Synthesis and characterization of new derivatives of azulene, including experimental and theoretical studies of electronic and spectroscopic behavior

Azulene Bridged π-Distorted Chromophores: The Influence of Structural Symmetry on Optoelectrochemical and Photovoltaic Parameters

Conjugated chromophores possessing π-twisted functionality such as tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) have emerged as promising active layer materials for organic photovoltaics (OPVs). In this study, we disclose the synthesis of two azulenyl chromophores containing one and two TCBD groups. The symmetrical and unsymmetrical structural characteristics of these molecules inflict dissimilar optoelectronic and electrochemical properties. Based on molar absorptivity, aggregation behavior, HOMO-LUMO energies and other quantum chemical parameters, the symmetrical molecule (TATC2) appears to be a better non-fullerene acceptor (NFA) compared to its unsymmetrical counterpart (TATC1). For instance, higher absorptivity and deeper HOMO-LUMO levels for TATC2 (23950 M-1  cm-1 ; -6.01 eV/-3.86 eV) over TATC1 (12200 M1  cm-1 ; -5.46 eV/-3.64 eV) was observed. Validating this structure-property relationship on solar cell prototypes exhibited higher photovoltaic parameters (VOC =0.54 V, FF=0.48, JSC =6.42 mA/cm2 ) for TATC2 than TATC1 (VOC =0.47 V, FF=0.38, JSC =5.77 mA/cm2 ). Though the device parameters are not high, this work uncovers the intrinsic properties of azulene-tethered twisted chromophores as potential π-semiconductor choice for NFA solar cells. In particular, this report explores the utility of azulene-based π-twisted semiconductors as acceptor material for OPVs with cell efficiencies of 1.70 and 1.04 % for TATC2 and TATC1 respectively.

Effect of Different Irradiation Modes of Azulene-mediated Photodynamic Therapy on Singlet Oxygen and PGE2 Formation

Azulene samples in ethanol/distilled water (1, 10 and 100 µm) were irradiated with a 638 nm red laser (0.5 watts, light-to-target distance 2 cm, energy density 4 or 40 J cm^-2 ) by either continuous, fractionation or pulse mode. Singlet oxygen in the samples was measured using 10 µm 9,10-dimethyl anthracene (positive control 10 μm erythrosine) and relative fluorescence intensities were measured at 375/436 nm excitation/emission. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs, 1 × 10⁵ cells/well) preincubated with 0.01 μg mL^-1 rhTNF-α for 6 h were cultured with irradiated azulene samples in RPMI-1640 under standard conditions. PGE₂ was quantified by rhPGE₂ ELISA kit using a Varioscan® microplate reader at an excitation wavelength of 420 nm. Kruskal Wallis with Dunn`s test was performed at a significance level of P < 0.05. The highest singlet oxygen amount was found in 10 µm azulene samples irradiated at 40 J cm^-2 under continuous mode (P = 0.001 when compared with 10 µm erythrosine). PGE₂ expression in rhTNF-α-induced PBMCs was reduced to 45% of control by 1 µm azulene irradiated at 40 J cm^-2 under fractionation mode. Fractionation mode with intermediate laser energy density in the presence of low concentration of azulene could increase singlet oxygen and tend to reduce PGE₂ .

Benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]fluorene: an isomeric motif for pentacene containing linearly fused five-, six- and seven-membered rings

A new class of conjugated polycyclic molecules containing a C₆–C₅–C₆–C₇–C₆ polycylic framework was synthesized. Both experiments and calculations show different electron structures in comparison to their pentacene isomers.

Benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]fluorene (5a), a new π-conjugated polycyclic hydrocarbon containing linearly fused six-, five-, six-, seven- and six-membered rings (C₆–C₅–C₆–C₇–C₆), was designed and its stable derivatives 5b and 5c were synthesized. With 22 π electrons, 5a is an isomer of pentacene with quinoidal, dipolar ionic and diradical resonance forms. Molecules 5b and 5c were experimentally investigated with cyclic voltammetry, electronic absorption spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic analysis, and theoretically studied by calculating the NICS value, diradical character and dipole moment. A comparison of 5a–c with pentacene and other pentacene analogues containing linearly fused five- or seven-membered rings was also conducted and discussed. It was found that 5b behaved as a p-type organic semiconductor in solution-processed thin film transistors with a field effect mobility of up to 0.025 cm² V^–1 s^–1.

Crystal structure of 1,3-bis-{[4-(acetyl-sulfanyl)phenyl]ethynyl}azulene

In the title compound, C30H20O2S2, the dihedral angles between the central azulene ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.039 Å) and the pendant benzene rings are 28.96 (7) and 55.15 (7)°. The dihedral angles between the benzene rings and their attached acetyl-sulfanyl groups are 59.60 (10) and 84.79 (10)°. The expected π-π stacking inter-actions are not observed in the crystal structure; instead, the packing features C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which link the mol-ecules into C(12) [010] chains, which are supported by weak C-H⋯π contacts.

Crystal structure of 1-iodo-3-{[4-(tert-butyl-sulfan-yl)phen-yl]ethyn-yl}azulene

The title compound, C20H19IS, features a 1,3-disubstituted azulene involving an ethynylene elongated 4-(tert-butyl-sulfanyl)-phenyl sidearm and an iodine atom as the substituents. The azulene ring system is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.012 Å) and subtends a dihedral angle of 35.7 (1)° with the benzene ring. As a result of the inherent dipole character of the azulene core, a supra-molecular π-π dimer [separation between the centroids of the five- and seven-membered rings = 3.7632 (10) Å] with anti-parallel orientated mol-ecules can be observed in the crystal. The packing is consolidated by an unusual I⋯π(acetyl-ene) contact [I⋯Cg = 3.34 Å, C-I⋯Cg = 173.3°], and a very weak C-H⋯π inter-action is also found in the structure, with the azulene five-membered ring as the acceptor.

Crystal structure of diethyl 2-amino-6-[(thio-phen-3-yl)ethyn-yl]azulene-1,3-di-carboxyl-ate

The title compound, C22H19NO4S, has an almost planar geometry supported by intra-molecular N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The thio-phene ring is inclined to the azulene ring by 4.85 (16)°, while the eth-oxy-carbonyl groups are inclined to the azulene ring by 7.0 (2) and 5.7 (2)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with an R 2 (2)(12) ring motif. The dimers are linked via C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming sheets parallel to (10-1).

Poly(trifluoromethyl)azulenes: structures and acceptor properties

Six new poly(trifluoromethyl)azulenes prepared in a single high-temperature reaction exhibit strong electron accepting properties in the gas phase and in solution and demonstrate the propensity to form regular π-stacked columns in donor-acceptor crystals when mixed with pyrene as a donor.

Molecular structure, spectroscopic characterization (FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV and NMR), HOMO and LUMO analysis of 3-ethynylthiophene with DFT quantum chemical calculations

In this work, FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV and NMR spectra of 3-ethynylthiophene (3-ETP, C6H4S) were carried out by using density functional theory DFT/B3LYP method with the 6-311++G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), 6-311G(d,p), 6-31++G(d,p), 6-31+G(d,p), 6-31G(d,p) basis sets. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra were recorded in the regions of 3500-400cm(-1) and 3500-50cm(-1), respectively. The geometrical parameters, energies and wavenumbers were obtained and the complete assignments of fundamental vibrations were performed on the basis of the total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes, calculated with scaled quantum mechanics (SQM) method and PQS program. The (1)H, (13)C and HMQC ((1)H-(13)C correlation) NMR spectra in chloroform (CDCl3) were recorded and calculated. The UV spectrum of investigated compound were recorded in the region of 200-400nm in ethanol solution. The electronic properties, such as excitation energies, absorption wavelengths, HOMO and LUMO energies were performed by DFT/B3LYP approach and the results were compared with experimental observations. The thermodynamic properties such zero-point vibrational energy, thermal energy, specific heat capacity, rotational constants, entropy, and dipole moment of the studied compound were calculated. As a result, the calculated results were compared with the observed data and found to be in good agreement.