Design Concepts for Solution and Solid-State Emitters - A Modern Viewpoint on Classical and Non-Classical Approaches.

For a long time, luminescence phenomena were strictly distinguished between the emission of isolated molecules in dilute solutions or close-packed structures such as in powders or aggregates. This changed with the breakthrough observation of dual-state efficient materials, which led to a rapid boost of publications examining the influence of structural features to achieve balanced emission with disregarded molecular surroundings. Some first general structural design concepts have already been proposed based on reoccurring patterns and pivotal motifs. However, we have found another way to classify these solution and solid-state emitters (SSSEs). Hence, this minireview aims to present an overview of published structural features of SSSEs while shining light on design concepts from a more generalized perspective. Since SSSEs are believed to bridge the gap of hitherto known aggregation-sensitive compound classes, we hope to give future scientists a versatile tool in hand to efficiently design novel luminescent materials.

Cationic Solution and Solid-State Emitters - Robust Imaging Agents for Cells, Bacteria, and Protists.

A library of eight different cationic emitters with emission properties in solution and in solid-state (solution and solid-state emitters - SSSE) is presented. These compounds, bearing either ammonium or pyridinium groups, have been investigated regarding their photophysical properties as well as their potential application in biological imaging. Besides high quantum yields as well as a high degree of stability during the imaging process, it was additionally revealed that a broad range of biological targets can be addressed, such as different bacterial strains, human cells as well as protists. The reported SSSE approach employing the mentioned robust emitters for biological imaging, will contribute to a rapid and facile way to design and apply affordable emitters with outstanding properties. Additionally, these emitters will overcome the drawbacks of classical luminophores and agents featuring well-known aggregation-induced emission (AIE) or aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) properties.

Bridged Aromatic Oxo- and Thioethers with Intense Emission in Solution and the Solid State.

In this contribution, we report on a class of emitters based on bridged oxo- and/or thioethers revealing striking photoluminescence properties in fluid solution and in the solid state. In total, nine compounds were investigated concerning their photophysical properties, which were interpreted by quantum chemical calculations. To our delight, we discovered compounds possessing nearly identical photoluminescence quantum yields (ΦF ) in solution and in the solid state, which has been rarely reported so far. Besides these efforts, we shed light on the influence of polymorphism and solvent polarity on the emission properties. In addition, an in-depth X-ray diffractometric analysis was conducted to correlate molecular packing in the crystal with differences in the photophysical properties.

Supramolecular subphthalocyanine complexes-cellular uptake and phototoxicity.

In this communication we report on the synthesis and application of axially functionalized boron-subphthalocyanines (SubPC) which are able to form host-guest complexes with cyclodextrins. Here, a tert-butylphenyl substituted SubPC was investigated concerning its complexation with ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) and a ß-cyclodextrin polymer. NMR-titrations showed the formation of a 1 : 1 complex with ß-CD. These assemblies were analyzed for their cellular distribution as well as their phototoxicity towards HeLa cells.