic and fluorogenic probe was synthesized and characterized for the specific detection of hydrazine.

Synthesis, structures and electrochemical and photophysical properties of anilido-benzoxazole boron difluoride (ABB) complexes

Four-ring-fused anilido-benzoxazole boron difluoride (ABB) dyes were synthesized, and exhibited very bright luminescence in solution (Φ_f = 0.45–0.96 in CH₂Cl₂) and in the solid-state (Φ_f = 0.07–0.37).

R, Sun SS. Structural diversity of new solid-state luminophores based on quinoxaline-β-ketoiminate boron difluoride complexes with remarkable fluorescence switching properties

Highly tunable organoboron luminophores with intense solid-state fluorescence showed outstanding photoswitching properties modulated by acid/base vapors.

White emitters by tuning the excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer fluorescence emission in 2-(2'-hydroxybenzofuran)benzoxazole dyes

The synthesis, structural, and photophysical properties of a new series of original dyes based on 2-(2'-hydroxybenzofuran)benzoxazole (HBBO) is reported. Upon photoexcitation, these dyes exhibit intense dual fluorescence with contribution from the enol (E*) and the keto (K*) emission, with K* being formed through excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). We show that the ratio of emission intensity E*/K* can be fine-tuned by judiciously decorating the molecular core with electron-donating or -attracting substituents. Push-pull dyes 9 and 10 functionalized by a strong donor (nNBu2 ) and a strong acceptor group (CF3 and CN, respectively) exhibit intense dual emission, particularly in apolar solvents such as cyclohexane in which the maximum wavelength of the two bands is the more strongly separated. Moreover, all dyes exhibit strong solid-state dual emission in a KBr matrix and polymer films with enhanced quantum yields reaching up to 54 %. A wise selection of substituents led to white emission both in solution and in the solid state. Finally, these experimental results were analyzed by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations, which confirm that, on the one hand, only E* and K* emission are present (no rotamer) and, on the other hand, the relative free energies of the two tautomers in the excited state guide the ratio of the E*/K* emission intensities.

Facile synthesis of highly fluorescent BF2 complexes bearing isoindolin-1-one ligand

A new class of isoindolin-1-one based BF₂ complexes containing pyridine or benzothiazole groups has been prepared from a “one-pot” reaction.