Effect of the π-bridge on the light absorption and emission in push-pull coumarins and on their supramolecular organization.

A family of eight π-extended push-pull coumarins with cross-conjugated (amide) and directly conjugated (p-phenylene, alkyne, alkene) bridges were synthesized through a convergent strategy. Using an experimentally calibrated computational protocol, their UV-Visible light absorption and emission spectra in solution were investigated. Remarkably, amide-, alkyne- and alkene-bridges undergo comparable vertical excitations. The different nature of these bridges manifests during excited-state relaxation and fluorescence. We predict that these molecules can serve as building blocks for p-type semiconductors with low reorganization energies, below 0.2 eV. Since solid-state self-assembly is crucial for this application, we examined the effect of the π-bridge over the supramolecular organization in this family of compounds to determine if stacking prevails in these π-extended coumarin derivatives. Amide and alkyne spacers allow coplanar conformations which crystallize readily; p-phenylene hinders planarity yet allows facile crystallization; alkene-bridged molecules eluded all crystallization attempts. All the crystals obtained feature dense face-to-face π-stacking with 3.5-3.7 Å interlayer distances, expected to facilitate charge transfer processes in the solid state.

Preparation and Characterization of a Novel Organic Semiconductor Indacenedithiophene Derivative and the Corresponding Langmuir-Blodgett Thin Films.

The synthesis of a novel indacenedithiophene derivative (IDT-DPA) is described, which exhibits semiconducting behavior. Its properties were measured by means of UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopies using toluene as solvent. An extinction molar coefficient of 2.05×104 M-1 cm-1 and a Stokes shift of 50 nm were obtained. A theoretical study was performed using the density functional theory, from which HOMO-LUMO band gap of 1.711 eV was calculated. IDT-DPA was deposited on the water-air interface to form Langmuir monolayers. π-A curves and hysteresis were measured showing reversibility behavior. The monolayers were transferred to glass substrates as Langmuir-Blodgett thin films. Their morphological properties were characterized by using scanning electron and atomic force microscopy, which showed that the films tend to form clusters with a homogeneous distribution. Absorption and emission spectra of the films were measured, from which the optical band gap and Stocks shift were derived. Based on the electronic properties and light emission spectra of IDT-DPA, this compound can be proposed for the applications in organic lightemitting diodes and other organic semiconductor devices.

Crystalline arrays of side chain modified bile acids derivatives. Two novel self-assemblies based on π-π and belly-to-belly interactions.

Crystalline derivatives of side chain modified bile acids were efficiently prepared from the naturally occurring steroids by palladium-catalyzed cross coupling reaction as a key step. The solvent-free crystalline bile acids derivatives 2b-e are readily accessed by slow evaporation from selected solvents. A variety of steroidal scaffolds were found and elucidated by SXRD studies. The crystal packing of the title compounds are dominated by hydrogen-bonding interactions established between differently positioned acetyl protecting groups, which in the case of 2b and 2e take advantage of the facial amphiphilicity producing two novel steroidal supramolecular self-assemblies combining π-π and strong facial interactions. Thus, these crystalline arrays of side chain modified bile acids represent promising scaffolds for research and implementation in biomolecular materials or inclusion phenomena.

Synthesis, NMR and crystal characterization of dimeric terephthalates derived from epimeric 4,5-seco-cholest-3-yn-5-ols.

Two dimeric steroidal terephthalates derived from epimeric 4,5-seco-cholest-3-yn-5-ols were prepared starting from cholesterol in a five-step synthetic sequence. X-ray crystallography shows that the obtained compounds display novel supramolecular networks in the solid state in which the facial hydrophobicity of the steroidal skeletons plays an important role. Unambiguous NMR characterization of the obtained dimers is also provided.

Synthesis and evaluation of molecular rotors with large and bulky tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy-substituted trityl stators.

The search for voluminous stators that may accommodate large rotator units and speed rotational dynamics in the solid state led us to investigate a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of molecular rotors with tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-protected (TBDPS) triphenylmethyl stators. Additionally, solid state characterization of these systems with two-, four-, and six-TBDPS groups provided us with a description of their crystallinity and thermal stability. Among them, molecular rotor 7c with the largest and most symmetric stator resulting from six peripheral silyl groups showed the best tendency to crystallize, and the study of its isotopologue 7c-d(4) by solid state (2)H NMR revealed a 2-fold motion of the 1,4-diethynylphenylene-d(4) rotator in the kHz regime.

1H and 13C NMR characteristics of synthetic derivatives of steroid sapogenins. Part III. 16Beta,23:23,26-diepoxy side chains.

The full assignments of the (1)H and (13)C NMR signals of steroids bearing the 16beta,23:23,26-diepoxy side chain are provided. Differentiation of the diasterotopic H-26 pair was achieved with the aid of NOESY experiments. The main substituent and steric effects associated with this moiety and their influence on the chemical shifts of the neighboring atoms are discussed.