A nine-ring fused terrylene diimide exhibits switching between red TADF and near-IR room temperature phosphorescence.

Herein, we report the first example of a terrylene diimide derivative that switches emission between thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in the red region. By design, the molecule TDI-cDBT boasts a symmetrical, consecutively fused nine-ring motif with a kite-like structure. The rigid core formed by the annulated dibenzothiophene moiety favoured efficient intersystem crossing and yielded a narrow-band emission with a full-width half maxima (FWHM) of 0.

A Bis-Porphyrin Cavitand Breathing-In to Constrict Bucky Balls.

Bis-porphyrin cages have long been exploited to bind fullerenes selectively for various applications. The major consideration for an effective binding here had been the cavity size. Herein, we structurally demonstrate that a bis-Ni-porphyrin cavitand having even a smaller cavity can host a larger fullerene by a breathing and ruffling mechanism.

The deeper it goes, the brighter it glows: NIR emissive nitro-terrylene diimides with deep LUMOs.

Herein, we present the first examples of air-stable, deep-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) polycyclic aromatic molecules with emission in the near-infrared (NIR) region, using nitration as a strategy. Despite the fact that nitroaromatics are non-emissive, the choice of a comparatively electron-rich terrylene core proved to be beneficial for achieving fluorescence in these molecules. The extent of nitration proportionately stabilized the LUMOs.

Bridging the Bays, Both Ways: A Janus Butterfly-Shaped Intense NIR-Emitting Terrylene Diimide.

Molecules with intense near-IR (NIR) emission are beneficial for modern applications such as night vision, bio-imaging etc. However, elaborate synthetic manipulations make them demanding to accomplish. Herein, we present a simple yet exciting strategy to obtain novel Janus butterfly-shaped terrylene diimide derivatives with carbazole wings having absorption and intense emission in the NIR.

Isolation and Structural Characterization of Regioisomers of Dibrominated Terrylene Diimides.

Diverse applications of rylenediimides are attributed to the accessibility of simple methodologies to obtain versatile halogenated precursors. Terrylene diimides are important molecular platforms to achieve materials with NIR absorption and emission. In this work, we present a simple synthesis for the hitherto unknown di- and tribromo-TDIs.

Aminophenyl-substituted cobalt(iii) corrole: a bifunctional electrocatalyst for the oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions.

Catalytic water splitting is a highly promising area of research for the development of a hydrogen-based society. Herein, the synthesis of the bifunctional AB-type cobalt(iii) corrole Co(BAPC)Py having the electron-withdrawing meso-pentafluorophenyl and the basic meso-p-aminophenyl substituents is reported. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal that Co(BAPC)Py has two oxidation waves at 0.

A tris-(manganese(iii))corrole-porphyrin-corrole triad: synthesis, characterization and catalytic epoxidation.

A homotrimetallic manganese(iii) corrole-porphyrin-corrole triad has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Corrole and porphyrin rings in the free base corrole-porphyrin-corrole triad are found to be roughly perpendicular to each other having a dihedral angle of 83° in the solid state. A dihedral angle of nearly 67° was found between Mn(iii)-corroles and Mn(iii)-porphyrin rings in the manganese triad complex, 1-Mn.

A cell-permeant small molecule for the super-resolution imaging of the endoplasmic reticulum in live cells.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) constitutes about half of the total membrane of a eukaryotic cell, and defects in the ER have been shown to be linked with a variety of diseases. To investigate these underlying mechanisms in detail, the specific labelling of the ER for high-resolution long-term live-imaging can serve as an important tool. Here, we report the identification of a stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy-compatible BODIPY derivative (NH2-BODIPY) to selectively image the ER.

Corrole-BODIPY Dyad as Small-Molecule Donor for Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells.

Dyes based on charge-transfer (CT) characteristics are attractive candidates for organic photovoltaics due to their intense and broad absorption window. In these molecular frameworks, electron-rich donors and electron-deficient acceptors are covalently linked to achieve an effective CT process. Corrole, a tetrapyrrolic congener of porphyrin, is an excellent example of an electron-rich molecule with a large molar extinction coefficient.

Metal-free Annulation at the Ortho- and Bay-Positions of Perylene Bisimide Leading to Lateral π-Extension with Strong NIR Absorption.

A novel ortho/ bay annulation reaction of perylene bisimide (PBI) has been explored in a single step synthetic procedure using perylene bisimide 1 and 1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in the absence of any metal catalyst.

Selective Imaging of Lipids in Adipocytes by Using an Imidazolyl Derivative of Perylene Bisimide.

A small molecule, perylene bisimide imidazolyl derivative (PBI-ID), has been identified and developed as a specific marker for labelling multifunctional fat bodies in various organisms, including Drosophila and mammalian adipocytes. Interestingly, PBI-ID neither labels the plasma membranes nor cell nuclei by trapping into it. A remarkable feature of unbound PBI-ID is diminished fluorescence, which reduces the background emission noise, while contrasting the bound state effectively.

The Curious Case of a Parasitic Twin of the Corroles.

An expanded porphyrinoid has been obtained by a simple ring expansion from a contracted porphyrinoid, namely corrole. Spectroscopic, structural, and computational investigations reveal peculiar π-conjugation and geometry. The effect of extended π-conjugation is evident from perturbed redox behavior and photophysical properties.

Evidence for a [17] π-Electronic Full-Fledged Non-innocent Gallium(III)-Corrole Radical.

One-electron oxidation of a Ga -corrole with N(4-BrC H ) SbCl resulted in an air-stable non-innocent Ga -corrole radical. The single-crystal X-ray crystallography of the 2,17-bis-formyl-5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrolato gallium(III)(chloride) radical ([3-Cl] ) revealed delocalization of the unpaired electron, which was further confirmed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and spin density distribution plot. In addition, the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS), anisotropy-induced current density (AICD) and harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA) supported a [17] π-electron-conjugated (or antiaromatic) radical.

Zwitterionic BODIPYs with large stokes shift: small molecular biomarkers for live cells.

The two first examples of zwitterionic BODIPYs have been synthesized via a simple S-Ar methodology. The molecules exhibit excellent optical behavior, such as a large Stokes shift in solution and therefore a very intense emission, and can thus avoid self-quenching. The zwitterionic nature of the molecules was unambiguously elucidated using single crystal XRD studies.

Novel structurally tuned DAMN receptor for "in situ" diagnosis of bicarbonate in environmental waters.

A new diaminomalenonitrile (DAMN) based charge transfer (CT) chromophore has been designed and synthesized. The receptor demonstrates highly specific and prompt bicarbonate anion (HCO3(-)) sensing in aqueous solution. Interaction with HCO3(-) triggers facile CT across the system, and enables the in situ recognition of water soluble carbonates.

Gallium(III)corrole-BODIPY hybrid: novel photophysical properties and first observation of B-F∙∙∙F interactions.

Anchoring a BODIPY onto Ga(III)corrole via a meso-β linkage facilitated PeT in polar solvents, which quenched the fluorescence, and is further confirmed by electrochemical studies. The triad exhibits unprecedented crystal emission, which is not known for a corrole derivative, due to unique packing. Compound 4 hosts the first example of a novel B-F∙∙∙F interaction as well.

Dual-mode chemodosimetric response of dibromo-BODIPY with anions.

Aromatic nucleophilic substitution (Ar-SN) reaction of 3,5-dibromopentafluorophenyl-BODIPY has been explored as a remarkable basis for selective discrimination of anions. The efficient and characteristic ability of anions to modulate the absorption and emission properties of the dye provides an instantaneous distinction through dual-modes. For the first time, a novel platform to achieve dual-modal and promising recognition with discrimination of a series of anions differing in the nucleophilic atoms (F, O, C and N) has been taken into consideration.

Reusable and specific proton transfer signalling by inorganic cyanide in solution and solid phase.

A highly specific cyanide mediated proton transfer signalling (PTS) is exhibited by a simple diaminomalenonitrile (DAMN) derivative 1. By virtue of the functional groups on it, the chromophore offered a rigid anchoring on a silica surface via a simple dip method, while retaining the recognition behaviour. The PTS triggered a prompt dual-modal display i.

First example of a modular porphyrinoid assembly capable of stabilizing different metal ions in a single molecular scaffold.

We report the synthesis and characterization of porphyrin-corrole-porphyrin (Por-Cor-Por) hybrids directly linked at the meso-meso positions for the first time. The stability and solubility of the trimer are carefully balanced by adding electron-withdrawing substituents to the corrole ring and sterically bulky groups on the porphyrins. The new hybrids are capable of stabilizing more than one metal ion in a single molecular scaffold.

Corrole-BODIPY Dyads: Synthesis, Structure, and Electrochemical and Photophysical Properties.

A free-base and its Cu(III) derivative of bichromophoric meso-β linked corrole-BODIPY dyad were synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). Both corrole and BODIPY fragments maintained respective ground state electronic isolation despite their connection through a single bond due to a tilted orientation as observed by XRD. This was further supported by UV-vis and cyclic voltammetric studies.

A selective fluoride sensor and a digital processor with "Write-Read-Erase-Read" behaviour.

An easy-to-synthesize Schiff base as a selective and colorimetric fluoride sensor via modulation of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) has been demonstrated. A typical dual-ion binding property along with its distinct reversibility has been explored for YES, NOR and INH logic functions and a potential "Write-Read-Erase-Read" mimic.

Aliphatic amine discrimination by pentafluorophenyl dibromo BODIPY.

Two new fluorescent BODIPY dyes have been designed and synthesized. They dyes differ in their meso substituents, which have different electronic properties. Their selective reactivity towards an Ar-S(N)2 reaction has been explored as a potential basis for colorimetric and fluorescent discrimination of primary, secondary and tertiary aliphatic amines.

Novel azepino-perylenebisimides: synthesis, structure, and properties.

The first example of an azepine ring formation by counterintuitive nucleophilic participation of DBU was observed at the sterically crowded bay area of electron-deficient perylenebisimide (PBI). This is also a rare example of the formation of a seven-membered ring via two consecutive C-N bond formations in a single step. Azepino-PBIs reveal panchromatic absorption covering the whole visible region.

Visible-light activation of the bimetallic chromophore-catalyst dyad: analysis of transient intermediates and reactivity toward organic sulfides.

In order to develop a new photocatalytic system, we designed a new redox-active module (5) to hold both a photosensitizer part, [Ru(II)(terpy)(bpy)X](n+) (where terpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine and bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), and a popular Jacobsen catalytic part, salen-Mn(III), covalently linked through a pyridine-based electron-relay moiety. On the basis of nanosecond laser flash photolysis studies, an intramolecular electron transfer mechanism from salen-Mn(III) to photooxidized Ru(III) chromophore yielding the catalytically active high-valent salen-Mn(IV) species was proposed. To examine the reactivity of such photogenerated salen-Mn(IV), we employed organic sulfide as substrate.

Tuning the electronic nature of mono-bay alkynyl-phenyl-substituted perylene bisimides: synthesis, structure, and photophysical properties.

Perylene bisimide (PBI) derivatives with various alkynyl-phenyl substituents at a single bay position have been synthesised by Sonogashira coupling. NMR spectroscopic studies reveal the unsymmetric nature of the dyads. All of the dyads undergo two reversible reductions, which demonstrates their structural and electrochemical rigidity.