Magnetic field effects (MFEs) allow detailed insight into spin conversion processes of radical pairs that are formed, for example, in all charge separation processes, and are supposed to play the key role in avian navigation. In this work, the MFE of charge recombination in the charge-separated state of a rigid donor–bridge–acceptor dyad was analyzed by a classical and a quantum theoretical model and represents a paradigm case of understanding spin chemistry with unprecedented detail. The MFE is represented by magnetic field-affected reaction yield (MARY) spectra that exhibit a sharp resonance, resulting from S/T level crossing as the Zeeman splitting equals twice the exchange interaction. Although in the classical kinetic model, the spin conversion processes between the four singlet and triplet substates are shown for the first time to obey an identical generalized energy dependence, quantum theory proves that the MARY resonance line is composed of relaxation, coherent hyperfine induced spin mixing, and S/T dephasing contributions.

To address the question whether donor substituents can be utilized to accelerate the hole transfer (HT) between redox sites attached in para- or in meta-positions to a central benzene bridge, we investigated three series of mixed valence compounds based on triarylamine redox centers that are connected to a benzene bridge via alkyne spacers at para- and meta-positions. The electron density at the bridge was tuned by substituents with different electron donating or accepting character. By analyzing optical spectra and by DFT computations we show that the HT properties are independent of bridge substituents for one of the meta-series, while donor substituents can strongly decrease the intrinsic barrier in the case of the para-series. In stark contrast, temperature-dependent ESR measurements demonstrate a dramatic increase of both the apparent barrier and the rate of HT for strong donor substituents in the para-cases. This is caused by an unprecedented substituent-dependent change of the HT mechanism from that described by transition state theory to a regime controlled by solvent dynamics. For solvents with slow longitudinal relaxation (PhNO, oDCB), this adds an additional contribution to the intrinsic barrier via the dielectric relaxation process. Attaching the donor substituents to the bridge at positions where the molecular orbital coefficients are large accelerates the HT rate for meta-conjugated compounds just as for the para-series. This effect demonstrates that the para-meta paradigm no longer holds if appropriate substituents and substitution patterns are chosen, thereby considerably broadening the applicability of meta-topologies for optoelectronic applications.

The regioselective syntheses of 1,2-azaborinines is achieved using an unsymmetrical iminoborane through both catalytic and stepwise modular routes. The 1,2-azaborinine ring can be selectively functionalized in the 4- and/or 6-position through control of the stepwise reaction sequence, allowing access to vinyl-functionalized and redox-active, luminescent, donor-functionalized 1,2-azaborinines. The electrochemistry and photochemistry of a tetraarylamine-substituted 1,2-azaborinine are studied. Cyclic voltammetry of this compound, relative to a non-B,N-substituted reference molecule, showed an additional oxidation wave assigned to the oxidation of the azaborinine ring, while emission spectroscopy indicated that the azaborinine was significantly more fluorescent than the reference.

Triarylamines are important hole-transport components in optoelectronic devices. Understanding the factors controlling their intra-and intermolecular electron transfer properties is crucial to the application and optimization of organic hole conductors. Here, we report on the degenerate intramolecular electron exchange reactions of several purely organic mixed valence compounds based on the bis(triarylamine)-paracyclophane structural unit, which are archetypical molecular wires. Different bridging moieties are compared, and the foremost impact of the solvent environment on the rate of electron transfer is demonstrated. Comparing the rate constants found for many different solvents, we find that surprisingly the electron transfer reaction is limited by the solvent dynamic effect and not strongly impacted by the peculiarities of the bridging moiety, a finding which was not anticipated for this type of long-range, thermally activated intramolecular charge transfer from previous studies. Rate constants are measured by dynamic electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our insight was possible using various solvents spanning a wide range of longitudinal relaxation times (0.24 ps ≤ τ L ≤ 516 ps) and Pekar factors (0.298 ≤ γ ≤ 0.526).

The rate of thermally induced electron transfer in organic mixed valence compounds has thoroughly been investigated by e.g. temperature dependent ESR spectroscopy. However, almost nothing is known about the dynamics of optically induced electron transfer processes in such systems. Therefore, we investigated these processes in mixed valence compounds based on triphenylamine redox centres bridged by conjugated spacers by NIR transient absorption spectroscopy with fs-time resolution. These experiments revealed an internal conversion (IC) process to be on the order of 50-200 fs which is equivalent to the back electron transfer after optical excitation into the intervalence charge transfer band. This IC is followed by ultrafast cooling to the ground state within 1 ps. Thus, in the systems investigated optically induced electron transfer is about 3-4 orders of magnitude faster than thermally induced ET.