Spin polarization through axially chiral linkers: Length dependence and correlation with the dissymmetry factor.

The chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect relates to the spin-selective electron transport through chiral molecules; therefore, the chiral molecules act as spin filters. In past studies, correlation was found between the magnitude of the spin filtering and the intensity of the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum (the first Compton peak) of the molecules. Since the intensity of the CD peak relates to both the magnitude of the electric and magnetic dipole transitions, it was not clear which of these properties correlate with the CISS effect. This work aims at addressing this question. By studying the spin-dependent conduction and the CD spectra of the thiol-functionalized enantiopure binaphthalene (BINAP) and ternaphthalene (TERNAP), we found that both BINAP and TERNAP exhibit a similar spin polarization of 50%, despite the first Compton peak in TERNAP being almost twice as intense as the peak in BINAP. These results can be explained by the similar values of their anisotropy (or dissymmetry) factor, gabs , which is proportional to the magnetic transition dipole moment. Hence, we concluded that the CISS effect is proportional to the transition dipole moment in chiral molecules, namely, to the dissymmetry factor.

Novel Series of Diaminoanthraquinone-Based π-Extendable Building Blocks with Tunable Optoelectronic Properties.

We have achieved the first series of DAAQ-based building blocks, viz., n -TIPS-DAAQs (n = 1-4), and unraveled a rational design of their π-extension. Sequentially increasing numbers (n) of the exocyclic π-linkers showed (a) a systematic bathochromic shift in both absorption and emission spectra, (b) selective stabilization of the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), and (c) unselective changes in the S0/S1 states. To our surprise, the LUMO level of 4-TIPS-DAAQ (-3.72 eV) was found to be comparable to that of PC60BM.

Relation between Morphology and Chiroptical Properties in Chiral Conducting Polymer Films: A Case Study in Chiral PEDOT.

The electronic properties of conducting polymers are influenced by their micro- and macrostructural orders, which can be tailored by substituent modification. However, while the effect of substituents on conducting polymers is extensively investigated, chiral substituents are far less studied. Furthermore, many chiral conducting polymers have regioirregular structures, which result in polymer films with inferior properties. In this work, we apply electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy to study the morphological changes to the chiral polymers under different polymerization conditions. For this purpose, we investigated 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) derivatives having two stereogenic centers on each monomer and bearing methyl or phenyl side groups (dimethyl-EDOT and diphenyl-EDOT, respectively). Polymerizing the enantiomerically pure monomers produces regioregular and stereoregular dimethyl-PEDOT and diphenyl-PEDOT, respectively. The effect of the electrolyte and solvent on polymer film morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ECD, showing a correlation between the polymer's morphology and the chiroptical properties of its films. We found that, for diphenyl-PEDOT, the combination of perchlorate anion electrolyte and acetonitrile solvent resulted in a unique morphology characterized by significant intermolecular interactions. These interactions were clearly observable in the ECD spectra in the form of exciton couplings, whose presence was supported by TD-DFT calculations. A small enantiomeric excess was sufficient to induce very intense ECD signals, demonstrating chiral amplification in electropolymerized films.