Preferential hetero-dimer formation and equilibrium dynamics of self-complementary bifunctional oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) and C60 ureido-pyrimidinone derivatives in solution

Synthesis of a donor-acceptor heterodimer via trifunctional completive self-sorting

Selective self-assembly of heterodimers consisting of two non-identical subunits plays important roles in Nature but is rarely encountered in synthetic supramolecular systems. Here we show that photocleavage of a donor–acceptor porphyrin complex produces an heterodimeric structure with surprising selectivity. The system forms via a multi-step sequence that starts with an oxidative ring opening, which produces an equimolar mixture of two isomeric degradation products (zinc(II) bilatrien-abc-ones, BTOs). These two isomers are susceptible to water addition, yielding the corresponding zinc(II) 15-hydroxybiladien-ab-ones (HBDOs). However, in the photocleavage experiment only one HBDO isomer is formed, and it quantitatively combines with the remaining BTO isomer. The resulting heterodimer is stabilized by a Zn–O coordination bond and extended dispersion interactions between the overlapping π-surfaces of the monomers. The observed selectivity can be seen as a case of completive self-sorting, simultaneously controlled by three types of complementary interactions.

The preparation of heterodimeric structures via self-assembly processes is challenging. Here, the authors report the photooxidation of a donor–acceptor metalloporphyrin, which enables a self-sorting process that yields an heterodimer quantitatively.

Synthesis and spectral characterization of photoswitchable oligo(p-phenylenevinylene)–spiropyran dyad

A novel dyad molecule coupling oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) (OPV) with spiropyran (SP) was synthesized and characterized in solution and in solid phase. Light-driven reversible transformations between isomers ofSPmodulate the fluorescence ofOPV.

Oligo(phenylenevinylene) hybrids and self-assemblies: versatile materials for excitation energy transfer

The engineering of the nanostructure of OPV based self-assemblies allows control of photoinduced energy transfer processes, leading to materials exhibiting tunable luminescence colours, including white.

Cooperativity and tunable excited state deactivation: modular self-assembly of depsipeptide dendrons on a Hamilton receptor modified porphyrin platform

A series of novel supramolecular architectures were built around a tin tetraphenyl porphyrin platform 6--functionalized by a 2-fold 1-ethyl-3-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) promoted condensation reaction--and chiral depsipeptide dendrons of different generations 1-4. Here, implementation of a Hamilton receptor provided the necessary means to keep the constituents together via strong hydrogen bonding. Characterization of all architectures has been performed, including 4 which is the fourth generation, on the basis of NMR and photophysical methods. In particular, several titration experiments were conducted suggesting positive cooperativity, an assessment that is based on association constants that tend to be higher for the second binding step than for the first step. Importantly, molecular modeling calculations reveal a significant deaggregation of the intermolecular network of 6 during the course of the first binding step. As a consequence, an improved accessibility of the second Hamilton receptor unit in 6 emerges and, in turn, facilitates the higher association constants. The features of the equilibrium, that is, the dynamic exchange of depsipeptide dendrons 1-4 with fullerene 5, was tested in photophysical reference experiments. These steady-state and time-resolved measurements showed the tunable excited-state deactivations of these complexes upon photoexcitation.

Probing the solvent-induced tautomerism of a redox-active ureidopyrimidinone

A ferrocene-functionalised ureidopyrimidinone has been synthesised that can signal the solvent-induced tautomerism of the dimeric 4[1H]-pyrimidinone form to the monomeric 6[1H]-pyrimidinone form.

Molecular and supramolecular C60–oligophenylenevinylene conjugates

Fullerene derivatives are attractive building blocks for the preparation of molecular and supramolecular photoactive devices. As a part of this research, combination of C60 with oligophenylenevinylene (OPV) subunits has generated significant research efforts. These results are summarized in the present account to illustrate the current state-of-the-art of fullerene chemistry for the development of new photoactive materials.

Preparation and Properties of Polyamide Dendrons-Poly(4-Vinylpyridine) Complexes via Multiple Hydrogen Bonding

The preparation and properties of the multiple hydrogen-bonded complexes between polyamide dendrons and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) are described. Polyamide dendrons with or without carboxyl groups were prepared as components for the complex with P4VP. A hydrogen-bonded G1-GA (polyamide dendron having five carboxyl groups)/P4VP 1/5 (molar ratio) complex was prepared by mixing G1-GA with P4VP in methanol, followed by removing the solvent. The formation of the hydrogen bond was confirmed by IR measurements. A glass transition temperature ( Tg) of the complex was observed at 179′C by DSC measurement, whereas the melting point of G1-GA (156′C) and Tg of P4VP (144′C) disappeared. The Tg of G1-GA/P4VP complexes was dependent on the molar ratio ([Acceptor]/[Donor]). The maximum Tg at 184′C was observed in the acceptor-rich region. 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation time ( T1) and diffusion coefficient ( D) were measured to evaluate the mobility of G1-GA or P4VP in solution. Both T1 and D values suggest that the mobility of the dendron and P4VP in the complex is restricted by the formation of multiple hydrogen bondings in solution.

A Highly Directional Fourfold Hydrogen-Bonding Motif for Supramolecular Structures through Self-Assembly of Fullerodendrimers

Supramolecular dendrimers resulting from the dimerization of fullerene-functionalized dendrons through a quadruple hydrogen-bonding motif were prepared. The synthetic strategy is based on the esterification of a tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc)-protected 2-ureido-4-[1H]pyrimidinone precursor possessing an alcohol function with fullerodendrons bearing a carboxylic acid unit at the focal point. Subsequent acidic treatment to cleave the protecting group and reaction of the resulting amine with octylisocyanate affords the targeted compounds. As demonstrated by the results of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy, both of the 2-ureido-4-[1H]pyrimidinone derivatives form self-assembled dimers spontaneously through hydrogen-bonding interactions, thus leading to supramolecular structures containing two or ten fullerene moieties.

Hydrogen Bonding Effects on the Surface Structure and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Nanostructured SnO2 Electrodes Modified with Porphyrin and Fullerene Composites

Hydrogen bonding effects on surface structure, photophysical properties, and photoelectrochemistry have been examined in a mixed film of porphyrin and fullerene composites with and without hydrogen bonding on indium tin oxide and nanostructured SnO2 electrodes. The nanostructured SnO2 electrodes modified with the mixed films of porphyrin and fullerene composites with hydrogen bonding exhibited efficient photocurrent generation compared to the reference systems without hydrogen bonding. Atomic force microscopy, infrared reflection absorption, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopies and time-resolved fluorescence lifetime and transient absorption spectroscopic measurements disclosed the relationship between the surface structure and photophysical and photoelectrochemical properties relating to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the porphyrins and/or the C60 moieties in the films on the electrode surface. These results show that hydrogen bonding is a highly promising methodology for the fabrication of donor and acceptor composites on nanostructured semiconducting electrodes, which exhibit high photoelectrochemical properties.

Hydrogen-Bonding Motifs in Fullerene Chemistry

The combination of fullerenes and hydrogen-bonding motifs is a new interdisciplinary field in which weak intermolecular forces allow modulation of one-, two-, and three-dimensional fullerene-based architectures and control of their function. This Minireview aims to extend the scope of fullerene chemistry to a truly supramolecular level from which unprecedented architectures may evolve. It is shown that electronic communication in C(60)-based hydrogen-bonded donor-acceptor ensembles is at least as strong as that found in covalently connected systems and that hydrogen-bonding fullerene chemistry is a versatile concept for the construction of functional ensembles.

Cooperative Recognition of C60-Ammonium Substrates by a Ditopic Oligophenylenevinylene/Crown Ether Host

A new fullerene derivative with an ammonium subunit has been prepared. Its ability to form supramolecular complexes with oligophenylenevinylene derivatives bearing one or two crown ether moieties has been evidenced by electrospray mass spectrometry, and UV-visible and luminescence spectroscopy experiments. Interestingly, the assembly of the C60-ammonium cation with the oligophenylenevinylene derivative bearing two crown ether moieties leads to the cooperative formation of the 2:1 complex owing to intramolecular fullerene-fullerene interactions.

Supramolecular Control of Oligothienylenevinylene−Fullerene Interactions: Evidence for a Ground-State EDA Complex

Complementary hydrogen-bonding interactions between a barbituric acid-substituted fullerene derivative (1) and corresponding receptor (2) bearing thienylenevinylene units are used to assemble a 1:1 supramolecular complex (K = 5500 M(-1)). Due to the close proximity of the redox-active moieties within the assembly, strong ground-state electron-donor-acceptor interactions are observed. Photoinduced electron transfer from electron-rich thienylenevinylene subunits to the fullerene is very fast (k(et) = 5.5 x 10(12) s(-1)), as determined by fs-time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. [reaction: see text]

Materials for organic solar cells: the C60/π-conjugated oligomer approach

This tutorial review surveys recent advances in the field of C60/pi-conjugated oligomer donor-acceptor ensembles. In particular, different synthetic strategies are discussed that were developed to link pi-conjugated oligomers, as versatile photoexcited state electron donors, to C60. We highlight relationships between the nature/structural aspects of pi-conjugated donor systems and a variety of physico-chemical features. Modifications of the oligomeric components are discussed under aspects of tailoring (i) the absorption cross-section of the chromophore in the visible region, (ii) the oxidation potential of the oligomeric donor moiety, (iii) the size, shape, or chemical makeup of the oligomer, and (iv) the stabilization of the charge-separated radical ion pairs. In the final section, the applicability of selected materials for the fabrication of photovoltaic devices is analyzed.

Hydrogen bonding effect on photocurrent generation in porphyrin–fullerene photoelectrochemical devices

A hydrogen bonding effect on photocurrent generation has been evaluated successfully in a mixed film of porphyrin and fullerene with hydrogen bonding on an ITO electrode, which exhibits efficient cathodic photocurrent generation as compared to the reference system without hydrogen bonding.