Showing papers by "Sean Parkin published in 2015"

Exciton delocalization drives rapid singlet fission in nanoparticles of acene derivatives.

Abstract: We compare the singlet fission dynamics of five pentacene derivatives precipitated to form nanoparticles. Two nanoparticle types were distinguished by differences in their solid-state order and kinetics of triplet formation. Nanoparticles that comprise primarily weakly coupled chromophores lack the bulk structural order of the single crystal and exhibit nonexponential triplet formation kinetics (Type I), while nanoparticles that comprise primarily more strongly coupled chromophores exhibit order resembling that of the bulk crystal and triplet formation kinetics associated with the intrinsic singlet fission rates (Type II). In the highly ordered nanoparticles, singlet fission occurs most rapidly. We relate the molecular packing arrangement derived from the crystal structure of the pentacene derivatives to their singlet fission dynamics and find that slip stacking leads to rapid, subpicosecond singlet fission. We present evidence that exciton delocalization, coincident with an increased relative admixture o...

Bulky end-capped [1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophenes: reaching high-mobility organic semiconductors by fine tuning of the crystalline solid-state order.

Abstract: A series of bulky end-capped [1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophenes (BTBTs) are developed in order to tune the packing structure via terminal substitution. A coupled theoretical and experimental study allows us to identify 2,7-di-tert-butylBTBT as a new high-performance organic semiconductor with large and well-balanced transfer integrals, as evidenced by quantum-chemical calculations. Single-crystal field-effect transistors show a remarkable average saturation mobility of 7.1 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) .

N‐Substituted Phenothiazine Derivatives: How the Stability of the Neutral and Radical Cation Forms Affects Overcharge Performance in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract: Phenothiazine and five N-substituted derivatives were evaluated as electrolyte additives for overcharge protection in LiFePO4 /synthetic graphite lithium-ion batteries. We report on the stability and reactivity of both the neutral and radical-cation forms of these six compounds. While three of the compounds show extensive overcharge protection, the remaining three last for only one to a few cycles. UV/Vis studies of redox shuttle stability in the radical cation form are consistent with the overcharge performance: redox shuttles with spectra that show little change over time exhibit extensive overcharge performance, whereas those with changing spectra have limited overcharge protection. In one case, we determined that a C-N bond cleaves upon oxidation, forming the phenothiazine radical cation and leading to premature overcharge protection failure; in another case, poor solubility appears to limit protection.

n‐Dopants Based on Dimers of Benzimidazoline Radicals: Structures and Mechanism of Redox Reactions

Abstract: Dimers of 2-substituted N,N'-dimethylbenzimidazoline radicals, (2-Y-DMBI)2 (Y=cyclohexyl (Cyc), ferrocenyl (Fc), ruthenocenyl (Rc)), have recently been reported as n-dopants for organic semiconductors. Here their structural and energetic characteristics are reported, along with the mechanisms by which they react with acceptors, A (PCBM, TIPS-pentacene), in solution. X-ray data and DFT calculations both indicate a longer C-C bond for (2-Cyc-DMBI)2 than (2-Fc-DMBI)2 , yet DFT and ESR data show that the latter dissociates more readily due to stabilization of the radical by Fc. Depending on the energetics of dimer (D2 ) dissociation and of D2 -to-A electron transfer, D2 reacts with A to form D(+) and A(-) by either of two mechanisms, differing in whether the first step is endergonic dissociation or endergonic electron transfer. However, the D(+) /0.5 D2 redox potentials-the effective reducing strengths of the dimers-vary little within the series (ca. -1.9 V vs. FeCp2 (+/0) ) (Cp=cyclopentadienyl) due to cancelation of trends in the D(+/0) potential and D2 dissociation energy. The implications of these findings for use of these dimers as n-dopants, and for future dopant design, are discussed.

Boron-rich benzene and pyrene derivatives for the detection of thermal neutrons.

Abstract: A synthetic methodology is developed to generate boron rich aromatic small molecules based on benzene and pyrene moieties for the detection of thermal neutrons. The prepared aromatic compounds have a relatively high boron content up to 7.4 wt%, which is important for application in neutron detection as (10)B (20% of natural abundance boron) has a large neutron induced reaction cross-section. This is demonstrated by preparing blends of the synthesized molecules with fluorescent dopants in poly(vinyltoluene) matrices resulting in comparable scintillation light output and neutron capture as state-of-the art commercial scintillators, but with the advantage of much lower cost. The boron-rich benzene and pyrene derivatives are prepared by Suzuki conditions using both microwave and traditional heating, affording yields of 40-93%. This new procedure is simple and straightforward, and has the potential to be scaled up.

Role of crystallinity of non-fullerene acceptors in bulk heterojunctions

Abstract: Understanding the solid-state structure of the bulk heterojunction provides insight into how to improve the performance of nonfullerene acceptors in organic solar cells. We have characterized the self-assembly of three functionalized pentacene acceptors in single crystals, neat films and bulk heterojunctions formed by blending with a diketopyrrolopyrrole-based molecular donor. Atomic force microscopy, grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering and optical spectroscopy indicate that the presence of the donor perturbs the packing and texture of acceptors with smaller substituents. The structural characterization explains the differences in performance among the three acceptors studied and suggests that, unlike fullerenes, disordered domains of molecular acceptors with planar molecular structure have inefficient electron transport in BHJ thin films.

Crystalline Alloys of Organic Donors and Acceptors Based on TIPS-Pentacene

Abstract: Co-crystals of organic semiconductors can provide model systems for the study of fundamental optoelectronic properties and also new functionality. 6,13-Bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-Pn) and its fluorinated analogue 1,2,3,4,8,9,10,11-octafluoro-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (F8TIPS-Pn) form crystalline substitutional alloys during bulk crystal growth from solution. Alloys can also be formed by blade casting thin films from solution. The compounds appear to have sufficient geometric similarity to be miscible in all proportions without inducing long-range disorder in the solid state. The offsets of the electronic levels of TIPS-Pn and F8TIPS-Pn in pure form are similar to those found in bulk heterojunction solar cells. UV/vis spectroscopy and density functional theory demonstrate the charge transfer absorption in the alloy crystals corresponds to an excitation across molecular pairs.

Polymorphism and solid-to-solid phase transitions of a simple organic molecule, 3-chloroisonicotinic acid

Abstract: Three polymorphs (I, II, and III) have been discovered for 3-chloroisonicotinic acid. The torsion angle between the aromatic ring and the carboxylic acid in form I differs from that of forms II and III, which are similar. All three polymorphs form hydrogen-bonded chains based on the acid–pyridine heterosynthon. Despite the conformational similarity between forms II and III, the hydrogen-bonded chains in form II alternate in direction while those in form III all point in the same direction. Study of the phase behaviors of the three forms by differential scanning calorimetry, hot-stage microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis revealed two solid-to-solid phase transitions from the metastable forms II and III to the most stable form I. Sublimation of 3-chloroisonicotinic acid also led to form I. A higher-temperature polymorph seemed to be possible but remained elusive. Lattice energy and hydrogen bonding strength calculations provided further insight into the stability of the polymorphs. A search of conformational space for the molecule suggested possibly additional polymorphs of this simple compound. The system may be valuable for further solid-state structure–property relationship studies.

Difluorinated 6,13-Bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene: Synthesis, Crystallinity, and Charge-Transport Properties

Abstract: Fluorination has been demonstrated to improve stability and processing in thiophene-containing small-molecule semiconductors. Here, the impact of partial fluorination on these parameters in a pentacene derivative is examined. Although the improvement in photostability is not as dramatic, there is a clear improvement in the stability of the chromophore upon fluorination. The improvement in processability is more dramatic; devices formed by spin-coating with the fluorinated derivative perform substantially better than those formed from the nonfluorinated compound.

The effect of regioisomerism on the crystal packing and device performance of desymmetrized anthradithiophenes

Abstract: Anthradithiophenes (ADTs) are typically synthesized as inseparable mixtures of regioisomers. In this paper, we describe the synthesis of desymmetrized anthradithiophenes containing one trialkylsilylethyne solubilizing group, which allowed chromatographic separation of the three resulting isomers. Cyclic voltammograms, as well as absorption and emission spectra for all isomers, were nearly identical. However, X-ray crystallography revealed that the positions of the sulfur atoms in each isomer strongly influence crystal packing, corroborating calculations that show the S–π interaction to be less stabilizing than the C–H–π interaction. Isomer 3c packs in a pseudo 1-D fashion while isomers 3a and 3b pack as isolated π-stacked pairs. Isomer 3c shows a field-effect mobility four orders of magnitude higher than isomers 3a and 3b, presumably due to this difference in packing motif.

Crystal structure of ortho­rhom­bic {bis­[(pyridin-2-yl)meth­yl](3,5,5,5-tetra­chloro­pent­yl)amine-κ3N,N′,N′′}chlorido­copper(II) perchlorate

Abstract: In the title compound, [CuCl(C17H19Cl4N3)]ClO4, the CuII ion adopts a distorted square-planar geometry defined by one chloride ligand and the three nitro­gen atoms from the bis­[(pyridin-2-yl)meth­yl](3,5,5,5-tetra­chloro­pent­yl)amine ligand. The perchlorate counter-ion is disordered over three sets of sites with refined occupancies 0.0634 (17), 0.221 (16) and 0.145 (7). In addition, the hetero-scorpionate arm of the bis­[(pyridin-2-yl)meth­yl](3,5,5,5-tetra­chloro­pent­yl)amine ligand is disordered over two sets of sites with refined occupancies 0.839 (2) and 0.161 (2). In the crystal, weak Cu⋯Cl inter­actions between symmetry-related mol­ecules create a dimerization with a chloride occupying the apical position of the square-pyramidal geometry typical of many copper(II) chloride hetero-scorpionate complexes.

Crystal structure of (E)-13-(pyrimidin-5-yl)parthenolide

Abstract: The title compound, C19H22N2O3, {systematic name (1aR,4E,7aS,8E,10aS,10bR)-1a,5-dimethyl-8-[(pyrimidin-5-yl)­methylid­ene]-2,3,6,7,7a,8,10a,10b-octa­hydro­oxireno[2′,3′:9,10]cyclo­deca­[1,2-b]furan-9(1aH)-one} was obtained from the reaction of parthenolide [systematic name (1aR,7aS,10aS,10bR,E)-1a,5-dimethyl-8-methyl­ene-2,3,6,7,7a,8,10a,10b-octa­hydro­oxireno[2′,3′:9,10]cyclodeca­[1,2-b]furan-9(1aH)-one] with 5-bromo­pyrimidine under Heck reaction conditions, and was identified as an E isomer. The mol­ecule possesses ten-, five- (lactone) and three-membered (epoxide) rings with a pyrimidine group as a substituent. The ten-membered ring displays an approximate chair–chair conformation, while the lactone ring shows a flattened envelope-type conformation. The dihedral angle between the pyrimidine moiety and the lactone ring system is 29.43 (7)°.

Comparison of the crystal structures of 4,4′-bis­[3-(4-methyl­piperidin-1-yl)prop-1-yn-1-yl]-1,1′-biphenyl and 4,4′-bis­[3-(2,2,6,6-tetra­methyl­piperidin-1-yl)prop-1-yn-1-yl]-1,1′-biphen­yl

Abstract: As part of a comprehensive program to discover α9α10 nicotinic acetyl­choline receptor antagonists, the title compounds C30H36N2, (I), and C36H48N2, (II), were synthesized by coupling 4,4′-bis­(3-bromo­prop-1-yn-1-yl)-1,1′-biphenyl with 4-methyl­piperidine and 2,2,6,6-tetra­methyl­piperidine, respectively, in aceto­nitrile at room temperature. In compound (I), the biphenyl system has a twisted conformation with a dihedral angle of 26.57 (6)° between the two phenyl rings of the biphenyl moiety, while in compound (II), the biphenyl moiety sits on a crystallographic inversion centre so the two phenyl rings are exactly coplanar. The terminal piperidine rings in both compound (I) and compound (II) are in the chair conformation. In compound (I), the dihedral angles about the ethynyl groups between the planes of the phenyl rings and the piperidine ring N atoms are 37.16 (16) and 14.20 (17)°. In compound (II), the corresponding dihedral angles are both 61.48 (17)°. There are no noteworthy inter­molecular inter­actions in (I), but in (II) there is a small π-overlap between inversion-related mol­ecules (1 − x, 1 − y, 1 − z), with an inter­planar spacing of 3.553 (3) A and centroid-to-centroid separation of 3.859 (4) A.

Comparison crystal structure conformations of two structurally related biphenyl analogues: 4,4′-bis­[3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)prop-1-yn-1-yl]-1,1′-biphenyl and 4,4′-bis­{3-[(S)-2-methyl­pyrrolidin-1-yl]prop-1-yn-1-yl}-1,1′-biphen­yl

Abstract: The title compounds, C26H28N2, (I), and C28H32N2, (II), were designed based on the structure of the potent α9α10 nicotinic acetyl­choline receptor antagonist ZZ161C {1,1′-[[1,1′-biphen­yl]-4,4′-diylbis(prop-2-yne-3,1-di­yl)]bis­(3,4-di­methyl­pyridin-1-ium) bromide}. In order to improve the druglikeness properties of ZZ161C for potential oral administration, the title compounds (I) and (II) were prepared by coupling 4,4′-bis­(3-bromo­prop-1-yn-1-yl)-1,1′-biphenyl with pyrrol­idine, (I), and (S)-2-methyl­pyrrolidine, (II), respectively, in aceto­nitrile at room temperature. The asymmetric unit of (I) contains two half mol­ecules that each sit on sites of crystallographic inversion. As a result, the biphenyl ring systems in compound (I) are coplanar. The biphenyl ring system in compound (II), however, has a dihedral angle of 28.76 (11)°. In (I), the two independent mol­ecules differ in the orientation of the pyrrolidine ring (the nitro­gen lone pair points towards the biphenyl rings in one mol­ecule, but away from the rings in the other). The torsion angles about the ethynyl groups between the planes of the phenyl rings and the pyrrolidine ring N atoms are 84.15 (10) and −152.89 (10)°. In compound (II), the corresponding torsion angles are 122.0 (3) and 167.0 (3)°, with the nitro­gen lone pairs at both ends of the mol­ecule directed away from the central biphenyl rings.