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Side Chain Regioisomers that Dictate Optical Properties and Mechanofluorochromism through Crystal Packing

Journal Article · · Chemistry of Materials
 [1];  [2]
  1. Tufts Univ., Medford, MA (United States); Aramco Services Company, Cambridge, MA (United States); Tufts University
  2. Tufts Univ., Medford, MA (United States)
Designing strong interactions into $$π$$-conjugated materials can direct their typically uncontrolled molecular packing and is an important strategy toward tuning their technologically relevant properties in the solid state. In this paper we demonstrate unconventional control over solid-state fluorescence and mechanofluorochromism (MFC) through regiochemical substitutions in side chains of 12 three-ring phenylene ethynylenes (PEs) that employ fluoroarene–arene (ArF–ArH) interactions between tetrafluoro ArF pendants and PE main chains to direct crystal packing, with single-atom variations of the lone proton in ArF pendants between 4-hydro, 5-hydro, and 6-hydro substitution yielding in two cases dramatically different fluorescence and MFC behavior. X-ray crystal structures reveal key intermolecular interactions of ArF rings, including their lone protons, which vary as a function of substitution pattern and contribute to optical properties in solids. Rarely reported, particularly with such dramatic results, this systematic study on regiochemical effects over solid-state properties demonstrates the versatility of using discrete, directional interactions of side chains for noncovalent control in conjugated materials.
Research Organization:
Tufts Univ., Medford, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0016423
OSTI ID:
1656806
Journal Information:
Chemistry of Materials, Journal Name: Chemistry of Materials Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 32; ISSN 0897-4756
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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