A Hexakis Terpyridine-Fullerene Ligand in Six-Fold Ruthenium, Iridium, and Iron Complexes: Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties.

An unprecedented straightforward route to six-fold terpyridine ligands around C60 , the latter being regioselectively functionalized in pseudo-octahedral positions using a six-fold Bingel reaction, is reported. Ruthenium, iridium, and iron complexes have been synthesized, and unambiguously characterized by NMR, MS, and cyclic voltammetry.

Bridged tolanes: a twisted tale.

The rotational motion of tolanes along their acetylene axis is not fully understood. What happens to the optical and electronic properties if the tolane backbone is forced into a twisted conformation? Several tethers were investigated to obtain tolanophanes, fixing the torsion angle of the two phenyl rings. X-ray crystal structures revealed tether-specific torsion angles in the solid state. The absorption, emission, and excitation spectra were recorded. Twisted tethered tolane conformers showed blue-shifted absorption; emission spectra were all torsionally independent and identical. The tethered tolanes were embedded in a rigid matrix by freezing to 77 K; well-resolved emission spectra were recorded for planar tolanes, but for twisted systems unexpectedly long-lived phosphorescence was observed. How is this triplet emission explained? Quantum chemical calculations (TDDFT/cam-B3LYP/6-31G*) of the unsubstituted tolane showed that intersystem crossing (ISC) is favored with large spin-orbit coupling, which occurs when the molecular orbitals are orthogonal to each other; this is the case at the crossing of S1/T7. Also, a small energy difference between singlet and triplet states is required; we found that ISC can favorably take place at four crossings: S1/T6, S1/T7, S1/T(8,9), S1/T10.

Twisted tethered tolanes: unanticipated long-lived phosphorescence at 77 K.

Influencing the communication within a conjugated system as diphenylacetylene is a challenging subject in molecular electronics. Some examples of twisted tolanes are known, where high twists have been achieved in the solid state by steric encumbrance. The insertion of a spacer system is an alternative way to tailor rotation. Only a few examples of such tethered tolanes exist, and they all suffer from small twist angles (<35°). We report on tolanophanes containing a malonyl tether, where twist angles of almost 80° were reached. Long-lived phosphorescence (4 s at 77 K) was recorded, and quantum-chemical calculations were performed to confirm the experimental results.

para-Connected cyclophenylenes and hemispherical polyarenes: building blocks for single-walled carbon nanotubes?

Carbon nanotubes by design? Cyclo-para-phenylenes are monomers for the synthesis of armchair carbon nanotubes (see picture, right), and are also attractive fluorophores that display size-dependent emission properties. Geodesic polyarenes represent a realistic alternative for the rational design of carbon nanotubes through the chemical elongation of the hydrocarbon template (left).