V-Shaped Methylpyrimidinium Chromophores for Nonlinear Optics

Carbamate-Functionalized NLOphores via a Formal [2+2] Cycloaddition-Retroelectrocyclization Strategy

This study introduces a new donor group capable of activating click-type [2+2] cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclizations, generally known for their limited scope. Target chromophores were synthesized using isocyanate-free urethane synthesis. The developed synthetic method allows for the tuning of the optical properties of the chromophores by modifying the donor groups, the acceptor units, and the side chains. The charge transfer (CT) bands of the chromophores exhibit λmax values ranging from 363 to 692 nm. The CT bands observed have been supported by solvatochromism and protonation experiments. The synthesized compounds exhibit positive solvatochromism. Due to their potential as NLOphore candidates, the stability of the synthesized compounds have been investigated both experimentally through TGA and theoretically by calculating parameters such as frontier orbital energy differences, electronegativity, and global hardness/softness. TD-DFT calculations were used to elucidate the nature of the electronic transitions, revealing that the bands correspond to CT arising from HOMO-to-LUMO excitations. The NLO properties of the chromophores were investigated theoretically by DFT methods and experimentally by the EFISHG technique. Both results are shown to be in agreement with HOMO-LUMO energy differences. The experimental μβ values of the selected molecules range from 470×10-48 to 5400×10-48 esu.

Novel emissive styryl dyes from 9-methoxy anthracene: Synthesis, photophysical, thermal stability, viscosity, and DFT study

Novel styryl colorants based on anchoring methoxy with anthracene as a donor linked with various active methylene acceptor groups to derive a conjugated π-system along with push-pull geometry were synthesized and well characterized. Photophysical properties were studied in different polarity solvents. The impact of solvent polarizability is delivered in redshifts in absorption and emission spectra, in addition to enhancing the quantum yield. The benzoxazole and benzimidazole moieties in 4c and 4d demonstrated heat stability of more than 300 °C. Fluorescent intensity is directly proportional to the viscosity and 4a demonstrates a notable viscosity sensor through 1.36 fold increase in intensity. In comparison to other styryl dyes, 4c and 4d were shown to have higher values in DMSO for polarizability (53.3496 × 10-24 esu and 53.7459 × 10-24 esu) and first-order hyperpolarizability (86.3467 × 10-30 esu and 89.1941 × 10-30 esu) as well as second-order hyperpolarizability (1768.9121 × 10-36 esu and 1740.6940 × 10-36 esu) due to presence of heterocyclic character. NLO properties of all the styryl dyes 4a-4e are within the fundamental boundary limits. The 4d (benzoxazole) dye exhibited a small HOMO-LUMO energy gap of 2.8825 eV, whereas the 4b and 4e dyes had a larger band gap due to the presence of a carbonyl group.

Synthesis of Pyridin-1(2H)-ylacrylates and the Effects of Different Functional Groups on Their Fluorescence

While fluorescent organic materials have many potential as well as proven applications and so have attracted significant attention, pyridine-olefin conjugates remain a less studied subset of such systems. Herein, therefore, we report on the development of the straightforward syntheses of pyridin-1(2H)-ylacrylates and the outcomes of a study of the effects of substituents on their fluorescent properties. Such compounds were prepared using a simple, metal-free and three-component coupling reaction involving 2-aminopyridines, sulfonyl azides and propiolates. The fluorescent properties of the ensuing products are significantly affected by the positions of substituents on the cyclic framework, with those located in central positions having the greatest impact. Electron-withdrawing groups tend to induce blue shifts while electron-donating ones cause red shifts. This work highlights the capacity that the micro-modification of fluorescent materials provides for fine-tuning their properties such that they may be usefully applied to, for example, the study of luminescent materials.

The arylvinylpyrimidine scaffold: a tunable platform for luminescent and optical materials

The incorporation of electron-withdrawing pyrimidine rings within π-extended systems allows access to a wide variety of fluorescent push-pull molecules that display emission properties highly sensitive to external stimuli. A suitable design of these compounds leads to interesting materials for a variety of optoelectronic applications. In this context, a vast number of arylvinylpyrimidine-based chromophores have been extensively studied during the last two decades. Along with the main synthetic pathways, this review summarizes the photophysical features of these active compounds having great potential and their most important applications as sensors and luminescence materials.

Tuning the Photophysics of Two-Arm Bis[(dimethylamino)styryl]benzene Derivatives by Heterocyclic Substitution

The identification of novel molecular systems with high fluorescence and significant non-linear optical (NLO) properties is a hot topic in the continuous search for new emissive probes. Here, the photobehavior of three two-arm bis[(dimethylamino)styryl]benzene derivatives, where the central benzene was replaced by pyridine, furan, or thiophene, was studied by stationary and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques with ns and fs resolution. The three molecules under investigation all showed positive fluorosolvatochromism, due to intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) dynamics from the electron-donor dimethylamino groups, and significant fluorescence quantum yields, because of the population of a planar and emissive ICT state stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen-bond-like interactions. The NLO properties (hyperpolarizability coefficient and TPA cross-section) were also measured. The obtained results allowed the role of the central heteroaromatic ring to be disclosed. In particular, the introduction of the thiophene ring guarantees high fluorescent quantum yields irrespective of the polarity of the medium, and the largest hyperpolarizability coefficient because of the increased conjugation. An important and structure-dependent involvement of the triplet state was also highlighted, with the intersystem crossing being competitive with fluorescence, especially in the thiophene derivative, where the triplet was found to significantly sensitize molecular oxygen even in polar environment, leading to possible applications in photodynamic therapy.