Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Kazuo Tanaka, Masayuki Gon, Shunichiro Ito, Junki Ochi, Yoshiki Chujo
Summary: This review focuses on the recent developments of boron-containing compounds with aggregation-induced emission properties, emphasizing the role of boron in molecular motions in the excited state. It explores the optical properties of boron complexes with different types of dative bonds and their applications in stimuli-responsive polymers and sensors.
COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Huizhen Zheng, Yang Huang, Jie Jiang, Yanxia Pan, Wei Li, Hui Wang, Lihao Su, Xi Liu, Meng Gao, Weili Wang, Jia Li, Xiaoming Cai, Xuehua Li, Jingwen Chen, Ruibin Li
Summary: The steric restriction-induced emission (SRIE) effect enables the illumination of invisible nanoscale insulators, such as boron nitride (BN) nanosheets, using fluorogenic probes. This effect results in significantly increased photoluminescence intensity and allows for quantitative analysis and single-particle detection. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the hydrophobic and electron-resistant surfaces of BN nanosheets restrict the movement of fluorogenic molecules and promote radiative electron transition. The lighted BN nanosheets can be successfully visualized in complex biological contexts.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Di Shen, Wenhan Jin, Yulong Bai, Yanan Huang, Haochen Lyu, Lianggang Zeng, Mengdie Wang, Yuqi Tang, Wang Wan, Xuepeng Dong, Zhenming Gao, Hai-Long Piao, Xiaojing Liu, Yu Liu
Summary: This study developed sensors for amorphous protein aggregation from aggregation-induced-emission probes (AIEgens) with controllable sensitivity, spectral coverage, and cellular performance through rational design.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maryam F. Abdollahi, Jian You, Tao Wang, Yuming Zhao
Summary: The absorption and emission properties of various diphenyl-dibenzofulvene (DP-DBF) derivatives were found to correlate with the twist angle around the C=C bond of the DP-DBF structure, indicating a clear relationship with their crystallization-induced emission enhancement (CIEE) performances.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stephen J. Geier, Justin F. Binder, Christopher M. Vogels, Lara K. Watanabe, Charles L. B. Macdonald, Stephen A. Westcott
Summary: The uncatalyzed addition of catecholborane to alpha-diimines has been studied, showing that the reactions proceed smoothly at room temperature without a catalyst or additive. This results in the formation of bis-hydroboration products with 3-coordinate boron centres or mono-hydroboration products with 4-coordinate boron centres, depending on the nature of the diimine reagent.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ze Yu, Yufeng Mao, Anqi Lv, Zhongfu An, Huili Ma
Summary: Organic fluorophores are crucial for organic optoelectronic and bioelectronic applications. The enhancement of fluorescence in bromo-organic aggregates, which breaks the traditional belief of heavy-atom effect leading to fluorescence quenching, is achieved by the limited acceleration of intersystem crossing process and the large reduction of vibronic coupling of singlet excitons caused by bromine atoms. The excited-state dynamics further demonstrate that bromine substituents decelerate the internal conversion process and result in slow ISC rates, leading to abnormal fluorescence enhancement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
He Zhang, Dong-Qing Lin, Bo Li, Hui-Fang Liu, Sha-Sha Wang, Yong-Xia Wang, Ming-Li Sun, Zong-Qiong Lin, Yong Yan, Meng-Na Yu, Ling-Hai Xie, Wei Huang
Summary: The research focuses on the properties of spirofluorenexanthanes as organic semiconductor materials, highlighting the impact of structural factors on aggregate behaviors and the enhancement of excitonic photophysics through nanocrystallization, providing insights for high-performance material design.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Haijun Long, De Guo, Liyuan Wang, Zitong Liu, Shayu Li, Xianfeng Liang, Yanlin Chen, Zhiwei Yang, Jing Li, Lichun Dong, Luxi Tan
Summary: A vinyl bridged NDI dimer, DNV, was synthesized, which exhibited strong Aggregation Induced Emission Enhancement (AIEE) behavior and wide Aggregation Induced Chromism (AIC) phenomenon. The unique twisted packing mode and intermolecular charge transfer in the aggregated state of DNV may contribute to its long wavelength emission. The bio-imaging capability of DNV was also examined and showed potential.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shunichiro Ito, Masayuki Gon, Kazuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Chujo
Summary: The complexation of p-conjugated ligands by metal or semimetal ions enhances the planarity and rigidity of pi-conjugated systems. Boron has a key role in the design of luminescent main-group complexes, but suffers from aggregation-caused quenching like typical organic fluorophores. Recent studies have shown that some boron complexes exhibit aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties and AIE behavior has also been observed in complexes and organometallic compounds of other group 13 elements. These findings encourage the development of advanced functional materials based on group 13 elements, which are versatile scaffolds for constructing chromic luminophores and efficiently emissive pi-conjugated polymers.
NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rao Tao, Xin Zhao, Tianshu Zhao, Miaomiao Zhao, Ruiyang Li, Tianfu Yang, Lizhi Tang, Yinghua Jin, Wei Zhang, Li Qiu
Summary: In this proof-of-concept study, Imi-cage and Phos-cage organic molecular cages were designed to enhance emission through confinement effect. The cages exhibited higher fluorescence than free molecules in solid states, showcasing the potential for developing solid-state highly fluorescent materials. Additionally, Imi-cage showed promise for ultra-sensitive detection of explosives.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yue Yang, Liuzhong Yuan, Jiaxiang Guo, Kaiqi Ye, Yu Liu, Chuandong Dou
Summary: In this study, we designed organoborane TADF emitters using double B <- N bridged bipyridine (BNBP) as an electron-accepting unit. By varying the electron donor groups, interesting TADF properties were obtained, and unexpected aggregation-induced emission characteristics were observed for this organoborane molecule.
Article
Spectroscopy
Yilan Wang, Hongliang Liu, Zhao Chen, Shouzhi Pu
Summary: The designed AIEE-active fluorescent sensor combines the AIE effect of tetraphenylethylene with the cyanide acceptor of phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole, exhibiting AIEE and MFC properties in DCM/n-hexane or THF/H2O, along with a large Stokes shift and ICT process.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guanming Liao, Jia Zhang, Xiaoyan Zheng, Xiaodi Jia, Jialiang Xu, Fenggui Zhao, Nan Wang, Kanglei Liu, Pangkuan Chen, Xiaodong Yin
Summary: This study reported a highly electron-deficient dicyanomethylene-bridged triarylborane compound, (F)MesB-TCN, with a low-lying LUMO and crystallization-induced emission enhancement. DFT calculations showed a lower re-organization energy in the block-shaped crystal compared to the weakly emissive acicular crystal. The research explored a novel boron-containing skeleton with interesting optical properties.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Dan Zhang, Jie Zhao, Liping Cao, Dong Yang, Bozhong Chen, Le Yu, Xiao-Juan Yang, Biao Wu
Summary: This study presents a multi-level regulation of fluorescence enhancement using a bis-bis(urea)-decorated tetraphenylethene (TPE) ligand, with assembly-enhanced emission characteristic upon anion coordination and subsequent binding of a guest (methyl viologen).
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shuo Li, Kun Liu, Xue-Chen Feng, Zhao-Xian Li, Zhi-Yuan Zhang, Bin Wang, Minjie Li, Yue-Ling Bai, Lei Cui, Chunju Li
Summary: This study presents a strategy for enhancing the solid-state emission of luminophores through macrocyclization-induced emission enhancement (MIEE). By linking luminophores to form macrocycles, the fluorescence intensity in the solid state is significantly increased, leading to improved device performance in OLED applications. The MIEE strategy is universal and can be applied to different luminophores.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Kazuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Chujo
Summary: This review introduces a new concept of developing stimuli-responsive luminochromic materials based on frustrated element-blocks. The stimuli-responsive properties and luminescent behaviors of frustrated boron clusters are described. Methods for obtaining materials with unique chromic behaviors, such as designing fused complexes and generating frustrated state by polymerization, are also discussed.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junki Ochi, Kazuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Chujo
Summary: The unique solid-state excimer emission of three types of acridine-tethered o-carboranes with variable degrees of methylation was reported. The emitted light colors were drastically changed by the steric effect of the methyl groups, with a strong correlation found between the pi-overlapping and excimer character. Variable-temperature PL measurements revealed that these PL species should be in thermal equilibrium at room temperature.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuto Aoyama, Yuki Sakai, Shunichiro Ito, Kazuo Tanaka
Summary: Novel luminescent dialdiminate complexes of Group 13 elements were prepared and their properties were evaluated. The absorption wavelength and response to Lewis bases were found to depend on the central atom. The aluminum complex showed a higher-energy absorption band compared to the gallium and indium congeners. The results suggest that the optoelectronic properties of these complexes can be manipulated by choosing the central elements in the same group.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kazuhiro Yuhara, Kazuo Tanaka
Summary: This study reports the luminochromic behaviors of o-carborane-modified anthracene derivatives regarding mechanochromic luminescence (MCL). Crystal polymorphs of bis-o-carborane-substituted anthracene showed dual-emission properties in the solid state, characterized by excimer and charge transfer (CT) emission bands. Compound 1a exhibited bathochromic MCL due to a transition from dual emission to CT emission, while compound 2 displayed hypsochromic MCL resulting from a transition from CT to excimer emission. Additionally, ground 1a showed self-recovery of its luminescent color when left at room temperature.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Takumi Yanagihara, Kazuo Tanaka
Summary: This study presents the unique luminescent properties of pyrene-substituted nido-carborate anion (PYnCA) with two counter cations, NBu4+ and PPh4+. It is found that PYnCA exhibits twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) emission by changing the dihedral angle between pyrene and the C-cage-C-cage bond in the carborane unit. The research also demonstrates the modulation of luminescent species by counter cations in both solution and solid states, showing potential for stimuli-responsive materials.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Hiroyuki Watanabe, Yoshinori Ito, Kazuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Chujo
Summary: The development of 1,3,4,6,8,9b-hexaazaphenalene (6AP) derivatives with excellent NIR light absorption properties and deep LUMO levels is illustrated. The electron-withdrawing ability of the 8-nitrogen atom in the 6AP scaffold was enhanced by introducing a B-N dative bond. The formation of a boron-nitrogen Lewis acid-base pair strengthened the electron-withdrawing ability and induced the low-lying LUMO levels.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haoran Wang, Qiyao Li, Parvej Alam, Haotian Bai, Vandana Bhalla, Martin R. Bryce, Mingyue Cao, Chao Chen, Sijie Chen, Xirui Chen, Yuncong Chen, Zhijun Chen, Dongfeng Dang, Dan Ding, Siyang Ding, Yanhong Duo, Meng Gao, Wei He, Xuewen He, Xuechuan Hong, Yuning Hong, Jing-Jing Hu, Rong Hu, Xiaolin Huang, Tony D. James, Xingyu Jiang, Gen-ichi Konishi, Ryan T. K. Kwok, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Chunbin Li, Haidong Li, Kai Li, Nan Li, Wei-Jian Li, Ying Li, Xing-Jie Liang, Yongye Liang, Bin Liu, Guozhen Liu, Xingang Liu, Xiaoding Lou, Xin-Yue Lou, Liang Luo, Paul R. McGonigal, Zong-Wan Mao, Guangle Niu, Tze Cin Owyong, Andrea Pucci, Jun Qian, Anjun Qin, Zijie Qiu, Andrey L. Rogach, Bo Situ, Kazuo Tanaka, Youhong Tang, Bingnan Wang, Dong Wang, Jianguo Wang, Wei Wang, Wen-Xiong Wang, Wen-Jin Wang, Xinyuan Wang, Yi-Feng Wang, Shuizhu Wu, Yifan Wu, Yonghua Xiong, Ruohan Xu, Chenxu Yan, Saisai Yan, Hai-Bo Yang, Lin-Lin Yang, Mingwang Yang, Ying-Wei Yang, Juyoung Yoon, Shuang-Quan Zang, Jiangjiang Zhang, Pengfei Zhang, Tianfu Zhang, Xin Zhang, Xin Zhang, Na Zhao, Zheng Zhao, Jie Zheng, Lei Zheng, Zheng Zheng, Ming-Qiang Zhu, Wei-Hong Zhu, Hang Zou, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive summary of the applications of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens in biological imaging, dynamic physiological processes, disease diagnosis and treatment, and specific analyte detection and monitoring. The review also discusses critical issues and future directions, aiming to promote the development of AIE in the fields of life and health.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hiromasa Takahashi, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Shunichiro Ito, Kazuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Chujo
Summary: We synthesized new binuclear boron complexes based on pyrazine with ortho and para substitution patterns. The para-linked complexes showed a narrow energy gap between highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, resulting in far-red to near-infrared emission properties. Meanwhile, the ortho-substituted complex exhibited orange emission. The theoretical study suggested that the para-substitution did not significantly perturb the characteristic HOMO distribution originating from pyrazine, unlike the ortho-substituted one.
CHEMISTRY-AN ASIAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Chisa Takahara, Masashi Nakamura, Yuto Aoyama, Takumi Yanagihara, Shunichiro Ito, Kazuo Tanaka, Hiroaki Imoto, Kensuke Naka
Summary: Arsenic-containing conjugated polymers, with dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]arsole as a typical monomer unit, have gained significant attention recently. However, the traditional polymer design for improved solubility often involves introducing long alkyl chains, which may lead to steric hindrance and distort the planarity of the polymer chain. To overcome this, a novel monomer with an alkoxyphenyl group substituted on the arsenic atom was developed. These polymers, using benzothiadiazole and benzoxadiazole monomers, exhibited high planarity and solubility, as well as near-infrared emissions.
Article
Polymer Science
Kazumasa Suenaga, Aoi Watanabe, Kazuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Chujo
Summary: The logical design and synthesis of a blue-luminescent film based on a conjugated polymer is demonstrated by utilizing aza-substituted FBKI. The aza-substituted FBKIs exhibit solid-state luminescent properties and wider energy gaps compared to the corresponding FBKIs. A conjugated homopolymer including azaFBKI as a repeating unit is successfully designed and obtained, which shows purely blue luminescence in film.
Article
Polymer Science
Masashi Nakamura, Momona Yamauchi, Masayuki Gon, Kazuo Tanaka
Summary: This study achieved efficient wavelength conversion from ultraviolet to near-infrared light by introducing pyrene into polymers, providing significant implications for the research of wavelength converting materials.
Review
Polymer Science
Kazuo Tanaka
Summary: A new method to control the electronic states of conjugated polymers without extending the pi-conjugated system was developed by aza-substitution of isolated frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs). This method efficiently and selectively lowers the energy level of FMOs, leading to the synthesis of materials with blue and near-infrared emitting properties.
Article
Polymer Science
Masayuki Gon, Misato Kanjo, Shunsuke Ohtani, Kazuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Chujo
Summary: This study demonstrated the synthesis of a new series of solid-state luminescent pi-conjugated polymers with tunable energy levels. These polymers exhibited intense luminescence in both solutions and films. By selectively perturbing the energy levels of the frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) and utilizing condensed reagents in the azomethine bond formation reaction, the monomer structure and the perturbed FMOs could be determined.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Junki Ochi, Takumi Yanagihara, Kazuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Chujo
Summary: We synthesized two types of regioisomers fused by a phenylnaphthalene ring with different connection points to the o-carborane scaffold. In this study, we investigated their photoluminescence properties and photochemical mechanisms in detail. Interestingly, despite having a common aromatic unit, they exhibited different photoluminescence characters in terms of wavelength and dual-emission, which were determined by the substitution position of aryl groups to o-carborane as indicated by variable-temperature photoluminescence measurements and quantum chemical calculations. It was further revealed that the relative position of the C-C bond of o-carborane and the aryl center played a crucial role in the photophysical events of aryl-o-carboranes.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shunya Tanaka, Daisuke Sakamaki, Naoki Haruta, Tohru Sato, Masayuki Gon, Kazuo Tanaka, Hideki Fujiwara
Summary: In this study, a novel double N,S-hetero[5]helicene composed of two benzo[b]phenothiazines was reported, which exhibited long-lived circularly polarized room-temperature phosphorescence. The intense and long-lived phosphorescence of the compound was explained by theoretical calculations. Optical resolution was successfully achieved, and the chiroptical properties of the compound were investigated. This compound represents a rare example of a purely-organic helicene that exhibits long-lived circularly polarized RTP from a non-aggregated state.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
