Publications (31) View all
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Article: Switching of emissive and NLO properties in push-pull chromophores with crescent PPV-like structures.
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ABSTRACT: We report on a series of novel homologous push-pull compounds, in which identical donor (a dimethylamino) and acceptor (a malonate ester) functionalities endcap crescent PPV fragments, bearing, respectively, 1, 2 and 3 p-phenylenevinylene units in direct linear conjugation (compounds ). The three compounds exhibit striking differences in their linear and nonlinear optical properties. The shorter compound exhibits aggregation-induced emission with a strong luminescence in the solid state (blue emission, photoluminescence quantum yield 38%), and it is nonemissive in solution; the more extended conjugated systems and show classical aggregation-caused quenching in the solid state, while high quantum yield photoluminescence (21 and 93% in toluene) is restored in diluted solutions, through mechanisms involving intramolecular charge transfer in the excited states. EFISH measurements in solutions demonstrate a strong solvent and concentration dependence. As rationalized with the aid of molecular modelling, compounds and, more markedly, aggregate in stable centrosymmetric dimers in solution.Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 12/2012; · 3.57 Impact Factor -
Article: Halogen-Bonding Interactions with π Systems: CCSD(T), MP2, and DFT Calculations.
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ABSTRACT: Halogen bonding is a noncovalent interaction between a halogen atom and a nucleophilic site. Interactions involving the π electrons of aromatic rings have received, up to now, little attention, despite the large number of systems in which they are present. We report binding energies of the interaction between either NCX or PhX (X=F, Cl, Br, I) and the aromatic benzene system as determined with the coupled cluster with perturbative triple excitations method [CCSD(T)] extrapolated at the complete basis set limit. Results are compared with those obtained by Møller-Plesset perturbation theory to second order (MP2) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations by using some of the most common functionals. Results show the important role of DFT in studying this interaction.ChemPhysChem 11/2012; · 3.41 Impact Factor -
Article: Solvent effect on halogen bonding: The case of the I⋯O interaction.
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ABSTRACT: The solvent effect on the I⋯O halogen bonding in complexes of iodobenzene derivatives with formaldehyde has been investigated by systematically varying the substituents on the iodobenzene ring. Calculations have been performed at MP2 and DFT levels of theory, using the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set and the pseudopotential for iodine. Within the DFT approach, a series of the most widely used exchange-correlation functionals have been considered, comprising PBE, PBE0, B3LYP, BH&HLYP, M06-2X and M06-HF. Results obtained in diethylether and in water using the conductor-like polarizable continuum model (CPCM) have been compared with in vacuo results. Though halogen bonding distances were found to systematically shorten when moving from vacuo to diethylether and then to water, the associated interaction energies showed a decrease in absolute value, indicating that solvent has a destabilizing effect on this interaction. By comparison with MP2 results, all the considered functionals, B3LYP excepted, have been found adequate to describe halogen bonding. As far as the interaction energies are concerned, the best performance was obtained with the M06-HF functional in vacuo and the PBE functional in solution. The geometrical parameters characterizing halogen bonds were better reproduced by the M06-2X functional.Journal of molecular graphics & modelling 08/2012; 38C:31-39. · 2.17 Impact Factor -
Article: Halogen Bonding versus Hydrogen Bonding in Driving Self-Assembly and Performance of Light-Responsive Supramolecular Polymers
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ABSTRACT: Halogen bonding is arguably the least exploited among the many noncovalent interactions used in dictating molecular self-assembly. However, its directionality renders it unique compared to ubiquitous hydrogen bonding. Here, the role of this directionality in controlling the performance of light-responsive supramolecular polymers is highlighted. In particular, it is shown that light-induced surface patterning, a unique phenomenon occurring in azobenzene-containing polymers, is more efficient in halogen-bonded polymer–azobenzene complexes than in the analogous hydrogen-bonded complexes. A systematic study is performed on a series of azo dyes containing different halogen or hydrogen bonding donor moieties, complexed to poly(4-vinylpyridine) backbone. Through single-atom substitution of the bond-donor, control of both the strength and the nature of the noncovalent interaction between the azobenzene units and the polymer backbone is achieved. Importantly, such substitution does not significantly alter the electronic properties of the azobenzene units, hence providing us with unique tools in studying the structure–performance relationships in the light-induced surface deformation process. The results represent the first demonstration of light-responsive halogen-bonded polymer systems and also highlight the remarkable potential of halogen bonding in fundamental studies of photoresponsive azobenzene.containing polymers.Advanced Functional Materials 01/2012; 22:2572. · 10.18 Impact Factor -
Article: Halogen bonding in ligand-receptor systems in the framework of classical force fields.
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ABSTRACT: Halogen bond is an important non-covalent interaction which is receiving a growing attention in the study of protein-ligand complexes. Many drugs are halogenated molecules and it has been recently shown that many halogenated ligands establish halogen bonds with biomolecules. As the halogen bond nature is due to an anisotropy of the electrostatic potential around halogen atoms, it is not possible to use traditional force fields based on a set of atom-centred charges to study halogen bonds in biomolecules. We show that the introduction of pseudo-atoms on halogens permits us to correctly describe the anisotropy of the electrostatic potential and to perform molecular dynamics simulations on complexes of proteins with halogenated ligands that reproduce experimental values. The results are compared with crystallographic data and with hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations.Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 09/2011; 13(43):19508-16. · 3.57 Impact Factor
