Bis(Triphenylamine)Benzodifuran Chromophores: Synthesis, Electronic Properties and Application in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

A series of bis(triphenylamine)benzodifuran chromophores have been synthesized and fully characterised. Starting from suitably functionalized benzodifuran (BDF) precursors, two triphenylamine (TPA) moieties are symmetrically coupled to a central BDF unit either at 4,8-positions through double bonds () and single bonds () respectively, or at 2,6-positions through double bonds (). Their electronic absorption and photoluminescence properties as well as redox behaviour have been investigated in detail, indicating that the π-extended conjugation vinyl linkers in and leads to comparatively strong electronic interactions between the relevant redox moieties TPA and BDF.

Triggering Emission with the Helical Turn in Thiadiazole-Helicenes.

Introduction of heterocycles into the helical skeleton of helicenes allows modulation of their redox, chiroptical, and photophysical properties. This paper describes the straightforward preparation and structural characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction of thiadiazole-[7]helicene, which was resolved into M and P enantiomers by chiral HPLC, together with its S-shaped double [4]helicene isomer, as well as the smaller congeners thiadiazole-[5]helicene and benzothiadiazole-anthracene. A copper(II) complex with two thiadiazole-[5]helicene ligands was structurally characterized, and it shows the presence of both M and P isomers coordinated to the metal center.

Modulation of the charge transfer and photophysical properties in non-fused tetrathiafulvalene-benzothiadiazole derivatives.

Bis(thiomethyl)- and bis(thiohexyl)-tetrathiafulvalene-bromo-benzothiadiazoles, containing electron donor tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and electron acceptor benzothiadiazole (BTD) units, have been prepared by Stille coupling reactions between the TTF-SnMe3 precursors and BTD-Br2. In another series of experiments, TTF-acetylene-BTD compounds have been synthesized by Sonogashira coupling between either TTF-acetylenes and BTD-Br2 in low yields, or TTF-iodine and BTD-acetylene in moderate yields. In the compound TTF-C≡C-BTD the TTF and BTD units are coplanar in the solid state, as shown by the single crystal X-ray structure, and there is segregation in the packing between the donor and acceptor units.

Hydrogen-bonding effects on the formation and lifetimes of charge-separated states in molecular triads.

Photoinduced electron transfer in two molecular triads comprised of a triarylamine donor, a d(6) metal diimine photosensitizer, and a 9,10-anthraquinone acceptor was investigated with particular focus on the influence of hydrogen-bonding solvents on the electron transfer kinetics. Photoexcitation of the ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) sensitizers of these triads leads to charge-separated states containing an oxidized triarylamine unit and a reduced anthraquinone moiety. The kinetics for formation of these charge-separated states were explored by using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy.

Photoinduced electron transfer in linear triarylamine-photosensitizer-anthraquinone triads with ruthenium(II), osmium(II), and iridium(III).

A rigid rod-like organic molecular ensemble comprised of a triarylamine electron donor, a 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) ligand, and a 9,10-anthraquinone acceptor was synthesized and reacted with suitable metal precursors to yield triads with Ru(bpy)(3)(2+), Os(bpy)(3)(2+), and [Ir(2-(p-tolyl)pyridine)(2)(bpy)](+) photosensitizers. Photoexcitation of these triads leads to long-lived charge-separated states (τ = 80-1300 ns) containing a triarylamine cation and an anthraquinone anion, as observed by transient absorption spectroscopy. From a combined electrochemical and optical spectroscopic study, the thermodynamics and kinetics for the individual photoinduced charge-separation and thermal charge-recombination events were determined; in some cases, measurements on suitable donor-sensitizer or sensitizer-acceptor dyads were necessary.

Hydrogen-bond strengthening upon photoinduced electron transfer in ruthenium-anthraquinone dyads interacting with hexafluoroisopropanol or water.

Quinones play a key role as primary electron acceptors in natural photosynthesis, and their reduction is known to be facilitated by hydrogen-bond donors or protonation. In this study, the influence of hydrogen-bond donating solvents on the thermodynamics and kinetics of intramolecular electron transfer between Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) and 9,10-anthraquinone redox partners linked together via one up to three p-xylene units was investigated. Addition of relatively small amounts of hexafluoroisopropanol to dichloromethane solutions of these rigid rodlike donor-bridge-acceptor molecules is found to accelerate intramolecular Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)-to-anthraquinone electron transfer substantially because anthraquinone reduction occurs more easily in the presence of the strong hydrogen-bond donor.

Photoinduced electron transfer in covalent ruthenium-anthraquinone dyads: relative importance of driving-force, solvent polarity, and donor-bridge energy gap.

Four rigid rod-like molecules comprised of a Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) photosensitizer, a 9,10-anthraquinone electron acceptor, and a molecular bridge connecting the two redox partners were synthesized and investigated by optical spectroscopic and electrochemical means. An attempt was made to assess the relative importance of driving-force, solvent polarity, and bridge variation on the rates of photoinduced electron transfer in these molecules. Expectedly, introduction of tert-butyl substituents in the bipyridine ligands of the ruthenium complex and a change in solvent from dichloromethane to acetonitrile lead to a significant acceleration of charge transfer rates.

Microsecond charge recombination in a linear triarylamine-Ru(bpy)3(2+)-anthraquinone triad.

Linear triads with ruthenium photosensitizers are frequently based on the Ru(terpyridine)(2)(2+) unit. We report on vectorial photoinduced electron transfer in a linear triad based on the Ru(bipyridine)(3)(2+) photosensitizer. Electron-hole separation over a 22 Å-distance is established with a quantum yield greater than 64% and persists for 1.