Planar aromatic anchors control the electrical conductance of gold|molecule|graphene junctions (2023)
Journal Article
O’Driscoll, L. J., Jay, M., Robinson, B. J., Sadeghi, H., Wang, X., Penhale-Jones, B., …Lambert, C. J. (2023). Planar aromatic anchors control the electrical conductance of gold|molecule|graphene junctions. Nanoscale Advances, 5(8), 2299-2306. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2na00873d

The synthesis of a family of alkanethiol molecules with planar aromatic head groups, designed to anchor molecules effectively to graphene electrodes, is reported. Characterisation of self-assembled monolayers of these molecules on a gold surface via... Read More about Planar aromatic anchors control the electrical conductance of gold|molecule|graphene junctions.

Control of Dynamic sp3-C Stereochemistry (2023)
Journal Article
Bismillah, A., Johnson, T., Hussein, B., Turley, A., Saha, P., Wong, H., …McGonigal, P. (2023). Control of Dynamic sp3-C Stereochemistry. Nature Chemistry, 15(5), 615-624. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01156-7

Stereogenic sp3-hybridized carbon centres are fundamental building blocks of chiral molecules. Unlike dynamic stereogenic motifs, such as sp3-nitrogen centres or atropisomeric biaryls, sp3-carbon centres are usually fixed, requiring intermolecular re... Read More about Control of Dynamic sp3-C Stereochemistry.

Modulation of chiroptical and photophysical properties in helicenic rhenium(I) systems: the use of an N‐(aza[6]helicenyl)‐NHC ligand (2023)
Journal Article
Gauthier, E. S., Abella, L., Caytan, E., Roisnel, T., Vanthuyne, N., Favereau, L., …Crassous, J. (2023). Modulation of chiroptical and photophysical properties in helicenic rhenium(I) systems: the use of an N‐(aza[6]helicenyl)‐NHC ligand. Chemistry - A European Journal, 29(21), Article 202203477. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202203477

The photophysical and chiroptical properties of a novel, chiral helicene-NHC−Re(I) complex bearing an N-(aza[6]helicenyl)-benzimidazolylidene ligand are described, showing its ability to emit yellow circularly polarized luminescence. A comparative an... Read More about Modulation of chiroptical and photophysical properties in helicenic rhenium(I) systems: the use of an N‐(aza[6]helicenyl)‐NHC ligand.

Rupturing aromaticity by periphery overcrowding (2023)
Journal Article
Saha, P. K., Mallick, A., Turley, A. T., Bismillah, A. N., Danos, A., Monkman, A. P., …McGonigal, P. R. (2023). Rupturing aromaticity by periphery overcrowding. Nature Chemistry, 15(4), 516-525. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01149-6

The balance between strain relief and aromatic stabilization dictates the form and function of non-planar π-aromatics. Overcrowded systems are known to undergo geometric deformations, but the energetically favourable π-electron delocalization of thei... Read More about Rupturing aromaticity by periphery overcrowding.

Tuning Emission Lifetimes of Ir(C^N)2(acac) Complexes with Oligo(phenyleneethynylene) Groups (2023)
Journal Article
Davidson, R., Hsu, Y., Fox, M. A., Aguilar, J. A., Yufit, D., & Beeby, A. (2023). Tuning Emission Lifetimes of Ir(C^N)2(acac) Complexes with Oligo(phenyleneethynylene) Groups. Inorganic Chemistry, 62(6), 2793-2805. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c03934

Emissive compounds with long emission lifetimes (μs to ms) in the visible region are of interest for a range of applications, from oxygen sensing to cellular imaging. The emission behavior of Ir(ppy)2(acac) complexes (where ppy is the 2-phenylpyridyl... Read More about Tuning Emission Lifetimes of Ir(C^N)2(acac) Complexes with Oligo(phenyleneethynylene) Groups.

Platinum(IV) Complexes with Tridentate, NNC-Coordinating Ligands: Synthesis, Structures, and Luminescence (2023)
Journal Article
Dikova, Y. M., Yufit, D. S., & Williams, J. G. (2023). Platinum(IV) Complexes with Tridentate, NNC-Coordinating Ligands: Synthesis, Structures, and Luminescence. Inorganic Chemistry, 62(4), 1306-1322. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c04116

Platinum(II) complexes of NNC-cyclometalating ligands based on 6-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridine (HL1) have been widely investigated for their luminescence properties. We describe how PtL1Cl and five analogues with differently substituted aryl rings, PtL2–6Cl... Read More about Platinum(IV) Complexes with Tridentate, NNC-Coordinating Ligands: Synthesis, Structures, and Luminescence.

Self-assembled nanoparticles based on cationic mono-/AIE tetra-nuclear Ir(III) complexes: long wavelength absorption/near-infrared emission photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (2023)
Journal Article
Wang, Z., Li, L., Wang, W., Wang, R., Li, G., Bian, H., …Bryce, M. R. (2023). Self-assembled nanoparticles based on cationic mono-/AIE tetra-nuclear Ir(III) complexes: long wavelength absorption/near-infrared emission photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. Dalton Transactions, 52(6), 1595-1601. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2dt03809a

Cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes as photosensitizers (PSs) have attracted widespread attention because of their good photostability and efficient 1O2 production ability. However, their strong absorption in the UV-vis region severely limits their appl... Read More about Self-assembled nanoparticles based on cationic mono-/AIE tetra-nuclear Ir(III) complexes: long wavelength absorption/near-infrared emission photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

Fine‐Tuning the Photophysics of Donor‐Acceptor (D‐A 3 ) Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters Using Isomerisation (2022)
Journal Article
L. dos Santos, P., de Sa Pereira, D., Eng, J., Ward, J. S., Bryce, M. R., Penfold, T. J., & Monkman, A. P. (2023). Fine‐Tuning the Photophysics of Donor‐Acceptor (D‐A 3 ) Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters Using Isomerisation. ChemPhotoChem, 7(2), Article e202200248. https://doi.org/10.1002/cptc.202200248

Here two D–A3 regioisomers, comprising three dibenzothiophene-S,S-dioxide acceptor units attached to a central triazatruxene core, are studied. Both molecules show thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), however, the efficiency of the TADF m... Read More about Fine‐Tuning the Photophysics of Donor‐Acceptor (D‐A 3 ) Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters Using Isomerisation.

Material Characterisation of William Burges’ Great Bookcase within the Disruption of a Global Pandemic (2022)
Journal Article
Ghigo, T., Bone, D., Howell, D., Domoney, K., Gironda, M., & Beeby, A. (2022). Material Characterisation of William Burges’ Great Bookcase within the Disruption of a Global Pandemic. Studies in Conservation, https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2022.2153463

This contribution presents the results of a technical investigation on the pigments of William Burges’ Great Bookcase (1859–62), preserved at the Ashmolean Museum. It is the first thorough material investigation of a remarkable piece of Gothic Reviva... Read More about Material Characterisation of William Burges’ Great Bookcase within the Disruption of a Global Pandemic.

Near-infrared electroluminescence beyond 940 nm in Pt(N^C^N)X complexes: influencing aggregation with the ancillary ligand X (2022)
Journal Article
Salthouse, R. J., Pander, P., Yufit, D. S., Dias, F. B., & Williams, J. G. (2022). Near-infrared electroluminescence beyond 940 nm in Pt(N^C^N)X complexes: influencing aggregation with the ancillary ligand X. Chemical Science, 13(45), 13600-13610. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sc05023d

We present a study of aggregate excited states formed by complexes of the type Pt(N^C^N)X, where N^C^N represents a tridentate cyclometallating ligand, and X = SCN or I. These materials display near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescence in film and electr... Read More about Near-infrared electroluminescence beyond 940 nm in Pt(N^C^N)X complexes: influencing aggregation with the ancillary ligand X.

Yellow-Emitting, Pseudo-Octahedral Zinc Complexes of Benzannulated N^N^O Pincer-Type Ligands (2022)
Journal Article
Lozada, I. B., Braun, J. D., Williams, J. G., & Herbert, D. E. (2022). Yellow-Emitting, Pseudo-Octahedral Zinc Complexes of Benzannulated N^N^O Pincer-Type Ligands. Inorganic Chemistry, 61(44), 17568-17578. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c02585

A series of yellow-emitting, pseudo-octahedral Zn(II) complexes supported by monoanionic, tridentate acetylacetone-derived N^N–^O ligands incorporating phenanthridine (benzo[c]quinoline) units is presented. These species emit weakly in solution but e... Read More about Yellow-Emitting, Pseudo-Octahedral Zinc Complexes of Benzannulated N^N^O Pincer-Type Ligands.

AIE-active Ir(iii) complexes functionalised with a cationic Schiff base ligand: synthesis, photophysical properties and applications in photodynamic therapy (2022)
Journal Article
Liu, S., Han, J., Wang, W., Chang, Y., Wang, R., Wang, Z., …Bryce, M. R. (2022). AIE-active Ir(iii) complexes functionalised with a cationic Schiff base ligand: synthesis, photophysical properties and applications in photodynamic therapy. Dalton Transactions, 51(42), 16119-16125. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2dt02960j

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment method. Traditional small-molecule photosensitizers (PSs) suffer from low intersystem crossing (ISC) ability and aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), which adversely affects the luminous effic... Read More about AIE-active Ir(iii) complexes functionalised with a cationic Schiff base ligand: synthesis, photophysical properties and applications in photodynamic therapy.

Excited‐State Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer Dynamics in 4‐Dimethylamino‐4′‐cyanodiphenylacetylene: An Ultrafast Raman Loss Spectroscopic Perspective (2022)
Journal Article
Barak, A., Dhiman, N., Sturm, F., Rauch, F., Lakshmanna, Y. A., Findlay, K. S., …Umapathy, S. (2022). Excited‐State Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer Dynamics in 4‐Dimethylamino‐4′‐cyanodiphenylacetylene: An Ultrafast Raman Loss Spectroscopic Perspective. ChemPhotoChem, 6(12), Article e202200146. https://doi.org/10.1002/cptc.202200146

The D-π-A compound 4-dimethylamino-4′-cyanodiphenylacetylene (DACN-DPA) exhibits intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) upon photoexcitation. Ultrafast Raman Loss Spectroscopy (URLS) measurements show distinct spectral and temporal dynamics of C≡C and... Read More about Excited‐State Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer Dynamics in 4‐Dimethylamino‐4′‐cyanodiphenylacetylene: An Ultrafast Raman Loss Spectroscopic Perspective.

Helicenic N-heterocyclic carbene copper(I) complex displaying circularly polarized blue fluorescence (2022)
Journal Article
Crassous, J., Gauthier, E. S., Kaczmarczyk, D., Fré, S. D., Favereau, L., Caytan, E., …Srebro-Hooper, M. (2022). Helicenic N-heterocyclic carbene copper(I) complex displaying circularly polarized blue fluorescence. Dalton Transactions, 51(40), 15571-15578. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2dt01925f

Enantiopure copper(I) chloride complexes bearing a monodentate N-(carbo[6]helicenyl)-NHC ligand have been prepared and characterized experimentally and computationally. Their high stability enables the stereochemistry to be probed by X-ray crystallog... Read More about Helicenic N-heterocyclic carbene copper(I) complex displaying circularly polarized blue fluorescence.

Allophycocyanin A is a carbon dioxide receptor in the cyanobacterial phycobilisome (2022)
Journal Article
Guillen-Garcia, A., Gibson, S., Jordan, C., Ramaswamy, V., Linthwaite, V., Bromley, E., …Cann, M. (2022). Allophycocyanin A is a carbon dioxide receptor in the cyanobacterial phycobilisome. Nature Communications, 13, Article 5289. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32925-6

Light harvesting is fundamental for production of ATP and reducing equivalents for CO2 fixation during photosynthesis. However, electronic energy transfer (EET) through a photosystem can harm the photosynthetic apparatus when not balanced with CO2. H... Read More about Allophycocyanin A is a carbon dioxide receptor in the cyanobacterial phycobilisome.

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters: Is There Evidence Beyond Reasonable Doubt? (2022)
Journal Article
Hempe, M., Kukhta, N. A., Danos, A., Batsanov, A. S., Monkman, A. P., & Bryce, M. R. (2022). Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters: Is There Evidence Beyond Reasonable Doubt?. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 13(35), 8221-8227. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c00907

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding between donor and acceptor segments in thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials is now frequently employed to─purportedly─rigidify the structure and improve the emission performance of these materials.... Read More about Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters: Is There Evidence Beyond Reasonable Doubt?.

AIE-active iridium(iii) complex integrated with upconversion nanoparticles for NIR-irradiated photodynamic therapy (2022)
Journal Article
Liu, S., Han, J., Chang, Y., Wang, W., Wang, R., Wang, Z., …Bryce, M. R. (2022). AIE-active iridium(iii) complex integrated with upconversion nanoparticles for NIR-irradiated photodynamic therapy. Chemical Communications, 58(72), 10056 - 10059. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2cc03622c

The integration of an aggregation induced emission (AIE)-active Ir(III) complex and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) has achieved a NIR-irradiated photosensitizer (PS), UCNPs@Ir-2-N. This PS has satisfactory biocompatibility, excellent phototoxicit... Read More about AIE-active iridium(iii) complex integrated with upconversion nanoparticles for NIR-irradiated photodynamic therapy.

Divergent Approach for Tris-Heteroleptic Cyclometalated Iridium Complexes Using Triisopropylsilylethynyl-Substituted Synthons (2022)
Journal Article
Edkins, R. M., Hsu, Y., Fox, M. A., Yufit, D., Beeby, A., & Davidson, R. J. (2022). Divergent Approach for Tris-Heteroleptic Cyclometalated Iridium Complexes Using Triisopropylsilylethynyl-Substituted Synthons. Organometallics, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.2c00292

Bis-heteroleptic cyclometalated iridium complexes of the form Ir(La)2(acac), where La is a substituted 2-phenylpyridine derivative and acac is an acetylacetonato ligand, are a useful class of luminescent organometallic complexes for a range of applic... Read More about Divergent Approach for Tris-Heteroleptic Cyclometalated Iridium Complexes Using Triisopropylsilylethynyl-Substituted Synthons.

Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of a Benzannulated Bipyridine: 6,6′-Biphenanthridine (2022)
Journal Article
Nemez, D. B., Lozada, I. B., Braun, J. D., Williams, J. G., & Herbert, D. E. (2022). Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of a Benzannulated Bipyridine: 6,6′-Biphenanthridine. Inorganic Chemistry, 61(34), 13386-13398. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c01514

The synthesis, characterization, and coordination chemistry of a doubly π-extended bipyridine analogue, 6,6′-biphenanthridine (biphe), is presented. The structure of the molecule has been determined in the solid state by X-ray diffraction, showing an... Read More about Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of a Benzannulated Bipyridine: 6,6′-Biphenanthridine.

Excimer or aggregate? Near infrared electro- and photoluminescence from multimolecular excited states of N^C^N-coordinated platinum(ii) complexes (2022)
Journal Article
Pander, P., Sil, A., Salthouse, R. J., Harris, C. W., Walden, M. T., Yufit, D. S., …Dias, F. B. (2022). Excimer or aggregate? Near infrared electro- and photoluminescence from multimolecular excited states of N^C^N-coordinated platinum(ii) complexes. Journal of Materials Chemistry C Materials for optical and electronic devices, 10(40), 15084-15095. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2tc01511k

We present an experimental and theoretical study of aggregate excited states formed by complexes of the type Pt(N^C^N)Cl, which display near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescence in film and NIR electroluminescence in OLED devices. Here, N^C^N represents... Read More about Excimer or aggregate? Near infrared electro- and photoluminescence from multimolecular excited states of N^C^N-coordinated platinum(ii) complexes.