Dehydro[12]- and [18]annulene-Fused Ball-Shaped Ruthenium Complex Oligomers: Synthesis, Aromatic/Antiaromatic Effect, and Symmetry for Near-Infrared Optical Properties.

The appropriate arrangement of near-infrared (NIR) chromophores allows for the modification of the peak wavelength in the NIR region and efficient use of NIR light. However, the preparation of novel NIR chromophores using simple procedures remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we report the synthesis of ball-shaped ruthenium complex oligomers. The metal complexes can be synthesized in a single step and interact strongly with NIR light. Alkyne-substituted low-symmetry ball-shaped ruthenium complexes were synthesized and subjected to Eglinton coupling to obtain dehydro[12] and [18]annulene-fused dimers and trimers. Fine-tuning of the reaction conditions led to the selective synthesis of the target oligomers. NMR spectroscopy confirmed that the 18π-aromatic and 12π-antiaromatic properties of the annulene influenced the ruthenium complex chromophore, and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy showed changes in the electronic structure of their excited state owing to molecular-symmetry differences. The absorption coefficient in the NIR region of the absorption spectra of the oligomers increased significantly, supporting the efficient use of light by oligomerization. The formation of oligomers using ball-shaped metal complexes is a simple and effective strategy for controlling NIR optical properties.

Red-Light-Driven Bifunctionalization of Styrene Derivatives.

A red-light-activated phthalocyanine ruthenium complex has been designed as a catalyst for the bifunctionalization of styrene derivatives. The combination of a trifluoromethylation agent resistant to nucleophiles and various nucleophiles facilitates the concurrent incorporation of a trifluoromethyl group and various functional groups onto the double bond of the substrate. This reaction demonstrates the utility of mild, low-energy, and highly transmissive long-wavelength light for intricate molecular transformations in a one-pot procedure.

Photosensitizing Metasurface Empowered by Enhanced Magnetic Field of Toroidal Dipole Resonance.

Photochemical reaction exploiting an excited triplet state (T1 ) of a molecule requires two steps for the excitation, i.e., electronic transition from the ground (S0 ) to singlet excited (S1 ) states and intersystem crossing to the T1  state. A dielectric metasurface coupled with photosensitizer that enables energy efficient photochemical reaction via the enhanced S0 →T1 magnetic dipole transition is developed. In the direct S0 →T1 transition, the photon energy of several hundreds of meV is saved compared to the conventional S0 → S1 →T1 transition. To maximize the magnetic field intensity on the surface, a silicon (Si) nanodisk array metasurface with toroidal dipole resonances is designed. The surface of the metasurface is functionalized with ruthenium (Ru(II)) complexes that work as a photosensitizer for singlet oxygen generation. In the coupled system, the rate of the direct S0 →T1 transition of Ru(II) complexes is 41-fold enhanced at the toroidal dipole resonance of a Si nanodisk array. The enhancement of a singlet oxygen generation rate is observed when the toroidal dipole resonance of a Si nanodisk array is matched with the direct S0 →T1 transition wavelength of Ru(II) complexes.

Direct Near Infrared Light-Activatable Phthalocyanine Catalysts.

The high penetration of near-infrared (NIR) light makes it effective for use in selective reactions under light-shielded conditions, such as in sealed reactors and deep tissues. Herein, we report the development of phthalocyanine catalysts directly activated by NIR light to transform small organic molecules. The desired photocatalytic properties were achieved in the phthalocyanines by introducing the appropriate peripheral substituents and central metal. These phthalocyanine photocatalysts promote cross-dehydrogenative-coupling (CDC) under irradiation with 810 nm NIR light. The choice of solvent is important, and a mixture of a reaction-accelerating (pyridine) and -decelerating (methanol) solvents was particularly effective. Moreover, we demonstrate photoreactions under visible-light-shielded conditions through the transmission of NIR light. A combined experimental and computational mechanistic analysis revealed that this NIR reaction does not involve a photoredox-type mechanism with electron transfer, but instead a singlet-oxygen-mediated mechanism with energy transfer.

Cationic Axial Ligand Effects on Sulfur-Substituted Subphthalocyanines.

Herein, we report the synthesis of sulfur-substituted boron(III) subphthalocyanines (SubPcs) with cationic axial ligands. Subphthalocyanines were synthesized by a condensation reaction using the corresponding phthalonitriles and boron trichloride as a template. An aminoalkyl group was introduced on the central boron atom; this process was followed by N-methylation to introduce a cationic axial ligand. The peripheral sulfur groups shifted the Q band of SubPcs to a longer wavelength. The cationic axial ligands increased the polarity and enhanced the hydrophilicity of SubPcs. The effect of axial ligands on absorption and fluorescence properties is generally small. However, a further red shift was observed by introducing cationic axial ligands into the sulfur-substituted SubPcs. This change is similar to that in sulfur-substituted silicon(IV) phthalocyanines. The unique effect of the cationic axial ligand was extensively investigated by theoretical calculations and electrochemistry. In particular, the precise oxidation potential was determined using ionization potential measurements. Thus, the results of the present study provide a novel strategy for developing functional dyes and pigments based on SubPcs.

Direct Excitation of Triplet State of Molecule by Enhanced Magnetic Field of Dielectric Metasurfaces.

Efficient excitation of a triplet (T1 ) state of a molecule has far-reaching effects on photochemical reaction and energy conversion systems. Because the optical transition from a ground singlet (S0 ) to a T1 state is spin-forbidden, a T1 state is generated via intersystem crossing (ISC) from an excited singlet (S1 ) state. Although the excitation efficiency of a T1 state can be increased by enhancing ISC utilizing a heavy atom effect, energy loss during S1 →T1 relaxation is inevitable. Here, a general approach to directly excite a T1 state from a ground S0 state via magnetic dipole transition, which is boosted by enhanced magnetic field induced by a dielectric metasurface, is proposed. As a dielectric metasurface, a hexagonal array of silicon (Si) nanodisks is employed; the nanodisk array induces a strongly enhanced magnetic field on the surface due to the toroidal dipole (TD) resonance. A proof-of-concept experiment is performed using ruthenium (Ru) complexes placed on a metasurface and demonstrates that the phosphorescence is 35-fold enhanced on a metasurface when the TD resonance is tuned to the wavelength of the direct S0 →T1 transition. These results indicate that photon energy necessary to excite the T1 state can be reduced by more than 400 meV compared to the process involving the ISC. By combining optical measurements with numerical simulations, the mechanism of the phosphorescence enhancement is quantitatively discussed.

Efficiency Enhancement of a Photocatalytic Decarbonylation of an Aminocyclopropenone by Benzothiophene Substitution.

To improve the efficiency of the photocatalytic decarbonylation of cyclopropenones, the effects of substituents on cyclopropenone were explored. A benzothiophene-substituted aminocyclopropenone exhibited significantly improved decarbonylation efficiency to produce the corresponding ynamine, which worked as a potent dehydration condensation agent. The benzothiophene derivative was applicable to the photocatalytic reaction in the presence of potential excited-state quenchers such as oxygen and anilines. The high catalyst sensitivity would be attributed to the involvement of triplet energy transfer reaction pathway, which was not observed in the reaction with previously reported aminocyclopropenones.

Fluorescent-Oxaboroles: Synthesis and Optical Property by Sugar Recognition.

The optical property of fluorescent unit-conjugated aliphatic oxaboroles has been investigated. The oxaboroles provide good fluorescence quantum yields and selective recognition toward D-ribose and D-ribose containing molecules. The molecular recognition induced significant fluorescence quenching. The property of the boroles showed the possibility of the boron-based nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) sensor probe.

Extremely Photostable Electron-Deficient Phthalocyanines that Generate High Levels of Singlet Oxygen.

A robust lead-mediated synthetic procedure for the generation of phthalocyanines substituted with electron-withdrawing groups has been developed. The free-base phthalocyanine and various metal complexes were prepared without discernible degradation of the peripheral electron-withdrawing substituents. Upon irradiation with red light, some of the thus-obtained metal complexes generated high levels of singlet oxygen. In particular, a palladium complex exhibited attractive photostability upon exposure to singlet oxygen as a bleaching agent. The photostability of such complexes that may manifest concomitantly to the generation of high levels of singlet oxygen was attributed to the presence of the electron-withdrawing groups, which results in energetically low-lying highest occupied molecular orbitals.

Chemoselective Synthesis of Aryloxy-Substituted Phthalocyanines.

The synthesis of the first examples of 8-fold α-aryloxy-substituted phthalocyanines is described. 3,6-Diiodophthalonitrile was used as a precursor for a series of 3,6-aryloxy-substituted phthalonitriles, and a lead-mediated macrocyclization was employed to afford the corresponding free-base phthalocyanine complexes. The optical, electrochemical, and aggregation properties of these complexes can be tuned by varying the substituents on the aryloxy groups or by changing the pH value.

(1,3)Pyrenophanes containing crown ether moieties as fluorescence sensors for metal and ammonium ions.

Crown ether containing (1,3)pyrenophanes 1-6 were synthesized, and UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies were carried out to determine their abilities to form complexes with metal and ammonium ions. The fluorescence spectra of 1.0 × 10-5 M solutions of 1, 2, 4 and 6 in 1 : 1 v/v CH2Cl2 : CH3CN were comprised of both monomer and intramolecular excimer emission bands, while only monomer emission bands were present in the fluorescence spectra of 3 and 5. The intensities of the intramolecular excimer emission bands of 1, 2, 4 and 6 in 1 : 1 v/v CH2Cl2 : CH3CN decreased and those of the monomer emission increased in conjunction with the existence of isoemissive points upon the addition of increasing concentrations of various metal perchlorates. The fluorescence spectral changes were dependent on the sizes of crown ether rings and metal ions and, as such, they reflected equilibrium constants for the formation of metal-crown ether complexes. Addition of n-Bu2NH2+PF6- or (PhCH2)2NH2+PF6- to the solutions of the (1,3)pyrenophane linked crown ethers, which brought about similar fluorescence spectral changes, led to the formation of pseudo-rotaxanes as was evidenced by an analysis of 1H NMR spectra and Job's plots. The fluorescence changes of 1 occurred during 5 cycles of repetitive addition and removal of Ba2+. The ratio of intensities of the monomer to the intramolecular excimer emission bands of 1, 2, 4 and 6 increased as the temperature decreased. Based on the experimental observations and the results of DFT calculations, it is concluded that the (1,3)pyrenophanes exist in solution as equilibrium mixtures of anti monomer emitting and syn intramolecular excimer emitting conformers and the equilibrium favors the anti form when the crown ether moieties form complexes with metal or ammonium ions.

Structural, Photophysical, and Magnetic Circular Dichroism Studies of Three Rigidified meso-Pentafluorophenyl-Substituted Hexaphyrin Analogues.

Detailed electronic, structural, photophysical, and redox studies of a series of meso-pentafluorophenyl-substituted hexaphyrins, namely amethyrin (1), rosarin (2), and rubyrin (3), are described. In prior work, it was found that the electronic states of the antiaromatic hexapyrrolic macrocycle, [24]rosarin 2, could be modified by exposure to several Brønsted acids (e.g., HCl, HBr and HI) to produce either one- and two-electron reduced species, or both. In an effort to gain further insights into the reactivity of hexaphyrins possessing different π-conjugation pathways, the ß-dodecamethyl-substituted [24]amethyrin 1 was prepared and its electronic structure was analyzed along with that of the o-phenylene-bridged [26]rubyrin 3 and rosarin 2 The [4n] and [4n+2] π-conjugated formulations of 2 and 3, respectively, were inferred from steady-state, fs-transient absorption and two photon absorption measurements. Similar photophysical analyses lead to the conclusion that 1 is best considered as nonaromatic or weakly antiaromatic. Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopic analyses of hexaphyrins 1 and 3, as well as comparisons to 2, and theoretical perimeter MO diagram analyses provided support for the electronic assignments. In contrast to what was found for 2, simple protonation of 1 and 3 by halohydric acids did not induce an evident, redox-based change in the electronic structure of the macrocycle.

Azaporphyrin phosphorus(v) complexes: synthesis, structure, and modification of optical properties.

Azaporphyrinoids, such as phthalocyanines (Pcs), tetraazaporphyrins (TAPs), and tetrabenzotriazacorroles (TBCs), are some of the most well-known and successful artificial dyes and pigments in modern material chemistry. Modifications of the macrocyclic core, periphery, and central element have attracted a great deal of interest in materials sciences due to generation of unique optical and electronic properties. However, the synthesis of most azaporphyrinoids with novel physical properties generally needs long, tedious procedures. On the other hand, the introduction of a phosphorus(v) atom into simple (known) azaporphyrin macrocycles is not necessarily difficult and can generate changes in the structural and optical properties. This paper provides an overview of the recent development of azaporphyrin phosphorus(v) complexes with unique structural and optical properties. Optical properties are discussed based on a combination of experimental absorption spectra, electrochemical properties, and theoretical molecular orbital calculations. These complexes are relatively easy to synthesize, are robust and free from transition metals, and have predictable properties.

Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Electronic Structures of Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)tetrathiaisophlorin Dioxide.

The synthesis, structure, optical and redox properties, and electronic structure of tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)tetrathiaisophlorin dioxide (12) are reported. Oxidation of tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)tetrathiaisophlorin (11) with dimethyldioxirane afforded the oxidized product, which was the tetrathiaisophlorin with two thiophene 1-oxide moieties (12). More significant nonplanarity and greater bond length alternation in 12 than those of 11 were observed by X-ray structural analysis. The absorption spectrum of 12 contains two bands at λ=348 and 276 nm, with a weak tail that extends to λ≈650 nm. Analysis of the magnetic circular dichroism spectrum of 12, based on Michl's 4N-perimeter model and molecular orbital calculations, indicate that the broad band at λ=348 nm appears to contain N2 and P2 bands, and 12 is classified as a 4nπ system, similar to 11. The nuclear-independent chemical shift values and (1) H NMR spectroscopy data indicate that 12 has more antiaromatic character than 11.

A Bottom-up Synthesis of Antiaromatic Expanded Phthalocyanines: Pentabenzotriazasmaragdyrins, i.e. Norcorroles of Superphthalocyanines.

The first example of an antiaromatic expanded phthalocyanine, classified as a norcorrole of a superphthalocyanine has been prepared and fully characterized. The newly developed phthalonitrile dimerization reaction was a crucial step, which allowed for the bottom-up synthesis of expanded phthalocyanines. Their structure was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The 20 π antiaromaticity of the macrocycles was suggested by optical and theoretical calculations.

An Extremely Air-Stable 19π Porphyrinoid.

A one-electron reduced species of a cationic phosphorus(V) tetraazaporphyrin complex has been isolated as an air-stable solid. Cyclic voltammetry and magnetic measurements showed the species to be a neutral π radical, and the solid state structure was elucidated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy and theoretical calculations also support a 19π electron conjugated electronic circuit.

Dinitriles bearing AIE-active moieties: synthesis, E/Z isomerization, and fluorescence properties.

Dinitriles bearing aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active moieties [tetraphenylethylene (TPE) or diphenylphenanthrene (DPP)] were prepared. Compounds 4 (TPE-linked) and 8 (DPP-linked) showed considerably redshifted emission resulting from their large Stokes shifts and also strong fluorescence in the aggregated and solid states. Pure E and Z stereoisomers of both dinitriles were easily separated, and their isomerization equilibria and fluorescence properties were investigated. In addition to their pronounced AIEE behavior, 4 and 8 also showed various reversible chromic responses to external stimuli, namely, solvato-, piezo-, vapo-, and thermochromism, which make them potential candidates for smart materials.

Optical, electrochemical, and magnetic properties of pyrrole- and thiophene-bridged 5,15-diazaporphyrin dimers.

The first examples of pyrrole- and thiophene-bridged 5,15-diazaporphyrin (DAP) dimers are prepared through Stille coupling reactions of nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of 3-bromo-10,20-dimesityl-5,15-diazaporphyrin (mesityl=2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) with the respective 2,5-bis(tributylstannyl)heteroles. The effects of the heterole spacers and meso nitrogen atoms on the optical, electrochemical, and magnetic properties of the DAP dimers are investigated by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations, magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and EPR spectroscopy. The heterole spacers are found to have a significant impact on the electronic transitions over the entire π-system. In particular, the pyrrole-bridged DAP dimers exhibit high light-harvesting potential in the low-energy visible/near-infrared region owing to the intrinsic charge-transfer character of the lowest excitation.

Design, synthesis, and properties of phthalocyanine complexes with main-group elements showing main absorption and fluorescence beyond 1000 nm.

We present a comprehensive description of the unique properties of newly developed phthalocyanines (Pcs) containing main-group elements that absorb and emit in the near-IR region. Group 16 (S, Se, and Te) elements and group 15 (P, As, and Sb) elements were used as peripheral and central (core) substituents. With the introduction of group 16 elements into free-base Pc, a red-shift of the Q-band was observed, as a result of the electron-donating ability of group 16 elements particularly at the α positions. An X-ray crystallographic analysis of α-ArS-, ArSe-, and ArTe-linked free-base Pcs was also successfully performed, and the relationship between structure and optical properties was clarified. When a group 15 element ion was introduced into the center of the Pc ring, the resulting Pcs showed a single Q-band peak beyond 1000 nm (up to 1056 nm in CH2Cl2). In particular, [(ArS)8PcP(OMe)2](+) and [(ArS)8PcAs(OMe)2](+) exhibited a distinct fluorescence in the 960-1400 nm region with moderate quantum yields. The atomic radius of the group 15 element is important for determining the Pc structure, so that this can be controlled by the choice of group 15 elements. Electrochemical data revealed, while MO calculations suggested, that the red-shift of the Q-band is attributable to a decrease of the HOMO-LUMO gap due to significant and moderate stabilization of the LUMO and HOMO, respectively. The effect of peripheral substutuents and a central P(V) ion on the Q-band shift was independently predicted by MO calculations, while the magnitude of the total calculated shift was in good agreement with the experimental observations. The combination of spectral, electrochemical, and theoretical considerations revealed that all of the central group 15 elements, peripheral group 16 elements, and their positions are necessary to shift the Q-band beyond 1000 nm, indicating that the substitution effects of group 15 and 16 elements act synergistically. The Pcs having Q-bands beyond 1000 nm in this study also had stability under aerobic conditions comparative to that of CuPc, which is presently being widely used in consumer products.