Energy Transfer in Dendritic Systems Having Pyrene Peripheral Groups as Donors and Different Acceptor Groups

Facile Obtainment of Fluorescent PEG Hydrogels Bearing Pyrene Groups by Frontal Polymerization

Frontal polymerization (FP) was used to prepare poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMA) fluorescent polymer hydrogels containing pyrenebutyl pendant groups as fluorescent probes. The polymerization procedure was carried out under solvent-free conditions, with different molar quantities of pyrenebutyl methyl ether methacrylate (PybuMA) and PEGMA, in the presence of tricaprylmethylammonium (Aliquat 336®) persulfate as a radical initiator. The obtained PEGPy hydrogels were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, confirming the effective incorporation of the PybuMA monomer into the polymer backbone. The thermal properties of the hydrogels were determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). After immersing the hydrogels in deionized water at 25 °C and pH = 7, their swelling behavior was investigated by mass gain at different pH and temperature values. The introduction of PybuMA comonomer into the hydrogel resulted in a decreased swelling ability due to the hydrophobicity of PybuMA. The optical properties of PEGPy were determined by UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. Both monomer and excimer emission bands were observed at 379–397 and 486 nm, respectively, and the fluorescence spectra of the PEGPy hydrogel series were recorded in different solvents to explore the coexistence of monomer and excimer emissions.

Dendronized Porphyrins: Molecular Design and Synthesis

Abstract:

In this review, we report different methods and strategies to synthesize flexible and rigid dendronized porphyrins. We will focus on porphyrin dendrimers that have been reported in the last 10 years. Particularly, in our research group, we have designed and synthesized different series of dendronized porphyrins (free base and metallated) with pyrene units at the periphery and Fréchet-type dendritic arms. The Lindsey methodology has allowed the synthesis of meso-substituted porphyrins with various substitution patterns, such as symmetric, dissymmetric, or unsymmetric. Porphyrin dendrimers have been prepared by different synthetic methodologies; one of the most reported being the convergent method, where the dendrons are first prepared and further linked to a meso-substituted functionalized porphyrin unit, which will constitute the core of the dendrimer. Another interesting synthetic approach is the use of a reactive dendron bearing a terminal aldehyde functional group to form the final porphyrin core. In this way, a two-armed dendronized dissymmetric porphyrin core can be prepared from a dendritic precursor and a dipyrromethene derivative. This strategy is very convenient to prepare low-generation dendritic porphyrins. The divergent approach is another well-known methodology for porphyrin dendrimer synthesis, mostly used for the obtainment of high-generation dendrimers. Click chemistry reaction has been advantageous for the development of more complex porphyrin dendritic structures. This reaction presents important advantages, such as high yields and mild reaction conditions which permit the assembly of different multiporphyrin dendritic structures. In the constructs presented in this review, the emission of the porphyrin moiety has been observed, leading to potential applications in artificial photosynthesis, sensing, nanomedicine, and biological sciences.

Synthesis and Characterization of White-Light Luminescent End-Capped Polyimides Based on FRET and Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer

N-cyclohexylphthalimide-substituted trifluoroacetylamino (CF₃CONH-) group (3TfAPI), which forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond, was synthesized, and it exhibited a bright yellow fluorescence owing to the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in the solution and crystalline states. In addition, CF₃CONH-substituted phthalic anhydride (3TfAPA) was synthesized, which was attached to the termini of a blue-fluorescent semi-aromatic polyimide (PI) chain. Owing to the efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurring from the main chain to the termini and the suppression of deprotonation (anion formation) at the 3TfAPA moiety by H₂SO₄ doping, the resulting PI films display bright white fluorescence. Moreover, the enhancement of the chain rigidity by substituting the diamine moiety results in an increase in the quantum yield of white fluorescence (Φ) by a factor of 1.7, due to the suppression of local molecular motion. This material design strategy is promising for preparing thermally stable white-light fluorescent PIs applicable to solar spectral convertors, displays, and ICT devices.

Isomeric Pyrene-Porphyrins for Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: An Unexpected Enhancement of the Photovoltaic Performance upon Structural Modification

Four pyrene-porphyrins were synthesized to study the isomer effect on the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. One of these porphyrins is conjugated with a terminal pyrene, whereas the other three are each attached with a pyrene bearing an extra donor group. According to the positions of the extra donor and porphyrin core on pyrene, the 1,6-, 1,8-, and 2,7-isomers were compared for their fundamental and photovoltaic properties. For fundamental properties, UV-visible absorption, fluorescence emission, electrochemistry, and DFT calculations were carried out. For photovoltaic measurements, the seemingly inferior 1,8-isomer outperforms others with an overall efficiency of 10.30% under one-sun irradiation. Superior photovoltaic performance of the 1,8-isomeric dye may be related to the so-called umbrella effect. The findings of this work may provide insight into isomeric dye design for future applications.

Noncovalent Functionalization of 2D Black Phosphorus with Fluorescent Boronic Derivatives of Pyrene for Probing and Modulating the Interaction with Molecular Oxygen

We studied the chemical-physical nature of interactions involved in the formation of adducts of two-dimensional black phosphorus (2D BP) with organoboron derivatives of a conjugated fluorescent molecule (pyrene). Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy showed a stabilization effect of 2D BP on all derivatives, in particular for the adducts endowed with the boronic functionalities. Also, a stronger modulation of the fluorescence decay with oxygen was registered for one of the adducts compared to the corresponding organoboron derivative alone. Nuclear magnetic resonance experiments in suspension and density functional theory simulations confirmed that only noncovalent interactions were involved in the formation of the adducts. The energetic gain in their formation arises from the interaction of P atoms with both C atoms of the pyrene core and the B atom of the boronic functionalities, with a stronger contribution from the ester with respect to the acid one. The interaction results in the lowering of the band gap of 2D BP by around 0.10 eV. Furthermore, we demonstrated through Raman spectroscopy an increased stability toward oxidation in air of 2D BP in the adducts in the solid state (more than 6 months). The modification of the electronic structure at the interface between 2D BP and a conjugated organic molecule through noncovalent stabilizing interactions mediated by the B atom is particularly appealing in view of creating heterojunctions for optoelectronic, photonic, and chemical sensing applications.