Near-infrared phosphorescence in a ruthenium(II) complex equipped with a pyridyl-1,2-azaborine ligand.

The 4-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-2,1-borazaronaphthalene molecule Hazab-py has been successfully used, for the first time, as a ligand in a ruthenium(II) polypyridine complex A (with the formula [Ru(dtbbpy)(azab-py)], where dtbbpy = 4,4'-di--butyl-2,2'-bipyridine). This compound was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS), and its electrochemical and photophysical properties were fully investigated and compared to those of its homoleptic analogue [Ru(dtbbpy)] (B), an archetypical mono-cationic cyclometalated complex C (with the formula [Ru(dtbbpy)(ppy)], where Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine), and the more structurally similar analogue [Ru(dtbbpy)(naft-py)] (D), where the B-N unit of the azaborine ligand is replaced by a standard CC one, resulting in the 2-(naphthalen-2-yl)pyridine ligand (Hnaft-py). The presence of the novel 1,2-azaborine ligand induces a 0.

Stabilization of Luminescent Mononuclear Three-Coordinate Cu Complexes by Two Distinct Cavity-Shaped Diphosphanes Obtained from a Single α-Cyclodextrin Precursor.

Slightly different reaction conditions afforded two distinct cavity-shaped cis-chelating diphosphanes from the same starting materials, namely diphenyl(2-phosphanylphenyl)phosphane and an α-cyclodextrin-derived dimesylate. Thanks to their metal-confining properties, the two diphosphanes form only mononuclear [CuX(PP)] complexes (X=Cl, Br, or I) with the tricoordinated metal ion located just above the center of the cavity. The two series of Cu complexes display markedly different luminescence properties that are both influenced by the electronic properties of the ligand and the unique steric environment provided by the cyclodextrin (CD) cavity.

Unexpected reactivity of cyclometalated iridium(III) dimers. Direct synthesis of a mononuclear luminescent complex.

A new synthetic method has been developed for the preparation of unexpected emissive iridium(III) complexes (A and B), directly obtained from the established [Ir(ppy)(μ-Cl)] dimer, under reaction conditions in which such compounds are usually considered stable. Complex A ([Ir(ppy)(Oppy)], where Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine and HOppy = 2-(-hydroxyphenyl)pyridine) was obtained from the dimer without the addition of further ancillary ligands in the reaction environment, but in the presence of a basic water environment in 2-ethoxyethanol as solvent at 165 °C. The complex evidences the unexpected insertion of an oxygen atom between the iridium(III) center and the carbon atom of one ppy moiety.

Elucidating the Excited State Behavior of Pyridyl Pyridinium Systems via Computational and Transient Absorption Studies of Tetrahedral Multichromophoric Arrays and their Model Compounds.

The tetrahedral shape-persistent molecule 1 , containing four identical pyridyl pyridinium units connected via a sp hybridized carbon atom, has been investigated in detail by means of steady-state and time resolved spectroscopy. Remarkable photophysical properties are observed, particularly in comparison with protonated and methylated analogues (1H , 1Me ), which exhibit substantially shorter excited state lifetimes and lower emission quantum yields. Theoretical studies have rationalized the behavior of the tetrameric molecules relative to the monomers, with DFT and TD-DFT calculations corroborating steady-state (absorption and emission) and transient absorption spectra.

Non-Phenomenological Description of the Time-Resolved Emission in Solution with Quantum-Classical Vibronic Approaches-Application to Coumarin C153 in Methanol.

We report a joint experimental and theoretical work on the steady-state spectroscopy and time-resolved emission of the coumarin C153 dye in methanol. The lowest energy excited state of this molecule is characterized by an intramolecular charge transfer thus leading to remarkable shifts of the time-resolved emission spectra, dictated by the methanol reorganization dynamics. We selected this system as a prototypical test case for the first application of a novel computational protocol aimed at the prediction of transient emission spectral shapes, including both vibronic and solvent effects, without applying any phenomenological broadening.

Multi-Responsive Eight-State Bis(acridinium-Zn(II) porphyrin) Receptor.

A multi-responsive receptor consisting of two (acridinium-Zn(II) porphyrin) conjugates has been designed. The binding constant between this receptor and a ditopic guest has been modulated (i) upon addition of nucleophiles converting acridinium moieties into the non-aromatic acridane derivatives and (ii) upon oxidation of the porphyrin units. A total of eight states has been probed for this receptor resulting from the cascade of the recognition and responsive events.

A Pyridyl-1,2-azaborine Ligand for Phosphorescent Neutral Iridium(III) Complexes.

A novel 1,2-azaborine (, 4-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-2,1-borazaronaphthalene, ) has been synthesized and used for the first time as a B-N alternative to common cyclometalating ligands to obtain neutral phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes (, , , and ) of general formula [Ir(CN)(NNB)], where CN indicates three different cyclometalating ligands (Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine; Hdfppy = 2-(2,4-difluoro-phenyl)pyridine; Hpqu = 2-methyl-3-phenylquinoxaline). Moreover, the azaborine-based complex was compared to the isoelectronic C═C iridium(III) complex , obtained using the corresponding 2-(naphthalen-2-yl)pyridine ligand . Due to the dual cyclometalation mode of such C═C ligand, the isomeric complex was also obtained.

Stable Luminescent [Cu(NN)(PP)] Complexes Incorporating a β-Cyclodextrin-Based Diphosphane Ligand with Metal-Confining Properties.

A β-cyclodextrin-based diphosphane with metal-confining properties was efficiently synthesized thanks to an unprecedented Smiles-like rearrangement of diphenyl-(2-phosphanylphenyl)phosphane in the presence of excess n-BuLi. The cis-chelating bidentate ligand is capable of forming very stable heteroleptic [Cu(NN)(PP)] complexes in which a metal-bound diimine ligand (bpy, phen, or mmp) is located within the cyclodextrin cavity. As a result of ligand encapsulation, flattening of the metal tetrahedral geometry in the excited state is disfavored, thereby resulting in enhanced luminescent properties.

4-Phenyl-1,2,3-triazoles as Versatile Ligands for Cationic Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes.

Five cationic iridium(III) complexes (-) were synthesized exploiting two triazole-based cyclometalating ligands, namely, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1-1,2,3-triazole () and the corresponding mesoionic carbene 1,3-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene (). From the combination of these two ligands and the ancillary one, i.e.

Giant Shape-Persistent Tetrahedral Porphyrin System: Light-Induced Charge Separation.

Tetraphenylmethane appended with four pyridylpyridinium units works as a scaffold to self-assemble four ruthenium porphyrins in a tetrahedral shape-persistent giant architecture. The resulting supramolecular structure has been characterised in the solid state by X-ray single crystal analysis and in solution by various techniques. Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy confirms the 1 : 4 stoichiometry with the formation of a highly symmetric structure.

Photophysical properties of 1,2,3,4,5-pentaarylcyclopentadienyl-hydrotris(indazolyl)borate ruthenium(II) complexes.

The photophysical properties of heteroleptic rotor-like Ru(ii) complexes containing both a cyclopentadienyl-type ligand and a hydrotris(indazolyl)borate chelating unit with a piano stool structure (Ar5L1-Ru-S1 and L3-Ru-S1) and their corresponding subunits have been investigated. The complexes show peculiar absorption features when compared with their related ligands or fragments. L3-Ru-S1 was found to be non-emissive, while Ar5L1-Ru-S1 showed a weak emission with a quantum yield of 0.

Excited-State Engineering in Heteroleptic Ionic Iridium(III) Complexes.

Iridium(III) complexes have assumed a prominent role in the areas of photochemistry and photophysics due to the peculiar properties of both the metal itself and the ligand environment that can be assembled around it. Ir(III) is larger, heavier, and bears a higher ionic charge than its analogue and widely used d ions such as Fe(II) and Ru(II). Accordingly, its complexes exhibit wider ligand-field d-d orbital splitting with electronic levels centered on the metal, typically nonemissive and photodissociative, not playing a relevant role in excited-state deactivations.

Iridium(III) Complexes with Fluorinated Phenyl-tetrazoles as Cyclometalating Ligands: Enhanced Excited-State Energy and Blue Emission.

Five cationic iridium(III) complexes with fluorinated cyclometalating tetrazole ligands [Ir(dfptrz)L], where Hdfptrz = 5-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-methyl-2-tetrazole and L = 2,2'-bypiridine (), 4,4'-di-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine (), 1,10-phenantroline (), 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)-2,2'-bipyridine (), and -butyl isocyanide (), were prepared following a one-pot synthetic strategy based on a bis-cyclometalated solvato complex obtained via silver(I)-assisted cyclometalation, which was then reacted with the proper ancillary ligand to get the targeted complexes. The X-ray crystal structures of and were determined, showing that the tetrazole ligands are in a trans arrangement with respect to the iridium center. Electrochemical and photophysical properties, along with density functional theory calculations, allowed a full rationalization of the electronic properties of -.

Highly Efficient Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on Benzoheterodiazole Dyes with Large Stokes Shifts.

Five extended π-conjugated systems with electron donor (D) and acceptor (A) moieties have been synthesized. Their basic D-A-D structural motif is a benzothiadiazole unit symmetrically equipped with two thiophene rings (S2T). Its variants include 1) the same molecular framework in which sulfur is replaced by selenium (Se2T), also with four thiophene units (Se4T) and 2) a D'-D-A-D system having a N-carbazole donor moiety at one end (CS2T) and a D'-D-A-D-A' array with a further acceptor carbonyl unit at the other extremity (CS2TCHO).

Carbazole-Terpyridine Donor-Acceptor Dyads with Rigid π-Conjugated Bridges.

A series of molecules in which 9H-carbazole (electron donor, D) and 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (electron acceptor, A) are connected through rigid π-conjugated bridges (D-π-A systems) have been synthesized and their photophysical properties examined in detail, with the support of DFT calculations. The bridges are made of different sequences of ethynylene, phenylene, and anthracene groups. The synthetic strategies involve condensation of 2-acetylpyridine with the aromatic aldehyde moiety on different functionalized π-conjugated bridges and couplings with carbazole derivatives.

Heteroleptic Copper(I) Complexes Prepared from Phenanthroline and Bis-Phosphine Ligands: Rationalization of the Photophysical and Electrochemical Properties.

The electronic and structural properties of ten heteroleptic [Cu(NN)(PP)] complexes have been investigated. NN indicates 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Bphen); each of these ligands is combined with five PP bis-phosphine chelators, i.e.

Unconventional Synthesis of a Cu Rotaxane with a Superacceptor Stopper: Ultrafast Excited-State Dynamics and Near-Infrared Luminescence.

A Cu bis-phenanthroline rotaxane was prepared by using the [2+2] cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization (CA-RE) reaction to graft a bulky dicyanoquinodimethane (DCNQ) stopper. The electronic properties were investigated with electrochemical and photophysical techniques, in parallel with three reference compounds, namely, the DCNQ derivative alone, the DCNQ-based phenanthroline ligand, and an analogue Cu complex lacking the DCNQ moiety. In all the systems containing the DCNQ unit, the lowest electronic excited states are centered thereon, with the singlet level (S ) located at about 1.

Cyclometalated N-heterocyclic carbene iridium(iii) complexes with naphthalimide chromophores: a novel class of phosphorescent heteroleptic compounds.

A series of cyclometalated N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of the general formula [Ir(C^N)(C^C:)] has been prepared. Two sets of compounds were designed, those where (C^C:) represents a bidentate naphthalimide-substituted imidazolylidene ligand and (C^N) = ppy (3a), F2ppy (4a), bzq (5a) and those where (C^C:) represents a naphthalimide-substituted benzimidazolylidene ligand and (C^N) = ppy (3b), F2ppy (4b), bzq (5b). The naphthalimide-imidazole and naphthalimide-benzimidazole ligands 1a,b and the related imidazolium and benzimidazolium salts 2a,b were also prepared and fully characterized.

Heteroleptic Copper(I) Pseudorotaxanes Incorporating Macrocyclic Phenanthroline Ligands of Different Sizes.

A series of copper(I) pseudorotaxanes has been prepared from bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl] ether (POP) and macrocyclic phenanthroline ligands with different ring sizes (m30, m37, and m42). Variable-temperature studies carried out on the resulting [Cu(mXX)(POP)] (mXX = m30, m37, and m42) derivatives have revealed a dynamic conformational equilibrium due to the folding of the macrocyclic ligand. The absorption and luminescence properties of the pseudorotaxanes have been investigated in CHCl.

Anionic Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes with a Bis-Tetrazolate Ancillary Ligand for Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells.

A series of monoanionic Ir(III) complexes (2-4) of general formula [Ir(C^N)(b-trz)](TBA) are presented, where C^N indicates three different cyclometallating ligands (Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine; Hdfppy = 2-(2,4-difluoro-phenyl)pyridine; Hpqu = 2-methyl-3-phenylquinoxaline), b-trz is a bis-tetrazolate anionic N^N chelator (Hb-trz = di(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methane), and TBA = tetrabutylammonium. 2-4 are prepared in good yields by means of the reaction of the suitable b-trz bidentate ligand with the desired iridium(III) precursor. The chelating nature of the ancillary ligand, thanks to an optimized structure and geometry, improves the stability of the complexes, which have been fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution MS, while X-ray structure determination confirmed the binding mode of the b-trz ligand.

Efficient Photoinduced Energy and Electron Transfer in Zn -Porphyrin/Fullerene Dyads with Interchromophoric Distances up to 2.6 nm and No Wire-like Connectivity.

The dyads 1-3 made of an alkynylated Zn -porphyrin and a bis-methanofullerene derivative connected through a copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition have been synthesized. The porphyrin and fullerene chromophores are separated through a bridge made of a bismethanofullerene tether linked to different spacers conjugated to the porphyrin moiety [i.e.

Photoredox radical conjugate addition of dithiane-2-carboxylate promoted by an iridium(iii) phenyl-tetrazole complex: a formal radical methylation of Michael acceptors.

A readily accessible iridium(iii) phenyl-tetrazole complex ([Ir(ptrz)(Bu-bpy)], ; Hptrz = 2-methyl-5-phenyl-tetrazole; Bu-bpy = 4,4'-di--butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) is shown to be a versatile catalyst for a new photocatalytic Michael reaction. Under light irradiation in the presence of , a dithiane 2-carboxylic acid, obtained by simple hydrolysis of a commercially available ethyl ester, generates a 1,3-dithiane radical capable of performing addition to a variety of Michael acceptors (, unsaturated ketones, esters, amides and malonates). This broad scope reaction with high yields is a formal photo-redox addition of the elusive methyl radical and the adducts obtained can be starting materials for a variety of functionalized products.

Color-Tunable Heterodinuclear Pt(II)/B(III) and Pt(II)/Ir(III) Arrays with N^O-julolidine Ligands.

The synthesis and photophysical properties of two multichromophoric systems, Pt(II)/B(III) and Pt(II)/Ir(III), based on novel N^O-julolidine ligands are reported. The functionalization of the julolidine core enables the introduction of two different anchoring sites, a terminal acetylene and an N^O chelating moiety, which allow the assembling of two different chromophoric centers. The complex photophysical behavior of these multicomponent arrays is rationalized by investigating a series of model compounds, which are prepared through specific synthetic pathways.

Covalently Functionalized SWCNTs as Tailored p-Type Dopants for Perovskite Solar Cells.

The covalent functionalization of (7,6)-enriched single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with oligophenylenevinylene (OPV) moieties terminating with a dimethylamino group is proposed as an efficient way to enhance the affinity of CNTs with spiro-MeOTAD in perovskite-based solar cells. The evidence of SWCNTs functionalization and the degree of OPV substitution on SWCNTs are established from TGA, XPS, TEM, and Raman techniques. Our tailored doping materials afford photovoltaic performances in line with conventional Li-doped spiro-MeOTAD, showing at the same time a significantly improved chemical stability of the perovskite component over time.

The Rise of Near-Infrared Emitters: Organic Dyes, Porphyrinoids, and Transition Metal Complexes.

In recent years, the interest in near-infrared (NIR) emitting molecules and materials has increased significantly, thanks to the expansion of the potential technological applications of NIR luminescence in several areas such as bioimaging, sensors, telecommunications, and night-vision displays. This progress has been facilitated by the development of new synthetic routes for the targeted functionalization and expansion of established molecular frameworks and by the availability of simpler and cheaper NIR detectors. Herein, we present recent developments on three major classes of systems-i.