Unveiling the nature of supramolecular crown ether–C60 interactions

A series of exTTF-(crown ether)2 receptors, designed to host C60, has been prepared. The size of the crown ether and the nature of the heteroatoms have been systematically changed to fine tune the association constants, which were determined by a number of complementary spectroscopic techniques. Electrochemical measurements and transient absorption spectroscopy assisted in corroborating charge transfer in the ground state and in the excited state, leading to the formation of radical ion pairs featuring lifetimes in the range from 12 to 21 ps. To rationalize the nature of the exTTF-(crown ether)2$C60 stabilizing interactions, theoretical calculations have been carried out, suggesting a syner…

Carbon Nanotubes Conjugated with Triazole-Based Tetrathiafulvalene-Type Receptors for C60 Recognition

Fullerene receptors prepared by a twofold CuI -catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction with -extended tetrathiafulvalene (exTTF) have been covalently linked to singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The nanoconjugates obtained were characterized by several analytical, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques (TEM, FTIR, Raman, TGA and XPS), and evaluated as C60 receptors by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The complexation between the exTTF-triazole receptor in the free state and C60 was also studied by UV-Vis and 1 H NMR titrations, and compared with analogous triazole-based tweezer-type receptors containing the electron-acceptor 11,11,12,12-t…

Computational modeling of single-versus double-anchoring modes in di-branched organic sensitizers on TiO2 surfaces: structural and electronic properties

We present a first-principles DFT investigation of the adsorption geometry on the anatase (101) surface of a prototypical di-branched organic dye based on the extended tetrathiafulvalene moiety, incorporating two anchoring cyanoacrylic acid units. Reduced model systems with one and two anchoring groups have been initially studied to investigate the vibrational frequencies related to TiO2 dye adsorption. Our calculations confirm that the reduced systems can be used as reliable models to study the anchoring modes and that the conclusions extracted from the reduced systems can be extrapolated to the entire molecule. A series of molecular structures have been investigated to simulate the anchor…

Relationship between Electron Affinity and Half-Wave Reduction Potential: A Theoretical Study on Cyclic Electron-Acceptor Compounds.

A high-level ab initio protocol to compute accurate electron affinities and half-wave reduction potentials is presented and applied for a series of electron-acceptor compounds with potential interest in organic electronics and redox flow batteries. The comprehensive comparison between the theoretical and experimental electron affinities not only proves the reliability of the theoretical G3(MP2) approach employed but also calls into question certain experimental measurements, which need to be revised. By using the thermodynamic cycle for the one-electron attachment reaction A+e- →A- , theoretical estimates for the first half-wave reduction potential have been computed along the series of ele…

Frontispiece: Hierarchy of Asymmetry at Work: Chain-Dependent Helix-to-Helix Interactions in Supramolecular Polymers

Breathing-Dependent Redox Activity in a Tetrathiafulvalene-Based Metal–Organic Framework

"Breathing" metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that involve changes in their structural and physical properties upon an external stimulus are an interesting class of crystalline materials due to their range of potential applications including chemical sensors. The addition of redox activity opens up a new pathway for multifunctional "breathing" frameworks. Herein, we report the continuous breathing behavior of a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based MOF, namely MUV-2, showing a reversible swelling (up to ca. 40% of the volume cell) upon solvent adsorption. Importantly, the planarity of the TTF linkers is influenced by the breathing behavior of the MOF, directly impacting on its electrochemical proper…

Enhanced electronic communication through a conjugated bridge in a porphyrin-fullerene donor-acceptor couple

A ZnP-2EDOTV-C60 triad, with enhanced electronic communication between terminus donor and acceptor moieties, was synthesized and studied both experimentally and theoretically. Electrochemical measurements and density functional theory calculations support that the first oxidation takes place on the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophenevinylene (2EDOTV) bridge followed by the oxidation of the ZnP moiety at slightly higher energies. The electronic communication between the terminal electron-donor ZnP and the electron-acceptor C60 units is enhanced by the conjugated EDOTV-based spacer leading to photoinduced electron transfer over the distance >2 nm in the picosecond time domain. The involvement of the s…

Helical supramolecular polymerization of C3-symmetric amides and retroamides: on the origin of cooperativity and handedness.

The cooperative supramolecular polymerization of 1 and 2 yields P- or M-type helical aggregates depending on the absolute configuration (S or R) of the stereogenic centres attached to the side chains. The connectivity of the amide group does not affect the handedness of the helical aggregates, but determines a larger cooperativity for retroamides 1.

Dual-Mode Chiral Self-Assembly of Cone-Shaped Subphthalocyanine Aromatics

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of the American Chemical Society, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c07291

Accurate Treatment of Large Supramolecular Complexes by Double-Hybrid Density Functionals Coupled with Nonlocal van der Waals Corrections.

In this work, we present a thorough assessment of the performance of some representative double-hybrid density functionals (revPBE0-DH-NL and B2PLYP-NL) as well as their parent hybrid and GGA counterparts, in combination with the most modern version of the nonlocal (NL) van der Waals correction to describe very large weakly interacting molecular systems dominated by noncovalent interactions. Prior to the assessment, an accurate and homogeneous set of reference interaction energies was computed for the supramolecular complexes constituting the L7 and S12L data sets by using the novel, precise, and efficient DLPNO-CCSD(T) method at the complete basis set limit (CBS). The correction of the bas…

Understanding the affinity of bis-exTTF macrocyclic receptors towards fullerene recognition

A new series of fullerene receptors based on exTTF macrocycles with alkyl ether chains of increasing length is reported. The novel macrocyclic receptors are able to favourably interact with fullerene C60 through a synergistic combination of π–π, CH⋯π and n⋯π noncovalent interactions. We identify that the highest affinity towards C60 recognition is achieved for the host with the tightest fit; that is, the smallest receptor with a cavity large enough to host the buckyball inside (log Ka = 5.2 in chlorobenzene at 298 K). However, besides this expected observation, theoretical calculations evidence that the most stable self-assembling configuration corresponds for all the receptors to an outsid…

Rhodanine-based dyes absorbing in the entire visible spectrum

A series of new broad-absorbing dyes based on rhodanine derivatives conjugated with triarylamines using Q5 a fluorene backbone was synthesized. Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterizations, along with theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level, revealed interesting properties of the dyes, which make the dyes efficiently absorb in the entire visible spectrum.

Arylazopyrazoles for Long-Term Thermal Energy Storage and Optically Triggered Heat Release below 0 °C.

Arylazopyrazole derivatives based on four core structures (4pzMe, 3pzH, 4pzH, and 4pzH-F2) and functionalized with a dodecanoate group were demonstrated to store thermal energy in their metastable Z isomer liquid phase and release the energy by optically triggered crystallization at -30 °C for the first time. Three heat storage-release schemes were discovered involving different activation methods (optical, thermal, or combined) for generating liquid-state Z isomers capable of storing thermal energy. Visible light irradiation induced the selective crystallization of the liquid phase via Z-to-E isomerization, and the latent heat stored in the liquid Z isomers was preserved for longer than 2 …

Determination of association constants towards carbon nanotubes† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthetic details and characterization, thorough description of the method to determine the concentration of the relevant species, full set of TGA data, isotherms not shown in the main text, table with all the association constants, computational details and theoretical calibration of the nanotube length. See DOI: 10.1039/c5sc02916c

We describe a simple procedure for the determination of association constants between soluble molecules and insoluble and heterogeneous carbon nanotube samples.

Diels–Alder reaction on perylenediimides: synthesis and theoretical study of core-expanded diimides

A one-step reaction for the fusion of aromatic rings to one or both bay areas of perylenediimides using benzynes is presented. Yields as high as 70% for naphthoperylenendiimide 2 and 80% for dibenzocoronenediimide 3 are obtained. The reaction is also carried out using substituted benzynes, heteroaromatic benzynes and substituted perylenediimides. A combined experimental/theoretical approach, based on measuring redox and absorption/emission properties and performing density functional theory calculations, indicates that increasing the π-skeleton of PDIs transversally leads to significant and unexpected changes in the electronic, redox and optical properties. The observed trends are rationali…

Supramolecular polymerization of electronically complementary linear motifs: anti-cooperativity by attenuated growth†

Anti-cooperative supramolecular polymerization by attenuated growth exhibited by self-assembling units of two electron-donor benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (BDT) derivatives (compounds 1a and 1b) and the electron-acceptor 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) (compound 2) is reported. Despite the apparent cooperative mechanism of 1 and 2, AFM imaging and SAXS measurements reveal the formation of small aggregates that suggest the operation of an anti-cooperative mechanism strongly conditioned by an attenuated growth. In this mechanism, the formation of the nuclei is favoured over the subsequent addition of monomeric units to the aggregate, which finally results in short aggrega…

Mono- and Tripodal Porphyrins: Investigation on the Influence of the Number of Pyrene Anchors in Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Hybrids.

A series of molecular precursors, containing one (1 and 3) or three (2 and 4) pyrene anchors, covalently linked to porphyrins (free base or Zn), were prepared and characterized. All of them enable ...

Investigation of Charge-Transfer Interactions Induced by Encapsulating Fullerene in a Mesoporous Tetrathiafulvalene-Based Metal-Organic Framework

<p>The design of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) incorporating electroactive guest molecules in the pores has become a subject of great interest in order to install additional electrical functionalities within the framework while maintaining porosity. In this direction, understanding the charge-transfer (CT) process between the framework and the guest molecules is crucial towards the design of new electroactive MOFs. Herein, we present the encapsulation of fullerenes (C<sub>60</sub>) in a mesoporous tetrathiafulvalene(TTF)-based MOF. The CT process between the electron-acceptor C<sub>60 </sub>guest and the electron-donor TTF ligand is studied in detail by means…

Exploiting the Redox Activity of MIL-100(Fe) Carrier Enables Prolonged Carvacrol Antimicrobial Activity

The design of efficient food contact materials that maintain optimal levels of food safety is of paramount relevance to reduce the increasing number of foodborne illnesses. In this work, we develop a smart composite metal-organic framework (MOF)-based material that fosters a unique prolonged antibacterial activity. The composite is obtained by entrapping a natural food preserving molecule, carvacrol, into a mesoporous MIL-100(Fe) material following a direct and biocompatible impregnation method, and obtaining particularly high payloads. By exploiting the intrinsic redox nature of the MIL-100(Fe) material, it is possible to achieve a prolonged activity against Escherichia coli and Listeria i…

On the handedness of helical aggregates of C3 tricarboxamides: a multichiroptical characterization

A complete chiroptical characterization of the supramolecular polymers formed by tricarboxamides (S)-1 and (R)-1 is performed using ECD, VCD and CPL dichroic techniques. The helical aggregates show an intense CPL signal and their absolute P- or M-configuration is assigned with the help of theoretical calculations.

Role of the bridge in photoinduced electron transfer in porphyrin-fullerene dyads.

The role of π-conjugated molecular bridges in through-space and through-bond electron transfer is studied by comparing two porphyrin-fullerene donor-acceptor (D-A) dyads. One dyad, ZnP-Ph-C60 (ZnP = zinc porphyrin), incorporates a phenyl bridge between D and A and behaves very similarly to analogous dyads studied previously. The second dyad, ZnP-EDOTV-C60, introduces an additional 3,4-ethylenedioxythienylvinylene (EDOTV) unit into the conjugated bridge, which increases the distance between D and A, but, at the same time, provides increased electronic communication between them. Two essential outcomes that result from the introduction of the EDOTV unit in the bridge are as follows: 1) faster…

Titelbild: Electron Transfer in a Supramolecular Associate of a Fullerene Fragment (Angew. Chem. 8/2014)

Supramolecular assembly of pyrene-tetrathiafulvalene hybrids on graphene: Structure-property relationships and biosensing activity

Two different molecular receptors (1 and 2) incorporating one and three pyrene units to promote the π–π interaction with the basal plane of graphene are reported. In order to modulate the electronic properties of graphene, the new receptors are endowed with an electron-donor tetrathiafulvalene moiety (exTTF). The resulting non-covalent hybrids have been characterized by different analytical, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques (TGA, Raman, UV-Vis absorption, TEM and XPS), and the supramolecular interaction of the molecular systems with graphene has been investigated by theoretical calculations. The electrochemical behavior of the pyrene-exTTF hybrids onto distinct graphene-based materi…

The Role of Planarity versus Nonplanarity in the Electronic Communication of TCAQ-Based Push–Pull Chromophores

Donor-acceptor-substituted alkynes, endowed with 11,11,12,12-tetracyano-9,10-anthraquinodimethane (TCAQ) and N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) units, have been further functionalized by a [2+2] cycloaddition with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) followed by a subsequent retro-electrocyclization to form distorted nonplanar structures with bridging 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene (TCBD) units. Comprehensive spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational studies have been carried out to compare the electronic communication in planar (alkyne bridges) and nonplanar (TCBD bridges) TCAQ-based push-pull chromophores. Cyclic voltammetry and UV/Vis absorption measurements confirm the electronic communication be…

Cover Picture: Electron Transfer in a Supramolecular Associate of a Fullerene Fragment (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 8/2014)

Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of chemically modified bi-fluorenylidenes

The development of new light harvesting materials is a key issue for the progress of the research on organic & hybrid photovoltaics. Here, we report a new class of organic sensitizers based on the bi-fluorenylidene moiety as π-linker within the donor–π-linker–acceptor (D–π–A) scheme. The new dyes are endowed with electron donor and electron acceptor units at strategic positions in order to improve their electronic and light-harvesting properties. The comprehensive study of these compounds through the use of different experimental and theoretical techniques, provides an in-depth understanding of their electronic and photophysical properties, and reveal their interest as photovoltaic material…

Selenophene-Based Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Two novel and simple donor-π-bridge-donor (D-π-D) hole-transporting materials (HTMs) containing two units of the p-methoxytriphenylamine (TPA) electron donor group covalently bridged by means of the 3,4-dimethoxyselenophene spacer through single and triple bonds are reported. The optoelectronic and thermal properties of the new selenium-containing HTMs have been determined using standard experimental techniques and theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The selenium-based HTMs have been incorporated in mesoporous perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in combination with the triple-cation perovskite [(FAPbI3 )0.87 (MAPbBr3 )0.13 ]0.92 [CsPbI3 ]0.08 . Limited values of power conver…

Innenrücktitelbild: N ‐Annulated Perylene Bisimides to Bias the Differentiation of Metastable Supramolecular Assemblies into J‐ and H‐Aggregates (Angew. Chem. 40/2020)

DLPNO-CCSD(T) scaled methods for the accurate treatment of large supramolecular complexes

In this work, we present scaled variants of the DLPNO-CCSD(T) method, dubbed as (LS)DLPNO-CCSD(T) and (NS)DLPNO-CCSD(T), to obtain accurate interaction energies in supramolecular complexes governed by noncovalent interactions. The novel scaled schemes are based on the linear combination of the DLPNO-CCSD(T) correlation energies calculated with the standard (LoosePNO and NormalPNO) and modified (Loose2PNO and Normal2PNO) DLPNO-CCSD(T) accuracy levels. The scaled DLPNO-CCSD(T) variants provide nearly TightPNO accuracy, which is essential for the quantification of weak noncovalent interactions, with a noticeable saving in computational cost. Importantly, the accuracy of the proposed schemes is…

Ligand engineering in Cu(ii) paddle wheel metal–organic frameworks for enhanced semiconductivity

We report the electronic structure of two metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with copper paddle wheel nodes connected by a N2(C2H4)3 (DABCO) ligand with accessible nitrogen lone pairs. The coordination is predicted, from first-principles density functional theory, to enable electronic pathways that could facilitate charge carrier mobility. Calculated frontier crystal orbitals indicate extended electronic communication in DMOF-1, but not in MOF-649. This feature is confirmed by bandstructure calculations and effective masses of the valence band egde. We explain the origin of the frontier orbitals of both MOFs based on the energy and symmetry alignment of the underlying building blocks. The effe…

Understanding Noncovalent Interactions of Small Molecules with Carbon Nanotubes

We combine experimental methods, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in the quantitative analysis of noncovalent interactions between (6,5)-enriched single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), as hosts, and a set of pyrene derivatives with different electronic properties and surface areas, as guests. The experiments and calculations were carried out in two solvents with markedly different polarities, namely 1,1',2,2'-tetrachloroethane (TCE) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Our results show that dispersion forces govern the supramolecular association of small molecules with (6,5)-SWNTs, with negligible contributions from ground-state charge-trans…

Hierarchy of Asymmetry at Work: Chain-Dependent Helix-to-Helix Interactions in Supramolecular Polymers.

A detailed investigation of the hierarchy of asymmetry operating in the self-assembly of achiral (1) and chiral ((S)-2 and (R)-3) 1,3,5-triphenylbenzenetricarboxamides (TPBAs) is reported. The aggregation of these TPBAs is conditioned by the point chirality at the peripheral side chains for (S)-2 and (R)-3. An efficient helix-to-helix interaction that goes further in the organization of fibrillar bundles is experimentally detected and theoretically supported only for the achiral TPBA 1. The effective interdigitation of the achiral aliphatic side chains produces a social self-sorting to form preferentially heterochiral macromolecular aggregates.

Charge-Separation and Charge-Recombination Rate Constants in a Donor–Acceptor Buckybowl-Based Supramolecular Complex: Multistate and Solvent Effects

The kinetics of the nonradiative photoinduced processes (charge-separation and charge-recombination) experimented in solution by a supramolecular complex formed by an electron-donating bowl-shaped truxene-tetrathiafulvalene (truxTTF) derivative and an electron-accepting fullerene fragment (hemifullerene, C30H12) has been theoretically investigated. The truxTTF·C30H12 heterodimer shows a complex decay mechanism after photoexcitation with the participation of several low-lying excited states of different nature (local and charge-transfer excitations) all close in energy. In this scenario, the absolute rate constants for all of the plausible charge-separation (CS) and charge-recombination (CR)…

Multivariate sodalite Zeolitic Imidazolate frameworks: a direct solvent-free synthesis

Different mixed-ligand Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) with sodalite topology, i.e. isoreticular to ZIF-8, unachievable by conventional synthetic routes, have been prepared using a solvent-free methodology. In particular, the versatility of this method is demonstrated with three different metal centres (Zn, Co and Fe) and binary combinations of three different ligands (2-methylimidazole, 2-ethylimidazole and 2-methylbenzimidazole). One combination of ligands, 2-ethylimidazole and 2-methylbenzimidazole, results in the formation of SOD frameworks for the three metal centres despite this topology not being obtained for the individual ligands. Theoretical calculations confirm that this t…

Biomimetic oxidation of pyrene and related aromatic hydrocarbons. Unexpected electron accepting abilities of pyrenequinones

We present a mild catalytic method to oxidize PAHs and, in particular, pyrene. The pyrenediones are much better electron acceptors than benzoquinone in the gas phase and present similar accepting abilities in solution.

Heteroatom Effect on Star-Shaped Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Complexation and Electronic Communication between Corannulene-Based Buckybowls and a Curved Truxene-TTF Donor

Abstract: The association behavior of an electron-donating, bowl-shaped, truxene-based tetrathiafulvalene (truxTTF) with two corannulene-based fullerene fragments, C32H12 and C38H14, is investigated in several solvents. Formation of 1:1 complexes is followed by absorption titrations and complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The binding constants are in the range logKa=2.9–3.5. DFT calculations reveal that the most stable arrangement is the conformation in which the 1,3-dithiole ring of truxTTF is placed inside the concave cavity of the corannulene derivative. This arrangement is confirmed experimentally by NMR measurements, and implies that a combination of p–p and C…

Selective CO 2 Sorption Using Compartmentalized Coordination Polymers with Discrete Voids**

Carbon capture and storage with porous materials is one of the most promising technologies to minimize CO2 release into the atmosphere. Here, we report a family of compartmentalized coordination polymers (CCPs) capable of capturing gas molecules in a selective manner based on two novel tetrazole-based ligands. Crystal structures have been modelled theoretically under the Density Functional Theory (DFT) revealing the presence of discrete voids of 380 A3 . Single gas adsorption isotherms of N2 , CH4 and CO2 have been measured, obtaining a loading capacity of 0.6, 1.7 and 2.2 molecules/void at 10 bar and at 298 K for the best performing material. Moreover, they present excellent selectivity an…

Supramolecular Polymers: Flexible Chirality in Self-Assembled N -Annulated Perylenedicarboxamides (Small 20/2017)

Non-covalent graphene nanobuds from mono- and tripodal binding motifs.

Graphene nanobuds were prepared via the non-covalent anchoring of C60-based molecules endowed with one or three pyrene units, respectively. TGA, FTIR, UV-Vis and TEM investigations confirmed the formation of nanohybrids. For the two molecular derivatives, striking differences were determined in their interaction with graphene or carbon surfaces by Raman, cyclic voltammetry and molecular mechanics calculations, revealing the important role of pyrene adsorption in modulating the electronic properties of the nanohybrids.

Allocation of Ambipolar Charges on an Organic Diradical with a Vinylene-Phenylenediyne Bridge.

Two redox and magnetically active perchlorotriphenylmethyl (• PTM) radical units have been connected as end-capping groups to a bis(phenylene)diyne chain through vinylene linkers. Negative and positive charged species have been generated, and the influence of the bridge on their stabilization is discussed. Partial reduction of the electron-withdrawing • PTM radicals results in a class-II mixed-valence system with the negative charge located on the terminal PTM units, proving the efficiency of the conjugated chain for the electron transport between the two terminal sites. Counterintuitively, the oxidation process does not occur along the electron-rich bridge but on the vinylene units. The • …

Hole transporting materials based on benzodithiophene and dithienopyrrole cores for efficient perovskite solar cells

The development of highly efficient hole transporting materials (HTMs) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is still one of the most thrilling research subjects in the development of this emerging photovoltaic technology. Inner ring engineering of the aromatic core of new HTMs – consisting of three fused rings endowed with four triarylamine units – reveals major performance effects over the fabricated devices. In particular, substitution of the central pyrrole ring in dithienopyrrole (DTP) by a benzene ring – benzodithiophene (BDT) – allows enhancing the power conversion efficiency from 15.6% to 18.1%, in devices employing mixed-perovskite (FAPbI3)0.85(MAPbBr3)0.15 (MA: CH3NH3+, FA: NHCHNH3+) …

The Nonlocal Correlation Density Functional VV10

Abstract In this chapter, we review the most relevant attempts to merge the Vydrov and van Voorhis nonlocal density-dependent functional kernel (VV10) with modern density functionals to accurately describe van der Waals interactions with a reasonable computational cost. The chapter is organized by providing first an introduction of the relevance of van der Waals interactions and the difficulties of common density functionals to describe these forces. Second, the historical developments that eventually give rise to the most modern formulation of the nonlocal density functional VV10 are briefly addressed. Then, an overview of its technical formulation, adjustable parameters, and implementatio…

Improving the Long‐Term Stability of Doped Spiro‐Type Hole‐Transporting Materials in Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

The improvement of the long-term stability of perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs) toward commercialization is closely linked to the development of cutting-edge charge-transporting materials. The progress on the design and the synthesis of new hole-transporting materials (HTMs) is synergistically attaining both top efficiencies and promising stability. Herein, the synthesis and characterization of two doped-HTMs based on electron-rich spiranic cores, namely, 9H-quinolinophenoxazine (spiro-POZ) and 9H-quinolinophenothiazine (spiro-PTZ), are presented. The novel HTMs exhibit excellent solubility, optimal highest occupied molecular orbital energy, and excellent thermal stability with glass tran…

Decoding the Consequences of Increasing the Size of Self-Assembling Tricarboxamides on Chiral Amplification

A complete series of experimental and theoretical investigations on the supramolecular polymerization of chiral (1 and 2) and achiral (3) oligo(phenylene ethynylene) tricarboxamides (OPE-TAs) is reported. The performance of seargents-and-soldiers (SaS) and majority rules (MR) experiments has allowed deriving a full set of thermodynamic parameters, including the helix reversal penalty (HRP) and the mismatch penalty (MMP). The results described illustrate the influence exerted by the number of stereogenic centers per monomeric unit and the temperature on the chiral amplification phenomenon. While the HRP decreases upon decreasing the number of chiral side chains, the MMP follows an opposite t…

Blue-emitting pyrene-based aggregates.

The self-assembling features and gel formation of two pyrene imidazoles are presented. The supramolecular aggregation of these synthesised molecules results in an unusual blue-monomeric emission, which is rationalized by a combined experimental and theoretical investigation.

Efficient Benzodithiophene/Benzothiadiazole-Based n-Channel Charge Transporters

A series of donor–acceptor (D-A) small molecules based on electron-deficient benzothiadiazole (BTD) and electron-rich benzodithiophene (BDT) featuring an A-D-A structure is presented. Exhaustive spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational studies evidence their electroactive nature and their ability to form well-ordered thin films with broad visible absorptions and low band gaps (ca. 2 eV). Time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) studies unveil unexpected n-type charge transport displaying high electron mobilities around 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1. Efficient electron transport properties are consistent with the low electron reorganization energies (0.11–0.17 eV) theoretically predicted.

Non-Centrosymmetric Homochiral Supramolecular Polymers of Tetrahedral Subphthalocyanine Molecules

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 54.8 (2015): 2543-2547, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201411272. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving

Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells Employing an Anthradithiophene Core

A decade after the report of the first efficient perovskite-based solar cell, development of novel hole-transporting materials (HTMs) is still one of the main topics in this research field. Two of the main advance vectors of this topic lie in obtaining materials with enhanced hole-extracting capability and in easing their synthetic cost. The use of anthra[1,9-bc:5,10-b'c']dithiophene (ADT) as a flat π-conjugated frame for bearing arylamine electroactive moieties allows obtaining two novel highly efficient HTMs from very cheap precursors. The solar cells fabricated making use of the mixed composition (FAPbI3)0.85(MAPbBr3)0.15 perovskite and the novel ADT-based HTMs show power conversion effi…

Flexible Chirality in Self-Assembled N-Annulated Perylenedicarboxamides.

N-annulated perylenedicarboxamides 1-3 form supramolecular polymers with a strong tendency to aggregate. The bundles of fibers formed generate a spontaneous anisotropy that conditions the chiroptical features of the described molecules in solution; a strong linear dichroism effect accompanies the circular dichroism (CD) outcome. There is no influence of the point chirality existing at the side chains of 1 and 2, and these molecules present the same chiroptical features as achiral 3. Mechanical rotary stirring increases the CD response and the sign of the dichroic signal changes with the stirring direction. Theoretical calculations indicate that the self-assembly of 1-3 in helical columnar s…

Conjugated Porphyrin Dimers: Cooperative Effects and Electronic Communication in Supramolecular Ensembles with C60

International audience; Two new conjugated porphyrin-based systems (dimers 3 and 4) endowed with suitable crown ethers have been synthesized as receptors for a fullerene-ammonium salt derivative (1). Association constants in solution have been determined by UV–vis titration experiments in CH2Cl2 at room temperature. The designed hosts are able to associate up to two fullerene-based guest molecules and present association constants as high as ∼5 × 108 M–1. Calculation of the allosteric cooperative factor α for supramolecular complexes [3·12] and [4·12] showed a negative cooperative effect in both cases. The interactions accounting for the formation of the associates are based, first, on the …

Tetrathiafulvalene-Based Mixed-Valence Acceptor-Donor-Acceptor Triads: A Joint Theoretical and Experimental Approach

This work presents a joint theoretical and experimental characterisation of the structural and electronic properties of two tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based acceptor-donor-acceptor triads (BQ-TTF-BQ and BTCNQ-TTF - BTCNQ; BQ is naphthoquinone and BTCNQ is benzotetracyano-p-quinodimethane) in their neutral and reduced states. The study is performed with the use of electrochemical, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and UV/Vis/NIR spectroelectrochemical techniques guided by quantum-chemical calculations. Emphasis is placed on the mixed-valence properties of both triads in their radical anion states. The electrochemical and EPR results reveal that both BQ-TTF-BQ and BTCNQ-TTF-BTCNQ triads in…

Semiconductor Porous Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks Based on Tetrathiafulvalene Derivatives.

Herein, we report on the use of tetrathiavulvalene-tetrabenzoic acid, H4TTFTB, to engender semiconductivity in porous hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs). By tuning the synthetic conditions, three different polymorphs have been obtained, denoted MUV-20a, MUV-20b, and MUV-21, all of them presenting open structures (22, 15, and 27%, respectively) and suitable TTF stacking for efficient orbital overlap. Whereas MUV-21 collapses during the activation process, MUV-20a and MUV-20b offer high stability evacuation, with a CO2 sorption capacity of 1.91 and 1.71 mmol g-1, respectively, at 10 °C and 6 bar. Interestingly, both MUV-20a and MUV-20b present a zwitterionic character with a positively…

Charge-transfer interactions between fullerenes and a mesoporous tetrathiafulvalene-based metal–organic framework

The design of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) incorporating electroactive guest molecules in the pores has become a subject of great interest in order to obtain additional electrical functionalities within the framework while maintaining porosity. Understanding the charge-transfer (CT) process between the framework and the guest molecules is a crucial step towards the design of new electroactive MOFs. Herein, we present the encapsulation of fullerenes (C60) in a mesoporous tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based MOF. The CT process between the electron-acceptor C60 guest and the electron-donor TTF ligand is studied in detail by means of different spectroscopic techniques and density functional theor…

Hexakis-adducts of [60]fullerene as molecular scaffolds of polynuclear spin-crossover molecules

A family of hexakis-substituted [60]fullerene adducts endowed with the well-known tridentate 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (bpp) ligand for spin-crossover (SCO) systems has been designed and synthesized. It has been experimentally and theoretically demonstrated that these molecular scaffolds are able to form polynuclear SCO complexes in solution. UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy studies have allowed monitoring of the formation of up to six Fe(ii)–bpp SCO complexes. In addition, DFT calculations have been performed to model the different complexation environments and simulate their electronic properties. The complexes retain SCO properties in the solid state exhibiting both thermal- and …

Tetrathiafulvalene-Polychlorotriphenylmethyl Dyads: Influence of Bridge and Open-Shell Characteristics on Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties

Three conjugated donor-π-acceptor radical systems (1 a–1 c) were prepared by bridging a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) electron-donor unit to a polychlorotriphenylmethyl (PTM) electron-acceptor radical through vinylene units of different lengths. The dependence of the intramolecular charge transfer on the length of the conjugated bridge has been analyzed by different electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Linear optical properties and the second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) response of these derivatives have been computed by comparing systems 1 a–1 c with the non-radical analogues (2 a–2 c). Interestingly, an enhanced NLO response is predicted for dyads 1 a–1 c with PTM in the radical for…

Tuning the Optical Absorption of Sn-, Ge-, and Zn-Substituted Cs2AgBiBr6 Double Perovskites: Structural and Electronic Effects

Lead-free halide double perovskites (DPs) are highly tunable materials in terms of chemical composition and optical properties. One of the most widely reported DPs is Cs2AgBiBr6, which is envisaged as a promising absorber for photovoltaics. Nevertheless, its bandgap (around 1.9−2.3 eV) remains too large for common tandem solar cells. In this work, we report the mechanochemical synthesis of Sn-, Ge-, and Zn-substituted Cs2AgBiBr6 in powder form; their bandgaps reach 1.55, 1.80, and 2.02 eV, respectively. These differences are rationalized through density functional theory calculations, demonstrating combined electronic and structural (disorder) effects introduced by the divalent metal-cation…

Perovskite Solar Cells: Heteroatom Effect on Star-Shaped Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells (Adv. Funct. Mater. 31/2018)

Tuning Azoheteroarene Photoswitch Performance through Heteroaryl Design

International audience; Photoswitchable compounds, which can be reversibly switched between two isomers by light, continue to attract significant attention for a wide array of applications. Azoheteroarenes represent a relatively new but understudied type of photoswitch, where one of the aryl rings from the conventional azobenzene class has been replaced with a five-membered heteroaromatic ring. Initial studies have suggested the azoheteroarenes – the arylazopyrazoles in particular – to have excellent photoswitching properties (quantitative switching and long Z isomer half-life). Here we present a systematic computational and experimental study to elucidate the origin of the long thermal hal…

Impact of Molecular Size and Shape on the Supramolecular Co‐Assembly of Chiral Tricarboxamides: A Comparative Study

We report herein a comparative investigation of the chiral amplification features of a series of three families of C 3 -symmetric tricarboxamides: 1,3,5-triphenylbenzenetricarboxamides (TPBAs), benzenetricarboxamides (BTAs) and oligo(phenylene ethynylene) tricarboxamides (OPE-TAs). As previously observed for BTAs and OPE-TAs, a similar dichroic response is obtained for TPBAs decorated with three, two or only one chiral side chain bearing stereogenic centers, thus confirming the efficient transfer of point chirality to the supramolecular helical aggregates. Unlike BTAs and OPE-TAs, the chiral amplification ability of TPBAs in majority rules experiments shows a negligible dependence on the nu…

Saddle-like, π-conjugated, cyclooctatetrathiophene-based, hole-transporting material for perovskite solar cells

A flexible, saddle-like, π-conjugated skeleton composed of four fused thiophene rings forming a cyclooctatetrathiophene (CoTh) with four triphenylamines (CoTh-TTPA) is presented as a hole-transporting material (HTM) for perovskite solar cells. The new HTM shows a bright red color stemming from a direct conjugation between the TPA groups and the central CoTh scaffold. This results in a charge transfer band due to the combination of the weak acceptor moiety, the CoTh unit, and the electron-donating p-methoxytriphenylamine groups. CoTh-TTPA exhibits a suitable highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level in relation to the valence band edge of the perovskite, which ensures efficient hole ex…

Supramolecular polymer chemistry meets computational chemistry: theoretical simulations on advanced self-assembling chiral materials

AbstractComputational chemistry has gained an important role as a key tool to help rationalize the self-assembly of organic building blocks decorated with supramolecular recognition motifs. The adv...

Electron transfer in a supramolecular associate of a fullerene fragment

Herein, we investigate the association of a fullerene fragment, hemifullerene C30H12, with an electron-donating bowl-shaped tetrathiafulvalene derivative (truxTTF). UV/Vis titrations and DFT calculations support formation of the supramolecular complex, for which an association constant of log Ka = 3.6±0.3 in CHCl3 at room temperature is calculated. Remarkably, electron transfer from truxTTF to C30H12 to form the fully charge-separated species takes place upon irradiation of the associate with light, constituting the first example in which a fullerene fragment mimics the electron-accepting behavior of fullerenes within a supramolecular complex.

Determination of association constants towards carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are one of the most promising nanomaterials and their supramolecular chemistry has attracted a lot of attention. However, despite well over a decade of research, there is no standard method for the quantification of their noncovalent chemistry in solution/suspension. Here, we describe a simple procedure for the determination of association constants (Ka) between soluble molecules and insoluble and heterogeneous carbon nanotube samples. To test the scope of the method, we report binding constants between five different hosts and two types of SWNTs in four solvents. We have determined numeric values of Ka in the range of 1–104 M−1. Solvent effects as wel…

Azatruxene‐Based, Dumbbell‐Shaped, Donor–π‐Bridge–Donor Hole‐Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Three novel donor-π-bridge-donor (D-π-D) hole-transporting materials (HTMs) featuring triazatruxene electron-donating units bridged by different 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) π-conjugated linkers have been synthesized, characterized, and implemented in mesoporous perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The optoelectronic properties of the new dumbbell-shaped derivatives (DTTXs) are highly influenced by the chemical structure of the EDOT-based linker. Red-shifted absorption and emission and a stronger donor ability were observed in passing from DTTX-1 to DTTX-2 due to the extended π-conjugation. DTTX-3 featured an intramolecular charge transfer between the external triazatruxene units and the azo…

Tuning the Electronic Properties of Nonplanar exTTF-Based Push–Pull Chromophores by Aryl Substitution

International audience; A new family ofπ-extended tetrathiafulvalene (exTTF) donor−acceptorchromophores has been synthesized by [2 + 2] cycloaddition of TCNE with exTTF-substituted alkynes and subsequent cycloreversion. X-ray data and theoretical calculations,performed at the B3LYP/6-31G**level, show that the new chromophores exhibit highlydistorted nonplanar molecular structures with largely twisted 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene (TCBD) units. The electronic and optical properties, investigated by UV/visspectroscopy and electrochemical measurements, are significantly modified when theTCBD acceptor unit is substituted with a donor phenyl group, which increases the twistingof the TCBD unit…

Distance Matters: Biasing Mechanism, Transfer of Asymmetry, and Stereomutation in N-Annulated Perylene Bisimide Supramolecular Polymers

International audience; The synthesis of two series of N-annulated perylene bisimides (PBIs), compounds 1 and 2, is reported, and their self-assembling features are thoroughly investigated by a complete set of spectroscopic measurements and theoretical calculations. The study corroborates the enormous influence that the distance between the PBI core and the peripheral groups exerts on the chiroptical properties and the supramolecular polymerization mechanism. Compounds 1, with the peripheral groups separated from the central PBI core by two methylenes and an ester group, form J-type supramolecular polymers in a cooperative manner but exhibit negligible chiroptical properties. The lack of cl…

N ‐Annulated Perylene Bisimides to Bias the Differentiation of Metastable Supramolecular Assemblies into J‐ and H‐Aggregates

The unique self-assembling features of N-annulated perylene bisimides (PBIs) 1 and 2 are reported. The stability of the aggregates of diester 1, in which no H-bonding interactions are operative, corroborates the significance of long-range van der Waals and dipole-dipole electrostatic interactions in the construction of stable supramolecular assemblies. The incorporation of amide functional groups within the N-annulated PBI in 2 stimulates pathway differentiation to achieve up to three J-type aggregates and a fourth H-type aggregate depending on the experimental conditions. The results presented demonstrate unprecedented levels of control over synthetic supramolecular self-assembly and the r…

Metal-atom impact on the self-assembly of cup-and-ball metalloporphyrin–fullerene conjugates

International audience; A fullerene ammonium derivative has been combined with different metalloporphyrin–crown ether receptors to generate very stable supramolecules. The combination of fullerene–porphyrin and ammonium–crown ether interactions leads to a strong chelate effect as evidenced by a high effective molarity (3.16 M). The different parameters influencing the stability of the supramolecular ensembles, in particular the nature of the metal in the porphyrin moiety, have been rationalized with the help of theoretical calculations thus providing new insights into fullerene–porphyrin interactions.

Inside Back Cover: N ‐Annulated Perylene Bisimides to Bias the Differentiation of Metastable Supramolecular Assemblies into J‐ and H‐Aggregates (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 40/2020)

Minimizing geminate recombination losses in small-molecule-based organic solar cells

Small-molecule-based organic solar cells (OSCs) are a recurrent alternative to polymer-based OSCs. Due to the higher purity and definition of small molecules compared to polymers, the morphological requirements can be more relaxed. Here, we present a series of novel rhodanine-based small-molecule electron donors and blend them with the standard acceptor PC70BM. By performing a target analysis on femtosecond spectroscopy data, we quantify the rates of geminate charge recombination. We are able to reproduce these rates by applying the Marcus–Levich–Jortner equation, using results from quantum chemical calculations. This shows that in a series of differently substituted compounds, one can corr…

Bending Carbon Nanoforms for Supramolecular Recognition: A Topological Study on Hemifullerene-Based Aggregates

International audience; Buckybowls have risen as appealing fullerene fragment derivatives. Their intrinsic curvature has been exploited in the generation of host–guest supramolecular assemblies, not only through concave–convex complementarity but also through less-known concave–concave staggered arrangements. Whereas the stabilization of bowl-in-bowl dispositions has been ascribed to efficient π–π forces together with favorable dipole–dipole interactions, a detailed analysis on the forces guiding the formation of the staggered arrangements is missing so far. Herein, we present a thorough theoretical characterization of bowl-in-bowl vs staggered hemifullerene-based homodimers and heterodimer…

Quantum-Chemical Insights into the Self-Assembly of Carbon-Based Supramolecular Complexes

Understanding how molecular systems self-assemble to form well-organized superstructures governed by noncovalent interactions is essential in the field of supramolecular chemistry. In the nanoscience context, the self-assembly of different carbon-based nanoforms (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene) with, in general, electron-donor molecular systems, has received increasing attention as a means of generating potential candidates for technological applications. In these carbon-based systems, a deep characterization of the supramolecular organization is crucial to establish an intimate relation between supramolecular structure and functionality. Detailed structural information on the se…

CCDC 1830490: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 2095301: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1503532: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1813461: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1830488: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1830489: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1503530: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1853491: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1813460: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1503531: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Joaquín Calbo, Claire E. Weston, Andrew J. P. White, Henry S. Rzepa, Julia Contreras-García, Matthew J. Fuchter|2017|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|139|1261|doi:10.1021/jacs.6b11626

CCDC 1813459: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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