Photochemically-assisted synthesis and photophysical properties of difluoroboronated ß-diketones with fused four-benzene-ring chromophores, chrysene and pyrene.

We investigated the photophysical properties of difluoroboronated ß-diketones (BF2DK) with chrysene and pyrene skeletons (ChB and PyB, respectively) in solution and in the solid state. Acetylchrysenes, as the key precursors to ChBs, were photochemically prepared from the corresponding (acetylphenyl)naphthylethenes by means of a modified photocyclization method. The absorption and emission spectra of the BF2DKs were obtained in chloroform and acetonitrile, and the quantum yields and lifetimes of the fluorescence were determined. Excimeric fluorescence from PyB was absent even in highly concentrated solution. Based on the Lippert-Mataga analysis of the absorption and fluorescence features, the photophysical properties of the ChBs were discussed in comparison with those of PyB. The fluorescence states of the studied BF2DKs are shown to be of a charge-transfer character. The fluorescence quantum yields decrease with increasing the solvent polarity due to the enhanced internal conversion process. The fluorescence quantum yields in the solid state of the studied BF2DKs were determined, and it was found that PyB is fluorescent, whereas the fluorescence quantum yields of the ChBs depend on the substituted position of the chrysene moiety.

Preparation and photophysical properties of fluorescent difluoroboronated ß-diketones having phenanthrene moieties studied by emission and transient absorption measurements.

Six difluoroboronated ß-diketones having the phenanthrene skeleton (Phe@Ar) are prepared. Based on the measurements of the fluorescence quantum yields, lifetimes and transient absorption, the photophysical features of Phe@Ar are studied in comparison with those of difluoroboronated diketones having phenyl, naphthyl and anthryl moieties. ß-Diketones having 1-, 2-, 3- and 9-phenanthryl moieties (PheDKAr) were prepared as the precursor to Phe@Ar. 1-Acetylphenanthrene was synthesized by the photocyclization method as the key building block of PheDKAr having the 1-phenanthryl moiety. The counter aromatic moieties (Ar) of the prepared PheDKAr are varied with phenyl, furyl and thienyl rings (Ar = Ph, F and T, respectively) to investigate the effects of π-conjugation on the fluorescence properties. The prepared Phe@Ars are fluorescent with appreciable fluorescence quantum yields which depend on the substitution position of the phenanthrene moiety. 3-Phe@Ph having the 3-phenanthryl moiety provides the largest fluorescence quantum yield (0.81) in acetonitrile among the Phe@Ars whereas 2-Phe@Ph having the 2-phenanthryl moiety shows the smallest fluorescence quantum yield (0.07) in acetonitrile. All the Phe@Ars show fluorescence also in the solid state, and the fluorescence spectra and quantum yields were determined. Transient absorption measurement using laser flash photolysis of the Phe@Ars revealed the triplet formation. DFT and TD-DFT calculations of Phe@Ars rationalize the dependency of the fluorescence quantum yields on the substitution position of the phenanthrene skeleton in terms of difference in the oscillator strength for the HOMO-LUMO transition.

Photochemical reactions of halogenated aromatic 1,3-diketones in solution studied by steady state, one- and two-color laser flash photolyses.

Photochemical processes of 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone, AB), 4-phenylbenzoylbenzoyl-, 4-phenylbenzoyl-2'-furanyl- and 4-phenylbenzoyl-2'-thenoylmethanes (PB@Ph, PB@F and PB@T, respectively) substituted with Br and Cl at the C2 position were studied by stationary and laser flash photolyses in solution. The absorption spectral features showed that the molecular structures of the halogenated diketones are in the keto forms while those of halogen-free diketones are in the enol forms. The excited singlet and triplet state energies were determined from the absorption and emission spectra. From the absorption spectral changes upon steady state photolysis of brominated diketones in ethanol, the corresponding halogen-free diketones were formed due to Br elimination being the major photochemical process. The determined quantum yields for the formation of the halogen-free diketones were independent of the amount of dissolved oxygen, indicating that the elimination process is an event in the excited singlet (S1) states. In contrast, from the observed absorption spectra obtained upon photolysis of chlorinated AB and PB@Ph, it was inferred that Norrish type I is the major photochemical reaction in the S1 states in acetonitrile. Chlorinated PB@F and PB@T were found to undergo Cl elimination in the S1 states in cyclohexane to form the corresponding halogen-free diketones. Laser photolysis studies of brominated AB in acetonitrile and ethanol provided a transient absorption spectrum ascribable to the Avobenzone radical (ABR) produced by debromination as the initial intermediate, followed by the AB formation in ethanol. The quenching rate constant of ABR by ethanol and the quantum yield of the AB formation via ABR were determined. These observations provided evidence that H-atom abstraction of ABR from ethanol is responsible for the AB formation. Conversely, laser flash photolysis of brominated and chlorinated PB@Ph, PB@F and PB@T demonstrated the formation of the triplet-triplet absorption spectra. No chemical reactions were found to occur in the triplet (T1) states. Two-color two-laser photolysis studies were carried out on the T1 state of chlorinated PB@Ph, PB@F and PB@T, resulting in the formation of the corresponding halogen-free diketones. These observations confirmed the occurrence of Cl elimination in the highly excited triplet (Tn, n≥ 2) states. Based on the computed bond dissociation energies for the C-halogen and C-C bonds, switching mechanisms of dehalogenation and α-cleavage were discussed.

Unique Solid-State Emission Behavior of Aromatic Difluoroboronated ß-Diketones as an Emitter in Organic Light-Emitting Devices.

Aromatic difluoroboronated ß-diketone (BF2 DK) derivatives are a widely known class of luminescent organic materials that exhibit high photoluminescent quantum efficiency and unique aggregation-dependent fluorescence behavior. However, there have been only a few reports on their use in solid-state electronic devices, such as organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). Herein, we investigated the solid-state properties and OLED performance of a series of π-extended BF2 DK derivatives that have previously been shown to exhibit intense fluorescence in the solution state. The BF2 DK derivatives formed exciplexes with a carbazole derivative and exhibited thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) behavior to give orange electroluminescence with a peak external quantum efficiency of 10 % that apparently exceeds the theoretical efficiency limit of conventional fluorescent OLEDs (7.5 %), assuming a light out-coupling factor of 30 %.