Activating the Fluorescence of a Ni(II) Complex by Energy Transfer

Luminescence of open-shell 3d metal complexes is often quenched due to ultrafast intersystem crossing (ISC) and cooling into a dark metal-centered excited state. We demonstrate successful activation of fluorescence from individual nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc) molecules in the junction of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) by resonant energy transfer from other metal phthalocyanines at low temperature. By combining STM, scanning tunneling spectroscopy, STM-induced luminescence, and photoluminescence experiments as well as time-dependent density functional theory, we provide evidence that there is an activation barrier for the ISC, which, in most experimental conditions, is overcome. We show that this is also the case in an electroluminescent tunnel junction where individual NiPc molecules adsorbed on an ultrathin NaCl decoupling film on a Ag(111) substrate are probed. However, when an MPc (M = Zn, Pd, Pt) molecule is placed close to NiPc by means of STM atomic manipulation, resonant energy transfer can excite NiPc without overcoming the ISC activation barrier, leading to Q-band fluorescence. This work demonstrates that the thermally activated population of dark metal-centered states can be avoided by a designed local environment at low temperatures paired with directed molecular excitation into vibrationally cold electronic states. Thus, we can envisage the use of luminophores based on more abundant transition metal complexes that do not rely on Pt or Ir by restricting vibration-induced ISC.

Photoswitching of arylazopyrazoles upon S1 (nπ*) excitation studied by transient absorption spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics

Arylazopyrazoles (AAPs) are an important class of molecular photoswitches with high photostationary states (PSS) and long thermal lifetimes. The ultrafast photoisomerization of four water-soluble arylazopyrazoles, all of them featuring an ortho-dimethylated pyrazole ring, is studied by narrowband femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Upon S1 (nπ*) photoexcitation of the planar E-isomers (E-AAPs), excited-state bi-exponential decays with time constants τ1 in the 220-440 fs range and τ2 in the 1.4-1.8 ps range are observed, comparable to those reported for azobenzene (AB). This is indicative of the same photoisomerization mechanism as has been reported for ABs. In contrast to the planar E-AAPs, a twisted E-AAP with two methyl groups in ortho-position of the phenyl ring displays faster initial photoswitching with τ1 = 170 ± 10 fs and τ2 = 1.6 ± 0.1 ps. Our static DFT calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of E-AAPs on the S0 and S1 potential energy surfaces suggest that twisted E-isomer azo photoswitches exhibit faster initial photoisomerization dynamics out of the Franck-Condon region due to a weaker π-coordination of the central CNNC unit to the aromatic ligands.

The Electron-Rich and Nucleophilic N-Heterocyclic Imines on Metal Surfaces: Binding Modes and Interfacial Charge Transfer

The strongly electron-donating N-heterocyclic imines (NHIs) have been employed as excellent surface anchors for the thermodynamic stabilization of electron-deficient species due to their enhanced nucleophilicity. However, the binding mode and interfacial property of these new ligands are still unclear, representing a bottleneck for advanced applications in surface functionalization and catalysis. Here, NHIs with different side groups have been rationally designed, synthesized, and analyzed on various metal surfaces (Cu, Ag). Our results reveal different binding modes depending on the molecular structure and metal surface. The molecular design enables us to achieve a flat-lying or upright configuration and even a transition between these two binding modes depending on the coverage and time. Importantly, the two binding modes exhibit different degrees of interfacial charge transfer between the molecule and the surface. This study provides essential microscopic insight into the NHI adsorption geometry and interfacial charge transfer for the optimization of heterogeneous catalysts in coordination chemistry.

Dual Emissive Zn(II) Naphthalocyanines: Synthesis, Structural and Photophysical Characterization with Theory-Supported Insights towards Soluble Coordination Compounds with Visible and Near-Infrared Emission

Metal phthalocyaninates and their higher homologues are recognized as deep-red luminophores emitting from their lowest excited singlet state. Herein, we report on the design, synthesis, and in-depth characterization of a new class of dual-emissive (visible and NIR) metal naphthalocyaninates. A 4-N,N-dimethylaminophen-4-yl-substituted naphthalocyaninato zinc(II) complex (Zn-NMe2Nc) and the derived water-soluble coordination compound (Zn-NMe3Nc) exhibit a near-infrared fluorescence from the lowest ligand-centered state, along with a unique push-pull-supported luminescence in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. An unprecedentedly broad structural (2D-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry) as well as photophysical characterization (steady-state state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy) is presented. The unique dual emission was assigned to two independent sets of singlet states related to the intrinsic Q-band of the macrocycle and to the push-pull substituents in the molecular periphery, respectively, as predicted by TD-DFT calculations. In general, the elusive chemical aspects of these macrocyclic compounds are addressed, involving both reaction conditions, thorough purification, and in-depth characterization. Besides the fundamental aspects that are investigated herein, the photoacoustic properties were exemplarily examined using phantom gels to assess their tomographic imaging capabilities. Finally, the robust luminescence in the visible range arising from the push-pull character of the peripheral moieties demonstrated a notable independence from aggregation and was exemplarily implemented for optical imaging (FLIM) through time-resolved multiphoton micro(spectro)scopy.

Tailored Monolayers of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes by Kinetic Control

Despite the substantial success of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as stable and versatile surface modification ligands, their use in nanoscale applications beyond chemistry is still hampered by the failure to control the carbene binding mode, which complicates the fabrication of monolayers with the desired physicochemical properties. Here, we applied vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy to conduct a pseudokinetic surface analysis of NHC monolayers on Au thin films under ambient conditions. We observe for two frequently used carbene structures that their binding mode is highly dynamic and changes with the adsorption time. In addition, we demonstrate that this transition can be accelerated or decelerated to adjust the binding mode of NHCs, which allows fabrication of tailored monolayers of NHCs simply by kinetic control.

On-surface synthesis of ballbot-type N-heterocyclic carbene polymers

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are established ligands for metal complexes and surfaces. Here we go beyond monomeric NHCs and report on the synthesis of NHC polymers on gold surfaces, consisting of ballbot-type repeating units bound to single Au adatoms. We designed, synthesized and deposited precursors containing different halogens on gold surfaces under ultrahigh vacuum. Conformational, electronic and charge transport properties were assessed by combining low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, non-contact atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, first-principles calculations and reactive force field simulations. The confirmed ballbot-type nature of the NHCs explains the high surface mobility of the incommensurate NHC polymers, which is prerequisite for their desired spatial alignment. The delicate balance between mobility and polymerization rate allows essential parameters for controlling polymer directionality to be derived. These polymers open up new opportunities in the fields of nanoelectronics, surface functionalization and catalysis.

Pt(II) Complexes with Tetradentate C^N*N^C Luminophores: From Supramolecular Interactions to Temperature-Sensing Materials with Memory and Optical Readouts

A series of four regioisomeric Pt(II) complexes (PtLa-n and PtLb-n) bearing tetradentate luminophores as dianionic ligands were synthesized. Hence, both classes of cyclometallating chelators were decorated with three n-hexyl (n = 6) or n-dodecyl (n = 12) chains. The new compounds were unambiguously characterized by means of multiple NMR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. Steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy as well quantum chemical calculations show that the effect of the regioisomerism on the emission colour and on the deactivation rate constants can be correlated with the participation of the Pt atom on the excited state. The thermal properties of the complexes were studied by DSC, POM and temperature-dependent steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopy. Three of the four complexes (PtLa-12, PtLb-6 and PtLb-12) present an intriguing thermochromism resulting from the responsive metal-metal interactions involving adjacent monomeric units. Each material has different transition temperatures and memory capabilities, which can be tuned at the intermolecular level. Hence, dipole-dipole interactions between the luminophores and disruption of the crystalline packing by the alkyl groups are responsible for the final properties of the resulting materials.

Quantum Chemical Study of the Pressure-dependent Phosphorescence of [Cr(ddpd)2]3+ in the Solid State

The chromium(III) complex [Cr(ddpd)2][BF4]3 shows two spin-flip emission bands in the near-infrared spectral region. These bands shift bathochromically by -14.1 and -7.7 cm-1 kbar-1 under hydrostatic pressure (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2018, 57, 11069). The present study elucidates the structural changes of the chromium(III) cations under pressure using density functional theory with periodic boundary conditions and the resulting effects on the excited state energies using high-level CASSCF-NEVPT2 calculations. The differences of the bands in pressure sensitivity are traced back to a different orbital occupation of the intraconfigurational excited states.

Understanding the formation of surface relief gratings in azopolymers: A combined molecular dynamics and experimental study

The formation of surface relief gratings in thin azopolymeric films is investigated using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and compared to experimental results for the specific case of poly-disperse-orange3-methyl-methacrylate. For this purpose, the film is illuminated with a light pattern of alternating bright and dark stripes in both cases. The simulations use a molecular mechanics switching potential to explicitly describe the photoisomerization dynamics between the E and Z isomers of the azo-units and take into account the orientation of the transition dipole moment with respect to the light polarization. Local heating and elevation of the illuminated regions with the subsequent movement of molecules into the neighboring dark regions are observed. This leads to the formation of valleys in the bright areas after re-cooling and is independent of the polarization direction. To verify these observations experimentally, the azopolymer film is illuminated with bright stripes of varying width using a spatial light modulator. Atomic force microscopy images confirm that the elevated areas correspond to the previously dark areas. In the experiment, the polarization of the incident light makes only a small difference since tiny grain-like structures form in the valleys only when the polarization is parallel to the stripes.

Thermal conductivity across transition metal dichalcogenide bilayers

Cross-plane thermal conductivities of transition metal dichalcogenide M X 2 (M = Mo, W; X = S, Se) bilayers are determined by homogeneous nonequilibrium molecular dynamics. The best insulator is found to be W S e 2 : W S e 2 , closely followed by W S 2 : W S 2 and M o S e 2 : W S e 2 . Thermal conductivities of heterobilayers are close to the average of the two corresponding homobilayer values, despite the mass and lattice mismatch. To disentangle the effects of atomic mass, lattice constant, and interaction potential, these three parameters are systematically varied. Phonon spectral analysis provides further insight into their roles and reveals the weak influence of spectral overlap between the two layers and the dominance of boundary scattering. The observed trends can be rationalized using Slack's formula in terms of the average atomic mass and the Debye temperature. Accurate interlayer interaction potentials are developed based on experimental elastic constants. Their effect on the bilayer cross-plane thermal conductivities is found to be minor.

Room-Temperature Phosphorescence from Pd(II) and Pt(II) Complexes as Supramolecular Luminophores: The Role of Self-Assembly, Metal-Metal Interactions, Spin-Orbit Coupling, and Ligand-Field Splitting

The synthesis as well as the structural and photophysical characterization of two isoleptic bis-cyclometalated Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes, namely [PtL] and [PdL], bearing a tailored dianionic tetradentate ligand (L2-) are reported. The isostructural character and intermolecular interactions of [PtL] and [PdL] were assessed by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Both complexes show fully ligand-controlled aggregation, demonstrating that a judicious molecular design can tune the photophysical properties. In fact, by introduction of fluorine atoms on defined positions and methoxy groups on complementary sites, metal-metal interactions can be forced by a head-to-tail stacking. Hence, [PtL] shows luminescence from metal-perturbed ligand-centered or from metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer triplet states in diluted solutions, in frozen glasses and in crystals, with high photoluminescence quantum yields and long lifetimes in the microsecond range. At room temperature (RT) in concentrated fluid solutions, the palladium analogue [PdL] surprisingly emits luminescence from aggregated species involving supramolecular interactions. Time-resolved photoluminescence and transient absorption spectroscopies demonstrated that ultrafast intersystem crossing occurs for both metals, which outruns any competitive relaxation pathway from the photoexcited singlet state. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the radiationless deactivation can be suppressed in frozen glassy matrices at 77 K and by intermolecular interactions in fluid solutions at RT. In both cases and as indicated by density functional theory calculations, the lowest emissive state acts as an energy trap from which the thermal population of dissociative states with formal occupation of an antibonding Pd-centered 4dx2-y2 orbital is suppressed. This occurs as the energy gap between the emissive and the dark states surpasses kT.

ReaxFF-based nonadiabatic dynamics method for azobenzene derivatives

ReaxFF reactive force fields have been parameterized for the ground and first excited states of azobenzene and its derivatives. In addition, an extended set of ab initio reference data ensures wide applicability, including to azosystems in complex environments. Based on the optimized force fields, nonadiabatic surface hopping simulations produce photoisomerization quantum yields and decay times of azobenzene, both in the gas phase and in n-hexane solution, in reasonable agreement with higher level theory and experiment. The transferability to other azo-compounds is illustrated for different arylazopyrazoles as well as ethylene-bridged azobenzene. Moreover, it has been shown that the model can be easily extended to adsorbates on metal surfaces. The simulation of the ring-opening of cyclobutene triggered by the photoisomerization of azobenzene in a macrocycle highlights the advantages of a reactive force field model.

bcc superstructures: RE2RuIn with RE = Sc, Y, Dy-Tm and Lu

The rare earth-rich intermetallic phases RE₂RuIn with RE = Sc, Y, Dy-Tm and Lu were synthesized by reactions of the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules in an induction furnace. The samples were characterized through Guinier powder patterns and the structures of Sc₂RuIn and Er₂RuIn were refined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The indides crystallize with the Pt₂ZnCd type space group P4/mmm. The RE₂RuIn phases are superstructures of the bcc packing and can be explained as intergrowth variants of tetragonally distorted, CsCl derived slabs of compositions RERu and REIn. Chemical bonding is discussed for Sc₂RuIn and Sc₂RuMg in comparison with the binaries ScRu, ScMg and ScIn. The Ru/Mg respectively Ru/In ordering leads to an increase of Sc-Sc bonding for the slab with the shorter Sc-Sc distances, while the Sc-Ru bond strength values remain similar. The strongest bonding interactions occur within the magnesium and indium square nets. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal Pauli paramagnetism for Lu₂RuIn while Dy₂RuIn, Ho₂RuIn, Er₂RuIn and Tm₂RuIn are Curie-Weiss paramagnets. Antiferromagnetic ordering occurs at 13.1, 5.3 and 2.9 K for Dy₂RuIn, Er₂RuIn and Tm₂RuIn, respectively. Dy₂RuIn and Er₂RuIn show metamagnetic transitions at critical fields of 4.6 and 3.2 T.

Photocatalytic Isomerization of (E)-Anethole to (Z)-Anethole

Natural product (E)-anethole was isomerized to (Z)-anethole in a photocatalytic reaction. For this purpose, a self-designed cheap photoreactor was constructed. Among 11 photosensitizers (organo and metal complex compounds), Ir(p-tBu-ppy)₃ led to the highest conversion. Triplet energies of (E)- and (Z)-anethole were predicted theoretically by DFT calculations to support the selection of appropriate photosensitizers. A catalyst loading of 0.1 mol% gave up to 90% conversion in gram scale. Further additives were not required and mild irradiation with light of 400 nm overnight was sufficient. As a proof of concept, (E)- and (Z)-anethole were dihydroxylated diastereoselectively to obtain diastereomerically pure like- and unlike-configured diols, respectively.

Reversible, Red-Shifted Photoisomerization in Protonated Azobenzenes

Azobenzenes are among the best-studied molecular photoswitches and play a key role in the search for red-shifted photoresponsive materials for extended applications. Currently, most approaches deal with aromatic substitution patterns to achieve visible light application, on occasion paired with protonation to yield red-shifted absorption of the azonium species. Appropriate substitution patterns are essential to stabilize the latter approach, as conventional acids are known to induce a fast Z- to E-conversion. Here, we show that steady-state protonation of the azo-bridge instead is possible in simple azobenzenes when the pK_a of the acid is low enough, yielding both the Z- and E-azonium as supported by UV–vis- and ¹H NMR spectroscopy as well as density functional theory calculations. Moreover, the steady-state protonation of para-methoxyazobenzene, specifically, yields photoisomerizable azonium ions in which the direction of switching is essentially reversed, that is, visible light produces the out-of-equilibrium Z-azonium. Although the current conditions render the visible light photoswitch unsuitable for in vivo and material application, the demonstrated understanding of simple azobenzenes paves the way for a great range of further work on this already widely studied photoswitch.

One-step synthesis of indolizino[3,4,5-ab]isoindoles by manganese(I)-catalyzed C-H activation: structural studies and photophysical properties

Herein, a regioselective synthesis of indolizino[3,4,5-ab]isoindoles, a valuable class of heterocycles with interesting luminescence properties, is described using manganese(I)-catalyzed C-H activation. The reported transformation proceeds in one-step and employs readily available 2-phenylpyridines as starting materials. Furthermore, the obtained single products exhibit blue-greenish fluorescence with high quantum yields.

Self-Assembled Monolayers of Arylazopyrazoles on Glass and Silicon Oxide: Photoisomerization and Photoresponsive Wettability

Surface coatings that respond to external influences and change their physical properties upon application of external stimuli are of great interest, with light being a particularly desirable choice. Photoswitches such as azobenzenes have been employed in a range of photoresponsive coatings. One striking change in physical property of many photoresponsive coatings is their responsive wettability upon illumination. In this work, we present photoswitchable self-assembled monolayers based on arylazopyrazoles (AAPs). In solution, AAPs offer significant improvements in terms of the photostationary state, thermal stability, and fatigue resistance. The AAP photoswitch is coupled to triethoxysilanes for an easy, one-step functionalization of glass and silicon oxide surfaces. We show the synthesis of AAP-based silanes and the successful surface functionalization, and we confirm the excellent photoswitchability of the AAPs in a self-assembled monolayer upon alternating irradiation with UV (365 nm) and green (520 nm) light. The self-assembled monolayers are investigated by UV/vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and contact angle goniometry. We furthermore investigate the effect of substitution of the AAPs on the photoresponsive wetting behavior and compare this with density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the dipole moments of the AAPs.

Linarite from Cap Garonne

Linarite, PbCuSO4(OH)2, crystallizes as secondary mineral in form of clusters of crystals in Mine du Pradet at Cap Garonne in France. A tiny single crystal was isolated and its structure was refined from synchrotron diffraction data (λ = 0.049592 nm): P121/m1, a = 467.75(2), b = 563.48(4), c = 967.64(5) pm, β = 102.647(5)°, wR = 0.0544, 819 F 2 values and 56 variables. The proton positions were also refined. The Cu2+ cations are located within Cu(OH)2 ribbons and exhibit pronounced Jahn-Teller distortion (d(Cu–O): 2 × 191.9, 2 × 197.3 and 2 × 252.8 pm). The Cu(OH)2 ribbons are condensed with the sulfate tetrahedra and the lead cations. The latter are coordinated to eight oxygen atoms in a slightly anisotropic manner. Calculations of the electron localization function (ELF) of PbO (litharge), PbSO4 (anglesite) and PbCuSO4(OH)2 (linarite) show pronounced lone-pair character for PbO but rather isotropic ELF values around the lead cations in PbSO4 and PbCuSO4(OH)2.

Adaptive partitioning molecular dynamics using an extended Hamiltonian approach

A recently proposed extended Hamiltonian approach to switching interaction potentials is generalized to enable adaptive partitioning molecular dynamics simulations. Switching is performed along a fictitious classical degree of freedom whose value determines the mixing ratio of the two potentials on a time scale determined by its associated mass. We propose to choose this associated fictitious mass adaptively so as to ensure a constant time scale for all switching processes. For different model systems, including a harmonic oscillator and a Lennard-Jones fluid, we investigate the window of switching time scales that guarantees the conservation of the extended Hamiltonian for a large number of switching events. The methodology is first applied in the microcanonical ensemble and then generalized to the canonical ensemble using a Nosé-Hoover chain thermostat. It is shown that the method is stable for thousands of consecutive switching events during a single simulation, with constant temperature and a conserved extended Hamiltonian. A slight modification of the original Hamiltonian is introduced to avoid accumulation of small numerical errors incurred after each switching process.

Covalent photofunctionalization and electronic repair of 2H-MoS2via nitrogen incorporation

A route towards covalent functionalization of chemically inert 2H-MoS₂ exploiting sulfur vacancies is explored by means of (TD)DFT and GW/BSE calculations. Functionalization via nitrogen incorporation at sulfur vacancies is shown to result in more stable covalent binding than via thiol incorporation. In this way, defective monolayer MoS₂ is repaired and the quasiparticle band structure as well as the remarkable optical properties of pristine MoS₂ are restored. Hence, defect-free functionalization with various molecules is possible. Our results for covalently attached azobenzene, as a prominent photo-switch, pave the way to create photoresponsive two-dimensional (2D) materials.

Acid-catalysed liquid-to-solid transitioning of arylazoisoxazole photoswitches

Molecular photoswitches play a vital role in the development of responsive materials. These molecular building blocks are particularly attractive when multiple stimuli can be combined to bring about physical changes, sometimes leading to unexpected properties and functions. The arylazoisoxazole molecular switch was recently shown to be capable of efficient photoreversible solid-to-liquid phase transitions with application in photoswitchable surface adhesion. Here, we show that the arylazoisoxazole forms thermally stable and photoisomerisable protonated Z- and E-isomers in an apolar aprotic solvent when the pK _a of the applied acid is sufficiently low. The tuning of isomerisation kinetics from days to seconds by the pK _a of the acid not only opens up new reactivity in solution, but also the solid-state photoswitching of azoisoxazoles can be efficiently reversed with selected acid vapours, enabling acid-gated photoswitchable surface adhesion.

Ligand-controlled and nanoconfinement-boosted luminescence employing Pt(ii) and Pd(ii) complexes: from color-tunable aggregation-enhanced dual emitters towards self-referenced oxygen reporters

In this work, we describe the synthesis, structural and photophysical characterization of four novel Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) complexes bearing tetradentate luminophoric ligands with high photoluminescence quantum yields (Φ L) and long excited state lifetimes (τ) at room temperature, where the results were interpreted by means of DFT calculations. Incorporation of fluorine atoms into the tetradentate ligand favors aggregation and thereby, a shortened average distance between the metal centers, which provides accessibility to metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MMLCT) excimers acting as red-shifted energy traps if compared with the monomeric entities. This supramolecular approach provides an elegant way to enable room-temperature phosphorescence from Pd(ii) complexes, which are otherwise quenched by a thermal population of dissociative states due to a lower ligand field splitting. Encapsulation of these complexes in 100 nm-sized aminated polystyrene nanoparticles enables concentration-controlled aggregation-enhanced dual emission. This phenomenon facilitates the tunability of the absorption and emission colors while providing a rigidified environment supporting an enhanced Φ L up to about 80% and extended τ exceeding 100 μs. Additionally, these nanoarrays constitute rare examples for self-referenced oxygen reporters, since the phosphorescence of the aggregates is insensitive to external influences, whereas the monomeric species drop in luminescence lifetime and intensity with increasing triplet molecular dioxygen concentrations (diffusion-controlled quenching).

Multiscale modelling of charge transport in P3HT:DIPBI bulk heterojunction organic solar cells

Charge transport properties of a P3HT:DIPBI bulk heterojunction solar cell are modelled by kinetic Monte Carlo simulations based on a morphology obtained from coarse-grained molecular dynamics. Different methods for calculating the hopping integrals entering the charge transfer rates are compared and calibrated for hole transport in amorphous P3HT. The influence of intermolecular and intramolecular charge transfer on the total charge carrier mobility and hence the power conversion efficiency is investigated in detail. An analysis of the most probable pathways with low resistance for hole transport is performed, establishing a connection between charge mobility and morphology.

Dynamic Structure and Stability of DNA Duplexes Bearing a Dinuclear Hg(II)-Mediated Base Pair

Quantum mechanical (QM) and hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) molecular dynamics simulations of a recently reported dinuclear mercury(II)-mediated base pair were performed aiming to analyse its intramolecular bonding pattern, its stability, and to obtain clues on the mechanism of the incorporation of mercury(II) into the DNA. The dynamic distance constraint was employed to find initial structures, control the dissociation process in an unbiased fashion and to determine the free energy required. A strong influence of the exocyclic carbonyl or amino groups of neighbouring base pairs on both the bonding pattern and the mechanism of incorporation was observed. During the dissociation simulation, an amino group of an adenine moiety of the adjacent base pair acts as a turnstile to rotate the mercury(II) ion out of the DNA core region. The calculations provide an important insight into the mechanism of formation of this dinuclear metal-mediated base pair and indicate that the exact location of a transition metal ion in a metal-mediated base pair may be more ambiguous than derived from simple model building.

A Unidirectional Surface-Anchored N-Heterocyclic Carbene Rotor

A molecular rotor based on N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has been rationally designed following theoretical predictions, experimentally realized, and characterized. Utilizing the structural tunability of NHCs, a computational screening protocol was first applied to identify NHCs with asymmetric rotational potentials on a surface as a prerequisite for unidirectional molecular rotors. Suitable candidates were then synthesized and studied using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS), analytical theoretical models, and molecular dynamics simulations. For our best NHC rotor featuring a mesityl N substituent on one side and a chiral naphthylethyl substituent on the other, unidirectional rotation is driven by inelastic tunneling of electrons from the NHC to the STM tip. While electrons preferentially tunnel through the mesityl N substituent, the chiral naphthylethyl substituent controls the directionality. Such NHC-based surface rotors open up new possibilities for the design and construction of functionalized molecular systems with high catalytic applicability and superior stability compared with other classes of molecular rotors.

On-Surface Chemistry Induced by Long-Lived Excitons: (NO)2 Dissociation on C60

Solid-state excitonic excitations play an increasingly important role in optoelectronic and light harvesting processes due to their ubiquitous presence in dipolar two-dimensional materials. Here we show that long-lived solid-state excitons induce chemical reactions in adsorbed molecules and thus convert light into chemical energy. For the model system (NO)₂ dimer adsorbed on ordered c(4×4) C₆₀ films, time-of-flight measurements following UV laser excitation reveal a slow and a fast dissociative desorption channel, which are assigned to intersystem crossing and internal conversion, respectively, by time-dependent density functional theory calculations.

A highly unsaturated six-vertex amido-substituted silicon cluster

Thermal treatment of the bicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilatetraamide [Si₄{N(SiMe₃)Dipp}₄] 1 resulted in the formation of a highly unsaturated six-vertex silicon cluster [Si₆{N(SiMe₃)Dipp}₄] 2 with only four amine-substituents and two ligand-free silicon atoms.

Thermal treatment of the bicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilatetraamide [Si₄{N(SiMe₃)Dipp}₄] 1 resulted in the formation of a highly unsaturated six-vertex silicon cluster [Si₆{N(SiMe₃)Dipp}₄] 2 with only four amine-substituents and two ligand-free silicon atoms. In solution, a major and a minor conformer of this cluster are in equilibrium according to multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, lineshape analysis, DFT calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. The bonding situation in the highly unsaturated cluster features lone pair type character at the ligand-free silicon atoms and partial single and double bond character in the upper butterfly-shaped ring of 2. This allows to consider 2 as the silicon analogue of a butalene isomer.

An Arylazopyrazole-Based N-Heterocyclic Carbene as a Photoswitch on Gold Surfaces: Light-Switchable Wettability, Work Function, and Conductance

A novel photoresponsive and fully conjugated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has been synthesized that combines the excellent photophysical properties of arylazopyrazoles (AAPs) with an NHC that acts as a robust surface anchor (AAP-BIMe). The formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold was proven by ToF-SIMS and XPS, and the organic film displayed a very high stability at elevated temperatures. This stability was also reflected in a high desorption energy, which was determined by temperature-programmed SIMS measurements. E-/Z-AAP-BIMe@Au photoisomerization resulted in reversible alterations of the surface energy (i.e. wettability), the surface potential (i.e. work function), and the conductance (i.e. resistance). The effects could be explained by the difference in the dipole moment of the isomers. Furthermore, sequential application of a dummy ligand by microcontact printing and subsequent backfilling with AAP-BIMe allowed its patterning on gold. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a photoswitchable NHC on a gold surface. These properties of AAP-BIMe@Au illustrate its suitability as a molecular switch for electronic devices.

Exciton transfer free energy from Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics

A computational approach is presented which allows the calculation of free energies profiles for exciton transfer processes within the framework of ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations, sampling both the electronic and the nuclear degrees of freedom. To achieve this, restraining potentials are imposed on the centres of maximally localized Wannier orbitals. The resulting quantum-mechanical orbital forces are derived analytically and implemented in an AIMD program. In analogy to classical umbrella sampling techniques, these restraints are used to control an exciton transfer by incrementally moving the Wannier centres corresponding to the electron-hole pair along a suitable reaction coordinate. The new method is applied to study exciton transfer between two stacked penta(3-methylthiophene) molecules as a function of intermolecular distance. From the resulting free energy profiles, exciton transfer rates and diffusion constants are estimated, which prove to be in line with experimental results.

Perylene Diimide-Embedded Double [8]Helicenes

The rational design and modification of the helix is of significance for fully promoting properties of configurationally stable materials for various applications in chiral science. Herein, a straightforward, sterically less demanding synthetic approach involving hybridization between two [6]helicene subunits and a perylene diimide (PDI) scaffold are presented, affording perylene diimide-embedded double [8]helicenes (PD8Hs) which represent the highest double carbohelicenes reported thus far. Due to the structural features of PDI and [6]helicene, the PD8Hs have six stereoisomers including two pairs of enantiomers and two mesomers. Such structural diversity is unprecedented in the realm of double helicenes. The absolute configuration of these PD8Hs was unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, revealing that the subtle configurational differences lead to great variation in the superhelical structure and molecular packing arrangement. Due to the embedding of the PDI chromophore, the PD8Hs possess outstanding fluorescence quantum yields of approximately 30%. Two pairs of enantiomers were resolved by chiral HPLC, and the chiroptical properties were evaluated using circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence spectroscopy, of which PD8H-6R exhibited excellent chiroptical performances in both the absorption and emission ranges with dissymmetry factors |g_abs| of 0.012 and |g_lum| of 0.002.

Dynamics of the efficient cyclometalation of the undercoordinated organoplatinum complex [Pt(COD)(neoPh)]+ (neoPh = 2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl)

The cyclometalation reaction of [Pt(COD)(κ¹-neoPh)]⁺ (neoPh = 2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl) to [Pt(COD)(κ²-neoPh)] was studied experimentally and mechanistically using DFT and MD simulations.

On-Surface Reactive Planarization of Pt(II) Complexes

A series of Pt(II) complexes with tetradentate luminophores has been designed, synthesized, and deposited on coinage metal surfaces with the aim to produce highly planar self‐assembled monolayers. Low‐temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a significant initial nonplanarity for all complexes. A subsequent metal‐catalyzed separation of the nonplanar moiety at the bridging unit via the scission of a C−N bond is observed, leaving behind a largely planar core complex. The activation barrier of this bond scission process is found to depend strongly on the chemical nature of both bridging group and coordination plane, and to increase from Cu(111) through Ag(111) to Au(111).

Copper(ii)-mediated base pairing involving the artificial nucleobase 3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinolin-5-ol

A highly stabilizing Cu(ii)-mediated base pair is introduced into DNA using a large artificial nucleobase.

Reactions of the organoplatinum complex [Pt(cod) (neoSi)Cl] (neoSi = trimethylsilylmethyl) with the non-coordinating anions SbF6– and BPh4–

Reactions of the organoplatinum complex [Pt(cod)(neoSi)Cl] (neoSi = (trimethylsilylmethyl) with the Ag(I) salts of oxo or fluoride containing anions A– = NO3–, ClO4–, OTf – (trifluoromethanesulfonate) and SbF6– lead to the desired abstraction of the chlorido ligand and precipitation of AgCl. However, further reaction of the resulting Pt complexes [Pt(cod)(neoSi) (solvent)]+ with diverse N-heterocyclic ligands L such as pyridines, caffeine, and guanine did not yield the targeted complexes [Pt(cod)(neoSi)(L)](A) in most of the cases, but to extensive decomposition yielding [Pt(cod)(Me) (solvent)]+, thus transforming the neoSi into a methyl ligand. A detailed study on the reaction with SbF6– combining DFT calculations with NMR and MS revealed that Pt catalysed decomposition of SbF6‒ and fluorination of the neoSi silicon atom leading to FSiMe3. When reacting the parent complex with Ag(BPh4), the arylated derivative [Pt(cod)(neoSi)(Ph)] was obtained and characterised by multinuclear NMR, MS and single crystal XRD.

Studie über den Einfluss des Fluorierungsgrades an einem tetradentaten C^N*N^C-Luminophor auf die photophysikalischen Eigenschaften seiner Platin(II)-Komplexe und deren Aggregation

Herein, we present three new tetradentate C^N*N^C luminophores and their platinum(II) complexes. We describe the influence of the degree of fluorination at the phenylpyridine luminophore on the photophysical properties of the monomeric species. A blue-shift can be observed with increasing number of fluorine atoms (0–6), which is related to a growing HOMO-LUMO gap that reaches a maximum for four halogen moieties. Increasing degree of fluorination enables intermolecular Pt–Pt interactions and promotes emission from 3MMLCT states in amorphous solids and matrices, with the drawback of lowered solubility. A clear trend towards layered packing patterns in crystals has been observed within the series. This knowledge is important for the design and realization of triplet emitters with aggregation-controlled luminescence towards potential applications in optoelectronic devices.

Conformation-dependent phosphorescence emission of individual mononuclear ruthenium-(ii)-bis-terpyridine complexes

The potential of supramolecular transition metal coordination complexes to form robust, long-living, radiative charge transfer states makes this class of triplet state emitters ideal candidates for application as photosensitizes or in photonic devices. Antenna-enhanced phosphorescence experiments on single Ru2+-bis-terpyridine complexes incorporated into a thin PMMA film show that phosphorescence emission spectra can exhibit shifts depending on the local environment [J. F. Herrmann, P. S. Popp, A. Winter, U. S. Schubert and C. Höppener, ACS Photonics, 2016, 3, 1897-1906]. Here, we demonstrate that the environmentally altered spectral properties of individual dual-luminescent Ru2+-bis-terpyridine complexes in PMMA and acetonitrile can be reproduced by DFT-based vibrationally resolved Franck-Condon spectra, if the phosphorescent emission of different molecular conformations is taken into account. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the triplet emission of these complexes occurs from a metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) state.