Magnetic and transport properties of Fe single-molecule magnets: a theoretical insight.

Here, methods of density functional theory (DFT) were employed to study the magnetic and transport properties of a star-shaped single-molecule magnet FeS = 5 complex deposited on a gold surface. The study devoted to the magnetic properties focused on changes in the exchange coupling constants and magnetic anisotropy (zero-field splitting parameters) of the isolated and deposited molecules. Molecule-surface interactions induced significant changes in the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling constants because these depend closely on the geometry of the metal complex.

Novel fused D-A dyad and A-D-A triad incorporating tetrathiafulvalene and p-benzoquinone.

Novel fused donor-acceptor dyad (TTF-Q or D-A) and acceptor-donor-acceptor triad (Q-TTF-Q or A-D-A) incorporating the donor tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and the acceptor p-benzoquinone (Q) have been synthesized. The solution UV-vis spectra of these molecules display a low-energy absorption band that is attributed to an intramolecular charge transfer between both antagonistic units. The presence of reversible oxidation and reduction waves for the donor and acceptor moieties was shown by cyclic voltammetry, in agreement with the ratio TTF/quinone(s) units.

Photomechanical control of the electronic properties of linear pi-conjugated systems.

Photodynamic molecular architectures have been synthesized by covalent fixation of a photoisomerizable dimethylazobenzene group at two fixed points of conformationally flexible pi-conjugated quater- and sexithiophene chains. Theoretical geometry optimization shows, in excellent agreement with crystallographic structures, that the mode of fixation of the azo group plays a determining role in the geometry of the final molecular architecture and on its ability to perform the expected photoinduced molecular motion. Thus, covalent fixation of meta-dimethylazobenzene on a quaterthiophene chain results in a conformationally locked system in which photoisomerization of the azo group is hindered.

Photomechanical actuation and manipulation of the electronic properties of linear pi-conjugated systems.

A photodynamic molecular architecture has been synthesized by covalent fixation of a photoisomerizable azobenzene group at two fixed points of a conformationally flexible pi-conjugated quaterthiophene chain. The crystallographic structure shows that the two systems lie in parallel planes with a short interplane distance. Theoretical modelization and experimental analysis by 1H NMR and cyclic voltammetry unequivocally show that trans to cis photoisomerization of the azobenzene group induces dimensional and conformational changes in the underlying pi-conjugated system.

Crown-annelated oligothiophenes as model compounds for molecular actuation.

Crown-annelated quater- (4T) and sexithiophenes (6T) with oligooxyethylene chains of various lengths attached at the 3-positions of the terminal thiophene rings have been synthesized. Analysis of the cation-binding properties of the macrocycles by (1)H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy reveals the formation of a 1:1 complex with Ba(2+), Sr(2+), or Pb(2+) and shows that cation complexation results in a conformational transition in the pi-conjugated system. Theoretical analysis of this process by density functional methods predicts that this conformational transition results in a narrowing of the highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap of the conjugated system with a decrease of the redox potentials (E(0)(1) and E(0)(2)) associated with the formation of the 4T cation radical and dication.

First fused perpendicular hybrid tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) dimers: a new strategy in pi-extended and rigidified TTF.

[structure: see text] The synthesis, theoretical calculations, and crystallographic and electrochemical properties of fused perpendicular tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) dimers incorporating both a TTF unit and a quinonoid pi-extended TTF are described as a new strategy for obtaining pi-extended, rigidified, and sulfur-rich analogues of TTF.

Design and synthesis of push-pull chromophores for second-order nonlinear optics derived from rigidified thiophene-based pi-conjugating spacers.

Two series of push-pull chromophores built around thiophene-based pi-conjugating spacers rigidified either by covalent bonds or by noncovalent intramolecular interactions have been synthesized and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, electric field induced second harmonic generation (EFISH) and differential scanning calorimetry. Comparison of the linear and second-order nonlinear optical properties of chromophores based on a covalently bridged dithienylethylene (DTE) spacer with those of their analogues based on open chain DTE shows that the rigidification of the spacer produces a considerable bathochromic shift of the absorption maximum together with a dramatic enhancement of the molecular quadratic hyperpolarizability (mu beta) which reaches values among the highest reported so far. A second series of NLO-phores has been derived from a 2,2'-bi(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (BEDOT) pi-conjugating spacer.

S-position isomers of BEDT-TTF and EDT-TTF: synthesis and influence of outer sulfur atoms on the electrochemical properties and crystallographic network of related organic metals.

The synthesis and characterization of new modified tetrathiafulvalenes (TTF), the S-position isomers of BEDT-TTF and EDT-TTF, are described. The synthetic strategy presented in this work is based on an efficient and unprecedented two-step sequence for the conversion of a vicinal bis(hydroxymethyl) functionality into a disulfide ring. Different routes are discussed in terms of efficiency for the synthesis of the symmetric S-position isomer of BEDT-TTF and that of EDT-TTF.

Tetrathiafulvalene crowns: redox-switchable ligands.

A series of redox-responsive ligands that associate the electroactive tetrathiafulvalene core with polyether subunits of various lengths has been synthesized. X-ray structures are provided for each of the free ligands. The requisite structural criteria for reaching switchable ligands are satisfied for the largest macrocycles, that is, planarity of the 1,1',3,3'-tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) pi system and correctly oriented coordinating atoms.