Double π-Extended Helicene Derivatives Containing Pentagonal Rings: Synthesis, Crystal Analyses, and Photophysics

π-Expanded [6]Helicene-Containing Nanographenes: Synthesis, Structures, and Chiroptical Properties

A family of chiral nanographenes bearing [6]helicene units has been synthesized via the classical Scholl reaction. Inserting the [6]helicene unit into the parent nanographene skeleton can result in different structural topologies and optoelectric properties. Moreover, the isolated enantiomers exhibit attractive chiroptical properties.

Understanding Aromaticity in [5]Helicene-Bridged Cyclophanes: A Comprehensive Study

This study explores the aromaticity of doubly [5]helicene-bridged (1,4)cyclophane and triply [5]helicene-bridged (1,3,5)cyclophane via calculations of the magnetic response and of electronic aromaticity indices. The primary objective is to assess the π-electron delocalization to determine whether they sustain global ring currents associated with π aromaticity. The molecules show local ring currents in the presence of an external magnetic field. The ring currents flow diatropically in the stacked six-membered rings and in the helicene arms. However, these π currents are not interconnected due to the discontinuity of the π delocalization at the C-C single bonds connecting the central six-membered rings to the helicene arms. Electronic indices suggest that the helicene-arm systems have significantly smaller electron delocalization than benzene. The reduction in the delocalization does not compromise their ability to exhibit ring currents in the presence of an external magnetic field. The analysis provides further evidence that the magnetic criteria yield a different degree of aromaticity for the helicene arms than obtained in the calculation of the electronic aromaticity indices. However, both approaches confirm that the studied molecules are not globally aromatic.

Self-Assembly of Functionalized Twistarenes into Supramolecular Assemblies with Chiroptical Property and Photoconductive Behavior

A pair of novel chiral 1-phenylethylamine-modified twistarenes (4 and 11; compound 4 = 9,14-di-tert-butyl-7,16-diphenyl-2-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-benzo[8',9']triphenyleno[2',3':6,7]fluoreno[2,1,9-def]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione) have been synthesized and characterized, and how the solvent component affects the chirality transfer of their self-assembled processes is investigated in mixtures with THF and H2O. The ordered assembly of 11 exhibits circular dichroism response. In addition, both 11a and 11b display positive photoconducting behavior.

Straightforward Synthesis of Pentagon-Embedded Expanded [11]Helicenes for Radiative Cooling Property

Two new pentagon-embedded carbo[11]helicenes have been designed and synthesized in a three-step process, which are the first example of carbo[11]helicenes through the post-functionalization of twistacene. TD-DFT analyses indicate that both of them possess high enantiomerization barriers of 42.29 kcal/mol and 40.76 kcal/mol, respectively. They emit strong red fluorescence and can be chemically oxidized into stable cationic radicals upon addition of AgSbF6 evidenced by the bathochromic-shifted absorption spectra and the appearance of electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals. In addition, such helical derivatives can be chosen as radiative cooling materials in a glass model house, and the maxima of 5.4 °C for the former and 6.5 °C for the latter are found in the comparative tests, which might be caused by the NIR reflective response.

Heptagon-Embedded Helicene Derivatives: Synthesis, Crystal Structural Analyses, and Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Two pairs of isomers of heptagon-embedded helical arenes (3/6 and 10/13) have been strategically prepared, where the molecular structures of 3 and 13 have been identified through single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The effect of the heptagon unit on the physical properties of 3, 6, 10, and 13 is investigated in a comparative manner, and the results indicate that the optical enantiomers of 13 obtained from HPLC exhibit promising chiroptical properties.

Synthesis, Crystal Analysis, and Physical Properties of Double [6]helicene-Containing Heteroarenes with Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Two novel helical heteronanographenes bearing a [6]helicene unit (3a and 5a) have been synthesized, and their molecular structures are unambiguously determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the as-prepared compounds have isomerization barriers of 29.02 kcal/mol for 3a and 34.07 kcal/mol for 5a, respectively. Optical enantiomers of 5a exhibit appealing chiroptical properties.

Synthesis, Photoswitching Behavior and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Substituted Tribenzo[a,d,g]coronene

A family of tribenzocoronene derivatives bearing various substituents (3) were constructed through the Diels-Alder reaction, followed by the Scholl oxidation, where the molecular structure of 3b was determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The effect of substitution on the optical and electrochemical property was systematically investigated, with the assistance of theoretical calculations. Moreover, the thin films of the resulting molecules 3b and 3e complexed with fullerene produced strong photocurrent response upon irradiation of white light. In addition, 3b and 3e exhibit a positive nonlinear optical response resulting from the two-photon absorption and excited state absorption processes.

Localized Antiaromaticity Hotspot Drives Reductive Dehydrogenative Cyclizations in Bis- and Mono-Helicenes

We describe reductive dehydrogenative cyclizations that form hepta-, nona-, and decacyclic anionic graphene subunits from mono- and bis-helicenes with an embedded five-membered ring. The reaction of bis-helicenes can either proceed to the full double annulation or be interrupted by addition of molecular oxygen at an intermediate stage. The regioselectivity of the interrupted cyclization cascade for bis-helicenes confirms that relief of antiaromaticity is a dominant force for these facile ring closures. Computational analysis reveals the unique role of the preexisting negatively charged cyclopentadienyl moiety in directing the second negative charge at a specific remote location and, thus, creating a localized antiaromatic region. This region is the hotspot that promotes the initial cyclization. Computational studies, including MO analysis, molecular electrostatic potential maps, and NICS(1.7)_ZZ calculations, evaluate the interplay of the various effects including charge delocalization, helicene strain release, and antiaromaticity. The role of antiaromaticity relief is further supported by efficient reductive closure of the less strained monohelicenes where the relief of antiaromaticity promotes the cyclization even when the strain is substantially reduced. The latter finding significantly expands the scope of this reductive alternative to the Scholl ring closure.

Synthesis and Ultrafast Broadband Optical Limiting Properties of a Two-Branched Twistacene

A novel two-branched twistacene (PyDN) has been designed and synthesized for application on ultrafast optical limiting. This twistacene exhibits excellent two photon absorption and two photon absorption-induced excited singlet state absorption, which was systematically investigated with a femtosecond Z-scan experiment, transient absorption spectrum, and two-photon excited fluorescence experiments. The admirable two photon absorption is attributed to the high degree of π electron delocalization in twistacene which is caused by introduction of two strong donors. The excited singlet state absorption cooperates with two-photon absorption to provide an excellent ultrafast optical limiting behavior with high linear transmittance, where the thresholds are 2.3-5.3 mJ/cm² in the spectral region of 532-800 nm of femtosecond laser and 133 mJ/cm² for picosecond pulse at 532 nm. These thresholds are lower than that of most of the optical limiters reported previously, which indicates PyDN is a promising candidate for ultrafast optical limiting.

Cyclopentannulated Dihydrotetraazapentacenes

The transition-metal-catalyzed cyclization of bissilylethynylated N,N'-dihydrotetraazapentacene (TIPS-TAP-H2 ) into bissilylated cyclopenta[fg,qr]pentacenes is reported. Depending on the catalyst either none, one or two silyl groups migrate and change their positions in the formed five-membered rings. The optoelectronic properties are quite similar, whereas the packing motifs differ dramatically. Control experiments and quantum chemical calculations were performed to investigate the mechanism of the reaction and the selectivity of the silyl shift.