Tetrafluorenofulvalene as a sterically frustrated open-shell alkene

Electronic and steric effects are known to greatly influence the structure, characteristics and reactivity of organic compounds. A typical π bond is weakened by oxidation (corresponding to the removal of electrons from bonding orbitals), by reduction (through addition of electrons to antibonding orbitals) and by unpairing of the bonding electrons, such as in the triplet state. Here we describe tetrafluorenofulvalene (TFF), a twisted, open-shell alkene for which these general rules do not hold. Through the synthesis, experimental characterization and computational analysis of its charged species spanning seven redox states, the central alkene bond in TFF is shown to become substantially stronger in the tri- and tetraanion, generated by chemical reduction. Furthermore, although its triplet state contains a weaker alkene bond than the singlet, in the quintet state its bond order increases substantially, yielding a flatter structure. This behaviour originates from the doubly bifurcated topology of the underlying spin system and can be rationalized by the balancing effects of benzenoid aromaticity and spin pairing.

Direct Observation of Triplet States in the Isomerization of Alkenylboronates by Energy Transfer Catalysis

Alkenylboronates are versatile building blocks for stereocontrolled synthesis owing to the traceless nature of the boron group that can be leveraged to achieve highly selective geometric isomerization. Using thioxanthone as an inexpensive photocatalyst, the photoisomerization of these species continues to provide an expansive platform for stereodivergent synthesis, particularly in the construction of bioactive polyenes. Although mechanistic investigations are consistent with light-driven energy transfer, direct experimental evidence remains conspicuously absent. Herein, we report a rigorous mechanistic investigation using two widely used alkenylboronates alongside relevant reference compounds. Through the combination of irradiation experiments, transient absorption spectroscopic studies, kinetic modeling, and DFT calculations with all isomers of the model compounds, it has been possible to unequivocally detect and characterize the perpendicular triplet generated by energy transfer. Our results serve not only as a blueprint for mechanistic studies that are challenging with organic sensitizers, but these guidelines delineated have also enabled the development of more sustainable reaction conditions: for the first time, efficient organocatalytic isomerization under sunlight irradiation has become feasible.

Comparison of the Photochemistry of Acyclic and Cyclic 4-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-4-oxo-but-2-enoate Ester Derivatives

To clarify the cis-trans isomerization mechanism of simple alkenes on the triplet excited state surface, the photochemistry of acyclic and cyclic vinyl ketones with a p-methoxyacetophenone moiety as a built-in triplet sensitizer (1 and 2, respectively) was compared. When irradiated, ketone 1 produces its cis-isomer, whereas ketone 2 does not yield any photoproducts. Laser flash photolysis of ketone 1 yields a transient spectrum with λ_max ∼ 400 nm (τ ∼ 125 ns). This transient is assigned to the first triplet excited state (T₁) of 1, which presumably decays to form a triplet biradical (1BR) that is shorter lived than the triplet ketone. In comparison, laser flash photolysis of 2 reveals two transients (τ ∼ 20 and 440 ns), which are assigned to T₁ of 2 and triplet biradical 2BR, respectively. Density functional theory calculations support the characterization of the triplet excited states and the biradical intermediates formed upon irradiation of ketones 1 and 2 and allow a comparison of the physical properties of the biradical intermediates. As the biradical centers in 2BR are stabilized by conjugation, 2BR is more rigid than 1BR. Therefore, the longer lifetime of 2BR can be attributed to less-efficient intersystem crossing to the ground state.

Solution processed organic light-emitting diodes using a triazatruxene crosslinkable hole transporting material

A cross-linkable triazatruxene that leads to insoluble films upon thermal annealing at temperatures compatible with flexible substrates is presented. The films were used as the hole transporting and electron blocking layer in partially solution processed phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes, reaching power conversion efficiencies of 24 lm W⁻¹, an almost 50% improvement compared to the same OLEDs without the cross-linkable hole transporting layer.

A cross-linkable triazatruxene that leads to insoluble films upon thermal annealing at temperatures compatible with flexible substrates is presented.

Formation and Direct Detection of Non-Conjugated Triplet 1,2-Biradical from β,γ-Vinylarylketone

Laser flash photolysis of 2-methyl-1-phenylbut-3-en-1-one (1) conducted at irradiation wavelengths of 266 and 308 nm results in the formation of triplet 1,2-biradical 2 that has λmax at 370 and 480 nm. Biradical 2 is formed with a rate constant of 1.1 × 107 s–1 and decays with a rate constant of 2.3 × 105 s–1. Isoprene-quenching studies support the notion that biradical 2 is formed by energy transfer from the triplet-excited state of the ketone chromophore of 1. Density functional theory calculations were used to verify the characterization of triplet biradical 2 and validate the mechanism for its formation. Thus, it has been demonstrated that intramolecular sensitization of simple alkenes can be used to form triplet 1,2-biradicals with the two radical centres localized on the adjacent carbon atoms.

Ground- and triplet excited-state properties correlation: a computational CASSCF/CASPT2 approach based on the photodissociation of allylsilanes

Excited-state properties, although extremely useful, are hardly accessible. One indirect way would be to derive them from relationships to ground-state properties which are usually more readily available. Herewith, we present quantitative correlations between triplet excited-state (T₁) properties (bond dissociation energy, D₀(T₁), homolytic activation energy, E(a)(T₁), and rate constant, k(r)) and the ground-state bond dissociation energy (D₀), taking as an example the photodissociation of the C-Si bond of simple substituted allylsilanes CH₂=CHC(R¹R²)-SiH₃ (R¹ and R² = H, Me, and Et). By applying the complete-active-space self-consistent field CASSCF(6,6) and CASPT2(6,6) quantum chemical methodologies, we have found that the consecutive introduction of Me/Et groups has little effect on the geometry and energy of the T₁ state; however, it reduces the magnitudes of D₀, D₀(T₁) and E(a)(T₁). Moreover, these energetic parameters have been plotted giving good linear correlations: D₀(T₁) = α₁ + β₁ · D₀, E(a)(T₁) = α₂ + β₂ · D₀(T₁), and E(a)(T₁) = α₃ + β₃ · D₀ (α and β being constants), while k(r) correlates very well to E(a)(T₁). The key factor behind these useful correlations is the validity of the Evans-Polanyi-Semenov relation (second equation) and its extended form (third equation) applied for excited systems. Additionally, the unexpectedly high values obtained for E(a)(T₁) demonstrate a new application of the principle of nonperfect synchronization (PNS) in excited-state chemistry issues.

α-Methylstilbene and the Duality of Mechanism in the Quenching of Stilbene Triplets by Molecular Oxygen†

Spin-exchange quenching of alpha-methylstilbene triplets by molecular oxygen and by the free radical di-tert-butyl nitroxide is shown to favor the cis isomer more than does natural decay. The effect of the two quenching events is an identical 7% decrease in the fraction of perpendicular triplets that decay to the trans isomer. The conclusion that relaxed stilbene triplets reside in a shallow minimum corresponding to a geometry in which the two benzyl moieties are orthogonal was based on the observation that their quenching by O2 does not alter the trans/cis photostationary ratio. Our results with alpha-methylstilbene confirm the hypothesis that in the case of stilbene spin exchange quenching by O2 at the twisted geometry favors the cis isomer but occurs in competition with excitation transfer from transoid triplets that leads to the trans isomer and to singlet oxygen. The opposite effects of the two oxygen quenching paths on stilbene isomer composition cancel accidentally leading to an overall insensitivity of benzophenone-sensitized photostationary states to the presence of oxygen. Quenching rate constants derived on the basis of this cancellation are close to diffusion-controlled and predict singlet O2 quantum yields of 0.08 and 0.13 in the presence of air and under an O2 atmosphere, in good agreement with experimental measurements.