Rethinking Boron’s Role in Intramolecular Charge Transfer: From Acceptor to Donor–Acceptor Regulator

Abstract

In-depth exploration of charge transfer contributes directly to the comprehension of the microscopic mechanisms within life processes while accelerating the progress in cutting-edge fields of organic electronics. At the molecular level, boron atom with the unique empty p-orbital has been widely exploited to construct intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) molecules. This perspective seeks to thoroughly examine the types and emerging mechanisms of ICT in both tricoordinate and tetracoordinate organoboron-based ICT molecules (OBCTs), thereby clarifying boron’s role in the ICT process. With respect to three-coordinated OBCTs, the organoboron molecules with distinct CT pathways and distances are delved into the development history, CT mechanisms and structure–property relationships, which can provide guidance for designing the highly sought-after molecules. For four-coordinated OBCTs, emerging CT mechanisms and the role of coordination in modulating CT properties are discussed, indicating substantial opportunities for the development of CT in these systems. In addition, the development of novel CT mechanisms or the integration of multiple CT processes holds the promise of overcoming existing limitations in current OBCTs. Coupling the advancement of CT mechanisms with the discovery of innovative application scenarios is poised to propel the future progression of OBCTs.