Synthesis and properties of fluorescent 4'-azulenyl-functionalized 2,2':6',2″-terpyridines.

4'-Azulenyl-substituted terpyridines were efficiently synthesized following the Kröhnke methodology via azulenylchalcone intermediates. These azulenyl-containing terpyridines showed fluorescent emission with a fluorescence quantum yield varying from 0.14, in the case of parent terpyridine, to 0.64 when methyl groups are grafted on the azulenyl seven-membered ring. According to the crystal structures and TDDFT calculations, different twisting of the aromatic constituents is responsible for the observed fluorescent behavior. The electrochemical profile contains one-electron oxidation/reduction steps, which can only be explained on the basis of the redox behavior of the azulene unit. The ability of the 4'-azulenyl 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine to bind poisoning metal cations was studied by UV-vis titrations using aqueous solutions of Hg(II) and Cd(II) chlorides as illustrative examples.

Two-dimensional coordination polymers constructed using, simultaneously, linear and angular spacers and cobalt(II) nodes. New examples of networks of single-ion magnets.

Two novel bidimensional coordination polymers, [Co(azbbpy)(4,4'-bipy)0.5(DMF)(NCS)2]·MeOH (1) and [Co(azbbpy)(bpe)0.5(DMF)(NCS)2]·0.25H2O (2), resulted from the assembling of cobalt(II) ions by 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)azulene, using either 4,4'-bipyridyl or 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene as neutral spacers. The cobalt(II) nodes in 1 and 2 act as single-ion magnets (SIMs).

Second order nonlinear optical properties of poled films containing azobenzenes tailored with azulen-1-yl-pyridine.

Azo compounds, which are highly versatile molecules, have attracted a considerable attention both for their fundamental properties and for practical applications, especially in photonics. The conjugated azo-aromatic systems containing 4-(R-azulen-1-yl)-2,6-dimethyl-pyridine were investigated for their nonlinear optical properties. These molecules were embedded in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrix, and the obtained guest-host systems were processed into good optical quality thin film by spin coating technique. The dipolar moments of dissolved in PMMA molecules were oriented by applying a high DC electric field at a temperature close to the polymer glass transition temperature. The second - order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of poled films were studied by the optical second harmonic generation technique (SHG). The poling kinetics, studied by in situ SHG as well as the measured second-order NLO susceptibilities of poled films are reported and discussed.

Ascorbic acid decomposition into oxalate ions: a simple synthetic route towards oxalato-bridged heterometallic 3d-4f clusters.

Two types of oxalato-bridged heterometallic 3d-4f dodeca- and hexanuclear compounds have been obtained by connecting six bi- and, respectively, trinuclear moieties through oxalato bridges arising from the slow decomposition of the L-ascorbic acid.