Benzene Units Research Articles

An unusual plank-shaped nematogen with a graphene nanoribbon core

Laterally decorated ribbon-shaped graphene segments made of twelve benzene units self-assemble into a nematic anisotropic glass at room temperature with high birefringence and polarized fluorescence.

Turn on of sky-blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) via increased torsion by a bulky carbazolophane donor.

The carbazolophane (Czp) donor unit (indolo[2.2]paracyclophane) is introduced to the design pool of donors in thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters. The increased steric bulk of the annelated donor unit forces an increased torsion between the carbazole and the aryl bridge resulting in a decreased ΔE ST and an enhancement of the thermally activated delayed fluorescence in the triazine-containing emitter CzpPhTrz. Further, the closely stacked carbazole and benzene units of the paracyclophane show through-space π-π interactions, effectively increasing the spatial occupation for the HOMO orbital. The chiroptical properties of enantiomers of [2.2]paracyclophane reveal mirror image circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with g lum of 1.3 × 10-3. rac-CzpPhTrz is a sky-blue emitter with λ PL of 480 nm, a very small ΔE ST of 0.16 eV and high Φ PL of 70% in 10 wt% doped DPEPO films. Sky blue-emitting OLEDs were fabricated with this new TADF emitter showing a high maximum EQE of 17% with CIE coordinates of (0.17, 0.25). A moderate EQE roll-off was also observed with an EQE of 12% at a display relevant luminance of 100 cd m-2. Our results show that the Czp donor contributes to both a decreased ΔE ST and an increased photoluminescence quantum yield, both advantageous in the molecular design of TADF emitters.

Unique Biosynthetic Pathway in Bloom-Forming Cyanobacterial Genus Microcystis Jointly Assembles Cytotoxic Aeruginoguanidines and Microguanidines.

The cyanobacterial genus Microcystis is known to produce an elaborate array of structurally unique and biologically active natural products, including hazardous cyanotoxins. Cytotoxic aeruginoguanidines represent a yet unexplored family of peptides featuring a trisubstituted benzene unit and farnesylated arginine derivatives. In this study, we aimed at assigning these compounds to a biosynthetic gene cluster by utilizing biosynthetic attributes deduced from public genomes of Microcystis and the sporadic distribution of the metabolite in axenic strains of the Pasteur Culture Collection of Cyanobacteria. By integrating genome mining with untargeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, we linked aeruginoguanidine (AGD) to a nonribosomal peptide synthetase gene cluster and coassigned a significantly smaller product to this pathway, microguanidine (MGD), previously only reported from two Microcystis blooms. Further, a new intermediate class of compounds named microguanidine amides was uncovered, thereby further enlarging this compound family. The comparison of structurally divergent AGDs and MGDs reveals an outstanding versatility of this biosynthetic pathway and provides insights into the assembly of the two compound subfamilies. Strikingly, aeruginoguanidines and microguanidines were found to be as widespread as the hepatotoxic microcystins, but the occurrence of both toxin families appeared to be mutually exclusive.

Excimer based FRET between non-FRET pair flourophores aided by the aromatic moiety of anionic surfactants: An experimental observation

A new FRET pair has been reported based on the appearance of excimeric emission and hence significant spectral overlap between an otherwise non-FRET pair fluorophores viz. pyrene and rhodamine 6G in the anionic sodiumdodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) micellar system. The occurrence of FRET based on such modulation of spectral overlap integral has not been dealt with in detail in comparison to the other FRET parameters like distance between the fluorophores and orientation. Due to the presence of benzene ring in the SDBS micellar system the formation of excimers is augmented due to the π-π interactions between the pyrene molecules and the benzene units of the surfactants. The excimeric pyrene has a bathochromically shifted peak which overlaps with the absorption peak of rhodamine 6G thereby giving rise to energy transfer as FRET between these otherwise non-FRET pair molecules. The efficiency of FRET between the pyrene and rhodamine 6G can be modulated by the degree of spectral overlap between the excimeric peak of pyrene and the absorption peak of rhodamime6g. All the experiments were carried in the Sodiumdodecylsulfate (SDS) micellar system also, which unlike SDBS does not possess any benzene unit, in order to compare the results of excimer formation as well the FRET process.

Energetics and electronic structures of polymeric all-benzene hollow-cages and planar networks

We studied the energetics and electronic structure of polymerized benzene hollow-cages and sheet using the density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. The energetics and electronic structure of the polymeric benzene cages and sheet depend on their size and dimensionality. Because of the symmetric network topology as well as the constituent benzene units, the cages possess highly bunched states around the Fermi level. The energy gap between the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied states of the cages is approximately proportional to their curvature, owing to the decrease of the strain. The polymerized benzene sheet is a direct gap semiconductor with the gap of 2.4 eV between the less dispersive states of the highest branch of the valence and the lowest branch of the conduction bands.

Construction of donor-acceptor type conjugated microporous polymers: A fascinating strategy for the development of efficient heterogeneous photocatalysts in organic synthesis

Metal-free, visible-light driven, solid organic photocatalysts provide a more green and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional metal-based photocatalysts. Donor-Acceepor (D-A) dyads possess a feature of easy to adjust the photoelectric properties, and enhance their photocatalytic performances. Here we report a fascinating strategy for screening excellent organic porous photocatalysts through oxidative coupling of single D-A based monomer, which has still an important advantage to ensure uniformity of polymer structure except for the inherent characteristics of D-A polymers. According to this strategy, three D-A typed conjugated microporous polymer (DA-CMP) photocatalysts consisting of alternating electron-rich (carbazole) and electron-deficient (benzene, 4,7-diphenyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole or anthraquinone) units have been synthesized, and their porosity and photoelectric properties including adsorption, emission, lifetime, optical bandgaps, energy levels and transient photocurrent response as well as photocatalytic activity, were conveniently tuned by selecting different D-A monomers with tunable electron-deficient moiety. These DA-CMPs were exploited as metal-free photocatalysts in the oxidative C-H functionalization reactions in the presence of visible-light and molecular oxygen. They showed excellent photocatalytic activity, extensive substrate adaptability and outstanding reusability, due to combining some key features like permanent porosity, outstanding stability and optoelectronic properties. In addition, the reaction mechanism for DA-CMP photocatalyzed C-H functionalization reactions under visible-light irradiation was investigated in detail. Moreover, to prove in depth the benefits of the heterogeneous photocatalysis, a continuous flow procedure has been conducted with an excellent yield.

Activity of oxygen-versus sulfur-containing analogs of the Flex-Het anticancer agent SHetA2

Five series of chromans with urea and thiourea linkers connecting a chroman unit (ring A) and a 4-substituted benzene unit (ring B) have been prepared and evaluated relative to SHetA2 (NSC 721689) for activity against the human A2780 ovarian cancer cell line. The lead compound SHetA2 had a sulfur in place of the oxygen in ring A and a thiourea linker to ring B. The 2-Me-4-Me series (two sets of geminal dimethyl groups at C2 and at C4 on the ring A unit) permitted direct comparison with SHetA2. Ring B in this series was evaluated with specific functional groups at C4 on the ring, including NO2, CO2Et, CF3, OCF3, CN and SO2NH2. The 2-H-4-Me series (only one geminal dimethyl group at the C4 position on ring A) permitted structure-activity relationship analysis to assess the importance of the hydrophobic geminal dimethyl groups on ring A to the activity of SHetA2. The remaining three series 2-Et-4-Me, 2-Me-4-Et and 2-Et-4-Et (ring A methyl groups replaced with ethyls at C2, at C4 and at both C2 and C4, respectively) offered the opportunity to modulate the hydrophobicity of the chroman moiety. Additionally, in all these series, the influence of a urea versus a thiourea linker was also investigated. The results of these modifications are summarized below. The exact analog of SHetA2 with oxygen substituted for sulfur in ring A (2a) showed comparable efficacy but a significantly lower IC50 against the ovarian cancer cell line. The urea linked analogs bearing CN, CF3 and OCF3 at C4 of ring B (3c,d and f) showed greater efficacy than SHetA2, but also had lower IC50 values. Removing the geminal dimethyl group at C2 (4a-c, 5a-c) caused a significant lowering of the efficacy and percent growth inhibition, indicating that the hydrophobic geminal dimethyl group at C2 in ring A is crucial for activity. Finally, replacing the geminal dimethyl groups with geminal diethyls on ring A in the urea derivatives gave 6b-c, 7c-d and 8b, all of which outperformed SHetA2 with respect to efficacy and IC50. The results for compounds 4–8 are in concurrence with modeling studies, which predicted that greater hydrophobicity in ring A would be beneficial. Binding energies were determined for compounds docked in silico to mortalin, the protein identified as a receptor of SHetA2. The urea linker promoted activity comparable to or, in some cases, greater than compounds with a thiourea linker. Several compounds achieved 94% efficacy and an IC50 of 2 μM, which were better than SHetA2 (84%, 3 μM).

Mixed‐Valent Molecular Triple Deckers

AbstractTwo phenothiazine (PTZ) moieties were connected via naphthalene spacers to a central arene to result in stacked PTZ‐arene‐PTZ structure elements. Benzene and tetramethoxybenzene units served as central arenes mediating electronic communication between the two PTZ units. Based on cyclic voltammetry, UV/Vis‐NIR absorption, EPR spectroscopy, and computational studies, the one‐electron oxidized forms of the resulting compounds behave as class II organic mixed‐valence species in which the unpaired electron is partially delocalized over both PTZ units. The barrier for intramolecular electron transfer depends on the nature of the central arene sandwiched between the two PTZ moieties. These are the first examples of rigid organic mixed‐valent triple‐decker compounds with possible electron‐transfer pathways directly across a stacked structure, and they illustrate the potential of oligo‐naphthalene building blocks for long‐range electron transfer and a future molecular electronics technology.

Mixed-Valent Molecular Triple Deckers.

Two phenothiazine (PTZ) moieties were connected via naphthalene spacers to a central arene to result in stacked PTZ-arene-PTZ structure elements. Benzene and tetramethoxybenzene units served as central arenes mediating electronic communication between the two PTZ units. Based on cyclic voltammetry, UV/Vis-NIR absorption, EPR spectroscopy, and computational studies, the one-electron oxidized forms of the resulting compounds behave as class II organic mixed-valence species in which the unpaired electron is partially delocalized over both PTZ units. The barrier for intramolecular electron transfer depends on the nature of the central arene sandwiched between the two PTZ moieties. These are the first examples of rigid organic mixed-valent triple-decker compounds with possible electron-transfer pathways directly across a stacked structure, and they illustrate the potential of oligo-naphthalene building blocks for long-range electron transfer and a future molecular electronics technology.

Phthalocyanines formed from several precursors: synthesis, characterization, and comparative fluorescence and quinone quenching

We have synthesized a new phthalonitrile with different substituents in 4- and 5-positions (1). Cyclotetramerization of 1 yielded phthalocyanines with cobalt(II) (2), zinc(II) (3), gallium(III)chloride (4), and indium(III)chloride (5) containing diethylamino-phenoxy and hexylsulfanyl substituents on each benzene unit. Elemental analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectra, 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, mass spectra, and ultraviolet-visible spectra were used for characterization of the phthalocyanines. The aggregation behavior of the zinc phthalocyanine derivative was studied in different concentrations. Also four chloro and four diethyllaminophenoxy substituted zinc phthalocyanine (6) and octa-diethylaminophenoxy substituted zinc phthalocyanine (7) were synthesized. These phthalocyanines (3, 6, and 7) were compared for electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence quantum yields, fluorescent lifetimes, and fluorescence quenching in the presence of benzoquinone. The fluorescence quantum yield gives the efficiency of the fluorescence process. The fluorescence lifetime is an important parameter for practical applications of fluorescence such as fluorescence resonance energy transfer and fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy.

Detection and Imaging of Aβ1-42 and Tau Fibrils by Redesigned Fluorescent X-34 Analogues.

We revisited the Congo red analogue 2,5-bis(4'-hydroxy-3'-carboxy-styryl)benzene (X-34) to develop this highly fluorescent amyloid dye for imaging Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology comprising Aβ and Tau fibrils. A selection of ligands with distinct optical properties were synthesized by replacing the central benzene unit of X-34, with other heterocyclic moieties. Full photophysical characterization was performed, including recording absorbance and fluorescence spectra, Stokes shift, quantum yield and fluorescence lifetimes. All ligands displayed high affinity towards recombinant amyloid fibrils of Aβ1-42 (13-300 nm Kd ) and Tau (16-200 nm Kd ) as well as selectivity towards the corresponding disease-associated protein aggregates in AD tissue. We observed that these ligands efficiently displaced X-34, but not Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) from recombinant Aβ1-42 amyloid fibrils, arguing for retained targeting of the Congo red type binding site. We foresee that the X-34 scaffold offers the possibility to develop novel high-affinity ligands for Aβ pathology found in human AD brain in a different mode compared with PiB, potentially recognizing different polymorphs of Aβ fibrils.

Effect of polymer backbone flexibility on blue phase liquid crystal stabilization

In this study, we synthesized two novel monofunctional acrylate monomers A0DA and A3DA featuring a benzene core and a dodecyl tail, and then investigated their effect on blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) stabilization. The benzene core is directly linked to the acrylate unit in A0DA, which forms a rigid polymeric backbone. Whereas in A3DA,a propyl spacer is employed to separate the benzene unit from the acrylate group, thereby allowing backbone mobility. By using A0DA as a monofunctional monomer in the BPLC precursor composite, stabilization of BPLC was not seen upon photopolymerization. Interestingly, the use of A3DA showed successful stabilization of BPI lattice structure after polymerization. These results confirm that the origin of stabilization effect of blue phase is the flexibility of A3DA backbone employed; therefore, the polymeric backbone flexibility is suggested to have a major influence on BP stabilization process. Furthermore, we demonstrated a low voltage electro-optical switching of PS-BPLC built on A3DA, while preserving other desirable properties of BPLC. The present study provides useful insight into monomer designs towards BPLC stabilization and enhancement of electro-optical performance.

Polymer Valence Isomerism: Poly(Dewar-o-xylylene)s

Poly( o-xylylene) (POX) has long been a challenging synthetic target despite its simple structure and potentially useful physical properties. In this report, we demonstrate a valence isomer strategy that leads to the formation of high molecular weight POX via an intermediate polymer of a unique structure, namely poly(Dewar- o-xylylene) (PDOX). We show that the free radical polymerization of highly strained Dewar- o-xylylene (DOX) monomer afforded PDOX, a material with a high density of Dewar benzene units in the backbone through ring-retaining propagation. The thermal- and photoinduced isomerizations of PDOX to produce POX were investigated. This chemistry yields POXs that are difficult to obtain using traditional methods. Moreover, it also provides a potential entry into new reconfigurable materials featuring highly efficient postpolymerization main chain structural transformations.

Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of a simple non-fused small molecule acceptor

Abstract In this work, a new non-fused small molecule acceptor Ph-IC based on alkoxyl benzene and IC units was synthesized for photovoltaic applications. The small molecule Ph-IC has a very simple chemical structure and is easily synthesized. Benefited from the coplanar conjugated structure, the O-H and S-H non-covalent interactions, Ph-IC exhibits a narrow optical bandgap of 1.62 eV and a medium electron mobility of 1.84 × 10−4 cm2V−1s−1. When using Ph-IC as acceptor and a wide-bandgap polymer PBFTZ as donor, the devices show a maximum PCE of 5.68% with Voc of 0.89 V, Jsc of 12.37 mA cm−2 and FF of 51.5% under the illumination of AM 1.5 G at 100 mW/cm2. This work demonstrates that the simple-structured and low cost non-fused group can also be used as building blocks in high performation n-OS acceptors.

A study on the aromaticity and ring currents of dithienopyridines and dithienobenzene

The global aromaticity of dithienopyridine and dithienobenzene isomers was investigated using the topological resonance energy (TRE) and percentage topological resonance energy (%TRE) methods. The effect of variations in the positions of sulfur and nitrogen atoms on [Formula: see text]-electron delocalization is analyzed. The local aromaticity of these isomers is described based on the bond resonance energy (BRE) and circuit resonance energy (CRE) methods. Our BRE and CRE results show that structure of the central six-membered rings has a strong effect on global aromaticity. The aromaticity of these dithienopyridine isomers is enhanced when a complete pyridine unit exists in their middle ring structure, while the aromaticity of the dithienobenzene isomers is enhanced when a complete benzene unit exists in their middle ring structure. For dithienopyridines, our results obtained using the TRE method correlate well with the Bird aromaticity index as reported in the literature. Our ring-current results show that all these compounds are diatropic systems.

Enhancing the performance of a fused-ring electron acceptor via extending benzene to naphthalene

We compared an indacenodithiophene-based fused-ring electron acceptor IDIC1 with its counterpart IHIC1 in which the central benzene unit is replaced by a naphthalene unit, and investigated the core effects.

1,2-Bis(dimethylsilyl)phenylidene bridged zirconocene and hafnocene dichloride complexes as precatalysts for ethylene polymerization

The synthesis and characterization of a new class of ansa bis(indenyl) complexes of zirconium and hafnium is described. Two indenyl moieties are linked at the 1-,1′-positions via a 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene unit. The ligand precursor was prepared via three reaction steps including Grignard coupling of chlorodimethylsilane and 1,2-dibromobenzene, PdCl2-catalyzed chlorination, and the reaction with indenyllithium. The zirconium and hafnium complexes were obtained by deprotonation of the corresponding bis-(indenyl) compound with n-BuLi followed by metalation reactions of MCl4 (M = Zr, Hf) in tetrahydrofuran. The solid state molecular structures of both complexes were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. In ethylene polymerization reactions, both complexes exhibited high activities. The zirconocene catalyst 4 showed a higher activity (7610 kg PE/mol cat. h) compared to the hafnium catalyst 5 (3590 kg PE/mol cat. h).

Synthesis, Structures, and Properties of Hexapole Helicenes: Assembling Six [5]Helicene Substructures into Highly Twisted Aromatic Systems.

Hexapole helicenes 1, which contain six [5]helicene substructures, were synthesized by Pd-catalyzed [2+2+2]cycloadditions of aryne precursor 6. Among the possible 20 stereoisomers, which include ten pairs of enantiomers, HH-1 was obtained selectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations identified HH-1 as the second most stable isomer that quantitatively isomerizes under thermal conditions into the most stable isomer (HH-2). Both enantiomers of HH-2 can be separated by chiral HPLC. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed a saddle-like structure for (P,M,P,P,M,P) HH-1 and a propeller-like structure for (P,M,P,M,P,M) HH-2. Because of the helical assembly and the resulting steric repulsion, the structure of HH-1 is significantly distorted and exhibits the largest twisting angle reported so far (up to 35.7° per benzene unit). Electrochemical studies and DFT calculations indicated a narrow HOMO-LUMO gap on account of the extended π-system. Kinetic studies of the isomerization from HH-1 to HH-2 and the racemization of enantiomerically pure HH-2 were conducted based on 1H NMR spectroscopy, HPLC analysis, and DFT calculations.

Enhance the fluorescence and singlet oxygen generation ability of BODIPY: Modification on the meso-phenyl unit with electron withdrawing groups

Abstract Herein, meso -R-carboxyphenyl substituted BODIPY compounds were synthesized and characterized (R = CH 3 , COOH, NO 2 , H and Br 4 ). The fluorescence, excited triplet state and singlet oxygen formation properties for these compounds were measured in nonpolar and polar solvents by UV–vis absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence methods, as well as laser flash photolysis technique. These BODIPYs exhibit very different fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime value, as well as singlet oxygen formation capability in polar solvents. In contrast, these compounds show very similar spectral shape and position, emit bright green fluorescence in non polar solvents. The introduction of an ortho -COOH on the benzene unit leads to a 20-fold increase in the fluorescence quantum yield. The further introduction of an electron withdrawing NO 2 or COOH on the phenyl makes the BODIPY dye show much higher capability to generate singlet oxygen (up to 5-fold increase) and causes a sharp decrease in both fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime value. The increase in solvent polarity enhances singlet oxygen generation and intramolecular fluorescence quenching. The results are explained by the presence of intramolecular photoinduced electron/charge transfer from BODIPY core to the carboxyphenyl moiety.

1,2,5,6-Naphthalenediimide-based conjugated copolymers linked by ethynyl units

Two copolymers of P1 and P2 comprising benzothiadiazole, 1,4-bis(dodecyloxy)-benzene units were synthesized by Sonogashira coupling polymerization based on ethynyl-linked 1,2,5,6-naphthalenediimide. Their thermal, optical, electrochemical as well as charge transport properties were studied. Bottom-gate top-contact organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) measurements of P1 and P2 thin films showed different charge transport behaviors. P1 displayed pure electron transport behaviors in OFETs with electron mobility up to 10−3 cm2·V−1·s−1, while P2 exhibited hole transport features. The molecular structure analysis revealed that the structure of P1 has the acceptor-linker-acceptor′ (A-L-A′) characteristic, and P2 possesses the donor-linker-acceptor (D-L-A) structure feature. The results demonstrate that different molecular structures lead them to have distinct charge transport behaviors. In particular, the first pure electron transport copolymer in OFETs based on 1,2,5,6-naphthalenediimide is achieved.