C3-Symmetric Indole-Based Truxenes: Design, Synthesis, and Photophysical Studies

In recent years, truxenes and related polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have engrossed ample interest of the scientific community because of their ease of synthesis, functionalizations, and use as building blocks for the synthesis of fullerene fragments, liquid crystals, larger polyarenes, and C3-tripod materials. In the present work, we have disclosed an ingenious method for the construction of various indolo-truxene hybrid molecules in good yields (52-90%), by means of the acid-catalyzed cotrimerization, Friedel-Crafts acylation, and Fischer indole synthesis, and fully characterized them through the standard spectroscopic techniques. The photophysical properties of the thus-prepared compounds have also been investigated using steady-state absorption and fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. Moreover, the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations have been studied to correlate them with the measured photophysical properties of the synthesized indolo-truxene derivatives.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of Sila-Annulated Phenanthrene Imides

A series of sila-annulated phenanthrene imides were synthesized through a three-step synthetic route, which represent a hybrid class of biphenyl-based π-conjugated molecules incorporating an imide unit and silole. A comprehensive investigation of their structural, photophysical, and electronic properties was studied by experiment and theoretical calculations. Notably, sila-annulated phenanthrene imides with significant aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties were observed.

Synthesis and derivatization of hetera-buckybowls

Buckybowls have concave and convex surfaces with distinct π-electron cloud distribution, and consequently they show unique structural and electronic features as compared to planar aromatic polycycles. Doping the π-framework of buckybowls with heteroatoms is an efficient scheme to tailor inherent properties, because the nature of heteroatoms plays a pivotal role in the structural and electronic characteristics of the resulting hetera-buckybowls. The design, synthesis, and derivatization of hetera-buckybowls open an avenue for obtaining fascinating organic entities not only of fundamental importance but also of promising applications in optoelectronics. In this review, we summarize the advances in hetera-buckybowl chemistry, particularly the synthetic strategies toward these scaffolds.

Improved Synthesis of ortho-Phenylene-bridged Cyclic Tetrapyrroles and Oxidative Fusion Reactions Toward Substituted Tetraaza[8]circulenes

Hetero[8]circulenes have emerged as novel functionalized heteronanographenes that show various promising functions such as bright fluorescence, charge transporting, and redox reactivities. One of the effective synthetic strategy is the fold-in type oxidative fusion reaction of ortho-phenylene-bridged cyclic tetrapyrroles, whose construction, however, is not well-sophisticated in terms of reproducibility and possibility for versatile derivatization. In this paper, a "reverse" coupling strategy has been developed, which enabled synthesis of opp-type low symmetric analogues of cyclic tetrapyrroles. Oxidative fusion reaction conditions to afford tetraaza[8]circulenes have also been reinvestigated and improved. Substituent effects of cyclic tetrapyrroles and tetrabenzotetraaza[8]circulenes are studied for solid-state structures and packing structures, redox potentials, and optical properties.

Synthesis, structure and properties of semi-internally BN-substituted annulated thiophenes

A series of semi-internally BN-substituted annulated thiophenes were synthesized from easily accessible 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes.

Synthetic approaches to bowl-shaped π-conjugated sumanene and its congeners

Since the first synthetic report in 2003 by Sakurai et al., sumanene (derived from the Indian 'Hindi as well as Sanskrit word' "Suman", which means "Sunflower"), a beautifully simple yet much effective bowl-shaped C 3-symmetric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon having three benzylic positions clipped between three phenyl rings in the triphenylene framework has attracted a tremendous attention of researchers worldwide. Therefore, since its first successful synthesis, a variety of functionalized sumanenes as well as heterosumanenes have been developed because of their unique physiochemical properties. For example, bowl-to-bowl inversion, bowl depth, facial selectivity, crystal packing, metal complexes, intermolecular charge transfer systems, cation-π complexation, electron conductivity, optical properties and so on. Keeping the importance of this beautiful scaffold in mind, we compiled all the synthetic routes available for the construction of sumanene and its heteroatom derivatives including Mehta's first unsuccessful effort up to the latest achievements. Our major goal to write this review article was to provide a quick summary of where the field has been, where it stands at present, and where it might be going in near future. Although several reviews have been published on sumanene chemistry dealing with different aspects but this is the first report that comprehensively describes the 'all-in-one' chemistry of the sumanene architecture since its invention to till date. We feel that this attractive review article will definitely help the scientific community working not only in the area of organic synthesis but also in materials science and technology.

Synthesis of Tellurium-Containing π-Extended Aromatics with Room-Temperature Phosphorescence

A synthesis of tellurium-embedded π-extended aromatics from tellurium powder and readily available cyclic diaryliodonium salts has been developed. The versatility of this method has been demonstrated by the synthesis of various functionalized dibenzotellurophenes (DBTe's), a ladder-type π-system, and a heterosumanene. These compounds demonstrated good air/moisture stability and high thermal stability. Remarkably, many DBTe's exhibited interesting tunable room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in the solid state.

Correlated Electronic States of a Few Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: A Computational Study

In recent years, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been studied for their electronic properties as they are viewed as nanodots of graphene. They have also been of interest as functional molecules for applications such as light-emitting diodes and solar cells. Since the last few years, varying structural and chemical properties corresponding to the size and geometry of these molecules have been studied both theoretically and experimentally. Here, we carry out a systematic study of the electronic states of several PAHs using the Pariser-Parr-Pople model, which incorporates long-range electron correlations. In all of the molecules studied by us, we find that the 2A state is below the 1B state and hence none of them will be fluorescent in the gaseous phase. The singlet-triplet gap is more than half of the singlet-singlet gap in all cases, and hence, none of these PAHs can be candidates for improved solar cell efficiencies in a singlet fission. We discuss in detail the properties of the electronic states, which include bond orders and spin densities (in triplets) of these systems.

Doping Sumanene with Both Chalcogens and Phosphorus(V): One-Step Synthesis, Coordination, and Selective Response Toward AgI

Heterasumanenes 4-6 containing chalcogen (S, Se, and Te) and phosphorus atoms have been synthesized in a one-pot reaction from trichalcogenasumanenes 1-3 by replacing one chalcogen atom with a P=S unit. The P=S unit makes 4-6 almost planar and shrinks the HOMO-LUMO gap as compared to 1-3. The bonding between Ag⁺ and S atom on P=S brings about a distinct change to the optical properties of 4-6; 4 in particular shows a selective fluorescence response toward Ag⁺ with LOD of 0.21 μm. Compounds 4-6 form complexes with AgNO₃ to be (4)₂ ⋅AgNO₃ , (5)₂ ⋅AgNO₃ , and (6)₂ ⋅(AgNO₃ )₃ . In complexes, the coordination between Ag⁺ and P=S is observed, which leads to shrinkage of C-P and C-X (X=S, Se, Te) bond lengths. As a result, 4, 5, and 6 are all bowl-shaped in complexes with bowl-depths reaching to 0.66 Å, 0.42 Å, and 0.40 Å, respectively. There are Ag-Te dative bonds between Ag⁺ and Te atom on telluorophene in (6)₂ ⋅(AgNO₃ )₃ .

Trichalcogenasumanenes containing various chalcogen atoms: synthesis, structure, properties, and chemical reactivity

Trichalcogenasumanenes containing two kinds of chalcogen are synthesized. The majority chalcogen governs the optical properties and the heavier chalcogen governs the chemical reactivity.

Opening two benzene rings on trichalcogenasumanenes toward high performance organic optical-limiting materials

Two flanking benzene rings on trichalcogenasumanenes (1a/1b) were opened upon oxidation, and the successive ring reconstruction afforded donor-acceptor type polycycles containing diimide units (3a/3b). 3a and 3b show excellent optical-limiting properties superior to C60.

Tritellurasumanene: ultrasound assisted one-pot synthesis and extended valence adducts with bromine

Tritellurasumanene is synthesized from a triphenylene skeleton via ultrasound assisted one-pot reaction. This compound adopts a flat conjugated system and displays TeTe (3.83 Å) interactions in the solid state. Its optical properties and chemical reactivity are quite different from those of its trithia- and triselena-analogues.

Sumanene: an efficient π-bowl for dihydrogen storage

The outstanding ability of sumanene, its anionic and dianionic forms and sumanene–M⁺ion-pair complexes (M = Li, Na, K) to bind dihydrogen has been revealed using density functional theory calculations pointing out that these systems could be employed for developing new H₂storage systems.

Trichalcogenasumanene ortho-Quinones: Synthesis, Properties, and Transformation into Various Heteropolycycles

The regioselective transformation of heterobuckybowl trichalcogenasumanenes 1 a,b at peripheral butoxy groups afforded trichalcogenasumanene ortho-quinones 2 a,b. Compounds 2 a,b are distinct from 1 a,b in terms of their molecular geometry and electronic state; that is, they have a shallower bowl depth and show absorbance in the NIR region. The reaction of 2 a,b with diamines resulted in a variety of heteropolycycles, including molecular spoon 3 a-6 a, planar π-systems 3 b-6 b, and highly twisted [7-6-6]-fused systems 7 a,b. These new heteropolycycles had different optical/electrical properties: 4 a,b showed hole mobility of approximately 0.002 cm²  V^-1  s^-1 , 6 a displayed red emission in both solution and the solid state, and 7 a,b formed tight stacks of the curved π-surface.

Tris(S,S-dioxide)-trithiasumanene: strong fluorescence and cocrystal with 1,2,6,7,10,11-hexabutoxytriphenylene

Trithiasumanene was regioselectively transformed into tris(S,S-dioxide)-trithiasumanene, which displays strong fluorescence and forms a chiral cocrystal with HBT, showing a yellow emission.

Exploring the “fold-in” strategy toward the construction of a highly-strained triazasumanene skeleton

“Fold-in”-type syntheses toward the construction of tribenzotriazasumanene were attempted under oxidative and reductive conditions, which resulted in the formation of two different products.

Iodine-doped sumanene and its application for the synthesis of chalcogenasumanenes and silasumanenes

The first example of halogen-doped buckybowls has been synthesized, which can be readily transformed into pristine trithiasumanene, triselenasumanene and trisilasumanene.

Ring reconstruction on a trichalcogenasumanene buckybowl: a facile approach to donor-acceptor-type [5-6-7] fused planar polyheterocycles

The transformation of trichalcogenasumanene buckybowls into donor-acceptor-type [5-6-7] fused polyheterocycles is disclosed. The strategy involves a highly efficient ring-opening of the flanking benzene upon oxidation at room temperature, and facile ring closure by functional-group transformation. Crystallographic studies indicate that the resulting [5-6-7] fused polyheterocycles possess a planar conformation owing to the release of ring strain by expansion of one of the six-membered flanking rings to the seven-membered one. Additionally, the [5-6-7] fused polyheterocycles bear electron-withdrawing groups, which reduce the HOMO-LUMO energy gap, and display broad absorption bands extending to λ=590 nm. Consequently, these compounds show strong red emission with fluorescence quantum yields of up to 38 %.

Non-pyrolytic, large-scale synthesis of trichalcogenasumanene: a two-step approach

Trichalcogenasumanenes were synthesized on a multigram scale through a two-step approach that takes advantage of non-pyrolytic cyclization and solventless ring contraction. Solid-state structure and photophysical investigations demonstrate that these compounds are promising candidates for electronic materials.