Synthesis and Late-Stage Diversification of BN-Embedded Dibenzocorannulenes as Efficient Fluorescence Organic Light-Emitting Diode Emitters.

We report the synthesis and late-stage diversification of a new class of hetero-buckybowl, BN-embedded dibenzocorannulenes (B2 N2 -DBCs). The synthesis is achieved via one-shot halogenative borylation, comprising the nitrogen-directed haloboration of alkyne and an intramolecular bora-Friedel-Crafts reaction, which provides BN-embedded dibenzocorannulene possessing two bromo substituents (B2 N2 -DBC-Br). B2 N2 -DBC-Br undergoes diversification via coupling reactions to provide a variety of arylated derivatives (B2 N2 -DBC-R), exhibiting strong blue fluorescence. An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) employing one of the derivatives as an emitter exhibited a high external quantum efficiency of 6.6 % and long operational lifetime of 907 h at an initial luminance of 1000 cd m-2 , indicating the significant potential for the development of efficient and stable hetero-buckybowl-based OLED materials.

Spiroborate-Based Host Materials with High Triplet Energies and Ambipolar Charge-Transport Properties.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) receive considerable attention because of their commercial use in flat panel displays. Herein, highly efficient spiroborate-based host materials are reported for use in blue OLEDs. Our designed spiroborates (SBOX) were simple to synthesize and exhibited high triplet excitation energies, narrow S-T gaps, and balanced charge carrier mobilities. A blue OLED containing one of the designed spiroborates, SBON, as a host exhibited a high external quantum efficiency (27.6 %) and low turn-on voltage (3.7 V) compared to those observed using 3,3'-di(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-1,1'-biphenyl (17.6 % and 4.5 V, respectively), indicating their potential as host materials in OLEDs.

π-Stacked Ion Pairs: Tightly Associated Charged Porphyrins in Ordered Arrangement Enabling Radical-Pair Formation.

π-Electronic ion pairs are of interest for fabricating electronic materials that use intermolecular interactions based on electrostatic and dispersion forces, defined as iπ-iπ interactions, to provide dimension-controlled assemblies. Porphyrin ions, whose charge is delocalized in the core units, are suitable for ordered arrangement and assemblies by ion pairing. Herein, charged porphyrins were found to form solid-state assemblies and solution-state stacked ion pairs according to the peripheral electron-donating groups (EDGs) and electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs). The concentration-dependent 1H NMR signal shifts of a porphyrin ion pair, comprising a meso-EWG cation and a meso-EWG anion, provided a hetero-dimerization constant of 2.8 × 105 M-1 in CD2Cl2 at 20 °C. In the ion pair of a meso-EWG cation and a meso-EDG anion, the electron transfer in the steady and excited states according to solvent polarity and photoexcitation, respectively, produced the radical pairs. The electron spin resonance analysis in frozen toluene revealed the formation of a heterodiradical in a closely stacked structure by the antiferromagnetic dipolar interaction and temperature-dependent spin transfer behavior.

Ion-Pairing Assemblies of Anion-Responsive π-Electronic Systems Bearing Triazole Moieties Introduced by Click Chemistry.

In this study, the diverse derivatives of dipyrrolyldiketone boron complexes as anion-responsive π-electronic systems were synthesized via the Huisgen cycloaddition of an ethynyl-substituted anion receptor and azide derivatives. The obtained triazole-substituted anion receptors showed effective anion-binding behaviors and ion-pairing assemblies comprising receptor-anion complexes and countercations. Solid-state ion-pairing structures were modulated according to the introduced azide moieties along with coexisting bulky and π-electronic cations.

Electron-donating curved π-electronic systems that complex with buckyballs.

Modifications in curved π-electronic systems, dipyrrolylbenzodiazepines, resulted in various derivatives with modulated electronic properties and assembly behaviour. The electron-rich pyrrole-based curved π-system exhibited C60 complexation in the form of a hydrogen-bonding cyclic hexamer, giving rise to solid-state photo-induced electron transfer as elucidated by transient absorption spectroscopy.

Dipyrrolyldiketone PtII Complexes: Ion-Pairing π-Electronic Systems with Various Anion-Binding Modes.

A variety of π-electronic ion-pairing assemblies can be constructed by combining anion complexes of π-electronic systems and countercations. In this study, a series of anion-responsive π-electronic molecules, dipyrrolyldiketone PtII complexes containing a phenylpyridine ligand, were synthesized. The resulting PtII complexes exhibited phosphorescence emission, with higher emission quantum yields (0.30-0.42) and microsecond-order lifetimes, and solution-state anion binding, as revealed by our spectroscopic analyses. These PtII complexes displayed solid-state ion-pairing assemblies, exhibiting various anion-binding modes, which derived from pyrrole-inverted and pyrrole-non-inverted conformations, and packing structures, with the contribution of charge-by-charge assemblies, which were dependent on the substituents in the PtII complexes and the geometries and electronic states of their countercations.

Self-assemblies of anionic-unit-introduced anion-responsive π-electronic molecules.

The introduction of a carboxy unit onto dipyrrolyldiketone skeletons was achieved by complexation with arylfluoroboron moieties bearing an acid group. Carboxylate-appended anion-responsive π-electronic molecules, formed upon deprotonation, provided anion-binding self-assemblies, as anionic supramolecular polymers, resulting in ion-pairing assemblies.

Thermal stability of crown-motif [Au9(PPh3)8]3+ and [MAu8(PPh3)8]2+ (M = Pd, Pt) clusters: Effects of gas composition, single-atom doping, and counter anions.

The thermal behaviors of ligand-protected metal clusters, [Au9(PPh3)8]3+ and [MAu8(PPh3)8]2+ (M = Pd, Pt) with a crown-motif structure, were investigated to determine the effects of the gas composition, single-atom doping, and counter anions on the thermal stability of these clusters. We successfully synthesized crown-motif [PdAu8(PPh3)8][HPMo12O40] (PdAu8-PMo12) and [PtAu8(PPh3)8][HPMo12O40] (PtAu8-PMo12) salts with a cesium-chloride-type structure, which is the same as the [Au9(PPh3)8][PMo12O40] (Au9-PMo12) structure. Thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis/mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the crown-motif structure of Au9-PMo12 was decomposed at ∼475 K without weight loss to form Au nanoparticles. After structural decomposition, the ligands were desorbed from the sample. The ligand desorption temperature of Au9-PMo12 increased under 20% O2 conditions because of the formation of Au nanoparticles and stronger interaction of the formed O=PPh3 than PPh3. The Pd and Pt single-atom doping improved the thermal stability of the clusters. This improvement was due to the formation of a large bonding index of M-Au and a change in Au-PPh3 bonding energy by heteroatom doping. Moreover, we found that the ligand desorption temperatures were also affected by the type of counter anions, whose charge and size influence the localized Coulomb interaction and cluster packing between the cationic ligand-protected metal clusters and counter anions.

Syntheses and Physical Properties of Cationic BN-Embedded Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Cationic BN-embedded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (BN-PAH+ s) were synthesized from a nitrogen-containing macrocycle via pyridine-directed tandem C-H borylation. Incorporating BN into PAH+ resulted in a remarkable hypsochromic shift due to an increase in the LUMO energy and the symmetry changes of the HOMO and LUMO. Electrophilic substitution or anion exchange of BN-PAH+ possessing tetrabromoborate as a counter anion (BN+ [BBr4 - ]) afforded air-stable BN-PAH/PAH+ s. Of these, BN+ [TfO- ] allowed reversible two-electron reduction and the formation of two-dimensional brickwork-type π-electronic ion pair with 1,2,3,4,5-pentacyanocyclopentadienyl anion, demonstrating the potential application of BN-PAH+ as electronic materials.

Self-Associating Curved π-Electronic Systems with Electron-Donating and Hydrogen-Bonding Properties.

Curved π-electronic molecules, dipyrrolylbenzodiazepines (dpbs), were synthesized via condensation of 1,3-dipyrrolyldiketones and phenylenediamines. Dpbs exhibited 1D hydrogen-bonding chains between pyrrole NH and diazepine N and the resulting packing structures in the solid state. The pyrrole and diazepine N sites coordinate RhI, providing curved π-electronic systems of increasing rigidity. Dpb underwent coassembly with C60, which was surrounded by a hydrogen-bonding ring structure of six dpbs. On photoexcitation, the coassembly exhibited ultrafast electron transfer from the dpb moiety to C60, depending on their proximal arrangement as well as electron-donating and -accepting properties.

X-ray diffraction measurement of a single nanometre-sized particle levitated in air by an optical-trap sample holder.

A single-beam optical-trap sample holder for X-ray diffraction measurements with synchrotron radiation has been developed. The sample holder was used to obtain an X-ray diffraction image of a single ZnO particle levitated in air, without mechanical contact, by the optical gradient force exerted by a focused laser beam. The diffraction image showed a Debye ring pattern, which was similar to a powder diffraction pattern of an assemblage of ZnO particles. While the ZnO particle is held by the optical trap in air, it rotates irregularly. Therefore, the Debye ring pattern of the ZnO particle can be clearly obtained even if the ZnO particle is a single grain. Lattice parameters and crystallite size of the single ZnO particle were determined simultaneously. The lattice parameters were determined to be a = 3.2505 ± 0.0005 Šand c = 5.207 ± 0.006 Å, which are consistent with those of the assemblage of ZnO particles. The crystallite size determined by the Scherrer method was 193.4 ± 26.2 nm.

Arylethynyl Groups That Modulate Anion-Binding and Assembling Modes of Rod- and Fan-Shaped π-Electronic Systems.

The introduction of arylethynyl moieties at the pyrrole α- and ß-positions of dipyrrolyldiketone BF2 complexes as anion-responsive π-electronic molecules was investigated. The arylethynyl-substituted derivatives formed a variety of anion complexes with planar [1+1]- and interlocked [2+1]-type structures in solution and in the solid state. The derivatives with long alkyl chains in the introduced arylethynyl groups also formed mesophases in the form of ion pairs of the anion complexes and a counter cation. The geometries of the constituent anion complexes affected the packing modes of the dimension-controlled assemblies.

Manipulation of the Coordination Geometry along the C4 Rotation Axis in a Dinuclear Tb3+ Triple-Decker Complex via a Supramolecular Approach.

A supramolecular complex (1⋅C60 ) was prepared by assembling (C60-Ih)[5,6]fullerene (C60 ) with the dinuclear Tb3+ triple-decker complex [(TPP)Tb(Pc)Tb(TPP)] (1: Tb3+ =trivalent terbium ion, Pc2- =phthalocyaninato, TPP2- =tetraphenylporphyrinato) with quasi-D4h symmetry to investigate the relationship between the coordination symmetry and single-molecule magnet (SMM) properties. Tb3+ -Pc triple-decker complexes (Tb2 Pc3 ) have an important advantage over Tb3+ -Pc double-decker complexes (TbPc2 ) since the magnetic relaxation processes correspond to the Zeeman splitting when there are two 4f spin systems. The two Tb3+ sites of 1 are equivalent, and the twist angle (φ) was determined to be 3.62°. On the other hand, the two Tb3+ sites of 1⋅C60 are not equivalent. The φ values for sites Tb1 and Tb2 were determined to be 3.67° and 33.8°, respectively, due to a change in the coordination symmetry of 1 upon association with C60 . At 1.8 K, 1 and 1⋅C60 undergo different magnetic relaxations, and the changes in the ground state affect the spin dynamics. Although 1 and 1⋅C60 relax via QTM in a zero applied magnetic field (H), H dependencies of the magnetic relaxation times (τ) for H>1500 Oe are similar. On the other hand, for H<1500 Oe, the τ values have different behaviors since the off-diagonal terms ( B k q ; q ≠ 0 ) affect the magnetic relaxation mechanism. From temperature (T) and H dependences of τ, spin-phonon interactions along with direct and Raman mechanisms explain the spin dynamics. We believe that a supramolecular method can be used to control the magnetic anisotropy along the C4 rotation axis and the spin dynamic properties in dinuclear Ln3+ -Pc multiple-decker complexes.

Amphoteric Homotropic Allosteric Association between a Hexakis-Urea Receptor and Dihydrogen Phosphate.

Conformationally flexible hexakis-urea 1 was synthesized efficiently by condensing hexakis(aminomethyl)benzene with 4-nitrophenyl-(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)carbamate. The hexakis-urea 1 is unexpectedly soluble in organic solvents of low polarity due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The hexakis-urea 1 recognizes chloride, bromide, and acetate in a 1:2 host-guest ratio and in a positive allosteric manner in CDCl3 . The ability of 1 to recognize dihydrogen phosphate is a unique outcome, and the structure of the associated complex, which contains four dihydrogen phosphate ions, was clarified by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. However, in solution, a complex with three dihydrogen phosphate ions was identified. The dihydrogen phosphate association in CDCl3 proceeds in an amphoteric allosteric manner; in a positive allosteric manner (K1 K3 ) in the subsequent step.

Photosalient Effect of Diarylethene Crystals of Thiazoyl and Thienyl Derivatives.

The photoresponse of diarylethene crystals is found to depend on the intensity of UV light, that is, photoinduced bending is switched to photosalient phenomena by increasing the light intensity. The change in the size of the crystal unit cell upon UV irradiation is larger for asymmetric diarylethenes with thiazole and thiophene rings than that for the corresponding symmetric diarylethenes. As a result, the crystals of an asymmetric diarylethene show much more drastic photosalient effects than those of the corresponding symmetric diarylethene crystals upon UV irradiation. It is also found that the crystals of diarylethene, which have not previously been reported to exhibit a photosalient effect, show photosalient phenomena upon irradiation with strong UV light. Furthermore, the dependence of photosalient phenomena on the size and shape of the crystals is reported.

Peripheral Modifications of meso-Hydroxyporphyrins: Formation of π-Electronic Anions and Ion-Pairing Assemblies.

Phenyl groups were introduced at the ß-positions proximal to the meso-hydroxy moiety in hydroxyporphyrin NiII complexes by oxidized BINAP PdII complexes. Ion-pairing assemblies of deprotonated π-electronic anions, anionic site of which was stabilized by the introduced phenyl moieties with a bulky cation, were formed. They showed charge-by-charge assemblies, assembly modes of which were modulated by the anionic building units.

Pyrrole-Based π-System-PtII Complexes: Chiroptical Properties and Excited-State Dynamics with Microsecond Triplet Lifetimes.

Heteroleptic PtII complexes comprising π-extended dipyrrins and 2-phenylquinoline were prepared. Single-crystal X-ray analysis disclosed the stepped conformations of two ligand moieties in these PtII complexes. The enantiomers could be separated by HPLC and their configurations were determined from CD spectroscopy results and TD-DFT calculations. Transient absorption measurements revealed excited-state dynamics characterized by fast intersystem crossing and microsecond-order triplet-state lifetimes.

Ion-Pairing Assemblies Comprising Anion Complexes of π-Extended Anion-Responsive Molecules.

Anion-responsive molecules comprising phenanthropyrrole rings were synthesized by oxidative coupling. Spectroscopic and theoretical examinations revealed the effects of the π-extended structures. In the solid state as ion-pairing assemblies, Cl- complexes of π-extended derivatives formed stacked structures composed of Cl- complexes themselves and those formed with countercations using extended π-moieties. Aliphatic anion-responsive molecules and their Cl- complexes, as ion pairs with the triazatriangulenium cation, provided hexagonal columnar structures with liquid-crystalline mesophases.

Quadruply N-methylated octaphyrin: a helical macrocycle exhibiting chiroptical properties and dynamic conformation changes correlated with helical and inner N-methyl orientations.

[38]Octaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) bearing four methyl moieties at the inner nitrogen sites has been synthesized. This expanded porphyrin has helical chirality as correlated with the orientations of the inner N-methyl groups, exhibiting chiroptical properties as observed in CD Cotton effects from the enantiomers through optical resolution. The chirality of the octaphyrin was retained at r.t. but the racemization occurred at higher temperature as examined by CD spectral changes. The dynamic conversion processes between the enantiomers were investigated by theoretical studies, suggesting the plausible pathways via the intermediates with appropriate conformations.

Object Transportation System Mimicking the Cilia of Paramecium aurelia Making Use of the Light-Controllable Crystal Bending Behavior of a Photochromic Diarylethene.

The design of an object transportation system exploiting the bending behavior of surface-assembled diarylethene crystals is reported. A photoactuated smart surface based on this system can transport polystyrene beads to a desired area depending on the direction of the incident light. Two main challenges were addressed to accomplish directional motion along a surface: first, the preparation of crystals whose bending behavior depends on the direction of incident light; second, the preparation of a film on which these photochromic crystal plates are aligned. Nuclei generation and nuclear growth engineering were achieved by using a roughness-controlled dotted microstructured substrate. This system demonstrates how to achieve a mechanical function as shown by remote-controlled motion along a surface.