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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their nitrogen‐substituted analogues are of great interest for various applications in organic electronics. The performance of such devices is determined not only by the properties of the single molecules, but also by the structure of their aggregates, which often form via self‐aggregation. Gaining insight into such aggregation processes is a challenging task, but crucial for a fine‐tuning of the materials properties. In this work, an efficient approach for the generation and characterisation of aggregates is described, based on matrix‐isolation experiments and quantum‐chemical calculations. This approach is exemplified for aggregation of acridine. The acridine dimer and trimer are thoroughly analysed on the basis of experimental and calculated UV and IR absorption spectra, which agree well with each other. Thereby a novel structure of the acridine dimer is found, which disagrees with a previously reported one. The calculations also show the changes from excitonic coupling towards orbital interactions between two molecules with decreasing distance to each other. In addition, a structure of the trimer is determined. Finally, an outlook is given on how even higher aggregates can be made accessible through experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular photoswitches are widely used in material sciences, physics, chemistry, and biology. As needs grow more complex, materials have to react more than one‐dimensionally. The use of multiple photoswitches at once opens manifold opportunities for further improved and more complicated systems. However, this requires independent addressability, i.e., orthogonality, and reversible processes. Herein, the first study on ultrafast excited state dynamics of two orthogonal photoswitches, a push‐pull azobenzene and a donor‐acceptor Stenhouse adduct is reported. In order to gain detailed insight in their interactions and mutual influences on their photoswitching behavior, they are addressed individually and simultaneously via transient absorption spectroscopy supported by quantum chemical calculations. They show reversible photoswitchability and in addition, can be used in 4D printing to provide easy access to a plethora of functional devices. Furthermore, environmental influences on the excited state dynamics are examined using different solvents and thin films. Both compounds photoisomerize independently when addressed individually or simultaneously and only little impacts on the excited state dynamics are found. Especially the vibrational relaxation is affected by different surroundings changing the energy dissipation while hardly affecting the electronic states involved. The orthogonal and simultaneous addressability is thereby crucial for their usage in 4D printed microactuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compounds with multiple photoswitching units are appealing for complex photochemical control of molecular materials and nanostructures. Herein, we synthesized novel meta‐ and para‐ connected (related to the nitrogen of the indoline) azobenzene‐spiropyran dyads, in which the central benzene unit is shared by both switches. We investigated their photochemistry using static and time‐resolved transient absorption spectroscopy as well as quantum chemical calculations. In the meta‐compound, the individual components are photochemically decoupled due to the meta‐pattern. In the para‐compound the spiro‐connectivity leads to a bifunctional photoswitchable system with a red‐shifted absorption. The azobenzene and the spiropyran can thus be addressed and switched independently by light of appropriate wavelength. Through the different connectivity patterns two different orthogonally photoswitchable systems have been obtained which are promising candidates for complex applications of light control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A π‐expanded X‐type double [5]helicene comprising dihydropyracylene moieties was synthesized from commercially available acenaphthene. X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed the unique highly twisted structure of the compound resulting in the occurrence of two enantiomers which were separated by chiral HPLC, owing to their high conformational stability. The compound shows strongly bathochromically shifted UV/vis absorption and emission bands with small Stokes shift and considerable photoluminescence quantum yield and circular polarized luminescence response. The electrochemical studies revealed five facilitated reversible redox events, including three reductions and two oxidations, thus qualifying the compound as chiral multistage redox amphoter. The experimental findings are in line with the computational studies based on density functional theory pointing towards increased spatial extension of the frontier molecular orbitals over the polycyclic framework and a considerably narrowed HOMO–LUMO gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, matrix‐isolation spectroscopy and quantum‐chemical calculations are used together to analyse the structure and properties of weakly bound dimers of the two isomers benzo[a]acridine and benzo[c]acridine. Our measured experimental electronic absorbance spectra agree with simulated spectra calculated for the equilibrium structures of the dimers in gas‐phase, but in contrast, disagree with the simulated spectra calculated for the structures obtained by optimising the experimental solid‐state structures. This highlights the sensitivity of the electronic excitations with respect to the dimer structures. The comparison between the solid‐state and gas‐phase dimers shows how far the intermolecular interactions could change the geometric and electronic structure in a disordered bulk material or at device interfaces, imposing consequences for exciton and charge mobility and other material properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four substituted nonacenes were prepared and characterized by UV‐vis and EPR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. The compounds are the most stable and soluble nonacenes to date – due to six strategically placed triisopropylsilyl(TIPS)‐ethynyl groups. They are stable for several weeks in the solid state. In dilute solution their half‐life is 5–9 h. Crystal structure analyses of two nonacenes prove their structures. A nonacene derivative was tested in a solution‐processed transistor and exhibits ambipolar charge transport (μe=0.007 cm2/Vs; μh=0.023 cm2/Vs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two series of regioisomeric dicyanomethylene substituted dithienodiazatetracenes with formal para‐ or ortho‐quinodimethane subunits were synthesized and characterized. Whereas the para‐isomers (p‐n, diradical index y0=0.01) are stable and isolable, the ortho‐isomer (y0=0.98) dimerizes into a covalent azaacene cage. Four elongated σ‐CC bonds are formed and the former triisopropylsilyl(TIPS) ‐ethynylene groups transformed into cumulene units. The azaacene cage dimer (o‐1)2 was characterized by X‐ray single crystal structure analysis and temperature‐dependent infrared (IR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR, solid‐state), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultraviolet‐visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopies (solution) indicating reformation of o‐1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Angewandte Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The incorporation of heteroatoms into hydrocarbon compounds greatly expands the chemical space of molecular materials. In this context, B−N doping takes a center stage due to its isosterism with a C=C‐bond. Herein, we present a new and modular synthetic concept to access novel diazadiborabenzo[b]triphenylenes 7 a–h using the B−N doped biradical 16 as intermediate. Characterization of the photophysical properties revealed the emission spectra of the diazadibora benzo[b]triphenylenes 7 a–h can conveniently be tuned by small changes of the substitution on the boron‐atom. All of the diazadibora compounds show a short life‐time phosphorescence. Additionally, we were able to rationalize the excited‐state relaxation of the diazadiboraacene 7 a via intersystem crossing by quantum chemical calculations. The new synthetic strategy provides an elegant route to various novel B−N doped acenes with great potential for applications in molecular materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraiodotetraazapentacene I4TAP, the last missing derivative in the series of halogenated silylated tetraazapentacenes, was synthesized via condensation chemistry from a TIPS‐ethynylated diaminobenzothiadiazol in three steps. Single and double reduction furnished its air‐stable monoanion and relatively air‐stable dianion, both of which were characterized by crystallography. All three species are structurally and spectroscopically compared to non‐halogenated TAP and Br4TAP. I4TAP is an n‐channel material in thin‐film transistors with average electron mobilities exceeding 1 cm2 (Vs)−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems combine solar energy conversion, storage, and release in simple one‐photon one‐molecule processes. Here, we address the electrochemically triggered energy release from an azothiophene‐based MOST system by photoelectrochemical infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PEC‐IRRAS) and density functional theory (DFT). Specifically, the electrochemically triggered back‐reaction from the energy rich (Z)‐3‐cyanophenylazothiophene to its energy lean (E)‐isomer using highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) as the working electrode was studied. Theory predicts that two reaction channels are accessible, an oxidative one (hole‐catalyzed) and a reductive one (electron‐catalyzed). Experimentally it was found that the photo‐isomer decomposes during hole‐catalyzed energy release. Electrochemically triggered back‐conversion was possible, however, through the electron‐catalyzed reaction channel. The reaction rate could be tuned by the electrode potential within two orders of magnitude. It was shown that the MOST system withstands 100 conversion cycles without detectable decomposition of the photoswitch. After 100 cycles, the photochemical conversion was still quantitative and the electrochemically triggered back‐reaction reached 94 % of the original conversion level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prepared and studied six atropisomers with different chiroptical properties emerging from a single, robust, broadly‐absorbing fulgide photoswitch. After separation of the different atropisomers via HPLC on a chiral column, their isomerization processes at room temperature and the energy barriers of the different species were investigated in detail using spectroscopic and theoretical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buchwald‐Hartwig coupling of a triisopropylsilyl (TIPS)‐ethynylated dibromo‐N,N'‐dihydrotetraazapentacene with 1,4‐bis(TIPS‐ethynyl)‐2,3‐diaminonaphthalene furnishes a dihydrohexaazaoctacene. Its oxidation with MnO2 results in a 7,7'‐bi(hexaazaoctacenyl). In addition to eight TIPS‐ethynyl groups, the bioctacene motif protects the azaoctacene subunits. The biazaoctacenyl displays a τ1/2 of > 5 d in dilute solution under ambient conditions. In the crystalline state it is persistent for > 10 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We disclose a successive π‐expansion of pyracylene towards boat‐shaped polycyclic scaffolds. The unique structural features of the resulting compounds were revealed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. Depending on the extent of π‐expansion the compounds display intense bathochromically shifted absorption bands in their UV/Vis spectra and are prone to several redox events as documented by cyclic voltammetry. The experimental observations are in line with the computational studies based on density functional theory, suggesting progressive narrowing of the HOMO–LUMO gap and distinct evolution of the electronic structure and aromaticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a series of azobenzene‐substituted triptycenes. In their design, these switching units were placed in close proximity, but electronically separated by a sp3 center. The azobenzene switches were prepared by Baeyer–Mills coupling as key step. The isomerization behavior was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and HPLC. It was shown that all azobenzene moieties are efficiently switchable. Despite the geometric decoupling of the chromophores, computational studies revealed excitonic coupling effects between the individual azobenzene units depending on the connectivity pattern due to the different transition dipole moments of the π→π* excitations. Transition probabilities for those excitations are slightly altered, which is also revealed in their absorption spectra. These insights provide new design parameters for combining multiple photoswitches in one molecule, which have high potential as energy or information storage systems, or, among others, in molecular machines and supramolecular chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An open‐source software library for wavefunction analysis, libwfa, provides a comprehensive and flexible toolbox for post‐processing excited‐state calculations, featuring a hierarchy of interconnected visual and quantitative analysis methods. These tools afford compact graphical representations of various excited‐state processes, provide detailed insight into electronic structure, and are suitable for automated processing of large data sets. The analysis is based on reduced quantities, such as state and transition density matrices (DMs), and allows one to distill simple molecular orbital pictures of physical phenomena from intricate correlated wavefunctions. The implemented descriptors provide a rigorous link between many‐body wavefunctions and intuitive physical and chemical models, for example, exciton binding, double excitations, orbital relaxation, and polyradical character. A broad range of quantum‐chemical methods is interfaced with libwfa via a uniform interface layer in the form of DMs. This contribution reviews the structure of libwfa and highlights its capabilities by several representative use cases. This article is categorized under:Software > Quantum ChemistryTheoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixfold TIPS‐ethynylation combined with fourfold bromination of the armchair edges furnishes a long‐lived, soluble heptacene; π‐extension via Stille coupling accesses a persistent tetrabenzononacene. Both types of acenes were stabilized best by double TIPS‐ethynylation on every other benzene ring. Tetrabromoheptacene is an ambipolar transistor material (up to 0.036 cm2 V−1 s−1 n‐channel), which was corroborated by generation of its monoanion and monocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Angewandte Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A family of fully bridged triphenylamines with embedded 5‐ and 7‐membered rings is presented. The compounds are potent electron donors capable to undergo donor/acceptor interactions with strong cyano‐based acceptors both in the solid state and solution. These interactions were evaluated by IR and UV/vis spectroscopy as well as X‐ray crystallography. The vinylene‐bridged compound was oxidized to the corresponding 1,2‐diketone which readily underwent acid‐catalyzed condensation with selected 1,2‐phenylenediamines. The resulting π‐extended quinoxaline derivatives represent valuable building blocks for the development of functional chromophores upon appropriate functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition‐metal‐catalyzed cyclization of bissilylethynylated N,N'‐dihydrotetraazapentacene (TIPS‐TAP‐H2) into bissilylated cyclopenta[fg,qr]pentacenes is reported. Depending on the catalyst either none, one or two silyl groups migrate and change their positions in the formed five‐membered rings. The optoelectronic properties are quite similar, whereas the packing motifs differ dramatically. Control experiments and quantum chemical calculations were performed to investigate the mechanism of the reaction and the selectivity of the silyl shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We herein report an unprecedented reactivity of mononuclear gold catalysts acting as classical catalysts and at the same time as active partners in a radical chain mechanism, whereby gold is the only catalyst. The mechanism of the photo‐induced photosensitizer‐free "gold only"‐catalyzed cross coupling was studied in detail – experimentally and theoretically – based on the reaction between arylboronic acids and aryldiazonium salts. With a systematic set of stoichiometric experiments under various conditions and analytic methods, we could show that this mechanism is initiated by an aryl radical formed in the presence of blue LEDs and MeOH. This aryl radical enters the catalytic cycle to oxidize gold(I) to gold(II). Single electron transfer from gold(II) to the aryldiazonium salt then gives the cationic gold(III) complex by formation of a chain‐supporting aryl radical which then is enabled to start a new cycle by oxidation of gold(I) without the need for irradiation. At least every 432 cycles of the radical chain, a new chain‐initiating radical has to restart the radical chain. Eventually, the boronic acid is activated by the BF4− anion to transmetalate to gold(III), and reductive elimination delivers the desired product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triarylboranes containing linear or angular benzodithiophene moieties and bearing one or two dimesitylboron units were synthesized. The electrochemical and optical features of these compounds were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy while DFT calculations were run to analyze the energetic landscape of these systems. For both linear and angular benzodithiophenes, symmetrical disubstitution leads to the highest photoluminescence yields. The linear benzodithiophene disubstituted with two dimesitylboron units proved to be the most interesting and promising molecule as an electron‐transport material for organic electronics owing to its LUMO energy level of −2.84 eV which is close to those of commonly used electron transport materials like bathocuproine or bathophenantroline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation of mechanical properties of polymer materials with those of their molecular constituents is the foundation for their holistic comprehension and eventually for improved material designs and syntheses. Over the last decade, optical force probes (OFPs) were developed, shedding light on various unique mechanical behaviors of materials. The properties of polymers are diverse, ranging from soft hydrogels to ultra‐tough composites, from purely elastic rubbers to viscous colloidal solutions, and from transparent glasses to super black dyed coatings. Only very recently, researchers started to develop tailored OFP solutions that account for such material requirements in energy (both light and force), in time, and in their spatially detectable resolution. We here highlight notable recent examples and identify future challenges in this emergent field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gator program has been developed for computational spectroscopy and calculations of molecular properties using real and complex propagators at the correlated level of wave function theory. Currently, the focus lies on methods based on the algebraic diagrammatic construction (ADC) scheme up to the third order of perturbation theory. An auxiliary Fock matrix‐driven implementation of the second‐order ADC method for excitation energies has been realized with an underlying hybrid MPI/OpenMP parallelization scheme suitable for execution in high‐performance computing cluster environments. With a modular and object‐oriented program structure written in a Python/C++ layered fashion, Gator additionally enables time‐efficient prototyping of novel scientific approaches, as well as interactive notebook‐driven training of students in quantum chemistry. This article is categorized under:Computer and Information Science > Computer Algorithms and ProgrammingElectronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure MethodsSoftware > Quantum Chemistry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we describe a gold‐catalyzed cascade cyclization of Boc‐protected benzylamines bearing two tethered alkyne moieties in a domino reaction initiated by a 6‐endo‐dig cyclization. The reaction was screened intensively, and the scope was explored, resulting in nine new Boc‐protected dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridines with yields of up to 98 %; even a π‐extension and two bidirectional approaches were successful. Furthermore, thermal cleavage of the Boc group and subsequent oxidation gave substituted benzo[c]phenanthridines in up to quantitative yields. Two bidirectional approaches under the optimized conditions were successful, and the resulting π‐extended molecules were tested as organic semiconductors in organic thin‐film transistors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoactivatable compounds for example photoswitches or photolabile protecting groups (PPGs, photocages) for spatiotemporal light control, play a crucial role in different areas of research. For each application, parameters such as the absorption spectrum, solubility in the respective media and/or photochemical quantum yields for several competing processes need to be optimized. The design of new photochemical tools therefore remains an important task. In this study, we exploited the concept of excited‐state‐aromaticity, first described by N. Colin Baird in 1971, to investigate a new class of photocages, based on cyclic, ground‐state‐antiaromatic systems. Several thio‐ and nitrogen‐functionalized compounds were synthesized, photochemically characterized and further optimized, supported by quantum chemical calculations. After choosing the optimal scaffold, which shows an excellent uncaging quantum yield of 28 %, we achieved a bathochromic shift of over 100 nm, resulting in a robust, well accessible, visible light absorbing, compact new photocage with a clean photoreaction and a high quantum product (ϵ⋅Φ) of 893 M−1 cm−1 at 405 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photochemistry. In their Research Article (e202314112), Andreas Dreuw, Josef Wachtveitl, Hermann A. Wegner et al. report two novel photoswitch azobenzene‐spiropyran dyads. The study provides the basis for the development of new multichromic switches for information and energy storage or other applications...By Torben Saßmannshausen; Anne Kunz; Nils Oberhof; Friederike Schneider; Chavdar Slavov; Andreas Dreuw; Josef Wachtveitl and Hermann A. WegnerReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

Azo compounds, computational chemistry, excitonic coupling, isomerization, photochemistry Keywords: azo compounds; computational chemistry; excitonic coupling; isomerization; photochemistry EN azo compounds computational chemistry excitonic coupling isomerization photochemistry 1 1 1 07/08/22 20220706 NES 220706 B You can't separate this couple b : One of the azo-substituted tripycenes synthesized in this work is highlighted in front of its UV-Vis absorption spectrum. Cover Feature: Azobenzene-Substituted Triptycenes: Understanding the Exciton Coupling of Molecular Switches in Close Proximity (Chem. Eur. J. 38/2022). [Extracted from the article]

Chemiluminescence, fluorescence, mechanochemistry, polymers, sensors Keywords: chemiluminescence; fluorescence; mechanochemistry; polymers; sensors EN chemiluminescence fluorescence mechanochemistry polymers sensors 1 1 1 11/19/21 20211117 NES 211117 B Optical force probes (OFPs) b shine light on various unique mechanical behaviors of materials and allow the correlation of macroscopic mechanical properties with those of their molecular constituents. [Extracted from the article]

Chemiluminescence, fluorescence, mechanochemistry, polymers, sensors Keywords: chemiluminescence; fluorescence; mechanochemistry; polymers; sensors EN chemiluminescence fluorescence mechanochemistry polymers sensors 15823 15823 1 11/19/21 20211117 NES 211117 B As potential analytical tools b for collecting and mapping mechanical information in polymer materials, optical force probes (OFPs) have been developed over the last decade. [Extracted from the article]

A series of selectively cyanated spirofluorene‐bridged N‐heterotriangulenes (N‐HTAs) with three to nine cyano groups are synthesized via a newly developed synthetic strategy. X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the compounds revealed a tripod‐like molecular shape with the fluorenyl moieties arranged in a perpendicular fashion around the nitrogen‐centered N‐HTA core. The solid state packing is found to be strongly influenced by the dipolar cyano functions. Under electrochemical conditions, the N‐HTA core is prone to undergo a reversible one‐electron oxidation toward the nitrogen‐centered radical cation, which becomes increasingly difficult as the number of the cyano acceptors, and consequently the ionization potential, increases. While a clear bathochromic shift is observed in the steady‐state UV–vis absorption spectra, the fluorescence behavior is complex and strongly dependent on the position and number of the cyano groups. The compound with six cyano functions at the fluorenyl flanks is unique within the series and shows a broad emission maximum at 499 nm and an unusually large Stokes shift of 10 171 cm−1. Time‐resolved absorption and fluorescence measurements, supported by quantum chemical calculations, identified this spectroscopic signature to originate from fast and robust photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]