Solar Energy Storage: Competition between Delocalized Charge Transfer and Localized Excited States in the Norbornadiene to Quadricyclane Photoisomerization.

We describe for the first time the full reaction coordinate regarding the photoisomerization of red-absorbing norbornadienes (NBDs) to quadricyclanes (QCs). Our studies go beyond steady-state investigations by using an arsenal of time-resolved techniques. Importantly, the red absorption of NBDs is made possible by a different charge-transfer character; adjusting its strength enables control over the photoreversibility of the rearrangement. In the case of strong charge-transfer character (a weakly electron-withdrawing ester and a strongly electron-donating dimethylaniline), photoirradiation with visible light into the delocalized charge-transfer absorption of NBD affords QC reversibly. In stark contrast, UV photoirradiation into the NBD localized excited state leads to a photoinduced degradation and cannot be back-isomerized to NBD under any circumstances. If the charge-transfer character is weak (a weakly electron-withdrawing ester and a weakly electron-donating phenyl), reversibility is seen independently of the photoirradiation light.

Homo and Hetero Molecular 3D Nanographenes Employing a Cyclooctatetraene Scaffold.

Two novel homo and hetero three-dimensional nanographenes, NG1 and NG2, featuring a cyclooctatetraene core are designed, synthesized, and characterized. A concise and efficient bottom-up methodology was employed during which 24 new carbon-carbon bonds were formed. By means of a Scholl reaction nanographenes with 53 fused rings are realized, which exhibited good solubility in common organic solvents. The resulting saddle-like structures of NG1 and NG2 are electron-rich and show good chemical and electrochemical stability. Their molecular structures are fully elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. From their crystal structure analysis is concluded that both nanographenes are chiral and crystallize as a racemic mixture. Our work was rounded-off by excited state investigations such as electron and energy transfer with electron-acceptors and -donors.

Quadrupolar Cyclopenta[hi]aceanthrylene-Based Electron Donor-Acceptor-Donor Conjugates: Charge Transfer versus Charge Separation.

Cyclopenta[hi]aceanthrylenes (CPAs) have been functionalized at two of the peripheral positions with electronically inert trimethylsilylethynyl (1), as well as with electron-donating 4-ethynyl-N,N-dimethylaniline (2), ethynyl ZnII phthalocyanine (3), and ethynyl ZnII porphyrin (4) units. Consistent with X-ray crystal structures of 2 and 4, analyses of absorption and fluorescence of 2-4 point to strong electronic communication between the CPA and the peripheral units, affording quadrupolar electron donor-acceptor-donor charge-transfer conjugates. By virtue of their quadrupolar/dipolar charge-transfer characters in the excited state, 2-4 exhibit fluoro-solvatochromism. Transient absorption spectroscopy confirmed delocalized quadrupolar ground states and formation of weakly solvent stabilized quadrupolar singlet excited states. The latter transform into strongly stabilized dipolar excited states before deactivating to the ground state in 2 and give rise to a fully charge separated state in 3 and 4.

Hydrogen-Bonded Polymer-Porphyrin Assemblies in Water: Supramolecular Structures for Light Energy Conversion.

In this study, a new type of functional, self-assembled nanostructure formed from porphyrins and polyamidoamine dendrimers based on hydrogen bonding in an aqueous solution is presented. As the aggregates formed are promising candidates for solar-energy conversion, their photocatalytic activity is tested using the model reaction of methyl viologen reduction. The self-assembled structures show significantly increased activity as compared to unassociated porphyrins. Details of interaction forces driving the supramolecular structure formation and regulating catalytic efficiency are fundamentally discussed.