Multistimuli-Responsive Fluorescent Switches Based on Spirocyclic Meisenheimer Compounds: Smart Molecules for the Design of Optical Probes and Electrochromic Materials

Toward High Contrast and Noninvasive Fluorescence Switches via an O-Fused Ring 5,7-Dihydroxy-4-methyl-2,2,3-triphenylbenzofuran-6(2H)-one Strategy

An unprecedented O-fused ring 5,7-dihydroxy-4-methyl-2,2,3-triphenylbenzofuran-6(2H)-one (3) was first time synthesized. Further, a series of novel dialkyl/fluoroalkyl derivatives of compound 3, 5,7-dialkoxy/fluoroalkoxy-4-methyl-2,2,3-triphenylbenzofuran-6(2H)-one, were obtained with noninvasive fluorescence switching characteristics and aggregation-induced emission properties. Compared with fluoroalkyl derivatives, the alkyl analogs exhibited a significant bathochromic shift in solid-state fluorescence emission. Notably, these noninvasive fluorescent molecular switches could be facilely tuned through light and heat stimulation, which successfully achieved high contrast and reversible fluorescent emission between orange and yellow endowing them with potential applications in data encryption materials. In addition, the single crystal data of compounds 3 and 7-CF3 displayed weak intermolecular interactions in different directions, resulting in twisted conformation and antiparallel slip stacking. Interestingly, the polymer dimethyl silicone film doped with 7-C3F7 also showed an evident light-responsive behavior, meeting the criterion for fluorescent materials in the optical field.

Multi-stimuli-responsive molecular fluorescent probes for bioapplications

Stimuli-responsive fluorescent probes have been widely utilized in detecting the physiological and pathological states of living systems. Numerous stimuli-responsive fluorescent probes have been developed due to their advantages of good sensitivity, high resolution, and high contrast fluorescent signals. In this feature article, the progress of multi-stimuli-responsive probes, including organic molecules and metal complexes, for the detection of various biomarkers for bio-applications is summarized. The feature article focuses on the applications of organic-molecule- and metal-complex-based molecular probes in biological systems for detecting different biomarkers of cancer or other diseases. The current challenges and potential future directions of these probes for applications in biological systems are also discussed.

Solid Multiresponsive Materials Based on Nitrospiropyran-Doped Ionogels

The application of molecular switches for the fabrication of multistimuli-responsive chromic materials and devices still remains a challenge because of the restrictions imposed by the supporting solid matrices where these compounds must be incorporated: they often critically affect the chromic response as well as limit the type and nature of external stimuli that can be applied. In this work, we propose the use of ionogels to overcome these constraints, as they provide a soft, fluidic, transparent, thermally stable, and ionic-conductive environment where molecular switches preserve their solution-like properties and can be exposed to a number of different stimuli. By exploiting this strategy, we herein pioneer the preparation of nitrospiropyran-based materials using a single solid platform that exhibit optimal photo-, halo-, thermo-, and electrochromic switching behaviors.

Multicolored electrochromic and electrofluorochromic materials containing triphenylamine and benzoates

Multicolored electrochromic and electrofluorochromic materials containing triphenylamine and benzoates were developed.

Color-Tunable White-Light-Emitting Materials Based on Liquid-Filled Capsules and Thermally Responsive Dyes

Color-tunable white-light-emitting materials are currently attracting much attention because of their potential applications in artificial lighting, sensing, and imaging. However, preparation of these systems from organic emitters is often cumbersome due to the interchromophoric interactions occurring upon solvent drying in the final solid materials, which can be hardly predicted and may lead to detrimental effects. To circumvent these obstacles, we have developed a new fabrication methodology that relies on dye encapsulation within liquid-filled capsules, thus enabling direct transfer of the luminescent properties from solution to the solid state and as such, rational design of miniaturized white-light-emitting materials. By introducing a thermally responsive chromophore into the capsules, these materials are further endowed with color tunability, which does not only allow ample modulation of the emitted color but also facilitate external fine control of the system so as to ensure precise realization of white light at the desired temperature and excitation wavelength.

Bilayer Thin Films That Combine Luminescent and Spin Crossover Properties for an Efficient and Reversible Fluorescence Switching

We report on the vacuum thermal deposition of bilayer thin films of the luminescent complex Ir(ppy)3, tris[2-phenylpyridinato-C2,N]iridium(III), and the spin crossover complex [Fe(HB(tz)3)2], bis[hydrotris(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)borate]iron(II). Switching the spin state of iron ions from the low spin to the high spin state around 337 K leads to a reversible jump of the luminescence intensity, while the spectrum shape and the luminescence lifetime remain unchanged. The luminescence modulation occurs due to the different UV light absorption properties of the iron complex in the two spin states and its magnitude can therefore be precisely adjusted by varying the film thickness. These multilayer luminescence switches hold potential for micro- and nanoscale thermal sensing and imaging applications.