The role of halogen bonding in improving OFET performance of a naphthalenediimide derivative

Differences in thermal expansion and motion ability for herringbone and face-to-face π-stacked solids

A series of aromatic organic molecules functionalized with different halogen atoms (I/ Br), motion-capable groups (olefin, azo or imine) and molecular length were designed and synthesized. The molecules self-assemble in the solid state through halogen bonding and exhibit molecular packing sustained by either herringbone or face-to-face π-stacking, two common motifs in organic semiconductor molecules. Interestingly, dynamic pedal motion is only achieved in solids with herringbone packing. On average, solids with herringbone packing exhibit larger thermal expansion within the halogen-bonded sheets due to motion occurrence and molecular twisting, whereas molecules with face-to-face π-stacking do not undergo motion or twisting. Thermal expansion along the π-stacked direction is surprisingly similar, but slightly larger for the face-to-face π-stacked solids due to larger changes in π-stacking distances with temperature changes. The results speak to the importance of crystal packing and intermolecular interaction strength when designing aromatic-based solids for organic electronics applications.

Red fluorescent zwitterionic naphthalenediimides with di/mono-benzimidazolium and a negatively-charged oxygen substituent

The C-H/C-X cross-coupling of a benzimidazolium salt with 2Br-NDI afforded two unprecedented zwitterionic NDIs with di/mono-benzimidazolium and an extra negatively-charged oxygen substituent. They exhibited intensified red fluorescence in polar solvents and negative solvatochromism due to an intramolecular charge transfer process, and could specifically label lysosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum in living A549 cells, respectively. They represent a rare case of NDI-derived ionic fluorophores.

Naphthalene diimides: perspectives and promise

In this review, we describe the developments in the field of naphthalene diimides (NDIs) from 2016 to the presentday. NDIs are shown to be an increasingly interesting class of molecules due to their electronic properties, large electron deficient aromatic cores and tendency to self-assemble into functional structures. Almost all NDIs possess high electron affinity, good charge carrier mobility, and excellent thermal and oxidative stability, making them promising candidates for applications in organic electronics, photovoltaic devices, and flexible displays. NDIs have also been extensively studied due to their potential real-world uses across a wide variety of applications including supramolecular chemistry, sensing, host-guest complexes for molecular switching devices, such as catenanes and rotaxanes, ion-channels, catalysis, and medicine and as non-fullerene accepters in solar cells. In recent years, NDI research with respect to supramolecular assemblies and mechanoluminescent properties has also gained considerable traction. Thus, this review will assist a wide range of readers and researchers including chemists, physicists, biologists, medicinal chemists and materials scientists in understanding the scope for development and applicability of NDI dyes in their respective fields through a discussion of the main properties of NDI derivatives and of the status of emerging applications.

Halogen bonding for molecular recognition: new developments in materials and biological sciences

This review highlights recent developments of halogen bonding in materials and biological sciences with a short discussion on the nature of the interaction.

Crystal structure of the co-crystalline adduct 1,3,6,8-tetra-aza-tri-cyclo-[4.4.1.13,8]dodecane (TATD)-4-iodo-phenol (1/2): supra-molecular assembly mediated by halogen and hydrogen bonding

The asymmetric unit of the title co-crystalline adduct, 1,3,6,8-tetra-aza-tri-cyclo[4.4.1.13,8]dodecane (TATD)-4-iodo-phenol (1/2), C8H16N4·2C6H5IO, comprises a half mol-ecule of the aminal cage polyamine plus a 4-iodo-phenol mol-ecule. A twofold rotation axis generates the other half of the adduct. The components are linked by two inter-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds. The adducts are further linked into a three-dimensional framework structure by a combination of N⋯I halogen bonds and weak non-conventional C-H⋯O and C-H⋯I hydrogen bonds.