G-quadruplex organic frameworks

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks often π stack into crystalline solids that allow precise spatial positioning of molecular building blocks. Inspired by the hydrogen-bonded G-quadruplexes found frequently in guanine-rich DNA, here we show that this structural motif can be exploited to guide the self-assembly of naphthalene diimide and perylene diimide electron acceptors end-capped with two guanine electron donors into crystalline G-quadruplex-based organic frameworks, wherein the electron donors and acceptors form ordered, segregated π-stacked arrays. Time-resolved optical and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies show that photogenerated holes and electrons in the frameworks have long lifetimes and display recombination kinetics typical of dissociated charge carriers. Moreover, the reduced acceptors form polarons in which the electron is shared over several molecules. The G-quadruplex frameworks also demonstrate potential as cathode materials in Li-ion batteries because of the favourable electron- and Li-ion-transporting capacity provided by the ordered rylene diimide arrays and G-quadruplex structures, respectively

From old porphyrins to novel materials

textThe fascinating role that porphyrins play in natural processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, continues to provide a compelling motivation to study these chromophores and to design new analogues with improved functions. This dissertation describes the interdisciplinary study of several classes of compounds that include π-extended porphyrins, expanded porphyrins, porphycenes, polypyrroles and porphyrins. Dictated by the need to capture efficiently red and near-infrared light, the so-called π-extension approach has been established as a powerful tool in the synthesis of large aromatic chromophores. Many of these artificial systems demonstrate properties similar to natural porphyrins. Often, however, a reduced bandgap is seen due to a greater π-system. Synthetic challenges associated with the preparation of the linearly annulated porphyrins have long been recognized. Many of these have now beed overcome as the result of a newly developed synthetic protocol described in Chapter 1. This protocol allows for the synthesis of a pyrrolic building block under milder conditions. As a continuation of this work, naphthobipyrroles were obtained via the π-extension strategy applied to a benzobipyrrole. The utility of this new building block was demonstrated with the syntheses of an electrochromic polynaphthobipyrrolic polymer (Chapter 3) and a dinaphthoporphycene (Chapter 2), a chromophore isomeric to porphyrin. Chapter 4 describes a different approach to porphyrin functionalization. Here, the goal was to effect substitution at the so-called β pyrrolic positions with using two bithiophene groups. Although, the resulting product is not completely rigid, enhancement in the sensitizing properties of the basic porphyrin chromophore was seen in a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) assembly, as studied by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The synthetic contributions concerning this work, carried in collaboration with Bard group, are expected to lay the groundwork for the development future photovoltaic materials. Expanded porphyrins are the more diverse group of porphyrinic derivatives. In effort to develop new conjugated expanded porphyrin systems and to understand their spectroscopic behavior in greater detail, a set of expanded porphyrins, based on the direct electrochemical oxidation of terpyrrole-like fragments, was developed in conjunction with the Bucher group (Grenoble, France). This effort is described in Chapter 5. Specifically it is shown that trithiacyclo[9]pyrrole may be prepared by means of an electrochemical synthesis.Chemistr

Radical Anions of Trifluoromethylated Perylene and Naphthalene Imide and Diimide Electron Acceptors

A series of electron-deficient perylene and naphthalene imides and diimides (<b>1</b>–<b>4</b>) with varying degrees of trifluoromethylation were synthesized. Single crystal X-ray analysis afforded detailed structural information, while spectroelectrochemical and EPR spectroscopy provided characterization of the radical anions of <b>1</b>–<b>4</b>. This study reveals that trifluoromethylation of the imides and diimides makes their one-electron reduction potentials substantially more positive relative to the unsubstituted counterparts, while their other properties remain largely unchanged

Hexaphyrin-Cyclodextrin Hybrids: A Nest for Switchable Aromaticity, Asymmetric Confinement, and Isomorphic Fluxionality

International audienceConformational control over the highly flexible π-conjugated system of expanded porphyrins is a key step toward the fundamental understanding of aromaticity and for the development of molecular electronics. We have synthesized unprecedented hexaphyrin-cyclodextrin (HCD) capped hybrids in which the hexaphyrin part is constrained in a planar rectangular conformation in either a 26 or a 28 π-electron oxidation state ([26]/[28]HCD). These structures display strong aromaticity and antiaromaticity, respectively, exhibit markedly different chiroptical properties, and are interconvertible upon the addition of DDQ or NaBH(OAc)3 , thus affording a rare switchable aromatic-antiaromatic system with a free-base expanded porphyrin. Conformational analysis revealed discrimination of the two coordination sites of the hexaphyrin, one of which was coupled to a confined asymmetric environment, and fluxional behavior consisting of apparent rotation of the hexaphyrin cap through a shape-shifting mechanism