Cruciform-like molecules with two orthogonally placed π-conjugated systems have in recent years attracted significant interest for their potential use as molecular wires in molecular electronics. Here we present synthetic protocols for a large selection of cruciform molecules based on oligo(phenyleneethynylene) (OPE) and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) scaffolds, end-capped with acetyl-protected thiolates as electrode anchoring groups. The molecules were subjected to a comprehensive study of their conducting properties as well as their photophysical and electrochemical properties in solution. The complex nature of the molecules and their possible binding in different configurations in junctions called for different techniques of conductance measurements: (1) conducting-probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) measurements on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), (2) mechanically controlled break-junction (MCBJ) measurements, and (3) scanning tunneling microscopy break-junction (STM-BJ) measurements. The CP-AFM measurements showed structure-property relationships from SAMs of series of OPE3 and OPE5 cruciform molecules; the conductance of the SAM increased with the number of dithiafulvene (DTF) units (0, 1, 2) along the wire, and it increased when substituting two arylethynyl end groups of the OPE3 backbone with two DTF units. The MCBJ and STM-BJ studies on single molecules both showed that DTFs decreased the junction formation probability, but, in contrast, no significant influence on the single-molecule conductance was observed. We suggest that the origins of the difference between SAM and single-molecule measurements lie in the nature of the molecule-electrode interface as well as in effects arising from molecular packing in the SAMs. This comprehensive study shows that for complex molecules care should be taken when directly comparing single-molecule measurements and measurements of SAMs and solid-state devices thereof.

One challenge in the development of molecular photoswitches for solar energy storage is to increase the energy of the isomer formed upon irradiation. This work focuses on how to affect the relative stabilities of the isomers of the dihydroazulene/ vinylheptafulvene (DHA/VHF) couple by combining the light‐induced DHA to VHF conversion with the loss of aromaticity. We present a synthetic procedure for benzannulation of DHA at the C7−C8 bond, with the key steps being a stereoselective Diels–Alder cycloaddition followed by an oxidation. The optical properties and switching abilities of this compound are described in a combined theoretical and experimental study. Calculations support that benzannulation serves to increase the overall energy capacity of the photoswitch by stabilizing the DHA and destabilizing the VHF.

Cruciform oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s (OPEs) with an extended tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) donor moiety (OPE5-TTF and OPE3-TTF) and their simple analogues (OPE5-S and OPE3) without conjugated substituents were used to form high-quality self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on ultraflat gold substrates. Molecular junctions based on these SAMs were investigated using conducting-probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM). The TTF substituent changes the molecular orbital energy levels and decreases the HOMO-LUMO energy gap, resulting in a 9-fold increase in conductance for both TTF cruciform OPEs compared to the unsubstituted analogues. The difference in electrical transport properties of the SAMs was reproduced by the theoretical transport calculations for the single molecules.

Since the first contributions by Gedye and Giguere in 1986, growing attention has been registered on the use of microwave heating in organic synthesis. However still many aspects need to be clarified especially about the so called “microwave effect” and the possible degradation phenomena that may be recognized during polymer synthesis. In this work the complex cone-25,27- dipropyloxy-26,28-dioxo-calix[4]arene titanium (IV) dichloride (1) has been tested for the ring opening polymerization of L-lactide, comparing the effect of conventional heating with a possible microwave assisted strategy. The polymers obtained were fully characterized (NMR, IR, HPLC-SEC, DSC, MALDI-TOF and WAXD analysis). As expected the use of microwave irradiation induced an increase of the polymerization rate. On the other side the use of microwaves resulted in a slight loss of the control over molecular weight and molecular weight distribution if compared with a conventional thermal treatment.

The design of aqueous probes and binders for complex, biologically relevant anions presents a key challenge in supramolecular chemistry. Herein, a tetrahedral assembly with cationic faces and corners is reported that is capable of discriminating between anionic and neutral guests in water. Electrostatic repulsion between subcomponents can be overcome by the addition of an anionic template, or generating a robust covalent framework by incorporating tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine (TREN). The resultant TREN‐capped, water‐soluble, fluorescent cage binds mono‐ and poly‐phosphoric esters, including nucleotides. Its covalent skeleton renders it stable at micromolar concentrations in water, enabling the fluorometric detection of biologically relevant guests in an aqueous environment. Selective supramolecular encapsulants, such as 1, could enable new sensing applications, such as recognition of toxins and drugs, under biological conditions.