Structure−Property Relationships in Conjugated Donor−Acceptor Molecules Based on Cyanoanthracene: Computational and Experimental Studies

High throughput selection of organic cathode materials

Efficient and affordable batteries require the design of novel organic electrode materials to overcome the drawbacks of the traditionally used inorganic materials, and the computational screening of potential candidates is a very efficient way to identify prospective solutions and minimize experimental testing. Here we present a DFT high-throughput computational screening where 86 million molecules contained in the PUBCHEM database have been analyzed and classified according to their estimated electrochemical features. The 5445 top-performing candidates were identified, and among them, 2306 are expected to have a one-electron reduction potential higher than 4 V versus (Li/Li+ ). Analogously, one-electron energy densities higher than 800 Whkg-1 have been predicted for 626 molecules. Explicit calculations performed for certain materials show that at least 69 candidates with a two-electron energy density higher than 1300 Whkg-1 . Successful molecules were sorted into several families, some of them already commonly used electrode materials, and others still experimentally untested. Most of them are small systems containing conjugated CO, NN, or NC functional groups. Our selected molecules form a valuable starting point for experimentalists exploring new materials for organic electrodes.

Structure and Photophysical Properties of 1,1,2,2-Tetra(1-anthryl)ethane: A C(sp3 )-C(sp3 ) Bond Substituted with Four Anthracene Units

The title aromatic compound comprising four anthracene units was synthesized by the McMurry coupling of di(1-anthryl) ketone as a hydrogenated product in 65 % yield. The molecule forms a C₂ symmetric structure with the ap conformation about the C(sp³ )-C(sp³ ) single bond, as revealed by X-ray analysis and DFT calculations. The UV/vis and fluorescence spectra of this compound were compared with those of anthracene, di(1-anthryl)methane, and 1,2-di(1-anthryl)ethane. The fluorescence spectrum showed a broad emission band at 450 nm having a long lifetime at 21 ns, which was assignable to an excimer-type emission, in contrast to the other reference compounds. The characteristic photophysical property is discussed in terms of the molecular structure with the aid of the noncovalent interaction plots and the conformational analysis.

Straightforward Access to Anthrone Functionalized Benzylic Amines via Organocatalytic 1,2-Addition of Anthrones to Imines at Ambient Temperature

Activation of anthrone via benzylic deprotonation in the presence of triethylamine paves the way for the 1,2-addition reaction with imines to provide the desired functionalized anthrones in good to excellent yields under mild and operationally simple reaction conditions with a broad range of substrate scopes without using any external additives or toxic stoichiometric reagents.

Dramatic changes in the excited-state behaviour of the green fluorescent protein chromophore by a strong π-donating group through significantly lowering the excited-state potential energy surface with photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer

A strong π-donating group like p-NMe₂ dramatically changes the excited-state behavior of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore, such as realizing charge-transfer absorption and executing significant photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), which makes a planar first singlet (S₁) excited-state minimum disappear and significantly lowers the S₁ excited-state potential energy surface (PES), leading to barrierless τ-torsion and φ-torsion excited-state relaxation and eliciting the φ-torsion S₁ excited-state minimum. This finding is critical since a strong π-donating group like p-NMe₂ may do the same things to other fluorophores.

Intramolecular Phosphacyclization: Polyaromatic Phosphonium P-Heterocycles with Wide-Tuning Optical Properties

Rationally designed cationic phospha-polyaromatic fluorophores were prepared through intramolecular cyclization of the tertiary ortho-(acene)phenylene-phosphines mediated by CuII triflate. As a result of phosphorus quaternization, heterocyclic phosphonium salts 1 c-3 c, derived from naphthalene, phenanthrene, and anthracene cores, exhibited very intense blue to green fluorescence (Φem =0.38-0.99) and high photostability in aqueous medium. The structure-emission relationship was further investigated by tailoring the electron-donating functions to the anthracene moiety to give dyes 4 c-6 c with charge-transfer character. The latter significantly decreases the emission energy to reach near-IR region. Thus, the intramolecular phosphacyclization renders an ultra-wide tuning of fluorescence from 420 nm (1 c) to 780 nm (6 c) in solution, extended to 825 nm for 6 c in the solid state with quantum efficiency of approximately 0.07. The physical behavior of these new dyes was studied spectroscopically, crystallographically, and electrochemically, whereas computational analysis was used to correlate the experimental data with molecular electronic structures. The excellent stability, water solubility, and attractive photophysical characteristics make these phosphonium heterocycles powerful tools in cell imaging.

Substituent Effects on Regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder Reactions: Reactions of 10-Allyl-1,8-dichloroanthracene with 2-Chloroacrylonitrile, 1-Cyanovinyl Acetate and Phenyl Vinyl Sulfone

Diels-Alder reaction of 10-allyl-1,8-dichloroanthracene (3) with 2-chloroacrylonitrile (4) and 1-cyanovinyl acetate (5) gives exclusively theorthoisomer while its reaction with phenyl vinyl sulfone (10) yields a mixture of two isomeric adducts with priority toorthoisomer. The reactions proceeded under microwave condition in xylene. Configurations of these isomers have been assigned with the help of NMR spectra. The results indicated that the steric effect is dominating toward the isomer regioselectivity in the Diels-Alder reaction of the present compounds.

Expanding the scope of Metal-Free enantioselective allylic substitutions: Anthrones

The highly enantioselective asymmetric allylic alkylation of Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates with anthrones is presented. The reaction is simply catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid derivatives affording the final alkylated products in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.

An experimental study of the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectral properties of new p-substituted-N-phenylpyrroles and their electrosynthesized polymers

Electronic absorption and fluorescence spectral properties of new p-substituted-N-phenylpyrroles (N-PhPys), including HOPhPy, MeOPhPy, ThPhPy, PhDPy, DPhDPy, PyPhThThPhPy, and their available, electrosynthesized polymers were investigated. Electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, fluorescence quantum yields (ΦF) and lifetimes (τF), and other photophysical parameters of these N-PhPy derivatives and their polymers were measured in DMF, DMSO diluted solutions and/or solid state at room temperature. The electronic absorption spectra of N-PhPy derivatives and their polymers included one to several bands, located in the 270-395 nm region, according to the p-phenyl substituent electron-donating effect and conjugated heteroaromatic system length. The fluorescence excitation spectra were characterized by one broad main peak, with, in most cases, one (or more) poorly resolved shoulder (s), appearing in the 270-405 nm region, and their emission spectra were generally constituted of several bands located in the 330-480 nm region. No significant shift of the absorption, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra wavelengths was found upon going from the monomers to the corresponding polymers. ΦF values were high, varying between 0.11 and 0.63, according to the nature of substituents(s) and to the conjugated system extension. Fluorescence decays were mono-exponential for the monomers and poly-exponential for PyPhThThPhPy and for polymers. τF values were relatively short (0.35-5.17 ns), and markedly decreased with the electron-donor character of the phenyl group p-substituent and the conjugated system extension.

Solvent-free production of singlet oxygen at the gas-solid interface: visible light activated organic-inorganic hybrid microreactors including new cyanoaromatic photosensitizers

We synthesized new cyanoaromatics, benzo[b]triphenylene-9,14-dicarbonitrile (DBTP) 1a and a graftable derivative, 9,14-dicyanobenzo[b]triphenylene-3-carboxylic acid (DBTP-COOH) 1b, easily prepared from commercial reagents. Their photosensitizing properties were investigated. Hybrid porous silica monoliths loaded with encapsulated 1a or grafted 1b were prepared, and their adsorption, spectroscopic and photosensitizing properties, as well as stability, were compared. Solvent-free, efficient oxidation of dimethylsulfide (DMS) was observed at the gas-solid interface under visible light irradiation. Quantum yields of formation of 1O2 inside the porous monoliths are comparable to those of phenalenone. Singlet oxygen lifetimes (approximately 25 micros) were found to be longer in silica monoliths than in usual polar solvents such as methanol or ethanol. This new class of hybrid materials work as porous, transparent, and highly efficient microreactors for oxidation reactions under visible light.

Hydroquinone-benzonitrile system: intramolecular charge-transfer and computational studies

A novel intramolecular donor-acceptor system of hydroquinone-benzonitrile was synthesized. Its photo-induced intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) transition was confirmed by (1) shift of its emission maximum with increasing solvent polarity, (2) high dipole moment for the ICT excited state calculated from the Lippert equation, and (3) its HOMO and LUMO. According to the extent of separation between HOMO and LUMO, it is suggested that substituent position (ortho, meta, or para) in the donor-acceptor biphenyls is not a key point for the photo-induced intramolecular charge transfer and the donor with two alkoxy or hydroxy groups has more photo-induced charge transfer transitions than the one with one alkoxy or hydroxy group. In other words, the hydroquinone-benzonitrile system displays more photo-induced charge transfer transitions than 4COB (4-cyano-4'-butyloxybiphenyl).

Donor−Acceptor-Substituted Tetrakis(phenylethynyl)benzenes as Emissive Molecules during Pulse Radiolysis in Benzene

Emission from charge recombination between radical cations and anions of various tetrakis(phenylethynyl)benzenes (TPEBs) was measured during pulse radiolysis in benzene (Bz). The formation of TPEB in the singlet excited state (1TPEB*) can be attributed to the charge recombination between TPEB*+ and TPEB*-, which are initially generated from the radiolytic reaction in Bz. This mechanism is reasonably explained by the relationship between the annihilation enthalpy change (-DeltaH degrees) for the charge recombination of TPEB*+ and TPEB*- and excitation energy of 1TPEB*. It was found that the charge recombination between TPEB*+ and TPEB*- occurred to give 1TPEB* as the emissive species, but not the excimers because of the large repulsion between substituents caused by the rotation around C-C single bonds of TPEBs. Since donor-acceptor-substituted TPEBs possess three types of charge-transfer pathways (linear-conjugated, cross-conjugated, and "bent" conjugated pathways between the donor and acceptor substituents through the ethynyl linkage), the emission spectra of 1TPEBs* with intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character depend on the substitution pattern and the various kinds of donor and acceptor groups during pulse radiolysis in Bz.

Synthesis of Novel Rod-Shaped and Star-Shaped Fluorescent Phosphane Oxides—Nonlinear Optical Properties and Photophysical Properties

The design of a new class of fluorophores is presented. Some push-pull chromophores (D-pi-A) containing polyphenylethynyl units and a phosphane oxide moiety were efficiently prepared from common intermediates. Straightforward syntheses gave novel one-armed, rod-shaped and three-armed, star-shaped fluorophores. The optical properties of the resulting star-shaped derivatives were evaluated, showed high fluorescence quantum yields, and their excitation induces very efficient charge redistribution. Moreover, thanks to their push-pull character, the molecules exhibited significant second-order NLO properties with good transparency, up to 67x10(-30) esu at 1907 nm, with an absorption lambdamax at 369 nm. The effect of the donor group and of the number of phenylethynyl arms have been studied in this work.

Emission from Charge Recombination during the Pulse Radiolysis of 9-Cyano-10-phenylethynylanthracenes with Donor and Acceptor Substituents

Emission from 9-cyano-10-phenylanthracene and 9-cyano-10-phenylethynylanthracenes having donor and acceptor substituents (RA = PA, PEA, OEA, NEA, and DEA) was studied with the time-resolved fluorescence measurement during the pulse radiolysis of RAs in benzene (Bz). PA and DEA showed only monomer emission, while other RAs (PEA, OEA, and NEA) showed both monomer and excimer emissions with much lower intensities. On the basis of the steady-state and transient absorption and emission measurements, the formation of RA in the singlet excited state ((1)RA*) can be attributed to the charge recombination between RA radical cation and anion (RA*+ and RA*-, respectively) which are initially generated from the radiolytic reaction in Bz. It is expected that for PA with a twisted geometry, the charge recombination between PA*+ and PA*- occurs to give (1)PA* during the pulse radiolysis in Bz. For PEA and OEA, pi-stacking interaction is possible for the formation of an encounter complex during the charge recombination between RA*+ and RA*-. For NEA, it is expected that NEA*+ and NEA*- collide neck-to-neck to generate the excimer due to the twisted geometry. For DEA, a considerably twisted structure is assumed to give (1)DEA* with strong ICT character but not (1)(DEA)2* because of the bulky donor substituent.