Fluorescence of new o-carborane compounds with different fluorophores: can it be tuned?

Metal complex-based TADF: design, characterization, and lighting devices

The development of novel, efficient and cost-effective emitters for solid-state lighting devices (SSLDs) is ubiquitous to meet the increasingly demanding needs of advanced lighting technologies. In this context, the emergence of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials has stunned the photonics community. In particular, inorganic TADF material-based compounds can be ad hoc engineered by chemical modification of the coordinated ligands and the type of metal centre, allowing control of their ultimate photo-/electroluminescence properties, while providing a viable emitter platform for enhancing the efficiency of state-of-the-art organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs). By presenting an overview of the state of the art of all metal complex-based TADF compounds, this review aims to provide a comprehensive, authoritative and critical reference for their design, characterization and device application, highlighting the advantages and drawbacks for the chemical, photonic and optoelectronic communities involved in this interdisciplinary research field.

Carborane-based BODIPY dyes: synthesis, structural analysis, photophysics and applications

Icosahedral boron clusters-based BODIPY dyes represent a cutting-edge class of compounds that merge the unique properties of boron clusters with the exceptional fluorescence characteristics of BODIPY dyes. These kinds of molecules have garnered substantial interest due to their potential applications across various fields, mainly including optoelectronics, bioimaging, and potential use as boron carriers for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Carborane clusters are known for their exceptional stability, rigid geometry, and 3D-aromaticity, while BODIPY dyes are renowned for their strong absorption, high fluorescence quantum yields, and photostability. The integration of carborane into BODIPY structures leverages the stability and versatility of carboranes while enhancing the photophysical properties of BODIPY-based fluorophores. This review explores the synthesis and structural diversity of boron clusters-based BODIPY dyes, highlighting how carborane incorporation can lead to significant changes in the electronic and optical properties of the dyes. We discuss the enhanced photophysical characteristics, such as red-shifted absorption and emission poperties, charge and electronic transfer effects, and improved cellular uptake, resulting from carborane substitution. The review also delves into the diverse applications of these compounds. In bioimaging, carborane-BODIPY dyes offer superior fluorescence properties and cellular internalization, making them ideal for cell tracking. In photodynamic therapy, (PDT) these dyes can act as potent photosensitizers capable of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) for targeted cancer treatment making them excellent candidates for PDT. Additionally, their unique electronic properties make them suitable candidates for optoelectronic applications, including organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and sensors. Overall, carborane-BODIPY dyes represent a versatile and promising class of materials with significant potential for innovation in scientific and technological applications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on carborane-BODIPY dyes, highlighting their synthesis, properties, and broad application spectrum.

Charge Transfer Complex-Enabled Synthesis of (Hetero)arylated m-Carboranes from m-Carborane Phosphonium Salts

A photoinduced charge transfer complex (CTC)-enabled photoreduction of carborane phosphonium salts for the cage carbon (hetero)arylation of carboranes was developed. It offers a convenient approach for introducing a wide range of aryl and heteroaryl groups, such as pyrroles, thiophenes, indoles, thianaphthenes, benzofurans, pyridines, and benzenes, into carboranes. This strategy offers operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions, and a broad substrate scope, making it highly advantageous.

Improvement in Radiative Efficiency Via Intramolecular Charge Transfer in ortho-Carboranyl Luminophores Modified with Functionalized Biphenyls

In this study, we found that the electronic effects of the functional groups on aromatic units attached to o-carboranyl species can enhance the efficiency of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-based radiative decay processes. Six o-carboranyl-based luminophores having attached functionalized biphenyl groups with CF₃, F, H, CH₃, C(CH₃)₃, and OCH₃ substituents were prepared and fully characterized by multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In addition, their molecular structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry, which revealed that the distortion of the biphenyl rings and the geometries around the o-carborane cages were similar. All compounds exhibited ICT-based emissions in the rigid state (solution at 77 K and film). Intriguingly, the quantum efficiencies (Φ_em) of five compounds (that of the group with CF₃ could not be measured because of its extremely weak emissions) in the film state increased gradually as the electron-donating power of the terminal functional group modifying the biphenyl moiety increased. Furthermore, the nonradiative decay constants (k_nr) for the group with OCH₃ were estimated to be one-tenth of those for the group with F, whereas the radiative decay constants (k_r) for the five compounds were similar. The dipole moments (μ) calculated for the optimized first excited state (S₁) structures gradually increased, from that of the group with CF₃ to that of the group with OCH₃, implying that the inhomogeneity of the molecular charge distribution was enhanced by electron donation. The electron-rich environment formed as a result of electron donation led to efficient charge transfer to the excited state. Both experimental and theoretical findings revealed that the electronic environment of the aromatic moiety in o-carboranyl luminophores can be controlled to accelerate or interrupt the ICT process in the radiative decay of excited states.

Towards the Application of Purely Inorganic Icosahedral Boron Clusters in Emerging Nanomedicine

Traditionally, drugs were obtained by extraction from medicinal plants, but more recently also by organic synthesis. Today, medicinal chemistry continues to focus on organic compounds and the majority of commercially available drugs are organic molecules, which can incorporate nitrogen, oxygen, and halogens, as well as carbon and hydrogen. Aromatic organic compounds that play important roles in biochemistry find numerous applications ranging from drug delivery to nanotechnology or biomarkers. We achieved a major accomplishment by demonstrating experimentally/theoretically that boranes, carboranes, as well as metallabis(dicarbollides), exhibit global 3D aromaticity. Based on the stability-aromaticity relationship, as well as on the progress made in the synthesis of derivatized clusters, we have opened up new applications of boron icosahedral clusters as key components in the field of novel healthcare materials. In this brief review, we present the results obtained at the Laboratory of Inorganic Materials and Catalysis (LMI) of the Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) with icosahedral boron clusters. These 3D geometric shape clusters, the semi-metallic nature of boron and the presence of exo-cluster hydrogen atoms that can interact with biomolecules through non-covalent hydrogen and dihydrogen bonds, play a key role in endowing these compounds with unique properties in largely unexplored (bio)materials.

Relationship between the Molecular Geometry and the Radiative Efficiency in Naphthyl-Based Bis-Ortho-Carboranyl Luminophores

The efficiency of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-based emission on π-aromatic-group-appended closo-ortho-carboranyl luminophores is known to be affected by structural fluctuations and molecular geometry, but investigation of this relationship has been in progress to date. In this study, four naphthyl-based bis-o-carboranyl compounds, in which hydrogen (15CH and 26CH) or trimethysilyl groups (15CS and 26CS) were appended at the o-carborane cage, were synthesized and fully characterized. All the compounds barely displayed an emissive trace in solution at 298 K; however, 15CH and 26CH distinctly exhibited a dual emissive pattern in rigid states (in solution at 77 K and in films), attributed to locally excited (LE) and ICT-based emission, while 15CS and 26CS showed strong ICT-based greenish emission. Intriguingly, the molecular structures of the four compounds, analyzed by single X-ray crystallography, showed that the C-C bond axis of the o-carborane cage in the trimethysilyl group-appended compounds 15CS and 26CS were more orthogonal to the plane of the appended naphthyl group than those in 15CH and 26CH. These features indicate that 15CS and 26CS present an efficient ICT transition based on strong exo-π-interaction, resulting in a higher quantum efficiency (Φ_em) for ICT-based radiative decay than those of 15CH and 26CH. Moreover, the 26CS structure revealed most orthogonal geometry, resulting in the highest Φ_em and lowest k_nr values for the ICT-based emission. Consequently, all the findings verified that efficient ICT-based radiative decay of aromatic group-appended o-carboranyl luminophores could be achieved by the formation of a specific geometry between the o-carborane cage and the aromatic plane.

Revisiting the Role of Charge Transfer in the Emission Properties of Carborane-Fluorophore Systems: A TDDFT Investigation

In this study, we performed a detailed investigation of the S1 potential energy surface (PES) of o-carborane-anthracene (o-CB-Ant) with respect to the C-C bond length on o-CB and the dihedral angle between o-CB and Ant moieties. The effects of different substituents (F, Cl, CN, and OH) on carbon- or boron-substituted o-CB, along with a π-extended acene-based fluorophore, pentacene, on the nature and energetics of S1 → S0 transitions are evaluated. Our results show the presence of a non-emissive S1 state with an almost pure charge transfer (CT) character for all systems as a result of significant C-C bond elongation (C-C = 2.50-2.56 Å) on o-CB. In the case of unsubstituted o-CB-Ant, the adiabatic energy of this CT state corresponds to the global minimum on the S1 PES, which suggests that the CT state could be involved in emission quenching. Despite large deformations on the o-CB geometry, predicted energy barriers are quite reasonable (0.3-0.4 eV), and the C-C bond elongation can even occur without a noticeable energy penalty for certain conformations. With substitution, it is shown that the dark CT state becomes even more energetically favorable when the substituent shows -M effects (e.g., -CN), whereas substituents showing +M effects (e.g., -OH) can result in an energy increase for the CT state, especially for partially stretched C-C bond lengths. It is also shown that the relative energy of the CT state on the PES depends strongly on the LUMO level of the fluorophore as this state is found to be energetically less favorable compared to other conformations when anthracene is replaced with π-extended pentacene. To our knowledge, this study shows a unique example of a detailed theoretical analysis on the PES of the S1 state in o-CB-fluorophore systems with respect to substituents or fluorophore energy levels. Our findings could guide future experimental work in emissive o-CB-fluorophore systems and their sensing/optoelectronic applications.

Water-Stable Carborane-Based Eu3+/Tb3+ Metal-Organic Frameworks for Tunable Time-Dependent Emission Color and Their Application in Anticounterfeiting Bar-Coding

Luminescent lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) have been shown to exhibit relevant optical properties of interest for practical applications, though their implementation still remains a challenge. To be suitable for practical applications, Ln-MOFs must be not only water stable but also printable, easy to prepare, and produced in high yields. Herein, we design and synthesize a series of m CB-Eu _y Tb _1-y (y = 0-1) MOFs using a highly hydrophobic ligand mCBL1: 1,7-di(4-carboxyphenyl)-1,7-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane. The new materials are stable in water and at high temperature. Tunable emission from green to red, energy transfer (ET) from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺, and time-dependent emission of the series of mixed-metal m CB-Eu _y Tb _1-y MOFs are reported. An outstanding increase in the quantum yield (QY) of 239% of mCB-Eu (20.5%) in the mixed mCB-Eu_0.1Tb_0.9 (69.2%) is achieved, along with an increased and tunable lifetime luminescence (from about 0.5 to 10 000 μs), all of these promoted by a highly effective ET process. The observed time-dependent emission (and color), in addition to the high QY, provides a simple method for designing high-security anticounterfeiting materials. We report a convenient method to prepare mixed-metal Eu/Tb coordination polymers (CPs) that are printable from water inks for potential applications, among which anticounterfeiting and bar-coding have been selected as a proof-of-concept.

o-Carborane-based fluorophores as efficient luminescent systems both as solids and as water-dispersible nanoparticles

A set of o-carborane-appended π-conjugated fluorophores and their light-emitting properties in the solid state are reported. The aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) exhibited for one of the fluorenyl derivatives paved the way to successfully preparing o-carborane-containing organic nanoparticles (NPs) homogeneously dispersed in aqueous media that maintain their luminescence properties. Notably, NPs processed as thin films also show high fluorescence efficiency, suggesting potential optical and optoelectronic applications.

Color-tuning and manipulation of aggregation-induced emission efficiency of o-carborane–tetraphenylethylene dyads through substituted o-carboranes

Two new carborane-containing tetraphenylethylene derivatives (1 and 2) were designed and synthesized. Together with our previously published compounds (3–5), we studied structure–activity relationships in detail. Results showed that compounds 1...

Effects of molecular geometry on the efficiency of intramolecular charge transfer-based luminescence in o-carboranyl-substituted 1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazoles

The distinct difference in solid-state emission efficiency between 1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole–o-carboranyl luminophores showed that the geometric orientation is a key factor for controlling intramolecular charge transfer-based radiative decay.

Cage-···Cage- Interaction: Boron Cluster-Based Noncovalent Bond and Its Applications in Solid-State Materials

Carboranes are boron-carbon clusters with important applications in the fields of materials, catalysis, pharmaceuticals, etc. However, the noncovalent interactions that could determine the solid-state structures and properties of such boron clusters have rarely been investigated. Herein, inspired by the coordinate bond in metallacarborane or ferrocene, the boron cluster-based noncovalent interaction (denoted as cage^-···cage^- interaction) between two nido-carborane clusters was successfully realized by using a pyridinium-based molecular barrier. The X-ray diffraction studies uncover that the cage^-···cage^- interaction has a contacting distance of 5.4-7.0 Å from centroid to centroid in the systems reported here. Theoretical calculations validate the formation of the noncovalent interaction and disclose its repulsive bonding nature that is overcome thanks to the positively charged pyridinium-based framework. Interestingly, such bulk crystalline materials containing the cage^-···cage^- interaction show relevant properties such as full-color absorption in the visible light range and important photothermal effect, which are absent for the control compound without carboranes. This study may offer fundamental insights into the boron cluster-based noncovalent interactions and open a new research avenue to rationally design boron cluster-based materials.

Carborane photochromism: a fatigue resistant carborane switch

A dithienylethene molecule involving carborane clusters shows remarkable fatigue resistance and high contrast visual colour changes when irradiated with alternating ultraviolet and visible light. The fluorescence of this assembly can be switched on and off when irradiated in the solid state but not in the solution state.

Alteration of intramolecular electronic transition via deboronation of carbazole-based o-carboranyl compound and intriguing 'turn-on' emissive variation

The conversion of closo-o-carborane-containing compounds to the nido-o-species via deboronation causes photophysical changes that could be used for sensing applications. 9-Methyl-9H-carbazole-based closo- (closo-Cz) and nido-o-carboranyl (nido-Cz) compounds were prepared and fully characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and the solid-state molecular structure of closo-Cz was analysed by X-ray crystallography. Although the closo-compound exhibited an emissive pattern centred at λ em = ca. 530 nm in the rigid state only (in THF at 77 K and as a film), nido-Cz demonstrated intense emission in the near-UV region (λ em = ca. 380 nm) in both solution and film states at 298 K. The positive solvatochromic effect of nido-Cz and the results of theoretical calculations for both the o-carboranyl compounds supported that these emissive features originate from intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) corresponding to the o-carborane. Furthermore, the calculations verified that the electronic role of the o-carboranyl unit changed from acceptor to donor upon deboronation from closo-Cz to nido-Cz. Investigations of the radiative decay mechanisms of closo-Cz and nido-Cz according to their quantum efficiencies (Φ em) and decay lifetimes (τ obs) suggested that the ICT-based radiative decays of closo-Cz and nido-Cz readily occur in the film (solid) and solution state, respectively. These observations implied that the emission of closo-Cz in the solution state could be drastically enhanced by deboronation to nido-Cz upon exposure to an increasing concentration of fluoride anions. Indeed, turn-on emissive features in an aqueous solution were observed upon deboronation, strongly suggesting the potential of closo-Cz as a turn-on and visually detectable chemodosimeter for fluoride ion sensing.

Strategic molecular design of closo-ortho-carboranyl luminophores to manifest thermally activated delayed fluorescence

In this paper, we propose a strategic molecular design of closo-o-carborane-based donor-acceptor dyad system that exhibits thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) in the solution state at ambient temperature. Planar 9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene-based compounds with closo- and nido-o-carborane cages appended at the C2-, C3-, and C4-positions of each fluorene moiety (closo-type: 2FC, 3FC, 4FC, and 4FCH, and nido-type: nido-4FC = [nido-form of 4FC]·[NBu4]) were prepared and characterized. The solid-state molecular structure of 4FC exhibited a significantly distorted fluorene plane, which suggests the existence of severe intramolecular steric hindrance. In photoluminescence measurements, 4FC exhibits a noticeable intramolecular charge transition (ICT)-based emission in all states (solution at 298 K and 77 K, and solid states); however, emissions by other closo-compounds were observed in only the rigid state (solution at 77 K and film). Furthermore, nido-4FC did not exhibit emissive traces in any state. These observations verify that all radiative decay processes correspond to ICT transitions triggered by closo-o-carborane, which acts as an electron acceptor. Relative energy barriers calculated by TD-DFT as dihedral angles around o-carborane cages change in closo-compounds, which indicates that the structural formation of 4FC is nearly fixed around its S0-optimized structure. This differs from that for other closo-compounds, wherein the free rotation of their o-carborane cages occurs easily at ambient temperature. Such rigidity in the structural geometry of 4FC results in ICT-based emission in solution at 298 K and enhancement of quantum efficiency and radiative decay constants compared to those for other closo-compounds. Furthermore, 4FC displays short-lived (∼0.5 ns) and long-lived (∼30 ns) PL decay components in solution at 298 K and in the film state, respectively, which can be attributed to prompt fluorescence and TADF, respectively. The calculated energy difference (ΔE ST) between the first excited singlet and triplet states of the closo-compounds demonstrate that the TADF characteristic of 4FC originates from a significantly small ΔE ST maintained by the rigid structural fixation around its S0-optimized structure. Furthermore, the strategic molecular design of the o-carborane-appended π-conjugated (D-A) system, which forms a rigid geometry due to severe intramolecular steric hindrance, can enhance the radiative efficiency for ICT-based emission and trigger the TADF nature.

Influence of Electronic Environment on the Radiative Efficiency of 9-Phenyl-9H-carbazole-Based ortho-Carboranyl Luminophores

The photophysical properties of closo-ortho-carboranyl-based donor–acceptor dyads are known to be affected by the electronic environment of the carborane cage but the influence of the electronic environment of the donor moiety remains unclear. Herein, four 9-phenyl-9H-carbazole-based closo-ortho-carboranyl compounds (1F, 2P, 3M, and 4T), in which an o-carborane cage was appended at the C3-position of a 9-phenyl-9H-carbazole moiety bearing various functional groups, were synthesized and fully characterized using multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Furthermore, the solid-state molecular structures of 1F and 4T were determined by X-ray diffraction crystallography. For all the compounds, the lowest-energy absorption band exhibited a tail extending to 350 nm, attributable to the spin-allowed π–π* transition of the 9-phenyl-9H-carbazole moiety and weak intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) between the o-carborane and the carbazole group. These compounds showed intense yellowish emission (λ_em = ~540 nm) in rigid states (in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 77 K and in films), whereas considerably weak emission was observed in THF at 298 K. Theoretical calculations on the first excited states (S₁) of the compounds suggested that the strong emission bands can be assigned to the ICT transition involving the o-carborane. Furthermore, photoluminescence experiments in THF‒water mixtures demonstrated that aggregation-induced emission was responsible for the emission in rigid states. Intriguingly, the quantum yields and radiative decay constants in the film state were gradually enhanced with the increasing electron-donating ability of the substituent on the 9-phenyl group (‒F for 1F < ‒H for 2P < ‒CH₃ for 3M < ‒C(CH₃)₃ for 4T). These features indicate that the ICT-based radiative decay process in rigid states is affected by the electronic environment of the 9-phenyl-9H-carbazole group. Consequently, the efficient ICT-based radiative decay of o-carboranyl compounds can be achieved by appending the o-carborane cage with electron-rich aromatic systems.

Synthesis and Optoelectronic Properties of Cationic Iridium(III) Complexes with o-Carborane-Based 2-Phenyl Benzothiazole Ligands

A series of cationic cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes with o-carborane cage on the main ligand of 2-phenylbenzothiazole were synthesized. The prepared iridium complexes (C1-C6) were fully characterized by UV-vis, NMR, and FT-IR spectra. The exact molecular structure of complex C1 was further studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The different substitution position of o-carborane on the 2-phenylbenzothiazole ring lead to obvious differences in the emission properties of the synthesized complexes. The o-carboranyl unit results in a bathochromic shift of 10 nm in the fluorescence emission spectrum of C2. In addition, the presence of an o-carborane fragment promoted the strong fluorescence intensity of C1 and C4, which can be used as a tool to effectively boost the intensity of fluorescence properties. The emission fluorescent behavior of iridium(III) complexes can be facilely tuned by structural variations in the main ligands of these materials.

Tuning the Liquid Crystallinity of Cholesteryl-o-Carborane Dyads: Synthesis, Structure, Photoluminescence, and Mesomorphic Properties

A set of mesomorphic materials in which the o-carborane cluster is covalently bonded to a cholesteryl benzoate moiety (mesogen group) through a suitably designed linker is described. The olefin cross-metathesis between appropriately functionalized styrenyl-o-carborane derivatives and a terminal alkenyl cholesteryl benzoate mesogen (all type I terminal olefins) leads to the desired trans-regioisomer, which is the best-suited configuration to obtain mesomorphic properties in the final materials. The introduction of different substituents (R = H (M2), Me (M3), or Ph (M4)) to one of the carbon atoms of the o-carborane cluster (Ccluster) enables the tailoring of liquid crystalline properties. Compounds M2 and M3 show the chiral nematic (N*) phase, whereas M4 do not show liquid crystal behavior. Weaker intermolecular interactions in the solid M3 with respect to those in M2 may allow the liquid crystallinity in M3 to be expressed as enantiotropic behavior, whereas breaking the stronger intermolecular interaction in the solid state of M2 leads directly to the isotropic state, resulting in monotropic behavior. Remarkably, M3 also displays the blue phase, which was observed neither in the chiral nematic precursor nor in the styrenyl-cholesterol model (M5) without an o-carborane cluster, which suggests that the presence of the cluster plays a role in stabilizing this highly twisted chiral phase. In the carborane-containing mesogens (M2 and M3), the o-carborane cluster can be incorporated without destroying the helical organization of the mesophase.

Configuration-controllable synthesis of Z/E isomers based on o-carborane-functionalized tetraphenylethene

Two Z/E isomers, namely, Z-TPE-2Car and E-TPE-2Car, with clear configuration were synthesized using an effective route and have high solid-state fluorescence quantum yields, reaching 99% and 90%, respectively.

Light-promoted copper-catalyzed cage C-arylation of o-carboranes: facile synthesis of 1-aryl-o-carboranes and o-carborane-fused cyclics

Light-promoted, copper catalyzed cage C–H arylation of o-carboranes with aryl halides has been achieved, leading to the facile synthesis of a variety of 1-aryl-o-carboranes and o-carborane-fused cyclics.

A "flexible" carborane-cored luminogen: variable emission behaviours in aggregates

The performance of tunable emissions in aggregates is highly desirable but challenging owing to the restricted molecular conformations of luminogens. Herein, we designed and synthesized a new "flexible" luminogen, a carborane-cored compound NAPH, which exhibits variable photophysical behaviours in aggregates, such as aggregation-induced emission, crystallization-induced emission, polymorph-dependent emission, and mechanochromic luminescence. Moreover, the two polymorphs with different emission colors show opposite mechano-responsive luminescence, which is rarely observed for single-component luminescent materials. Both theoretical calculations and photophysical experiments reveal that the carborane-cored luminogen could afford variable conformations. This endows the whole molecule with multiple conformations in aggregates, thus leading to variable emission behaviours. Therefore, the present work provides new access to the construction of multifunctional single-component solid-state luminescent materials.

Synthesis and photophysical properties of a new tetraphenylethylene-o-carborane-based star-shaped molecule

A novel TPE-o-carborane-based star-shaped molecule with a triphenylamine core was synthesized. In the solid state, the absolute luminescent quantum yield of this dendrimer can be improved to 62%.

Experimental proof for emission annihilation through bond elongation at the carbon-carbon bond in o-carborane with fused biphenyl-substituted compounds

Because of their unique luminescence properties, such as aggregation-induced emission (AIE), intense solid-state luminescence and stimuli-responsive luminochromism, aryl-substituted o-carboranes have attracted attention as a platform for developing functional optoelectronic materials. However, there still remains one fundamental issue with the detailed mechanism of solution quenching in AIE behaviors. Aryl-modified o-carboranes with AIE properties exhibit intense emission not in solution but in the solid state. According to quantum calculations and many experimental results, the elongation at the carbon-carbon bond in o-carborane in the excited state, followed by nonradiative decay, has been proposed as a main path for emission annihilation in solution. However, intramolecular rotation would simultaneously occur, and there is a possibility that emission annihilation could be induced by the combination of both bond elongation and rotation. In this study, we designed two types of biphenyl-substituted o-carboranes having fused structures at the neighbor carbon and boron atoms for fixing molecular conformation. In these molecules, bond elongation is allowed, while rotation would be prohibited. From the series of optical measurements and theoretical investigations, we proved that emission annihilation can occur through bond elongation in the absence of rotation. Moreover, we show that bond elongation could be suppressed by introducing a bulky substituent at the adjacent carbon, and emission color tuning was achieved. This is the first example, to the best of our knowledge, to prove that excitation decay can proceed only through bond elongation without electronic perturbation caused by rotation.

Deboronation-Induced Ratiometric Emission Variations of Terphenyl-Based Closo-o-Carboranyl Compounds: Applications to Fluoride-Sensing

Closo-o-carboranyl compounds bearing the ortho-type perfectly distorted or planar terphenyl rings (closo-DT and closo-PT, respectively) and their nido-derivatives (nido-DT and nido-PT, respectively) were synthesized and fully characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Although the emission spectra of both closo-compounds exhibited intriguing emission patterns in solution at 298 and 77 K, in the film state, closo-DT mainly exhibited a π-π* local excitation (LE)-based emission in the high-energy region, whereas closo-PT produced an intense emission in the low-energy region corresponding to an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) transition. In particular, the positive solvatochromic effect of closo-PT and theoretical calculation results at the first excited (S₁) optimized structure of both closo-compounds strongly suggest that these dual-emissive bands at the high- and low-energy can be assigned to each π-π* LE and ICT transition. Interestingly, both the nido-compounds, nido-DT and nido-PT, exhibited the only LE-based emission in solution at 298 K due to the anionic character of the nido-o-carborane cages, which cannot cause the ICT transitions. The specific emissive features of nido-compounds indicate that the emissive color of closo-PT in solution at 298 K is completely different from that of nido-PT. As a result, the deboronation of closo-PT upon exposure to increasing concentrations of fluoride anion exhibits a dramatic ratiometric color change from orange to deep blue via turn-off of the ICT-based emission. Consequently, the color change response of the luminescence by the alternation of the intrinsic electronic transitions via deboronation as well as the structural feature of terphenyl rings indicates the potential of the developed closo-o-carboranyl compounds that exhibit the intense ICT-based emission, as naked-eye-detectable chemodosimeters for fluoride ion sensing.

Blue Emitting Star-Shaped and Octasilsesquioxane-Based Polyanions Bearing Boron Clusters. Photophysical and Thermal Properties

High boron content systems were prepared by the peripheral functionalisation of 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene (TPB) and octavinylsilsesquioxane (OVS) with two different anionic boron clusters: closo-dodecaborate (B12) and cobaltabisdicarbollide (COSAN). TPB was successfully decorated with three cluster units by an oxonium ring-opening reaction, while OVS was bonded to eight clusters by catalysed metathesis cross-coupling. The resulting compounds were spectroscopically characterised, and their solution-state photophysical properties analysed. For TPB, the presence of COSAN dramatically quenches the fluorescence emission (λem = 369 nm; ΦF = 0.8%), while B12-substituted TPB shows an appreciable emission efficiency (λem = 394 nm; ΦF = 12.8%). For octasilsesquioxanes, the presence of either COSAN or B12 seems to be responsible for ∼80 nm bathochromic shift with respect to the core emission, but both cases show low emission fluorescence (ΦF = 1.4-1.8%). In addition, a remarkable improvement of the thermal stability of OVS was observed after its functionalisation with these boron clusters.

Vapochromic crystals: understanding vapochromism from the perspective of crystal engineering

Vapochromic materials, which undergo colour and/or emission changes upon exposure to certain vapours or gases, have received increasing attention recently because of their wide range of applications in, e.g., chemical sensors, light-emitting diodes, and environmental monitors. Vapochromic crystals, as a specific kind of vapochromic materials, can be investigated from the perspective of crystal engineering to understand the mechanism of vapochromism. Moreover, understanding the vapochromism mechanism will be beneficial to design and prepare task-specific vapochromic crystals as one kind of low-cost 'electronic nose' to detect toxic gases or volatile organic compounds. This review provides important information in a broad scientific context to develop new vapochromic materials, which covers organometallic or coordination complexes and organic crystals, as well as the different mechanisms of the related vapochromic behaviour. In addition, recent examples of supramolecular vapochromic crystals and metal-organic-framework (MOFs) vapochromic crystals are introduced.

A new type of carborane-based electron-accepting material

Direct attachment of the ethynyl group significantly affects the electrochemical properties of o-Cb systems.

Insights into the effects of substitution position on the photophysics of mono-o-carborane-substituted pyrenes

Mono-o-carborane-substituted pyrenes were prepared and apparently showed the effects of substitution position on their photophysical property.

Anthracene–styrene-substituted m-carborane derivatives: insights into the electronic and structural effects of substituents on photoluminescence

Efficient light emitters based on anthracene derivatives were developed. We prove that m-carborane is a perfect scaffold for coupling to anthracene giving rise to superb emitters in solution, while keeping the emission properties in aggregate state.

Spirobifluorene-Based o-Carboranyl Compounds: Insights into the Rotational Effect of Carborane Cages on Photoluminescence

9,9'-Spirobifluorene-based closo-o-carboranyl (SFC1 and SFC2) compounds and their nido-derivatives (nido-SFC1 and nido-SFC2) were prepared and characterized. The two closo-compounds displayed major absorption bands assignable to π-π* transitions involving the spirobifluorene group, as well as weak intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) transitions between the o-carboranes and their spirobifluorene moieties. The nido-compounds exhibited slightly blueshifted absorption bands resulting from the absence of the ICT transitions corresponding to the o-carborane moieties due to the anionic character of the nido-o-carboranes. While SFC1 exhibited only high-energy emissions in THF at 298 K (only from locally excited (LE) states assignable to π-π* transitions on the spirobifluorene group), remarkable emissions in the low-energy region were observed in the rigid state such as in THF at 77 K and in the film state. SFC2 displayed intense emissions in the low-energy region in all states. The fact that neither of the nido-derivatives of SFC1 and SFC2 exhibited low-energy emissions and the TD-DFT calculation results of each closo-compound clearly verified that the low-energy emission was based on ICT-based radiative decay. The conformational barriers from each relative energy calculation upon changing the dihedral angles around the o-carborane cages for both compounds confirmed that the rotation of the o-carborane cages and terminal phenyl rings for SFC1 is freer than that for SFC2.

Planarity of terphenyl rings possessing o-carborane cages: turning on intramolecular-charge-transfer-based emission

To clarify the relationship between planarity and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), two o-carboranyl compounds (TCB and FCB) containing different ortho-type terphenyl rings, namely, perfectly distorted or planar phenyl rings, were synthesised and fully characterised. Although the emission spectra of both compounds presented intriguing dual-emission patterns in solution at 298 or 77 K and in the film state, distorted TCB mostly showed locally excited emission, whereas planar FCB demonstrated intense emission corresponding to an ICT transition. Interestingly, the emission efficiencies and radiative decay constants of terphenyl-based o-carboranyl compounds were gradually enhanced by increasing the planarity of the terphenyl groups. These results verify the existence of a strong relationship between the planarity of appended aryl groups and ICT-based radiative decay in o-carborane-substituted compounds.

Photophysical Properties of Spirobifluorene-Based o-Carboranyl Compounds Altered by Structurally Rotating the Carborane Cages

9,9′-Spirobifluorene-based o-carboranyl compounds C1 and C2 were prepared and fully characterized by multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The solid-state structure of C1 was also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The two carboranyl compounds display major absorption bands that are assigned to π−π* transitions involving their spirobifluorene groups, as well as weak intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) transitions between the o-carboranes and their spirobifluorene groups. While C1 only exhibited high-energy emissions (λ_em = ca. 350 nm) in THF at 298 K due to locally excited (LE) states assignable to π−π* transitions involving the spirobifluorene group alone, a remarkable emission in the low-energy region was observed in the rigid state, such as in THF at 77 K or the film state. Furthermore, C2 displays intense dual emissive patterns in both high- and low-energy regions in all states. Electronic transitions that were calculated by time-dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) for each compound based on ground (S₀) and first-excited (S₁) state optimized structures clearly verify that the low-energy emissions are due to ICT-based radiative decays. Calculated energy barriers that are based on the relative energies associated with changes in the dihedral angle around the o-carborane cages in C1 and C2 clearly reveal that the o-carborane cage in C1 rotates more freely than that in C2. All of the molecular features indicate that ICT-based radiative decay is only available to the rigid state in the absence of structural fluctuations, in particular the free-rotation of the o-carborane cage.

Effect of Planarity of Aromatic Rings Appended to o-Carborane on Photophysical Properties: A Series of o-Carboranyl Compounds Based on 2-Phenylpyridine- and 2-(Benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)pyridine

Herein, we investigated the effect of ring planarity by fully characterizing four pyridine-based o-carboranyl compounds. o-Carborane was introduced to the C4 position of the pyridine rings of 2-phenylpyridine and 2-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)pyridine (CB1 and CB2, respectively), and the compounds were subsequently borylated to obtain the corresponding C^∧N-chelated compounds CB1B and CB2B. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the molecular structures of CB2 and CB2B confirmed that o-carborane is appended to the aryl moiety. In photoluminescence experiments, CB2, but not CB1, showed an intense emission, assignable to intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) transition between the aryl and o-carborane moieties, in both solution and film states. On the other hand, in both solution and film states, CB1B and CB2B demonstrated a strong emission, originating from π-π * transition in the aryl groups, that tailed off to 650 nm owing to the ICT transition. All intramolecular electronic transitions in these o-carboranyl compounds were verified by theoretical calculations. These results distinctly suggest that the planarity of the aryl groups have a decisive effect on the efficiency of the radiative decay due to the ICT transition.

Electronic versus steric control in palladium complexes of carboranyl phosphine-iminophosphorane ligands

A new family of carboranyl phosphine-iminophosphorane ligands was prepared and characterized. The new ligands present a carboranyl group directly attached to the iminophosphorane nitrogen atom through a cage carbon atom (C-carboranyl derivatives L1-L3) or through the B3 boron atom (B-carboranyl derivatives L4 and L5), and the phosphine group on a side chain derived from the diphosphine dppm, i.e. with a two-atom spacer between the P and N donor atoms. The non-carboranyl analogue L6, with a biphenyl group on the nitrogen atom, was also synthesized for comparison. These potential (P, N) ligands were used to obtain palladium complexes (Pd1-Pd6) and, thus, study how the different inductive effect of the carboranyl substituents can modify the coordinating ability of the nitrogen atom. The structural analysis of the complexes revealed two different coordination modes for the ligands: the (P, N) chelate coordination and the unexpected P-terminal coordination, which is not observed for non-carboranyl phosphine-iminophosphoranes. These unexpected structural differences led us to perform DFT calculations on the ligands and metal complexes. The calculations show that the final coordination modes depend on the balance between the electronic and steric properties of the particular carboranyl group.

closo-Carboranes as dual CH⋯π and BH⋯π donors: theoretical study and biological significance

In this manuscript the ability ofcloso-carboranes to establish CH⋯π and BH⋯π interactions with several aromatic moieties exhibiting different electronic natures has been evaluated at the PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP level of theory.

Efficient blue light emitting materials based on m-carborane–anthracene dyads. Structure, photophysics and bioimaging studies

Linking m-carborane to the anthracene dye produces an exceptional enhancement of the fluorescence properties, with quantum efficiencies close to 100% in solution. Dyads were internalized by HeLa cells through endocytosis showing intense blue emission.

Polypyridyl ligands as a versatile platform for solid-state light-emitting devices

A comprehensive review of tuneable polypyridine complexes as the emissive components of OLED and LEC devices is presented, with a view to bridging the gap between molecular design and commercialization.

Synthesis and self-assembly of a carborane-containing ABC triblock terpolymer: morphology control on a dual-stimuli responsive system

Amphiphilic triblock terpolymers have attractive applications in the preparation of nanoparticles with controlled morphology.

BODIPY–ortho-carborane–tetraphenylethylene triad: synthesis, characterization, and properties

Two new compounds, BODIPY–tetraphenylethylene dyad and BODIPY–o-carborane–tetraphenylethylene triad, were designed and synthesized.

2-Phenylpyridine- and 2-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)pyridine-based o-carboranyl compounds: impact of the structural formation of aromatic rings on photophysical properties

2-Phenylpyridine and 2-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)pyridine-based o-carboranyl compounds showed intriguing emission that depended on the structural formation.

Tuning the photophysical properties of carboranyl luminophores by closo- to nido-carborane conversion and application to OFF-ON fluoride sensing

A family of closo-carborane-appended luminophores (closo-OXD1-2 and closo-DPS1-2) in which 2-R-o-carboranes (R = H, Me) are attached to the diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (OXD) or diphenyl-sulfone (DPS) acceptor groups were prepared and characterized. Deboronation of the closo-carborane cage produced the corresponding nido-carboranyl luminophores (nido-OXD1-2 and nido-DPS1-2). Whereas the closo-compounds were poorly emissive in THF (ΦPL < 0.01), the nido-luminophores exhibited an intense fluorescence with good quantum yields (ΦPL = 0.1-0.45). Electrochemical studies showed that while the closo-OXD and -DPS compounds displayed only carborane-centred, quasi-reversible reduction, the nido-compounds exhibited the typical features for nido-carborane-centred, irreversible oxidation and acceptor-centred, reversible reduction. Theoretical studies suggested that while the 1ππ* state of closo-compounds is nonemissive due to the contribution of closo-carborane to the LUMO in the S1 excited state, the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state from the nido-carborane to acceptor moieties in nido-compounds leads to an efficient fluorescence. Finally, THF solutions of closo-OXD1 and -DPS1 showed strong fluorescence upon the addition of fluoride anions under mild heating, but were intact to other anions, including cyanide, allowing the selective OFF-ON fluorescence sensing of fluoride.