Appending Coronene Diimide with Carbon Nanohoops Allows for Rapid Intersystem Crossing in Neat Film

The development of innovative triplet materials plays a significant role in various applications. Although effective tuning of triplet formation by intersystem crossing (ISC) has been well established in solution, the modulation of ISC processes in the solid state remains a challenge due to the presence of other exciton decay channels through intermolecular interactions. The cyclic structure of cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) offers a unique platform to tune the intermolecular packing, which leads to controllable exciton dynamics in the solid state. Herein, by integrating an electron deficient coronene diimide (CDI) unit into the CPP framework, a donor-acceptor type of conjugated macrocycle (CDI-CPP) featuring intramolecular charge-transfer (CT) interaction was designed and synthesized. Effective intermolecular CT interaction resulting from a slipped herringbone packing was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Transient spectroscopy studies showed that CDI-CPP undergoes ISC in both solution and the film state, with triplet generation time constants of 4.5 ns and 238 ps, respectively. The rapid triplet formation through ISC in the film state can be ascribed to the cooperation between intra- and intermolecular charge-transfer interactions. Our results highlight that intermolecular CT interaction has a pronounced effect on the ISC process in the solid state, and shed light on the use of the characteristic structure of CPPs to manipulate intermolecular CT interactions.

Thermolysis of Biphenylene toward Cyclo-ortho-phenylenes

The solvent and catalyst free thermolysis of biphenylenes at 350 °C furnishes [n]cyclo-ortho-phenylenes ([n]COPs, n=4-10) in one step and in high yields. At 400 °C biphenylene dimerizes into tetraphenylene, but lower reaction temperatures produce cyclooligomers. If suitably substituted, the oligomers are soluble and can be isolated and characterized. The products are exclusively cyclic. In the crystalline state, [6]COP displays an alternating crown-shaped conformation.

Half-substituted fluorocycloparaphenylenes with high symmetry: synthesis, properties and derivatization to densely substituted carbon nanorings

Fluorinated cycloparaphenylenes (FCPPs) have attracted attention as electron-accepting CPPs as well as strained fluoroarenes. Herein, we report the synthesis and properties of novel FCPPs; F16[8]CPP and F12[6]CPP. Furthermore, the derivatization of F16[8]CPP afforded a new carbon nanoring where sixteen pyrrole rings are densely substituted on the CPP framework.

π-Stacking among the Anthracenyl Groups of a Copper Complex Resulted in Doubling of Unit Cell Volume To Provide New Polymorphs

Two polymorphs of the 9-N-(3-imidazolylpropylamino)methylanthracene (Hanthraimmida) containing hydrated copper(II)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate complex are reported. The two polymorphs have either lamellar or Herringbone arrangements of π-stacks among the anthracenyl groups of organocation. The difference between the two polymorphs originated from having face-to-face stacking arrangements between the two anthracenyl groups of the symmetry independent cations within the unit cell in one of the polymorphs. The π-stacked anthracenyl groups in consecutive layers of the polymorphs are oriented in one direction in the polymorph designated as P1, whereas the polymorph designated as P2 has such orientations in opposite directions. The unit cell volume of the polymorph P2 (Z = 4) has approximately twice the volume of the polymorph P1 (Z = 2); it happend due to coalescence of two unit cells of P1 in the ab-crystallographic plane. A mixed methanol/water solvate of the copper complex is also reported. It has a channel-like arrangement of the cations; has the anions and the solvents within the cation embraced channel-like enclosures. This complex is unstable, once taken out from the methanol solvent, it transforms in real time to P2 by replacements of the methanol molecules by water molecules.

Cycloparaphenylene Double Nanohoop: Structure, Lamellar Packing, and Encapsulation of C60 in the Solid State

A new member of the cycloparaphenylene double-nanohoop family was synthesized. Its π-framework features two oval cavities that display different shapes depending on the crystallization conditions. Incorporation of the peropyrene bridge within the nanoring cycles via bay-regions alleviates steric effects and thus allows 1:1 complexation with C₆₀ in the solid state. This nanocarbon adopts a lamellar packing motif, and our results suggest that the structural adjustment of this double nanohoop could enable its use in supramolecular and semiconductive materials.

Electronic structure of n-cycloparaphenylenes directly observed by photoemission spectroscopy

A series of n-cycloparaphenylenes ([n]CPP, n = 8, 9, and 12) were studied by ultraviolet photoemission, inverse photoemission, ultraviolet-visible absorption, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy to detect their unique electronic structures. [n]CPP has a cyclic structure in which both ends of n-poly(p-phenylene)s (nP) are connected. The molecular size dependence of the HOMO-LUMO gap of [n]CPP was investigated by direct observation and was found to increase as the molecular size increased. This trend is opposite to that of typical π-conjugated systems. Highly strained molecular structures, especially of small [n]CPPs, significantly impact their electronic structure. Insights into the electronic structure of [n]CPP obtained here will aid the design of electronic functionality of non-planar π-conjugation systems.

Structural deformation and host-guest properties of doubly-reduced cycloparaphenylenes, [n]CPPs2- (n = 6, 8, 10, and 12)

Chemical reduction of several cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) ranging in size from [8]CPP to [12]CPP has been investigated with potassium metal in THF. The X-ray diffraction characterization of the resulting doubly-reduced [n]CPPs provided a unique series of carbon nanohoops with increasing dimensions and core flexibility for the first comprehensive structural analysis. The consequences of electron acquisition by a [n]CPP core have been analyzed in comparison with the neutral parents. The addition of two electrons to the cyclic carbon framework of [n]CPPs leads to the characteristic elliptic core distortion and facilitates the internal encapsulation of sizable cationic guests. Molecular and solid-state structure changes, alkali metal binding and unique size-dependent host abilities of the [n]CPP^2- series with n = 6-12 are discussed. This in-depth analysis opens new perspectives in supramolecular chemistry of [n]CPPs and promotes their applications in size-selective guest encapsulation and chemical separation.

Linear, Non-Conjugated Cyclic and Conjugated Cyclic Paraphenylene under Pressure

The n-paraphenylene family comprises chains of phenylene units linked together by C-C bonds that are between single- and double-bonded, and where n corresponds to the number of phenylene units. In this work, we compare the response of the optical properties of different phenylene arrangements. We study linear chains (LPP), cyclic systems (CPPs), and non-conjugated cyclic systems with two hydrogenated phenylenes (H₄[n]CPP). Particularly, the systems of interest in this work are [6]LPP, [12]- and [6]CPP and H₄[6]CPP. This work combines Raman and infrared spectroscopies with absorption and fluorescence (one- and two-photon excitations) measured as a function of pressure up to maximum of about 25 GPa. Unprecedented crystallographic pressure-dependent results are shown on H₄[n]CPP, revealing intramolecular π-π interactions upon compression. These intramolecular interactions justify the H₄[n]CPP singular optical properties with increasing fluorescence lifetime as a function of pressure.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Solid-State Structure of [8]Cycloparaphenylenes with Inherent Chirality

We report here the synthesis of two [8]cycloparaphenylenes ([8]CPP) derivatives, 1 and 2, bearing a monosubstituted benzene moiety. The presence of the substituent implies a planar chirality for the monosubstituted [8]CPP 1 and 2, whose configuration is here described by applying the chirality descriptors pR and pS. Experimental evidence of this planar chirality has been obtained through ¹H VT NMR studies and by addition of Pirkle's reagent. This was confirmed by the X-ray crystal structure of 2, which represents an interesting example of solid-state structure of a monosubstituted [8]CPP derivative. Derivative 2 crystallizes in two monoclinic crystal forms (α and β), which show a herringbone motif. The [8]CPP ring of the α form encapsulates two dichloromethane molecules, held through C-H···π interactions, while in the β form, open channels are partially filled by highly disordered solvent molecules.

Solid-State Order and Charge Mobility in [5]- to [12]Cycloparaphenylenes

We report a computational study of mesoscale morphology and charge-transport properties of radially π-conjugated cycloparaphenylenes ([ n]CPPs) of various ring sizes ( n = 5-12, where n is the number of repeating phenyl units). These molecules are considered structural constituents of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes. [ n]CPP molecules are nested in a unique fashion in the solid state. Molecular dynamics simulations show that while intramolecular structural stability (order) increases with system size, intermolecular structural stability decreases. Density functional calculations reveal that reorganization energy, an important parameter in charge transfer, decreases as n is increased. Intermolecular charge-transfer electronic couplings in the solid state are relatively weak (due to curved π-conjugation and loose intermolecular contacts) and are on the same order of magnitude (∼10 meV) for each system. Intrinsic charge-carrier mobilities were simulated from kinetic Monte Carlo simulations; hole mobilities increased with system size and scaled as ∼ n⁴. We predict that disordered [ n]CPPs exhibit hole mobilities as high as 2 cm²/(V·s). Our computations show a strong correlation between reorganization energy and hole mobility (μ ∼ λ^-4). Quantum mechanical calculations were performed on cofacially stacked molecular pairs for varying phenyl units and reveal that orbital delocalization is responsible for both decreasing reorganization energies and electronic couplings as n is increased.

[4]Cyclofluorene: Unexpected Influence of Alkyl Chain Length

Presented here is the study of a new example of [4]cyclofluorene, with ethyl chains on the bridgeheads. Its molecular structure was established by solution NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Three successive oxidation processes and one reversible reduction were observed through cyclic voltammetry. The optical properties were characterized both in solution and thin film by UV/visible spectroscopy as well as stationary and time-resolved fluorescence. It was found that this [4]cyclofluorene displays different characteristics compared with the other [4]cyclofluorenes substituted by methyl or propyl chains: a simple modification of the chain length induces a non-negligible effect on the emission properties, which must be linked to the specific arrangement of the fluorene units. Furthermore, single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals the formation of a pseudo-tubular solid-state arrangement of fully symmetrical ring structures, which was not observed for the other members of the [4]cyclofluorenes family. This finding could open the way to modulation of properties of cyclofluorenes through alkyl chain engineering.

Mechanochemistry in [6]Cycloparaphenylene: A Combined Raman Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory Study

Raman spectroscopy under high pressures up to 10 GPa and density functional computations up to 30 GPa are combined to obtain insights into the behavior of a prototypical nanohoop conjugated molecule, [6]cycloparaphenylene ([6]CPP). Upon increasing pressure, the nanohoop undergoes deformations, first reversible ovalization and then at even higher pressures aggregates are formed. This irreversible aggregation is caused by the formation of new intermolecular σ-bonds. Frequencies and derivatives of the Raman frequency shifts as a function of pressure are well reproduced by the computations. The frequency behavior is tied to changes in aromatic/quinonoid character of the nanohoop. The modeling at moderate high pressures reveals the deformation of the [6]CPP molecules into oval-like and peanut-like shapes. Surprisingly the pressure derivatives of the observed Raman mode shifts undergo a sudden change around a pressure value that is common to all Raman modes, indicating an underlying geometrical change extended over the whole molecule that is interpreted by the computational modeling. Simulations predict that under even larger deformations caused by higher pressures, oligomerization reactions would be triggered. Our simulations demonstrate that these transformations would occur regardless of the solvent, however pressures at which they happen are influenced by solvent molecules encapsulated in the interior of the [6]CPP.

Non-planar oligoarylene macrocycles from biphenyl

Saddle- and propeller-shaped, partially condensed conjugated macrocycles are synthesized by fourfold Perkin condensation plus fourfold photocyclizations. Their macrocyclic loops are pronouncedly non-planar.