Sulfur-bridged chromophores for photofunctional materials: using sulfur oxidation state to tune electronic and structural properties

Rational design of dual-state emission fluorophores for sensing nitro explosives by using sulfone unit as an electron acceptor in D-A system

Dual-state emission (DSE) fluorescent molecules have become the preferred type in designing sensing fluorescent molecules due to the virtue of their bright emission in both solid and liquid states. In this study, five D-A molecules were successfully designed and synthesized according to the design concept that structural modification of D-A molecules can lead to DSE molecules. Among them, the balance between the electron donor with a strong electron donation capacity and the twisted conformation in the whole molecule makes the compounds 3c-3e DSE molecules with excellent optical performances, showing significant solvatochromic effects and large Stoke shifts. In addition, the feasibility of the sulfone unit as an electron acceptor in the D-A structure is also verified, extending the application of sulfone group in the field of fluorescence. Interestingly, the fluorescence of 3c can exhibit sensitive and selective quenching of nitro aromatic compounds (NACs) under the synergistic mechanism of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and photoinduced electron transfer (PET), with LOD as low as 10-8 M and KSV as high as 104 M-1. Furthermore, the selective, efficient, and sensitive detection of NACs by DSE fluorescent molecule 3c in real aqueous samples and loaded on test strips has demonstrated the potential of its practical applications.

Oxidation-State-Dependent Photochemistry of Sulfur-Bridged Aza-Anthracenes

Aromatic systems with bridged sulfur units in varying oxidation states have enabled photoresponsive materials for anticounterfeiting and supramolecular assembly. However, only a few sulfoxide-bridged chromophores exhibit photoinduced sulfur extrusion, leading to drastic photophysical changes that make them useful as stimuli-responsive materials. Here, we present nitrogen-substituted anthracene (aza-anthracene) with a sulfur bridge in different oxidation states. Overall, aza-anthracene produces red-shifted green-to-red chromophores with similar sulfoxide photoconversion behavior compared to the anthracene analog.

Synthesis of thiopyran derivatives via [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions

In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the synthesis of thiopyran family compounds via cycloaddition reactions, with examples spanning from the year 2000 to the present. We have categorized the [4 + 2] cycloaddition processes using several criteria, particularly distinguishing between intermolecular and intramolecular types based on the Diels-Alder partners. Additionally, from a mechanism standpoint, we differentiate between concerted and stepwise [4 + 2] processes, offering an analysis of these mechanisms based on the current literature.

Visible Light-Mediated [4+2] Annulation of Silylimines with Olefins to 1-Aminotetralins Enabled by Diradical Hydrogen Atom Transfer of C-H Bonds

A facile photochemical, one-pot synthesis of highly functionalized 1-aminotetralins derivatives (>70 examples) from readily accessible o-alkyl and o-formyl aryl silylimines with olefins is described. A diradical-mediated hydrogen atom transfer (DHAT) of primary, secondary, and tertiary C(sp3)-H bonds of o-alkyl arylsilylimines and C(sp2)-H bonds of o-formyl arylsilylimines enabled a [4+2] annulation with olefins in excellent diastereoselectivity. This was accomplished upon irradiation at λ = 420 nm in the presence of thioxanthen-9-one (10 mol %) as the sensitizer via energy transfer. Moreover, sulfur-substituted o-alkyl silylimines can undergo such photochemical process in the absence of an external photosensitizer. This effective protocol is compatible with a variety of functional groups and can be applied to the modification of bioactive molecules. Based on mechanistic evidences and computational studies, it is suggested that the silyl substituent enables an efficient energy transfer leading to the formation of a key C,N-diradical and subsequent [4+2]-cyclization was supported by a better molecular orbital matching between the HSOMO of the 1,4-diradical intermediate and the LUMO of the olefins. Thus, upon irradiation, the excited silylimine unlocks a carbon-to-nitrogen DHAT and subsequent [4+2] cyclization that allows the divergent functionalization of benzylic C(sp3)-H bonds and C(sp2)-H bonds.

Sulfur oxidation states manipulate excited state electronic configurations for constructing highly efficient organic type I photosensitizers

The multiple relaxation processes of excited states are a bridge connecting molecular structures and properties, providing enormous application potential for organic luminogens. However, a systematic understanding and manipulation of the relationship between the molecular structure, excited state relaxation processes, and properties of organic luminogens is still lacking. Herein, we report a strategy for manipulating excited state electronic configurations through the regulation of the sulfur oxidation state to construct eminent organic type I PSs. Combined with the experimental results and theoretical calculations, we have successfully revealed the decisive role of high sulfur oxidation states in promoting ROS production capacity. Impressively, a higher sulfur oxidation state can reduce the singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔE ST), increase the matching degree of transition configurations, promote the changes of the excited state electronic configurations, and boost the effective ISC proportion by enhancing intramolecular interactions. Therefore, DBTS2O with the highest sulfur oxidation state exhibits the strongest type I ROS generation ability. Additionally, guided by our strategy, a water-soluble PS (2OA) is designed and synthesized, showing selective imaging capacity and photokilling ability against Gram-positive bacteria. This study broadens the horizons for both molecular design and mechanism study of high-performance organic type I PSs.

Dipolar Microenvironment Engineering Enabled by Electron Beam Irradiation for Boosting Catalytic Performance

Creating a diverse dipolar microenvironment around the active site is of great significance for the targeted induction of intermediate behaviors to achieve complicated chemical transformations. Herein, an efficient and general strategy is reported to construct hypercross-linked polymers (HCPs) equipped with tunable dipolar microenvironments by knitting arene monomers together with dipolar functional groups into porous network skeletons. Benefiting from the electron beam irradiation modification technique, the catalytic sites are anchored in an efficient way in the vicinity of the microenvironment, which effectively facilitates the processing of the reactants delivered to the catalytic sites. By varying the composition of the microenvironment scaffold structure, the contact and interaction behavior with the reaction participants can be tuned, thereby affecting the catalytic activity and selectivity. As a result, the framework catalysts produced in this way exhibit excellent catalytic performance in the synthesis of glycinate esters and indole derivatives. This manipulation is reminiscent of enzymatic catalysis, which adjusts the internal polarity environment and controls the output of products by altering the scaffold structure.

Effects of sulfoxide and sulfone sidechain-backbone hydrogen bonding on local conformations in peptide models

We examine peptide model systems designed to probe short-range N-H⋯OS sidechain-backbone hydrogen bonding involving amino acid residues with sidechain sulfoxide or sulfone functional groups and its effects on local conformations. A strong 7-membered ring hydrogen bond of this type accompanies an intra-residue N-H⋯OC interaction and stabilizes an extended backbone conformation in preference to classical folded structures.

Synthesis of π-conjugated polycyclic compounds by late-stage extrusion of chalcogen fragments

The "precursor approach" has proved particularly valuable for the preparation of insoluble and unstable π-conjugated polycyclic compounds (π-CPCs), which cannot be synthesized via in-solution organic chemistry, for their improved processing, as well as for their electronic investigation both at the material and single-molecule scales. This method relies on the synthesis and processing of soluble and stable direct precursors of the target π-CPCs, followed by their final conversion in situ, triggered by thermal activation, photoirradiation or redox control. Beside well-established reactions involving the elimination of carbon-based small molecules, i.e., retro-Diels-Alder and decarbonylation processes, the late-stage extrusion of chalcogen fragments has emerged as a highly promising synthetic tool to access a wider variety of π-conjugated polycyclic structures and thus to expand the potentialities of the "precursor approach" for further improvements of molecular materials' performances. This review gives an overview of synthetic strategies towards π-CPCs involving the ultimate elimination of chalcogen fragments upon thermal activation, photoirradiation and electron exchange.

Synthesis and investigation of new indole-containing vinyl sulfide derivatives: In silico and in vitro studies for potential therapeutic applications

Indoles featuring organosulfur compounds serve as privileged structural scaffolds in various biologically active compounds. This study investigates the biological properties of five synthetic sulphenyl vinyl indoles (3 a-e) using both in silico and in vitro methods. Computational analyses employing Swiss ADME and Molinspiration software reveal the remarkable inhibitory activity of compound 3 d against proteases and kinases (scores of 0.18 and 0.06, respectively). Furthermore, it demonstrates the ability to modulate ionic and G protein-coupled receptors (scores: -0.06 and 0.31, respectively) and serves as a ligand for nuclear receptors (score 0.15). In vitro investigations highlight the compounds' efficacy in countering ABTS+ radical attacks and reducing lipid peroxidation levels. Particularly noteworthy is the superior efficacy of compounds 3 a, 3 b, and 3 e in DPPH (EC50 3 a: 268.5 μM) and TEAC assays (EC50 3 a: 49.9 μM; EC50 3 b: 133.4 μM, and EC50 3 e: 84.9 μM), as well as TBARS levels. Compound 3 c significantly reduces acetylcholinesterase activity, positioning itself as a noteworthy enzyme inhibitor. This study emphasizes the versatile biological potential of synthetic indole derivatives, suggesting their applicability for therapeutic purposes.

Sulfur Oxidation State and Substituents Influenced Multifunctional Organic Luminophores in BTP Core for OLEDs: A Computational Study on RTP, TADF Emitter and Sensitizer

The exploration of triplet excitons in thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) molecules has become a subject of significant attention and interest in recent studies. This study employed density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT theoretical methods to delve into the intricate relationship between the molecular structure and properties of molecules designed with the oxidation of sulfur atoms (S, SO, and SO2) in benzothiazinophenothiazine (BTP) core units. The calculations revealed that as the oxidation state of the sulfur atom increased, the BTP derivatives exhibited elevated ionization potentials (IPs), electron affinities (EAs), and triplet energies (ET), accompanied by reduced reorganization energies (λ), singlet energies (ES), and a S1-T1 energy gap (ΔEST). Additionally, the decrease in the exchange energy prompts a shift in the excited-state properties of molecules, transitioning them from hybridized local and charge transfer (HLCT) to charge transfer (CT) in the S1 state while maintaining their HLCT character in the T1 state. The sulfur oxidation process systematically decreases spin-orbit coupling magnitudes in the S1-T1 and T1-S0 pathways while increasing the KRISC rate, signifying a reduced propensity for phosphorescence radiative decay in oxidized molecules. Thorough investigations have explored the screening effect and orbital mixing of lone pair electrons in sulfur atoms, satisfying the desired criteria for a multifunctional RTP, TADF emitter and sensitizer.

Borylation-Reduction-Borylation for the Formation of 1,4-Azaborines

Given the current interest in materials containing 1,4-azaborine units, the development of new routes to these structures is important. Carbonyl directed electrophilic borylation using BBr3 is a facile method for the ortho-borylation of N,N-diaryl-amide derivatives. Subsequent addition of Et3SiH results in carbonyl reduction and then formation of 1,4-azaborines that can be protected in situ using a Grignard reagent. Overall, borylation-reduction-borylation is a one-pot methodology to access 1,4-azaborines from simple precursors.

Photophysical investigation into room-temperature emission from xanthene derivatives

The photophysical consequences of replacing the nitrogen heteroatom in phenothiazine with methylene are investigated for both solutions and crystalline solids. We analysed the excited state dynamics of four xanthene derivatives and observed an anomalous fluorescence from an energy level higher than the S1 state with lifetimes between 2.8 ns and 5.8 ns in solution and as solids. Additionally, the solid-state xanthene derivatives exhibited long-lived emission consistent with a triplet excited state, displaying millisecond lifetimes that ranged from 0.1 ms to 3.4 ms at ambient temperature in air. Our findings were supported by optical studies, crystallographic structural analyses, and DFT computations, which corroborated the photophysical measurements. It was concluded that the presence of the nitrogen atom in phenothiazine is crucial for achieving ultra-long emission lifetimes and that these results contribute to a deeper understanding of excited state dynamics which have potential implications for applications, such as display technologies, anticounterfeiting technologies, and sensors.

Tweaking the Optoelectronic Properties of S-Doped Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Chemical Oxidation

Peri-thiaxanthenothiaxanthene, an S-doped analog of peri-xanthenoxanthene, is used as a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) scaffold to tune the molecular semiconductor properties by editing the oxidation state of the S-atoms. Chemical oxidation of peri-thiaxanthenothiaxanthene with H₂ O₂ led to the relevant sulfoxide and sulfone congeners, whereas electrooxidation gave access to sulfonium-type derivatives forming crystalline mixed valence (MV) complexes. These complexes depicted peculiar molecular and solid-state arrangements with face-to-face π-π stacking organization. Photophysical studies showed a widening of the optical bandgap upon progressive oxidation of the S-atoms, with the bis-sulfone derivative displaying the largest value (E₀₀ =2.99 eV). While peri-thiaxanthenothiaxanthene showed reversible oxidation properties, the sulfoxide and sulfone derivatives mainly showed reductive events, corroborating their n-type properties. Electric measurements of single crystals of the MV complexes exhibited a semiconducting behavior with a remarkably high conductivity at room temperature (10^-1 -10^-2  S cm^-1 and 10^-2 -10^-3  S cm^-1 for the O and S derivatives, respectively), one of the highest reported so far. Finally, the electroluminescence properties of the complexes were tested in light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), obtaining the first S-doped mid-emitting PAH-based LECs.

Molecular Engineering of Chalcogen-Embedded Anthanthrenes via peri-Selective C-H Activation: Fine-Tuning of Crystal Packing for Organic Field-Effect Transistors

Disclosed herein is a RhCl₃ -catalyzed peri-selective C-H/C-H oxidative homo-coupling of 1-substituted naphthalenes, which provides a highly efficient and streamlined approach to chalcogen-embedded anthanthrenes from readily available starting materials. Introducing O, S, and Se into the anthanthrene skeleton leads to gradually increased π-π stacking distances but significantly enhanced π-π overlaps with the growth of the hetero-atom radius. Moderate π-π distance, overlap area, and intermolecular S-S interactions endow S-embedded anthanthrene (PTT) with excellent 2D charge-transport properties. Moreover, the transformation of p-type to n-type S-embedded anthanthrenes is realized for the first time via the S-atom oxidation from PTT to PTT-O4. In organic field-effect transistor devices, PTT derivatives exhibit hole transport with mobilities up to 1.1 cm²  V^-1  s^-1 , while PTT-O4 shows electron transport with a mobility of 0.022 cm²  V^-1  s^-1 .

Access to Sulfur-Containing Bisheterocycles through Base-Promoted Consecutive Tandem Cyclization/Sulfenylation with Elemental Sulfur

A convenient and efficient tandem cyclization/sulfenylation of o-alkynyl-phenols/-anilines/enaminones for the synthesis of diverse sulfur-containing bisheterocycles has been developed using stable, odorless, and easy-to-handle elemental S₈ as a building block under green chemistry conditions. Notably, a one-step simple base-mediated organic transformation affords a benzofuran (indole or chromone) ring and two C-S bonds. Attractive features of this methodology include the absence of a metal catalyst, mild conditions, good functional group tolerance, and valuable product structures.

Effect of Oxidation on the Chiroptical Properties of Sulfur-Bridged Binaphthyl Dimers

A series of axially chiral sulfur-bridged dimers were prepared from 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diol and subsequently oxidized to the respective sulfones. The chiroptical properties of the chiral chromophores were studied as a function of the oxidation state. Upon oxidation, an increase in quantum yields was observed for directly linked sulfur bridged binaphthyls (0.04 to 0.32), and a modest increase in dissymmetry factor was observed for diphenylsulfide-bridged binaphthyls (-8.9 × 10^-4 to -1.4 × 10^-3). Computational calculations were used to elucidate the changes in photophysical properties.