Photoinduced Charge Transfer between Tetracyano-Anthraquino-Dimethane Derivatives and Conjugated Polymers for Photovoltaics

Utilization of the through-space effect to design donor-acceptor systems of pyrrole, indole, isoindole, azulene and aniline

Molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) topology analysis reveals the underlying phenomenon of the through-space effect (TSE), which imparts electron donor-acceptor properties to a wide range of chemical systems, including derivatives of pyrrole, indole, isoindole, azulene, and aniline. The TSE is inherent in pyrrole owing to the strong polarization of electron density (PoED) from the formally positively charged N-center to the C3C4 bonding region. The N → C3C4 directional nature of the TSE has been effectively employed to design molecules with high electronic polarization, such as bipyrroles, polypyrroles, phenyl pyrroles, multi-pyrrolyl systems and N-doped nanographenes. In core-expanded structures, the direction of electron flow from pyrrole units towards the core leads to highly electron-rich systems, while the opposite arrangement results in highly electron-deficient systems. Similarly, the MESP analysis reveals the presence of the TSE in azulene, indole, isoindole, and aniline. Oligomeric chains of these systems are designed in such a way that the direction of electron flow is consistent across each monomer, leading to substantial electronic polarization between the first and last monomer units. Notably, these designed systems exhibit strong donor-acceptor characteristics despite the absence of explicit donor and acceptor moieties, which is supported by FMO analysis, APT charge analysis, NMR data and λmax data. Among the systems studied, the TSEs of many experimentally known systems (bipyrroles, phenyl pyrroles, hexapyrrolylbenzene, octapyrrolylnaphthalene, decapyrrolylcorannulene, polyindoles, polyazulenes, etc.) are unraveled for the first time, while numerous new systems (polypyrroles, polyisoindoles, and amino-substituted benzene polymers) are predicted to be promising materials for the creation of donor-acceptor systems. These findings demonstrate the potential of the TSE in molecular design and provide new avenues for creating functional materials.

11,11,12,12-Tetracyano-4,5-pyrenoquinodimethanes: air-stable push-pull o-quinodimethanes with S2 fluorescence

The synthesis and properties of 11,11,12,12-tetracyano-4,5-pyrenoquinodimethanes (4,5-TCNPs), a new family of isolable and air-stable o-quinodimethanes, are reported. The ortho disposition of the dicyanomethane substituents strongly polarizes the pyrene framework to promote broad and intense intramolecular charge-transfer transitions. In addition, spectroscopic studies reveal that 4,5-TCNPs violate Kasha's rule and emit from the S2 level.

Dynamics of intramolecular electron transfer reaction of FAD studied by magnetic field effects on transient absorption spectra

The kinetics of intermediates generated from intramolecular electron-transfer reaction by photo irradiation of the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) molecule was studied by a magnetic field effect (MFE) on transient absorption (TA) spectra. Existence time of MFE and MFE action spectra have a strong dependence on the pH of solutions. The MFE action spectra have indicated the existence of interconversion between the radical pair and the cation form of the triplet excited state of flavin part. All rate constants of the triplet and the radical pair were determined by analysis of the MFE action spectra and decay kinetics of TA. The obtained values for the interconversion indicate that the formation of cation radical promotes the back electron-transfer reaction to the triplet excited state. Further, rate constants of spin relaxation and recombination have been studied by the time profiles of MFE at various pH. The drastic change of those two factors has been obtained and can be explained by SOC (spin-orbit coupling) induced back electron-transfer promoted by the formation of a stacking conformation at pH > 2.5.

The first two decades of a versatile electron acceptor building block: 11,11,12,12-tetracyano-9,10-anthraquinodimethane (TCAQ)

This critical review surveys the development of the structural and electrochemical knowledge of the TCAQ moiety since its discovery, nearly two decades ago, until the present. Additionally, recent advances in the chemistry and functionalization of this versatile building block are highlighted, with special emphasis on the strategies devoted to the preparation of donor-acceptor molecular and polymeric materials. The applications of TCAQ-based materials in materials science as electrical conductors, molecular rectifiers, in photoinduced electron transfer processes, optoelectronic devices and as electrochiroptical materials are also reviewed (89 references).

Organized Assemblies of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Porphyrin for Photochemical Solar Cells: Charge Injection from Excited Porphyrin into Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Photochemical solar cells have been constructed from organized assemblies of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and protonated porphyrin on nanostructured SnO2 electrodes. The protonated form of porphyrin (H4P2+) and SWCNT composites form 0.5-3.0 microm-sized rodlike structures and they can be assembled onto nanostructured SnO2 films [optically transparent electrode OTE/SnO2] by an electrophoretic deposition method. These organized assemblies are photoactive and absorb strongly in the entire visible region. The incident photon to photocurrent efficiency (IPCE) of OTE/SnO2/SWCNT-H4P2+ is approximately 13% at an applied potential of 0.2 V versus saturated calomel electrode. Femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy experiments confirm the decay of the excited porphyrin in the SWCNT-H4P2+ assembly as it injects electrons into SWCNT. The dual role of SWCNT in promoting photoinduced charge separation and facilitating charge transport is presented.

Tetracyanoanthraquinodimethanes with a Chiral Amide Group: Preparation, Properties, and Charge-Transfer Photochirogenetic Reaction with 1,2-Dianisylacenaphthene-1,2-diol

[reaction: see text] A series of butterfly-shaped tetracyanoanthraquinodimethanes (TCNAQs) with a chiral amide auxiliary 1a-f were prepared from the corresponding anthraquinones. They are stronger acceptors than the unsubstituted derivative and undergo one-wave two-electron reduction. They form weak electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes with the title pinacol 2. Upon charge-transfer excitation of these complexes, dihydro-TCNAQs 3 and 1,8-dianisoylnaphthalene 4 were efficiently formed, the latter of which is the product of a retropinacol reaction via 2+*. Partial enantiodifferentiation of rac-2 was realized during the photoreactions with 2-[(R)-1-phenylethylcarbamoyl]-TCNAQ 1ain CD3CN. Thus, optically active (S,S)-(+)-pinacol 2 (12.3% ee at 54% conversion; 21.5% ee at 70% conversion) was recovered from the photolyzates. This reaction represents a new and rare example of the pseudokinetic resolution of tert-alcohol accompanied by C-C bond fission. Significant differences in the association constants for the diastereomeric EDA complexes are responsible for the observed enantiodifferentiation.

Quantum Chemical Study on Excited States and Electronic Coupling Matrix Element in a Catechol−Bridge−Dicyanoethylene System

The excited states of a donor-bridge-acceptor (DBA) model system have been investigated using time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) in vacuo and in solution. It is found that the MPW1PW91 functional always gives higher excitation energies than those with a B3LYP functional. Results from both TD-B3LYP and TD-MPW1PW91 are found consistent with the experimental observations. The two most intense absorptions of the DBA system, one resulting from the local excitation of catechol moiety and the other from that of dicyanoethylene, possess the pipi* transition feature. It seems that the solvent polarity does not remarkably influence the positions of absorption peaks. The spectroscopic properties of isolated donor, acceptor, and bridge and the donor-bridge compound have been investigated at the TD-B3LYP/6-31+G* and TD-MPW1PW91/6-31+G* levels. Results indicate that the donor and the acceptor are weakly coupled with the bridge. Therefore, it is more likely that the electron transfer takes place through a superexchange mechanism. In addition, we calculate the electronic coupling matrix elements according to the generalized Mulliken-Hush theory, and the detailed analyses also predict that the strong absorptions are due to the local excitation of the DBA system.

Investigation of photoinduced electron transfer in model system of vitamin E-duroquinone by time-dependent density functional theory

Photoinduced electron transfer of the model system composed of vitamin E and duroquinone has been investigated using time-dependent density functional theory. Calculations for the excited states tell that the photoexcitation of the model system can directly yield the charge transfer states in which the vitamin E moiety is positively charged but the duroquinone moiety is negatively charged. Our theoretical investigations indicate that the second charge transfer state of the model system can also be produced through the decay of higher locally excited state S(4). Since S(4) state in the model system corresponds to S(1) state of the isolated duroquinone used as a model for peroxyl radical, and S(2) state has the character of electron transfer from the tertiary amine group of the vitamin E moiety to the duroquinone moiety, the decay from S(4) to S(2) corresponds to the dynamic process following the photoexcitation of the duroquinone moiety of the model system, i.e., the initial stage of antioxidant reaction of vitamin E. Calculations of the kinetic parameters for the electron transfer have been carried out in the framework of the Marcus-Jortner-Levich formalism. Our calculations confirm that the electron transfer from S(4) to S(2) possesses the character of the inverted regime and the barrier is negligibly small.

Synthesis of soluble donor-acceptor double-cable polymers based on polythiophene and tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane (TCAQ)

[structure: see text] Novel suitably functionalized tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane (TCAQ) derivatives covalently linked to thiophene moieties have been synthesized. The thiophene-based monomers have been chemically polymerized and copolymerized to yield new and soluble donor-acceptor double-cable polymers. The absorption and emission data reveal that the optical properties can be finely tuned by modifying the ratio of monomers in the copolymerization process.

Photoinduced electron-transfer processes along molecular wires based on phenylenevinylene oligomers: a quantum-chemical insight

Quantum-chemical techniques are applied to model the mechanisms of photoinduced charge transfer from a pi-electron donating group (tetracene, D) to a pi-electron-acceptor moiety (pyromellitimide, A) separated by a bridge of increasing size (p-phenylenevinylene oligomers, B). Correlated Hartree-Fock semiempirical approaches are exploited to calculate the four main parameters controlling the transfer rate (k(RP)) in the framework of Marcus-Jortner-Levich's formalism: (i) the electronic coupling between the initial and final states; (ii) and (iii) the internal and external reorganization energy terms; and (iv) the variation of the free Gibbs energy. The charge transfer is shown to proceed in these compounds through two competing mechanisms, coherent (superexchange) versus incoherent (bridge-mediated) pathways. While superexchange is the dominant mechanism for short bridges, incoherent transfer through hopping along the phenylene vinylene segment takes over in longer chains (for ca. three phenylenevinylene repeat units). The influence of the chemical structure of the pi-conjugated phenylenevinylene bridge on the electronic properties and the rate of charge transfer is also investigated.

New chiral binaphthyl building blocks: synthesis of the first optically active tetrathiafulvalene and 11,11,12,12-tetracyano-9, 10-anthraquinodimethane dimers

New enantiomerically pure binaphthyl derivatives bearing triphenylphosphine or phosphonate groups have been synthesized and used as building blocks to prepare the first optically active TTF and TCAQ dimers. Due to the restricted rotation of the two naphthalene rings, binaphthyl derivatives are ideal candidates to be used as nonplanar spacers between electroactive units in the search for materials with enhanced dimensionality. The electronic absorption spectra of dimers in which the electroactive unit is in conjugation with the naphthalene fragment reveal the presence of intramolecular photoinduced electron-transfer process from the TTF to the naphthalene unit in 5 and 6 and from the naphthalene moiety to the TCAQ unit in 7. Electrochemical studies on the new dimers show the redox potentials of TTF and TCAQ units as well as the oxidation wave for the naphthalene moiety and reveal no significant electronic interaction between the two electroactive units, which is in agreement with the results obtained from theoretical calculations at the PM-3 level which indicate that the angle between rings in the binaphthyl systems ranges from 75 to 80 degrees.