Temperature-dependent NIR-CPL spectra of chiral Yb(III) complexes.

Chiral, enantiopure Yb(III) complexes exhibit circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength region. This CPL is quantified by the dissymmetry factor (glum). The excited state 2F5/2 consists of six mJ' states degenerated in three Stark levels, due to the crystal-field splitting (CFS), which are populated in accordance with the Boltzmann distribution. Consequently, room temperature CPL spectra are the sum of various - either positive or negative - contributions, that are practically impossible to quantify. To address this issue, an advanced setup enabling CPL measurements over a broad temperature range (300 to 4 K) has been developed. The interrelation of CFS, glum and temperature was explored using a pair of enantiopure Yb(III) complexes, highlighting the individual contribution of each crystal-field sublevel to the overall CPL spectrum, as anticipated by simulations performed in the framework of multireference wave-functions. Hence, the CPL spectra of chiral lanthanide complexes were found to be indeed strongly temperature-dependent, as is the glum dissymmetry factor, as a consequence of the variation in thermal sublevel population.

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of 1,1,4,4-Tetracyanobutadienes Derived from Ynamides Bearing Fluorophores.

1,1,4,4-Tetracyanobutadienes (TCBDs) bearing a large diversity of fluorophores were prepared following a multi-step synthesis. In a crucial last step, all compounds were obtained from the corresponding ynamides, which were particularly suitable for the formation of the TCBDs in the presence of tetracyanoethylene via a [2+2] cycloaddition/retroelectrocyclization step (CA-RE). Several fluorenyl derivatives in addition to phenanthrenyl and terphenyl ones provided ynamide-based TCBDs affording remarkable emission properties covering a large range of wavelengths. Those compounds emit both in solid state and in solution from the visible region to the NIR range, depending on the molecular structures. Quantum yields in cyclohexane reached unforeseen values for such derivatives, up to 7.8 %. A huge sensitivity to the environment of the TCBDs has also been unraveled for most of the compounds since we observed a dramatic fall of the quantum yields when changing the solvent from cyclohexane to toluene, while they are almost non-emissive in dichloromethane.

Twisted Charge-Transfer Antennae for Ultra-Bright Terbium(III) and Dysprosium(III) Bioprobes.

The design of original twisted charge transfer antennae in which a non-planar geometry is enforced thanks to one or two bulky ortho-Me substituents allows us to prepare the corresponding ultra-bright TbIII and DyIII bioprobes. The brightness of the TbIII derivative compares well with that of the benchmark Tb-Lumi4 complex. The first bio-imaging experiments with a DyIII luminescent bioprobe are also reported.

Enhancing the Visible-Light Absorption and Excited-State Properties of Cu(I) MLCT Excited States.

A computationally inspired Cu(I) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) chromophore, [Cu(sbmpep)2]+ (sbmpep = 2,9-di(sec-butyl)-3,8-dimethyl-4,7-di(phenylethynyl)-1,10-phenanthroline), was synthesized in seven total steps, prepared from either dichloro- or dibromophenanthroline precursors. Complete synthesis, structural characterization, and electrochemistry, in addition to static and dynamic photophysical properties of [Cu(sbmpep)2]+, are reported on all relevant time scales. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy revealed significant increases in oscillator strength along with a concomitant bathochromic shift in the MLCT absorption bands with respect to structurally related model complexes (ε = 16 500 M-1 cm-1 at 491 nm). Strong red photoluminescence (Φ = 2.7%, λmax = 687 nm) was observed from [Cu(sbmpep)2]+, which featured an average excited-state lifetime of 1.4 µs in deaerated dichloromethane. Cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry revealed ∼300 mV positive shifts in the measured one-electron reversible reduction and oxidation waves in relation to a Cu(I) model complex possessing identical structural elements without the π-conjugated 4,7-substituents. The excited-state redox potential of [Cu(sbmpep)2]+ was estimated to be -1.36 V, a notably powerful reductant for driving photoredox chemistry. The combination of conventional and ultrafast transient  absorption and luminescence spectroscopy successfully map the excited-state dynamics of [Cu(sbmpep)2]+ from initial photoexcitation to the formation of the lowest-energy MLCT excited state and ultimately its relaxation to the ground state. This newly conceived molecule appears poised for photosensitization reactions involving energy and electron-transfer processes relevant to photochemical upconversion, photoredox catalysis, and solar fuels photochemistry.

Terbium(III) Luminescent Complexes as Millisecond-Scale Viscosity Probes for Lifetime Imaging.

Fluorescent probes that are able to directly measure viscosity are attractive candidates for the study of intracellular environments. We report a new class of luminescent rotors, based on the sensitized emission of a terbium(III) complex. A 4-fold increase in both quantum yield and luminescence lifetime was observed in viscous media for the studied complexes, with a lifetime ranging from 0.23 to 0.89 ms over a broad range of viscosities (0.6-1200 cP). The presented approach, relying on the millisecond-scale luminescence lifetime of the lanthanide ions, was applied to fixed T24 cancer cells using temporal sampling lifetime imaging microscopy.

Cationic Two-Photon Lanthanide Bioprobes Able to Accumulate in Live Cells.

An original cationic water-soluble cyclen-based Eu(III) complex [EuL(1)](+) featuring a chromophore-functionalized antenna to increase the two-photon (2P) absorption properties was synthesized. The photophysical properties were thoroughly studied in various solvents and rationalized with the help of theoretical calculations. The complex exhibits an optimized 2P absorption cross section. Finally, 2P microscopy imaging experiments on living T24 human cancer cells highlighted the spontaneous internalization and the biological stability of this 2P bioprobe in vitro. Macrocyclic-based antennas open new perspectives for future optimization of the photophysical properties and allows envisaging the design of Eu, Tb, Yb, and Sm bioprobes. This result also opens the way for the design of functional two-photon Ln complexes able to monitor intracellular physicochemical parameters.

Unexpected Efficiency of a Luminescent Samarium(III) Complex for Combined Visible and Near-Infrared Biphotonic Microscopy.

An original samarium(III) complex based on a triazacyclononane platform functionalized with a charge-transfer antenna chromophore exhibited optimized brightness and was successfully used as an emissive species for two-photon microscopy experiments in both the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges.

Photon-gated foldaxane assembly/disassembly.

Integrating multiple anthracene motifs into aromatic oligoamide sequences gives rise to photoactive foldamers that can sequester a molecular thread forming helix-on-axle assemblies. Photoirradiation is shown to distort the helical host and drive dissociation of the supramolecular assembly and thread liberation as signalled by a photonic output, while thermal reversion regenerates the assembly.

1,1,4,4-Tetracyanobutadiene-Functionalized Anthracenes: Regioselectivity of Cycloadditions in the Synthesis of Small Near-IR Dyes.

Two small 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobutadiene-functionalized chromophores were obtained by careful leverage of the regioselectivity of the cycloaddition reaction of tetracyanoethylene with anthracene-ynamide derivatives, inducing either a [2 + 2] or a [4 + 2] Diels-Alder process. DFT calculations unraveled the mechanism of the [2 + 2] cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization reaction sequence with ynamides and elucidated the differing mechanisms in the two substrates. The synthesized dyes presented panchromatic absorption extending into the near-IR and far-red/near-IR photoluminescence in the solid state up to 1550 nm.

Synthesis, characterization and unusual near-infrared luminescence of 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobutadiene derivatives.

Two 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) derivatives were prepared by [2+2]cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization from ynamides bearing either a pyrene (1) or a perylene unit (2). In addition to panchromatic absorptions in 2, in the solid state, both compounds unexpectedly display NIR photoluminescence that could be detected up to about 1350 nm.

Near infrared two photon imaging using a bright cationic Yb(iii) bioprobe spontaneously internalized into live cells.

An Yb(iii) complex based on a dimethyl cyclen macrocyclic ligand functionalized by charge transfer antennae was prepared. This cationic [YbL3]+ complex is stable and soluble in water and presents interesting photophysical nonlinear properties. It is spontaneously internalized and accumulates in live cells. High quality images have been obtained both in a classical NIR-to-vis configuration and in the more challenging NIR-to-NIR one.

Two-photon multiplexing bio-imaging using a combination of Eu- and Tb-bioprobes.

During the course of our research studies aiming to combine the unique photophysical properties of lanthanide complexes and the intrinsic advantage of a nonlinear two-photon excitation, we described the proof-of-concept of a biphotonic multiplexing bio-imaging experiment. To that end, a new Tb-luminescent bioprobe [TbL(2)] was designed using the TACN-trispicolinate platform. The biphotonic imaging of T24 fixed cells stained either with [TbL(2)] or with the already described [EuL(1)] complexes is reported. Finally the biphotonic multiplexing experiment was performed using a combination of both probes using the spectral mode of the two-photon microscope.