Understanding the Electronic Properties of Acceptor-Acceptor'-Acceptor Triads

In order to develop new organic materials for optoelectronic applications, a fundamental understanding of the electronic properties of specific chromophore combinations must be realized. To that end, we report "model" acceptor (A)-acceptor' (A')-acceptor (A) triads in which the pendants (A') we selected are well-known components of organic optoelectronic applications. Our pendants are sandwiched between two dialkoxyphenazine (A) through an alkyne bond. The A' was systematically increased in electron-deficiency from benzothiadiazole (BTD-P) to naphthalene diimide with octyl (NDI-O-P) or ethylhexyl groups (NDI-EH-P) to perylene diimide with ethylhexyl (PTCDI-EH-P) to assess changes in the electronic properties of the resultant molecules. Characterizations were performed using both experimental and theoretical methods. From optical and cyclic voltammetry, we found that the electron deficiency of each pendant was directly correlated to the energy level of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (E _LUMO). When examining the simple molecular orbital diagrams produced at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory, the LUMOs were, as expected, primarily localized on the more electron-deficient pendants. In terms of the energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital (E _HOMO), the numerical values obtained experimentally also correlated with values obtained computationally. Attempting to construct a simplified model that would explain these correlated values was not as readily apparent, given the disparate physical characteristics of these compounds. For example, BTD-P and NDI-O-P/NDI-EH-P achieved planarity when computationally optimized, but PTCDI-EH-P adapted a "buckled" geometry on the central PTCDI, consequently forcing the attached phenazines out-of-plane. The title compounds showed solvent polarity-dependent fluorescence, which is indicative of intramolecular charge transfer. In conjunction with our theoretical study, the current system can be viewed as an extension of donor-acceptor-donor systems. Thermal properties characterized by differential scanning calorimetry revealed that reversible phase transitions were only observed for BTD-P. In addition, BTD-P was found to be an efficient gelator in 1,1,1-trichloroethane and toluene. The other compounds in this study did not form gels in any of the solvents tested, which may have been a result of the alkyl groups on the pendants hampering the fibrillation process.

Anticipating Acene-Based Chromophore Spectra with Molecular Orbital Arguments

Recent synthetic studies on the organic molecules tetracene and pentacene have found certain dimers and oligomers to exhibit an intense absorption in the visible region of the spectrum that is not present in the monomer or many previously studied dimers. In this article we combine experimental synthesis with electronic structure theory and spectral computation to show that this absorption arises from an otherwise dark charge-transfer excitation "borrowing intensity" from an intense UV excitation. Further, by characterizing the role of relevant monomer molecular orbitals, we arrive at a design principle that allows us to predict the presence or absence of an additional absorption based on the bonding geometry of the dimer. We find this rule correctly explains the spectra of a wide range of acene derivatives and solves an unexplained structure-spectrum phenomenon first observed over 70 years ago. These results pave the way for the design of highly absorbent chromophores with applications ranging from photovoltaics to liquid crystals.

Phenazine-based colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for the selective detection of cyanides based on supramolecular self-assembly in aqueous solution

Taking advantages of both the well-known phenazine structure and the mechanism of the supramolecular self-assembly and deprotonation process, the fluorescent and colorimetric sensor (ZL) was designed and synthesized, behaving as a circulation utilization (above 10 times) receptor for selective detection of cyanide anion (CN^-) in aqueous media. Upon the addition of CN^-, the sensor displayed obvious color changes from yellow to jacinth by naked eyes and the fluorescence immediately quenched (<10s). With respect to other common anions, the sensor possessed high selectivity and sensitivity (0.05μM) for cyanide anions. In addition, the test strips of ZL were fabricated, which could serve as practical colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for "in-the-field" measurements.

Mercaptooxazole–phenazine based blue fluorescent sensor for the ultra-sensitive detection of mercury(ii) ions in aqueous solution

Herein, a fluorescent sensor based on the mechanism of the deprotonation process was designed and synthesized, which could detect Hg²⁺ in aqueous solution with remarkable fluorescence color changed (from yellow to light blue).

Theory guided systematic molecular design of benzothiadiazole–phenazine based self-assembling electron-acceptors

A systematic theory-guided molecular design of electron acceptors to reveal the impact of each structural subunit on the electronic properties.

Supramolecular interactions of fluorene-based copolymers containing 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene and phenazine units with SWNTs

Interaction of an electron-rich ProDOT-containing conjugated polymer and an electron poor phenazine-containing conjugated polymer with single-walled carbon nanotubes exhibits some selectivity for metallic vs. semiconducting structures.

Synthesis, physical properties and ion recognition of a novel larger heteroacene with eleven linearly-fused rings and two different types of heteroatom

A novel larger stable heteroacene, 8N8O, has been synthesized and demonstrated to act as an efficient anion sensor for iodide over a wide range of other anions.

Self-assembly of sodium 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoate into ultralong microbelts

Ultralong SDB microbelts with interesting optical and electrical properties were successfully fabricated by the poor solvent mediated self-assembly method.

Degradation of 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone by hydrogen peroxide: a combined kinetic and theoretical study

2,5-Dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DHBQ) is one of the key chromophores formed upon aging in cellulosic materials. This study addresses the degradation mechanism of DHBQ by hydrogen peroxide to provide a solid knowledge base for optimization of bleaching sequences aiming at DHBQ removal. Kinetic analysis provided an activation energy (E(a)) of 20.4 kcal/mol. Product analyses indicated the product mixture to contain malonic acid, acetic acid, and carbon dioxide. DFT(B3LYP) computation presented a plausible mechanism for the formation of these products from DHBQ. DHBQ forms intermediate I2k, having an intramolecular O-O bridge between C-2 and C-5 of the 1,4-cyclohexadione structure. This O-O bond is homolytically cleaved, and the subsequent β-fragmentation of the resulting radical forms ketene and oxaloacetic acid. While ketene yields acetic acid, oxaloacetic acid then gives malonic acid and carbon dioxide through further attack of hydrogen peroxide via an intermediate that is oxidatively decarboxylated. The calculated E(a) value (23.3 kcal/mol) in the rate-determining step, i.e., the homolysis of I2k, agreed well with the experimental value. There is also a minor pathway in which the spin state changes to triplet during the homolysis of I2k; in this way two malonyl radicals are formed that are converted to two molecules of malonic acid.

Self-assembly of pyrazine-containing tetrachloroacenes

In this paper, we report self-assembly of tetrachloroacenes containing pyrazine moieties. The title compounds, phenazine and bisphenazine substituted with four chlorine atoms for increased electron deficiency and alkyloxy side groups for solubility, demonstrated excellent gelation ability in select organic solvents. The assembled structure of these two series of compounds exhibited a morphological difference. Tetrachlorophenazine containing hexadecyloxy side groups induced rigid microbelts, while more extensive entanglement of thinner, more flexible fibers was observed from tetrachlorobisphenazine compounds, characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Tetrachlorophenazine and tetrachlorobisphenazine gels showed quite different emission behavior compared to their solution state. A strong, red-shifted emission compared to that of its diluted solution state was observed from the gel of tetrachlorophenazine. We have ascertained this is a result of J-aggregate formation. From the crystal structure of a model compound, it was found that tetrachlorophenazine cores adopt π-π stacking with a short stacking distance of 3.38 Å, enabling significant intermolecular π-orbital overlap. In addition, the π-cores were displaced longitudinally, indicative of J-aggregate formation. Surprisingly, the gel of tetrachlorobisphenazine showed fluorescence comparable to that of its dilute solution, suggesting that such a close packing of the π-cores may not be possible due to the bulky tert-butyl substituents.