Themed collection Pi conjugated system bricolage (figuration) toward functional organic molecular systems

Guest editor Takanori Fukushima introduces this Materials Chemistry Frontiers themed collection on π-electronic molecules.

Synthesis, properties, and functions of bowl-shaped pi-conjugated molecules including a hetero atom-doped system are reviewed.

Reduction of computation time of nanomechanics by atomic-scale modeling.

Multi-scale calculation based on DFT and Hückel for carrier mobility on 1 micro-meter wires reveals that localization can enhance the mobility.

A combination of direct arylation and aerobic oxidative coupling reactions enables a straightforward synthesis of semiconducting materials.

For solution-processable tin iodide cubic perovskites, a small amount of indium doping reduced the conductivity without changing the band gap or the carrier concentration. We demonstrated another possibility of foreign metal doping in tin iodide cubic perovskites and displayed a design strategy for electronic devices using hybrid perovskites.

Various pure organic semiconducting molecules exhibit extraordinarily large Seebeck coefficient which cannot be elucidated by conventional physical models of thermoelectricity.

A meta-disubstituted aryl gold isocyanide complex showing pseudopolymorphism exhibit various emission properties. These pseudopolymorphs also show reversible luminescent mechanochromism.

TADF OLEDs with fully solution-processed organic-layers with all dendrimer emitting layers that exhibit 16.1% external quantum efficiency.

The Mott-insulator–metal transition in A₃C₆₀ fullerides is traversed at ambient temperature through the application of external pressure.

Ester substitution realized phase compatible film blends of a polymer and an ionic liquid for bright light-emitting electrochemical cells.

The thermal phase transition properties of macrocyclic molecules 1 and 2 consisting of aromatic 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (BPEB) components and tetraethylene glycol (TEG) chains were investigated.

Spiro-type heterasumanenes composed of two triphenylenodithiophene units and group 14 bridging atoms were synthesized by stepwise lithiations of hexaalkoxytriphenylene derivatives and treatment with heteroatom reagents.

Folding behaviours in solution, solid-state structure, and electron mobility are clarified for newly-synthesized alternating copolymers of perylenediimide and flexible chains.

Linear poly(phenylene ethynylene)s are directly converted into zigzag-shaped π-conjugated microporous polymers.

The promising potential of π-radical dithiadiazolyl dimers as a novel class of highly-active external-field-driven NLO switches.

Optically active X-shaped compounds based on planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane, consisting of two different π-electron systems stacked, were synthesized.

The radical cation salt of 4,5-ethylenedioxy-4′-iodotetrathiafulvalene possessing iodine bonding ability afforded the β′-type molecular arrangement in dimerized Mott insulating state.

Efficient ultrapure green OLEDs were demonstrated by using a platinum complex (PtN7N) and a top emitting structure.

We synthesized a ladder-shaped 9,9′-bifluorenylidene cyclic dimer (CBF), in which the two 9,9′-bifluorenylidene units are connected directly with two covalent bonds.

Graphene clusters were fabricated from a quaterphenyl-branched “Z-bar-linkage” precursor, following intramolecular and intermolecular fusion.

Orbital-specific electronic interaction as a key to understanding unique molecular electronic and magnetic properties.

A host–guest conjugate consisting of a pillar[5]arene and an ethylene moiety containing a triazole group at one end and a perfluorooctyl group at the other end displayed unusual real-time scale solid-state self-inclusion complexation behaviour.

Elimination of one hydroxy group from a tetrathiafulvalene derivative changed hydrogen-bond patterns in the charge-transfer salt, leading to improved conductivity.

We have developed an efficient synthetic method for (nitronyl nitroxide)-substituted π-electronic compounds via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with a zinc complex of the parent nitronyl nitroxide radical anion.

A CPL-active organogel was synthesized based on a helical stacked assembly of a Pt(II) phenylbipyridine complex possessing phenylisoxazoles.

Tris(2-hydroxyphenyl)triazasumanene ((A)-(+)-1), a bowl-shaped molecule, which possesses 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)pyridine moieties, was successfully synthesised.

The enantioselective synthesis of a phospha[9]helicene with a bibenzopicene skeleton has been achieved via the rhodium-mediated intermolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition of a binaphthyl-linked tetrayne with a phosphorus-linked diyne.

A clip-shaped donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) molecule has been prepared with 6,13-dihydro-6,13-diazapentacene (DHDAP) as a building unit.

A new layered antiferromagnet was synthesized from the reaction of a paddlewheel diruthenium(II,II) complex with a TCNQ derivative. The complex has a short interlayer distance and forms part of a series of layered antiferromagnets.

Crystals of and PMMA films doped with 2,5-bis(silylmethoxy)-1,4-diaroylbenzenes exhibit efficient green phosphorescence at room temperature.

TpMe and TpF with substituents at the ortho-positions of carboxy groups were synthesized and revealed substituent effects on molecular assembly.

A new type of molecule tetrakis(benzo[b]furyl)ethene (TBFE) undergoes two-wavelength ON–OFF–ON three-stage fluorescence switching triggered by aggregation.

NIR WGM resonators are fabricated from energy-donating and accepting conjugated polymers.

Thiophene-fused arenes were synthesized by sulfur-mediated simple thienannulation reactions and applied to hole-transporting materials in perovskite solar cells.

Bestowing amphiphilicity to specifically designed perylene bisimide dyads enables diverse self-assembly pathways in aqueous media.

Dimerization of the so-called pyrrolopyrrole aza-BODIPY via a bithienyl linkage led to the creation of a novel black dye with dual emission and panchromatic absorption properties in the Vis/NIR region.

Orientation of the lone-pair of electron-dependent electrochemical and photophysical properties were successfully observed by using a series of N-substituted benzo[ghi]perylene derivatives.

The introduction of amino-substituents to an antiaromatic Ni^II norcorrole complex was accomplished regioselectively upon simple treatment with various amines without any catalysts. The optical and electrochemical properties of the amino norcorroles were substantially modulated by electron-donating amino groups.

Dynamic molecular assemblies with protonic, ionic, and molecular motions can be coupled with intrinsic π-electronic functions, offering a new direction in the future of materials chemistry.

Novel open-cage fullerene C₆₀ derivatives with extended π-conjugation bearing thiophene rings exhibit long wavelength absorption due to characteristic intramolecular charge transfer transitions.

An investigation on a single-molecule junction reveals the intrinsic properties of a π molecule without the effect of intermolecular interaction and also uncovers its unique properties.