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Organic cathode materials have attracted extensive research interest for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their diverse structures and tunable properties. However, the preparation of organic cathode materials with high capacities, long cycling life, and high energy densities still remains a big challenge. To address these issues, we designed and synthesized a novel multinitro-decorated organic small molecule

A 10,20-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)tetrabenzo-5,15-diazaporphine (TIPS-TBDAP) was synthesized by the metal-template aza-annulation reaction. TIPS-TBDAP showed intense far-red fluorescence at 723 nm with a fluorescence quantum yield of 31% in chloroform solution. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that TIPS-TBDAP forms a one-dimensional slipped [Formula: see text]-stacking structure in the single crystal state. TIPS-TBDAP is soluble in common organic solvents owing to the bulky substituents and solution-processed field-effect transistors (FETs) could be fabricated. Dip-coating and single-crystal FETs showed the maximum hole mobilities of 1.5× 10[Formula: see text] and 0.16 cm2 V[Formula: see text] s[Formula: see text], respectively.

Two new rhenium(I) porphyriniod complexes (H2PY: 3,3-rhenium(I) tricarbonyl chloride-(31E,32Z,71E,72Z)-4,8-bis(perfluorophenyl)-11H,32H,72H-51λ2,71λ4-1,5(2,5),3,7(5,2)-tetrapyrrola-2,6(1,2)-dibenzenacyclooctaphane, and H2PZ: 3,3-rhenium(I) tricarbonyl acetate-(31E,32Z,71E,72Z)-4,8-bis(perfluorophenyl)-11H,32H,72H-51λ2,71λ4-1,5(2,5),3,7(5,2)-tetrapyrrola-2,6(1,2)-dibenzenacyclooctaphane) containing two different Re(I)−N π-bonding networks were prepared from the saddle-shaped porphyrin(2.1.2.1) bearing pentafluorophenyl substituents at the two meso-positions (H2Por: 31E,32Z,71E,72Z)-4,8-bis(perfluorophenyl)-11H,32H,51H,72H-1,5(2,5),3,7(5,2)-tetrapyrrola-2,6(1,2)-dibenzenacyclooctaphane). Despite the tetrapyrrolic nature of the porphyrin(2.1.2.1) scaffold, this is the first case of a pyrrole-based macrocycle which acts as a bipyridyl-like complexing ligand in the formation of an octahedral Re(I) complex. X-ray analysis and 1H NMR studies show that both Re(I) complexes (H2PY and H2PZ) consist of one octahedral Re(I) ion π-bonded to a dipyrrin unit and one protonated dipyrrin moiety linked together through o-phenylene bridges. This bonding behavior is compared to related metal complexes of porphyrin(2.1.2.1) macrocycles as well as other Re(I) porphyrins and demonstrates that the distorted conformation and, by virtue, the electronics of H2Por serve as a novel platform for examining structure property relationships which differ than those of other related planar porphyrin macrocycles.

The high design flexibility of organic semiconductors should lead to diverse and complex electronic functions. However, currently available high-performance organic semiconductors are limited in variety; most of p-type materials are based on thienoacenes or related one-dimensionally (1D) extended π-conjugated systems. In an effort to expand the diversity of organic semiconductors, we are working on the development of tetrabenzoporphyrin (BP) derivatives as active-layer components of organic electronic devices. BP is characterized by its large, rigid two-dimensionally (2D) extended π-framework with high light absorptivity and therefore is promising as a core building unit of organic semiconductors for optoelectronic applications. Herein, we demonstrate that BP derivatives can afford field-effect hole mobilities of4 cm

Expanded nonaromatic stable porphyrins(2.1.2.1) were successfully synthesized by 2,3-di(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)naphthalene as buliding blocks and aromatic aldehydes under acid catalyzed condensation conditions in acceptable isolated yields. NMR, X-ray diffraction analysis, absorption, electrochemical, and density functional theory revealed these macrocycles to be non-aromatic due to highly saddle-shaped molecular structures of dinaphthoporphyrin(2.1.2.1). The saddle-shaped dinaphthoporphyrins(2.1.2.1) with embedded naphthalene units as [Formula: see text]-conjugation units show perturbations to molecular structure, optical and electronic properties. The dinaphthoporphyrins(2.1.2.1) are effective macrocyclic ligands giving copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes.

The charge transport properties of a polycyclic aromatic compound containing λ3-phosphinine was evaluated, demonstrating the potential of low-coordinate phosphorus compounds as organic semiconductors.

5,15-Bis(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyltetrabenzoporphyrin (TIPS-H2BP) gave a one-dimensionally extended columnar packing motif. The single crystal field-effect transistor of TIPS-H2BP exhibited clearly better hole mobility (2.16 cm2 V−1 s−1) than its metal complexes (ca. 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1), with efficient charge transport through π–π stacking along the tetrabenzoporphyrin units.

A highly distorted binuclear rhodium(I) complex, 2Rh, was successfully synthesized from hexaphyrin(2.1.2.1.2.1) containing dimethylvinylene-bridges between dipyrrin units. IR spectroscopy, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography revealed that the complex 2Rh consists of two rhodium(I) ions coordinated to two dipyrrin units. Rh complexation induced a transformation from a trans-/cis-/trans- to trans-/cis-/cis-conformation on the dimethylvinylene-bridges. This is the first example of rhodium(I)-ion-induced cis-/trans-isomerization in the porphyrin derivatives. Theoretical calculations of 2Rh predicted the presence of intramolecular charge-transfer absorption due to the distorted molecular structure.

We report improved synthesis of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene(BCOD)-fused 5,15-diazaporphyrin and meso-substituted derivatives by metal-template aza-annulation reaction. The obtained compounds act as the soluble precursors of tetrabenzo-5,15-diazaporphyrin (TBDAP) by thermal conversion. The substituents at meso-positions make significant differences in the optical properties and morphology in the thin film upon thermal conversion.

The doubly oxonium-embedded picenes have been synthesized for the first time. They have a rigid planar electron-deficient core and are stabilized by the pyrylium aromaticity. The doping positions of oxygen atoms influenced their electrochemical and optoelectronic properties because of the different charge distributions in the skeletons. The donor-acceptor-donor-type molecules baring electron-donating triphenylamine moieties exhibited intramolecular charge-transfer absorption at the visible regions, indicating the large impact of the substituents on their electronic properties.

Mono-/diboron complexes with saddle-shaped molecular conformations were synthesized from porphyrins(2.1.2.1). The boron complexes have unique structure-dependent photophysical properties: (a) monoboron complexes 2a and 2b are not emissive in solution and the solid state, (b) diboron complex 3a shows red emission in toluene, and (c) diboron complex 3b shows aggregation-induced emission (AIE) in the deep-red region due to intermolecular secondary interactions (F-π). This is the first case of a boron porphyrinoid complex that shows AIE emission in the deep-red region in decades.

Novel 24π antiaromatic and 26π aromatic

A 2,2′-tert-butyl-5,9-6′,8′-cyclooctameric pyrenylene ([8]CP) was synthesized by a one-pot Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction from two kinds of bifunctionalized monomers, as a rare example of a cyclic octamer. The octameric molecular structure of [8]CP was revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Pristine π-extended aromatic compounds are attractive as organic functional materials including organic semiconductors, but are difficult to synthesize in pure form because of their low solubility in common organic solvents. The precursor approach is a very useful method to synthesize pure π-extended aromatic compounds that cannot be prepared via traditional organic synthesis in flasks. In this approach, pure precursors are first prepared; these precursors are then converted quantitatively to the target molecules via a retro-Diels–Alder reaction or Strating–Zwanenburg photodecarbonylation reaction. This approach has also been used for the on-surface synthesis of the large acenes, heptacene and nonacene, under ultra-high vacuum in order to investigate their electronic properties, and is useful for the control of the packing structure of organic semiconductors in solution–processed films. The charge carrier mobilities of organic photovoltaics and organic field effect transistors have been improved using the precursor approach in combination with substituent effects. This account focuses on the synthesis and morphological control of aromatic compounds using the precursor approach in our group in the last decade.

The combination of synergistic stabilizers is a basic strategy for prolonging the lifetime of polymeric materials, but exploration of combinations has been minimally accomplished due to certain pro...

Cyclic butadiyne-linked porphyrin(2.1.2.1) oligomers are synthesized from 5,16-diethynylporphyrin(2.1.2.1) by Glaser–Hay coupling. Porphyrin(2.1.2.1) forms a bent structure which gives advantages for making cyclic structure without templating molecules. We isolated cyclic trimer and tetramer and characterized them by MALDI-TOF-MS and [Formula: see text]H NMR spectroscopy, theoretical calculations, UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra and cyclic voltammetry. The cyclic structure mainly affects the reduction potentials because of expansion of [Formula: see text]-conjugations through butadiyne-linkages to stabilize their LUMOs.

We demonstrate on-surface deprotection of methylenedioxy groups which yielded graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with edges functionalized by hydroxy groups. While anthracene trimer precursors functionalized with hydroxy groups did not yield GNRs, it was found that hydroxy groups are first protected as methylenedioxy groups and then deprotected during the cyclo-dehydrogenation process to form GNRs with hydroxy groups. The X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and non-contact atomic force microscopy studies revealed that ∼20% of the methylenedioxy turned into hydroxy groups, while the others were hydrogen-terminated. The first-principles density functional theory (DFT) study on the cyclo-dehydrogenation process was performed to investigate the deprotection mechanism, which indicates that hydrogen atoms emerging during the cyclo-dehydrogenation process trigger the deprotection of methylenedioxy groups. The scanning tunneling spectroscopy study and DFT revealed a significant charge transfer from hydroxy to the Au substrate, causing an interface dipole and the HOMO being closer to the Fermi level when compared with hydrogen-terminated GNR/Au(111). This result demonstrates on-surface deprotection and indicates a possible new route to obtain GNRs with desired edge functionalization, which can be a critical component for high-performance devices.

Tetrabenzoporphyrin (BP) holds attractive characteristics for optoelectronic applications, such as the large π-conjugated framework and high photoabsorption capability. However, its use in organic solar cells (OSCs) has been limited because of the extremely low solubility that hampers direct solution processing and also the high frontier-orbital energies that lead to low open-circuit voltage (VOC). Herein, we examine BP derivatives equipped with multiple strongly electron-withdrawing groups for photovoltaic applications. The derivatives are generated in thin films through a thermal precursor approach, wherein the corresponding bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene-fused porphyrin derivatives are solution-cast, and then annealed to carry out the in situ retro-Diels-Alder reaction. The frontier-orbital energies of the resulting derivatives are effectively stabilized as compared to pristine BP to such a degree that they afford high VOC of up to 0.94 V when used as a donor or can even work as a new class of nonfullerene acceptor in OSCs. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses demonstrate that the conformation of the BP framework largely varies from being near planar to highly curved depending on its substituents. The morphology of polymer:BP-derivative bulk-heterojunction films prepared by the thermal precursor approach also varies between the BP derivatives. These results can greatly extend the scope of both molecular design and morphology control for utilization of the BP chromophore toward achieving viable organic optoelectronic devices.

Substituted acene derivatives are regarded as promising materials for organic electronic devices such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In particular, anthracene derivatives are known to exhibit good fluorescence property, with the air stability and solubility in common organic solvents expected to give advantages for solution-processed device fabrication. In this study, a series of bistriisopropylsilyl(TIPS)ethynyl anthracene derivatives with azaacene-containing iptycene wings have been synthesized by using condensation reactions. Effects of size of azaacenes on optical properties and packing structures were investigated. UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra indicate that the π-elongation of iptycene units has small effects on the overall π-system, which is also supported by electrochemical measurements. Secondly, single-crystal X-ray analysis implies that the molecules likely have interactions with the iptycene units of adjacent molecules, while the iptycene wings and TIPSethynyl groups can prevent the central anthracene unit from undesirable non-radiative energy loss. Finally, the most emissive derivative was used as a dopant for solution-processed OLEDs, showing obvious electroluminescence with a luminance of over 920 cd m-2 .

Most azobenzene derivatives are utilized as well-defined photoresponsive materials, but their emission properties have not been of great interest as they are relatively poor. Here, we report crystallization-induced emission (CIE) based on the suppression of the photoisomerization of azobenzene derivatives. Although these molecules show negligible emission in solution, their microcrystals exhibit intense emission from the azobenzene moieties as a result of CIE. Upon rapid precipitation, fine particles with low crystallinity were kinetically formed and underwent CIE over time with a concomitant increase in crystallinity. Furthermore, we demonstrated "photocutting" of an emissive single crystal using a strong laser by a combination of CIE behavior and photomelting based on the photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety. Our results regarding the CIE behavior of azobenzene derivatives in addition to their photoisomerization can provide a new platform for developing photoresponsive luminescent materials.

Vinylene-bridged hexaphyrin(2.1.2.1.2.1) was synthesized from dipyrrolyl diphenylethenes by acid-catalyzed condensation reactions. Freebase hexaphyrin(2.1.2.1.2.1) forms a distorted structure with non-aromatic characteristics. The aromaticity and molecular configuration of non-planar hexaphyrin(2.1.2.1.2.1) can be controlled by insertion of metal ions. Freebase and zinc complexes show a distorted structure without macrocyclic aromaticity, whereas copper complexes show a figure-of-eight structure with macrocyclic aromaticity. It is the first example of aromaticity conversion of a distorted expanded porphyrin involving vinylene bridges.

We report syntheses of thiophene and dithiophene-substituted porphycenes (ThPc and DThPc) at 2,7,12,17-positions by McMurry coupling. The crystal structure of ThPc revealed that the porphycene plane shows a highly planar structure, and the dihedral angles between the porphycene core and thiophene are relatively small at 21[Formula: see text] and 18[Formula: see text]. ThPc and DThPc exhibit red-shifted and broadened absorption because of the extension of [Formula: see text] conjugations through porphycene to the substituted thiophenes. We found that introduction of thiophene units onto porphycene results in decreasing the HOMO–LUMO differences effectively.

A remarkably strained cyclopyrenylene trimer was synthesized and it underwent the first biaryl C–C σ-bond cleavage with 1O2., A remarkably strained cyclopyrenylene trimer CP3 was synthesized and it underwent the first biaryl C–C σ-bond cleavage by direct oxygen insertion without the aid of any metal agents. A priori highly strained CP3 exhibits the longest wavelength emission among all pyrene-based fluorophores due to the intensive electronic interactions between pyrenes. The color of the emission drastically changes from orange to light blue upon oxidation. Theoretical studies revealed that the release of ring strain reasonably drives the reaction between two CP3 molecules and O2. This strain-induced transformation could be also applied for sulfur atom insertion into a biaryl σ-bond.

Azaacenes are the analogue of acenes, comprising nitrogen atoms in the carbon-based molecular skeleton, have been gaining attention because of their potential application in organic electronics and material science. However, it is normally difficult to synthesize such large aromatic molecules because of the poor solubility and low stability. On the other hand, we have developed precursor methods to overcome these problems. Briefly, bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene(BCOD)-fused acenes can be converted its corresponding acenes by thermally induced retro-Diels–Alder reaction, while α-diketone-type precursors can be converted simply by photoirradiation.[1] Significantly, these precursor molecules are often more soluble and stable than its converted forms. More crucially, their corresponding acenes can be prepared quantitatively in solutions or in films, if the precursors are sufficiently pure. So far, by using the precursor methods, we have successfully synthesized polyacenes under anaerobic conditions either at ultrahigh vacuum conditions or at the interior of single crystals to avoid undesirable oxidation of the resulting polyacenes.[2–4] Here we report a series of tetraazapolyacene precursors synthesis. Briefly, the BCOD moieties were introduced in the tetraazaacenes as the thermally removable leaving group. The possibility of conversion of the precursors into its corresponding tetraazaacenes was examined by thermogravimetric analysis respectively. In addition, α-diketone-type precursor of tetraazaheptacene was also synthesized. Furthermore, we also report the one-pot synthesis of macrocyclic azacyclacene precursor by reacting bis-α-diketo-tetrahydro-diethanopentacene with benzene-1,2,4,5-tetraamine tetrahydrochloride. Here, the targeted compound was clearly confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The obtaining precursor compounds will be subjected to transformation to investigate its optical and physical properties. References H. Yamada, D. Kuzuhara, M. Suzuki, H. Hayashi, N. Aratani, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 2020, 93, 1234–1267. J. I. Urgel, S. Mishra, H. Hayashi, J. Wilhelm, C. A. Pignedoli, M. D. Giovannantonio, R. Widmer, M. Yamashita, N. Hieda, P. Ruffieux, H. Yamada, F. Roman, Nat. Commun. 2019, 10, 861. H. Hayashi, N. Hieda, M. Yamauchi, Y. S. Chan, N. Aratani, S. Masuo, H. Yamada, Chem. Eur. J. 2020, 26, 15079–15083. K. Eimre, J. I. Urgel, H. Hayashi, M. D. Giovannantonio, P. Ruffieux, S. Sato, S. Otomo, Y. S. Chan, N. Aratani, D. Passerone, O. Gröning, H. Yamada, R. Fasel, C. A. Pignedoli, Nat. Commun. in press.

Optically active fullerenes, including C60 and C70 derivatives carrying organic substituents, are used in a range of applications because of their unique spectroscopic, catalytic, and chiral recognition properties. However, their inherent photoexcited chirality is yet to be elucidated because of their very poor fluorescence quantum yield (Φf). We synthesised a new chiral C70 derivative, X70A, with 20% yield, by reacting bis-borylated xanthene with C70 in a one-step double addition reaction, followed by a successful optical resolution. The isolation of two separate X70A enantiomers was confirmed by mirror-image circular dichroism spectroscopy in the range of 300–750 nm. In toluene, the enantiomeric pair of X70A clearly revealed mirror-image circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) spectra with a high |glum| value of 7.0 × 10−3 at 690 nm. The first fullerene-based deep-red CPL of X70A should provide a new guideline for the design of chiral nanocarbon materials.

Optically active fullerenes (C76, C82, C84), including C60 and C70 derivatives carrying organic substituents, possess various potent applications because of unique spectroscopic, catalytic, and chiral recognition properties. However, their inherent photoexcited chirality has not yet been elucidated because of a very poor quantum yield of fluorescence (FL). With this background in mind, we synthesized new chiral C70 derivatives, X70A, solely by reacting bis-borylated xanthene with C70 in a one-step double addition reaction with 20% yield, followed by a successful optical resolution using a recyclable chiral-HPLC technique. The isolated X70A enantiomers were confirmed by their mirror-image circular dichroism spectra in the range of 300 nm and 700 nm. The enantiomeric pair of X70A in toluene revealed clearly mirror-image circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra with a high |glum| value of 7.0 × 10–3 at 690 nm associated with FL lifetime of 0.99 ns. The deep-red CPL of X70A should provide new photofunctionality as chiral nanocarbon materials.