Synthesis of Di(thiophen-2-yl) Substituted Pyrene-Pyridine Conjugated Scaffold and DFT Insights: A Selective and Sensitive Colorimetric, and Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensor for Fe(III) Ions

In this context, we used the multicomponent Chichibabin pyridine synthesis reaction to synthesize a novel di(thiophen-2-yl) substituted and pyrene-pyridine fluorescent molecular hybrid. The computational (DFT and TD-DFT) and experimental investigations were performed to understand the photophysical properties of the synthesized new structural scaffold. The synthesized ligand displays highly selective fluorescent sensing properties towards Fe3+ ions when compared to other competitive metal ions (Al3+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Hg2+, Na+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Sr2+, Sn2+ and Zn2+). The photophysical properties studies reveal that the synthesized hybrid molecule has a binding constant of 2.30 × 103 M-1 with limit of detection (LOD) of 4.56 × 10-5 M (absorbance mode) and 5.84 × 10-5 M (emission mode) for Fe3+ ions. We believe that the synthesized pyrene-conjugated hybrid ligand can serve as a potential fluorescent chemosensor for the selective and specific detection of Fe3+ ions.

Multicomponent Reaction Based Tolyl-substituted and Pyrene-Pyridine Conjugated Isomeric Ratiometric Fluorescent Probes: A Comparative Investigation of Photophysical and Hg(II)-Sensing Behaviors

Herein, the synthesis of pyrene conjugated 2,6-di-ortho-tolylpyridine and 2,6-di-para-tolylpyridine structural isomers were achieved efficiently through multicomponent Chichibabin pyridine synthesis reaction. The DFT, TD-DFT and experimental investigations were carried out to investigate the photophysical behaviors of the synthesized novel pyrene-pyridine based isomeric probes. Our studies revealed that, due to the continuous conjugation of the pyrene, pyridine and tolyl moieties, the dihedral angles of the trisubstituents on the central pyridine moiety significantly influences the photophysical properties of the synthesized novel pyrene based fluorescent probes. Further, we have comparatively investigated the sensing behaviors of the synthesized tolyl-substituted isomeric ratiometric fluorescent probes with metal ions, our studies reveals that both the ortho and para tolyl ratiometric fluorescent probes have distinct photoemissive properties in selectively sensing of Hg2+ ions. Our studies indicates that, the para-tolyl substituted isomer displays more red-shift in wavelength of emission band compared to its ortho isomer analogue during ratiometric fluorescent specific detection of Hg2+ ions.

Charge Polarity Control in Organic Transistors of Mixed and Segregated Complexes Based on Diaminonaphthalene and Pyrene

Organic cocrystals of diaminonaphthalene (DAN) and diaminopyrene (DAP) with bromanil (BA) and tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) are an exemplar system for understanding the charge-transport process, where from the viewpoint of partition theory, orbital symmetry plays a crucial role in controlling the carrier charge polarity of transistors. In the mixed-stack complexes of BA and other p-quinone acceptors, a comparatively weak donor, 1,5-DAN, shows p-channel characteristics owing to the counteractive contribution of the next highest occupied molecular orbital for electron transport. This characteristic behavior occurs because the BA molecule, situated on top of the amino group, overlaps with half of the DAN molecule. By contrast, the BA and TCNQ complexes of a stronger donor, 1,6-DAP, exhibit n-channel transport due to the cooperative path and orthogonal orbitals. Similarly, TCNQ complexes of variously substituted DAN show n-channel transport, where the TCNQ molecules are located on top of the DAN molecules. However, when the carbon electrodes of (1,5-DAN)(BA) are replaced by silver, electron transport appears due to the competitive effect of the Schottky barriers. In a highly conducting segregated complex of (1,6-DAP)(TCNQ), ambipolar transistor characteristics are observed without subtracting the bulk current by using carefully prepared thin-film transistors.

Organic Charge Transfer Cocrystals as Additives for Dissipation of Contact Charges on Polymers

Common polymers can accumulate surface charges through contact, a phenomenon known since ancient times. This charge accumulation can have detrimental consequences in industry. It causes accidents and yields enormous economic losses. Many empirical methods have been developed to prevent the problems caused by charge accumulation. However, a general chemical approach is still missing in the literature since the charge accumulation and discharging mechanisms have not been completely clarified. The current practice to achieve charge mitigation is to increase materials conductivity by high doping of conductive additives. A recent study showed that using photoexcitation of some organic dyes, charge decay can be started remotely, and the minute amount of additive does not change the material's conductivity. Here, we show the contact charging and charge decay behavior of polydimethylsiloxane doped with a series of organic charge transfer cocrystals (CTC) of TCNQ acceptor and substituted pyrene donors (CTC-PDMS). The results show that the CTC-PDMS are antistatic, and the discharging propensity of the composites follows the calculated charge transfer degree of the complexes. On the other hand, the CTC-PDMS are still insulators, as shown by their high surface resistivities. Kelvin probe force microscopy images of the contact-charged and discharged samples show a quick potential decay in CTC domains upon illumination. Combined with the fast overall decay observed, the antistatic behavior in these insulators can be attributed to an electron transfer between the mechanoions in the polymer and the CTC frontier orbitals. We believe our results will help with the general understanding of the molecular mechanism of contact charging and discharging and help develop insulator antistatics.

Near-infrared photothermal conversion properties of carbazole-based cocrystals with different degrees of charge transfer

Three charge transfer carbazole-based cocrystals were obtained and demonstrated regulated photothermal conversion efficiency by the modulation of the charge transfer degree via intelligent design of donor–acceptor pairs.

A two-component molecular hybrid with enhanced emission characteristics and mechanoresponsive luminescence properties

A new binary charge transfer cocrystal system was successfully fabricated by virtue of donor–acceptor interaction and exhibited enhanced emission and sensitive mechanoresponsive luminescence properties.

Series of charge transfer complexes obtained as crystals in a confined environment

A series of charge transfer complexes (CTCs) were successfully formed by solvent free processing techniques, using the 1,2,4,5-tetracyano benzene (TCNB) as πA molecule and a series of p-dihydroquinones (H2Qs) as πD counterparts.

One class classification as a practical approach for accelerating π-π co-crystal discovery

The implementation of machine learning models has brought major changes in the decision-making process for materials design. One matter of concern for the data-driven approaches is the lack of negative data from unsuccessful synthetic attempts, which might generate inherently imbalanced datasets. We propose the application of the one-class classification methodology as an effective tool for tackling these limitations on the materials design problems. This is a concept of learning based only on a well-defined class without counter examples. An extensive study on the different one-class classification algorithms is performed until the most appropriate workflow is identified for guiding the discovery of emerging materials belonging to a relatively small class, that being the weakly bound polyaromatic hydrocarbon co-crystals. The two-step approach presented in this study first trains the model using all the known molecular combinations that form this class of co-crystals extracted from the Cambridge Structural Database (1722 molecular combinations), followed by scoring possible yet unknown pairs from the ZINC15 database (21 736 possible molecular combinations). Focusing on the highest-ranking pairs predicted to have higher probability of forming co-crystals, materials discovery can be accelerated by reducing the vast molecular space and directing the synthetic efforts of chemists. Further on, using interpretability techniques a more detailed understanding of the molecular properties causing co-crystallization is sought after. The applicability of the current methodology is demonstrated with the discovery of two novel co-crystals, namely pyrene-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one (1) and pyrene-9,10-dicyanoanthracene (2).

Unprecedented morphology control of gas phase cocrystal growth using multi zone heating and tailor made additives

Herein, it is shown for the first time that cocrystals can be grown by cosublimation with unprecedented morphology control using tailor made additives. Multicrystalline sea-urchin motifs and solids that look like candy-floss are transformed into block-like and needle-like single crystals using additives.