Dimesitylborylethynylated Arenes: Unique Electronic and Photophysical Properties Caused by Ethynediyl (C≡C) Spacers

Herein, we report the synthesis and electrochemical and photophysical properties of aromatic hydrocarbons having one or two dimesitylborylethynyl peripherals. The mono- (1) and diboryl compounds (2), readily prepared by nucleophilic substitution reaction, are fairly stable to air and moisture in the solid state. The inserted ethynediyl (C≡C) spacer cancels the steric hindrance between the bulky dimesitylboryl groups and aromatic rings, leading to effective π conjugation over the B-C≡C-Ar linkages, as revealed by cyclic voltammetry. Despite the small structural differences, the photophysical properties of the benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene derivatives are different. Virtually no emission was observed from the benzene derivatives, whereas the anthracene derivatives emitted with high quantum yields both in solution and in the solid state. Notably, the naphthalene derivatives showed aggregation-induced emission behavior. Unlike the common sterically congested triarylborane derivatives reported so far, the anthracene derivatives showed π-π*-type absorption and emission bands, which derive from efficient intramolecular orbital interactions between the boron centers and anthracene moieties, as supported by DFT calculations. As a result, the dimesitylborylethynyl substituents effectively lower the LUMO levels of the aromatic hydrocarbon parts, whereas the HOMO levels are almost unaffected, thereby leading to materials with controllable HOMO-LUMO gaps.

Near-Infrared Quadrupolar Chromophores Combining Three-Coordinate Boron-Based Superdonor and Superacceptor Units

Herein, two new quadrupolar acceptor-π-donor-π-acceptor (A-π-D-π-A) chromophores have been prepared featuring a strongly electron-donating diborene core and strongly electron-accepting dimesitylboryl (BMes₂ ) and bis(2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)boryl (B^F Mes₂ ) end groups. Analysis of the compounds by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and UV/Vis-NIR absorption and emission spectroscopy indicated that the compounds have extended conjugated π-systems spanning their B₄ C₈ cores. The combination of exceptionally potent π-donor (diborene) and π-acceptor (diarylboryl) groups, both based on trigonal boron, leads to very small HOMO-LUMO gaps, resulting in strong absorption in the near-IR region with maxima in THF at 840 and 1092 nm and very high extinction coefficients of ca. 120 000 m^-1  cm^-1 . Both molecules also display weak near-IR fluorescence with small Stokes shifts.

Preparation and Characterization of a π-Conjugated Donor-Acceptor System Containing the Strongly Electron-Accepting Tetraphenylborolyl Unit

A novel thiophene-bridged donor-acceptor system was synthesized with a carbazole as donor and a borole as acceptor unit. The borole group was successfully installed via the tin-boron exchange reaction of 1,1-dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole with 9-(5-(dibromoboryl)thiophen-2-yl)carbazole. The effect of the borole on the optoelectronic properties of the donor-acceptor system was explored by spectroscopic (UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy), electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry) and theoretical (TD-DFT) methods as well as by modifying its structure. The corresponding donor-acceptor compound bearing the widely employed dimesitylboryl acceptor group was also synthesized for comparison.

Naked-eye repeatable off–on–off and on–off–on switching luminescence of copper(i)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline complexes with reversible acid–base responses

Repeatable off–on–off or on–off–on luminescence of a series of Cu(i) complexes is observed with reversible base–acid or acid–base responses.

Recent developments in and perspectives on three-coordinate boron materials: a bright future

We highlight recent developments in the synthesis, optical and electronic properties of 3-coordinate boron compounds and their applications in materials.

The empty p_z-orbital of a three-coordinate organoboron compound leads to its electron-deficient properties, which make it an excellent π-acceptor in conjugated organic chromophores. The empty p-orbital in such Lewis acids can be attacked by nucleophiles, so bulky groups are often employed to provide air-stable materials. However, many of these can still bind fluoride and cyanide anions leading to applications as anion-selective sensors. One electron reduction generates radical anions. The π-acceptor strength can be easily tuned by varying the organic substituents. Many of these compounds show strong two-photon absorption (TPA) and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) behaviour, which can be applied for e.g. biological imaging. Furthermore, these chromophores can be used as emitters and electron transporters in OLEDs, and examples have recently been found to exhibit efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). The three-coordinate organoboron unit can also be incorporated into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Such boron-doped compounds exhibit very interesting properties, distinct from their all-carbon analogues. Significant developments have been made in all of these areas in recent years and new applications are rapidly emerging for this class of boron compounds.

Zinc metal complex as a sensor for simultaneous detection of fluoride and HSO4−ions

Organic–Inorganic nanoparticles (ONPs) of a complex formed of a tripodal receptor with a zinc metal ion were used for simultaneous determination of F⁻and HSO₄⁻ions.

Study on divalent copper, nickel and zinc model complexes for fluoride ion detection

A series of mononuclear hydroxyaromatic oxime metal complexes were synthesized for detection of fluoride ion and shown that the spectral signals of such complexes depend on the electronic configuration of the metal ion.

Syntheses and reductions of C-dimesitylboryl-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes

An investigation ofC-dimesitylboryl-ortho-carboranes, 1-(BMes₂)-2-R-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀(1and2), reveals that the carborane is the electron-acceptor and the mesityl group is the electron-donor in these dyads.

D-π-A triarylboron compounds with tunable push-pull character achieved by modification of both the donor and acceptor moieties

The push-pull character of a series of donor-bithienyl-acceptor compounds has been tuned by adopting triphenylamine or 1,1,7,7-tetramethyljulolidine as a donor and B(2,6-Me2 -4-RC6 H2)2 (R=Me, C6 F5 or 3,5-(CF3)2 C6 H3) or B[2,4,6-(CF3 )3 C6 H2]2 as an acceptor. Ir-catalyzed C-H borylation was utilized in the derivatization of the boryl acceptors and the tetramethyljulolidine donor. The donor and acceptor strengths were evaluated by electrochemical and photophysical measurements. In solution, the compound with the strongest acceptor, B[2,4,6-(CF3)3 C6 H2]2 ((FMes)2 B), has strongly quenched emission, while all other compounds show efficient green to red (ΦF =0.80-1.00) or near-IR (NIR; ΦF =0.27-0.48) emission, depending on solvent. Notably, this study presents the first examples of efficient NIR emission from three-coordinate boron compounds. Efficient solid-state red emission was observed for some derivatives, and interesting aggregation-induced emission of the (FMes)2 B-containing compound was studied. Moreover, each compound showed a strong and clearly visible response to fluoride addition, with either a large emission-color change or turn-on fluorescence.

Hydrogen bonding interaction between active methylene hydrogen atoms and an anion as a binding motif for anion recognition: experimental studies and theoretical rationalization

Two new reagents, having similar spatial arrangements for hydrogen atoms of the active methylene functionalities, were synthesized and interactions of such reagents with different anionic analytes were studied using electronic spectroscopy as well as by using (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopic methods. Experimental studies revealed that these two reagents showed preference for binding to F(-) and OAc(-). Detailed theoretical studies along with the above-mentioned spectroscopic studies were carried out to understand the contribution of the positively charged phosphonium ion, along with methylene functionality, in achieving the observed preference of these two receptors for binding to F(-) and OAc(-). Observed differences in the binding affinities of these two reagents toward fluoride and acetate ions also reflected the role of acidity of such methylene hydrogen atoms in controlling the efficiencies of the hydrogen bonding in anion-Hmethylene interactions. Hydrogen bonding interactions at lower concentrations of these two anionic analytes and deprotonation equilibrium at higher concentration were observed with associated electronic spectral changes as well as visually detectable change in solution color, an observation that is generally common for other strong hydrogen bond donor functionalities like urea and thiourea. DFT calculations performed with the M06/6-31+G**//M05-2X/6-31G* level of theory showed that F(-) binds more strongly than OAc(-) with the reagent molecules. The deprotonation of methylene hydrogen atom of receptors with F(-) ion was observed computationally. The metal complex as reagent showed even stronger binding energies with these analytes, which corroborated the experimental results.

Synthesis and luminescent properties of Lewis base-appended borafluorenes

A series of Lewis base adducts of 9-bromo-9-borafluorene (BrBFl-LB, LB = IPr, IPrCH2, PPh3, and PCy3), parent borafluorenes (HBFl-IPr and HBFl-IPrCH2), and the bisadduct [(DMAP)2BFl]Br were prepared and structurally characterized (IPr = [(HCNDipp)2C:], IPrCH2 = [(HCNDipp)2C═CH2], Dipp = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3, and DMAP = N,N-dimethylaminopyridine). The adducts BrBFl-IPr, BrBFl-PPh3, BrBFl-PCy3, [(DMAP)2BFl]Br, BrBFl-IPrCH2, and HBFl-IPrCH2 were found to exhibit bright blue luminescence with low to moderately high quantum efficiencies (19 to 63%). Selective irradiation at different excitation wavelengths revealed the presence of two distinct emission processes in the adducts BrBFl-LB, leading to a ligand-independent, presumably borafluorene-based, blue light emission at 435 nm and another less intense emission band in the ultraviolet region (315-324 nm); [(DMAP)2BFl]Br exhibits an emission profile that tails into the visible region. Time-dependent density functional theory studies are also included for representative borafluorene adducts. With a judicious choice of functional groups at boron, one can envisage the future generation of a whole library of 4-coordinate borafluorene-based luminogens that complement the efficient light-emitting behavior known for the widely studied boron-dipyrromethene analogues.

Rational design of a rapid fluorescent approach for detection of inorganic fluoride in MeCN–H2O: a new fluorescence switch based on N-aryl-1,8-naphthalimide

A desilylation based sensor showed high selectivity and sensitivity to fluoride in MeCN–H₂O media.

C,C'-bis(benzodiazaborolyl)dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes: synthesis, structures, photophysics and electrochemistry

Six new C,C'-bis(benzodiazaborolyl)dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes, 1,A-R2-1,A-C2B10H10, where R represents the group 2-(1,3-Et2-1,3,2-N2BC6H4) or 2-(1,3-Ph2-1,3,2-N2BC6H4) and A is 2, 7 or 12, were synthesized from o-, m-, and p-dicarbadodecaboranes (carboranes) by lithiation and subsequent treatment with the respective 2-bromo-1,3,2-benzodiazaboroles. UV-visible and fluorescence spectra of all carboranes display low energy charge transfer emissions. While such emissions with Stokes shifts between 17,330 and 21,290 cm(-1) are typical for C,C'-bis(aryl)-ortho-carboranes, the observed low-energy emissions with Stokes shifts between 8320 and 15,170 cm(-1) for the meta- and para-isomers are unusual as high-energy emissions are typical for meta- and para-dicarbadodecaboranes. Fluorescence quantum yields (φF) for the novel 1,7- and 1,12-bis(benzodiazaborolyl)-carboranes depend on the substituents at the nitrogen atoms of the heterocycle. Thus, the para-carborane with N-ethyl substituents 1,12-(1',3'-Et2-1',3',2'-N2BC6H4)2-1,12-C2B10H10 has a φF value of 41% in cyclohexane solution and only of 9% in the solid state, whereas the analogous 1,12-(1',3'-Ph2-1',3',2'-N2BC6H4)2-1,12-C2B10H10 shows quantum yields of 3% in cyclohexane solution and 72% in the solid state. X-ray crystallographic, computational and cyclic voltammetry studies for these carboranes are also presented.