Modulation of Chiroptical and Photophysical Properties in Helicenic Rhenium(I) Systems: The Use of an N-(Aza[6]helicenyl)-NHC Ligand.

The photophysical and chiroptical properties of a novel, chiral helicene-NHC-Re(I) complex bearing an N-(aza[6]helicenyl)-benzimidazolylidene ligand are described, showing its ability to emit yellow circularly polarized luminescence. A comparative analysis of this new system with other helicene-Re(I) complexes reported to date illustrates the impact of structural modifications on the emissive and absorptive properties.

Dual-Readout of the Mechanical Response of a Bis-acridinium [2]Rotaxane.

A [2]rotaxane built around a multi-responsive bis-acridinium macrocycle has been synthesized. Structural investigation has confirmed the interlocked nature of the molecule, and MD simulations illuminated its conformational dynamics with atomic resolution. Both halochromic and redox-switching properties were explored to shed light on the mechanical response and electronic changes that occur in the bis-acridinium [2]rotaxane. The topology of the rotaxane led to different mechanical behaviors upon addition of hydroxide ions or reduction that were easily detected by UV/Vis spectroscopy and electrochemistry.

Synthesis and Properties of Partially Saturated Fluorenyl-Derived [n]Helicenes Featuring an Overcrowded Alkene.

The straightforward, multigram-scale synthesis of the partially saturated H6 -fluoreno[n]helicenes (n=5 or 7) featuring a central, overcrowded alkene is described. The key cyclization step was based on an intramolecular McMurry reaction from the corresponding 1,5-diketones. Chiral stationary phase HPLC analysis and isomer separation indicate that each helicenic compound is constituted of three diastereoisomers at room temperature, i. e. the configurationally stable (R,R,P)/(S,S,M) pair of enantiomers and an apparently achiral compound resulting from the rapid interconversion between the (R,S,P) and (S,R,M) enantiomers. The partially saturated H6 -fluoreno[n]helicenes are oxidatively aromatized to give an efficient access to the corresponding fluoreno[n]helicenes. The chiroptical properties (vibrational and electronic circular dichroism) of the chiral, enantiopure compounds have been measured and analyzed by quantum-chemical calculations, confirming their helicoidal nature.

Circularly Polarized Fluorescent Helicene-Boranils: Synthesis, Photophysical and Chiroptical Properties.

Mono- and di-boranil-substituted helicenes were prepared by BF2 -borylation of the corresponding anils, readily synthesized by condensation of 2-amino- and 2,15-diamino-helicenes with 4-(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde. After enantiomeric resolution using HPLC, their chiroptical properties including circularly polarized fluorescence in solution and in PMMA films were investigated and rationalized with the help of NMR, X-ray and quantum-chemical calculations.

Metal-Based Multihelicenic Architectures.

The preparation of multihelicenic systems by conventional organic synthesis is a challenging task and under continuous development. In parallel, using complexing units grafted to or incorporated within the helicene core and taking advantage of coordination/organometallic chemistry constitutes a powerful strategy to obtain multihelicenic structures. This Minireview focuses on the state-of-the-art preparation of metal-based multihelicenic architectures such as coordination-driven supramolecular assemblies and organometallic architectures. Their properties and their applications are presented.

Long-Lived Circularly Polarized Phosphorescence in Helicene-NHC Rhenium(I) Complexes: The Influence of Helicene, Halogen, and Stereochemistry on Emission Properties.

The first enantiopure chiral-at-rhenium complexes of the form fac-ReX(CO)3 (:C^N) have been prepared, where :C^N is a helicene-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand and X=Cl or I. These have complexes show strong changes in the emission characteristics, notably strongly enhanced phosphorescence lifetimes (reaching 0.7 ms) and increased circularly polarized emission (CPL) activity, as compared to their parent chiral models lacking the helicene unit. The halogen along with its position within the dissymmetric stereochemical environment strongly affect the photophysics of the complexes, particularly the phosphorescence quantum yield and lifetime. These results give fresh insight into fine tuning of photophysical and chiroptical properties of Re-NHC systems.

One-step synthesis of conjugated enynenitriles from bromocyanoacetylene.

The chemical reactivity of bromocyanoacetylene has been evaluated for the first time by making it react with terminal alkynes and secondary amines in the presence of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium dichloride and copper iodide as co-catalysts. This reaction provides new conjugated enynenitriles stereoselectively in one step in variable yields.

Helicenic N-heterocyclic carbene copper(I) complex displaying circularly polarized blue fluorescence.

Enantiopure copper(I) chloride complexes bearing a monodentate N-(carbo[6]helicenyl)-NHC ligand have been prepared and characterized experimentally and computationally. Their high stability enables the stereochemistry to be probed by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. The resolved enantiomeric complexes emit circularly polarized blue fluorescence with glum ∼1.3 × 10-3 in solution. The photophysical and chiroptical properties of these systems, with their helicene-centred origin, are similar to those of the organic helicene-benzimidazole precursor proligand, although the reverse axial chirality configuration is preferentially observed for the complex compared to the ligand.