Encapsulation of the Sulfur Compounds by Cucurbit[7]uril: A Quantum Chemistry Study

A theoretical investigation of heavy atom and oxidation effects in MR-TADF emitters for OLEDs: a combined DFT, double hybrid DFT, CCSD, and QM/MM approaches

The emerging multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) emitters with organoboron and nitrogen cores highlight their significance in OLEDs. However, their efficiency is challenged by slower rate constants in the reverse intersystem crossing (kRISC) process compared to conventional TADF emitters. The study entails an in-depth analysis focused on gaining a better understanding of the photophysical properties of MR-TADF emitters. Using DFT and TD-DFT analyses, 48 MR-TADF molecules are studied, incorporating heavy atoms such as sulfur and selenium, and their subsequent oxidation, and peripheral donors such as carbazole (Cz), tert-butyl-carbazole (tCz), diphenylacridine (DPAC), and dimethylacridine (DMAC) into organo boron and nitrogen-embedded systems. Moreover, the QM/MM approach was utilized to examine the excited state properties in the crystal phase. A comprehensive assessment of this molecular framework reveals that integrating heavy atoms and donors into MR-TADF molecules results in significant enhancements in ΔEST, larger SOC, and higher-order radiative (108 s-1) rates, leading to faster kISC (∼108 s-1) and kRISC (∼106 s-1) rates. Based on key criteria, eight potential molecules were selected and their excited-state properties were precisely analyzed using double-hybrid density functionals including B2PLYP and PBE0-2, along with highly correlated wave function STEOM-DLPNO-CCSD.

A cucurbit[7]uril-based supramolecular fluorescent probe for the detection of metronidazole with high sensitivity and strong anti-interference capacity

We propose a new method for the selective detection of the antibiotic metronidazole (MNZ) using CB[7]-JAT (cucurbit[7]uril = CB[7] and JAT = jatrorrhizine) as a fluorescent probe, which is based on the competitive reaction between MNZ and JAT for the occupancy of the CB[7] cavity. The proposed method gives a good calibration curve in the concentration range of 0.38–60 μM, and the limit of detection for MNZ is 65 ng mL−1 with those obtained by the standard curve method. Moreover, the proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of MNZ in liquid milk. Most importantly, due to the high binding affinity between CB[7] and MNZ, the proposed method shows great anti-interference capacity to accurately detect MNZ in the presence of other antibiotics.

A cucurbit[6]uril-based supramolecular assembly test strip for immediate detection of nitrofuran antibiotics in water

A CB[6]-based supramolecular assembly has been designed and prepared into test strips, which can detect nitrofuran antibiotics by the naked eye.