Search

The reactions of group 4 metals (Ti, Zr, and Hf) and 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (H4dobdc) under solvothermal conditions have been systematically explored, and their major crystalline phases have been investigated by single-crystal diffractions. Ti(IV) forms a layered framework [Ti2(Hdobdc)3] where honeycomb-type sheets are interconnected through strong hydrogen bonding. Various gases are reversibly adsorbed within the straight one-dimensional channels decorated with polar O atoms, and H2 and CO2 show relatively high isosteric heats of adsorption at 6.6 and 29.4 kJ/mol, respectively. Zr(IV)- and Hf(IV)-based MOFs have also been synthesized using the same ligand and are isostructural with the formula (H3O) x [M(dobdc)(bz) x ] (M = Zr or Hf). They have a unique, nonoxo-trinuclear building block that forms a polyhedral network of 6-connected topology. Unlike the two-dimensional net of Ti, the Zr and Hf metal-organic frameworks are hydrothermally stable as unambiguously shown by variable-temperature X-ray diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional Mn(II) framework, [Mn2(H2L)(L)0.5(MeOH)(DEF)]·0.1MeOH·0.1DEF·1.4H2O (1; H4L = 2,3-dioxido-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid), was synthesized under solvothermal conditions in diethylformamide/methanol (DEF/MeOH), where the Mn centers adopt octahedral and unusual pentagonal bipyramidal geometries. The ligand H4L was subject to deprotonation to create μ4-H2L2– and μ6-L4– anionic bridges, leading to the construction of a coordination network. The MeOH exchange process of crystalline 1 allowed for another crystalline phase (1a), which reversibly returned to the original crystalline state upon resolvation in DEF/MeOH. After evacuation of 1a, the amorphous phase 1b was irreversibly formed, followed by the restoration of the original phase 1 upon resolvation in DEF/MeOH. Consequently, this framework underwent cyclic structural transformations from the crystalline (1) to crystalline (1a) to amorphous (1b) and back to crystalline (1) phase, which are unique transformations for soft coordination networks. Magnetic measurements demonstrated that antiferromagnetic interactions were operative between the Mn(II) ions and were effectively mediated by the oxygen moieties of the μ6-L4– bridge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triphenylamine (TPA), a propeller-shaped optoelectronic molecule, has been used to generate stimuli-responsive smart fluorescent organic materials and correlate the effect of subtle structural changes on the molecular packing and mechanochromic fluorescence (MCF). The substituent (OCH3) position in the TPA phenyl ring and acceptors (malononitrile, cyanoacetamide, cyanoacetic acid, ethyl cyanoacetate, and diethylmalonate) strongly influenced the solid state and mechanochromic fluorescence as well as the molecular packing. The structure-property studies revealed that (i) TPA derivatives without the OCH3 substituent exhibit strong fluorescence (ϕf = 85% (TCAAD-1, 55% (TDEM)), (ii) higher dihedral angle (τ) between donor (aminophenyl) and acceptor lead to weak/non fluorescent material, (iii) substituent at the ortho position to acceptor increased the dihedral angle (τ = 26.49 (TCAAD-2), τ = 27.14 (TDMM)), and (iv) the increase of alkyl groups produced self-reversible high contrast off-on fluorescence switching materials (TDEM). Powder X-ray diffraction studies indicate that stimuli induced reversible phase transformation from crystalline to amorphous and vice versa was responsible for fluorescence switching. The computational studies also supported that OCH3 substitution at ortho to acceptor increased the dihedral angle and optical band gap. Thus, the present studies provide a structural insight for designing TPA based organic molecules for developing new smart organic materials. Stimuli responsive smart fluorescent triphenylamine derivatives have been synthesized that exhibited reversible and self-reversible mechanochromism, and nonfluorescence solids depend on the position of substitution and acceptor structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) compounds, 2-(2-((2-hydroxybenzylidine)amino)phenoxy)benzonitrile (1) and 2-(4-((2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylidine)amino)phenoxy)benzonitrile (2) exhibited aggregation induced enhanced emission (AIEE) in the solid state and nanofabrication mediated white light emission. The strong intermolecular interactions (H-bonding, C-H···π and π⋯π) restrict the free rotation and rigidify the fluorophores, 1 and 2, in the crystal lattice that lead to enhanced fluorescence in the solid state of 1 (yellow, λmax = 535 nm, Φf = 38%) and 2 (greenish-yellow, λmax = 525 nm, Φf = 21%). Surprisingly, nanofabrication of 1 and 2 produced metastable white light emitting nanoparticles (Φf = 24% (1), 19% (2)) that slowly converted into stable yellow (1) or greenish-yellow (2) fluorescent nanoparticles with increasing time. The time dependent fluorescence, morphological, and metal ion interacting studies indicate the formation of soft nanoparticles in which both blue fluorescent cyanophenoxy and yellow/greenish-yellow fluorescent salicylidene group behave independently. 1 and 2 nanoparticles undergo morphological change from spherical to plates with increasing time. Thus, simple ESIPT molecules showed solid-state fluorescent and nanofabrication induced tunable fluorescence, particularly white fluorescent metastable nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]