Symmetry-breaking charge transfer upon photoexcitation of a linear A-π-D-π-A molecule (D and A being electron donating and accepting groups) could be visualized using ultrafast time-resolved infrared spectroscopy by monitoring the CN stretching modes on the A units. Whereas in apolar solvents, the S state remains symmetric and quadrupolar, symmetry breaking occurs within ca. 100 fs in polar solvents as shown by the presence of two CN bands, instead of one in apolar solvents, with a splitting that increases with polarity. In protic solvents, symmetry breaking is significantly amplified by H-bonding interactions, which are the strongest at the CN group with the highest basicity. In strongly protic solvents, the two CN bands transform in about 20 ps into new bands with a larger splitting, and the lifetime of the S state is substantially reduced. This is attributed to the formation of an excited asymmetric tight H-bond complex.

Coumarins fused with other aromatic units have recently emerged as a hot topic of research. Their synthesis is partly based on classical methodologies such as Pechmann reaction or Knoevenagel condensation, but it also sparked the discovery of completely new pathways. In very recent years so-called vertically-expanded coumarins were synthesized, effectively expanding the portfolio of existing architectures. A subtle relationship exists between the structure of fused coumarins and their optical properties. Although absorption of UV-radiation and light is unifying theme among these π-expanded coumarins, the fluorescence properties strongly depend on the structure. The mode of fusion, the type of additional ring and the presence of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents all influence the photophysical parameters. Recent advances made it possible to modulate their absorption from 300 nm to 550 nm, resulting in new coumarins emitting orange light. This review serves as a guide through both synthesis strategies and structure-property relationship nuances. Strong intramolecular charge-transfer character made it possible to reach suitable values of two-photon absorption crosssection. Photophysical advantages of π-expanded coumarins have been already utilized in fluorescence probes and two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy.

New forms of molecular nanocarbon particularly looped polyarenes adopting various topologies contribute to the fundamental science and practical applications. Here we report the synthesis of an infinity-shaped polyarene, infinitene (1) (cyclo[c.c.c.c.c.c.e.e.e.e.e.e]dodecakisbenzene), comprising consecutively fused 12-benzene rings forming an enclosed loop with a strain energy of 60.2 kcal•mol −1 . Infinitene (1) represents a topoisomer of still-hypothetical [12]circulene, and its scaffold can be formally visualized as the outcome of the "stitching" of two homochiral [6]helicene subunits by both their ends. The synthetic strategy encompasses transformation of a rationally designed dithiacyclophane to cyclophadiene through the Stevens rearrangement and pyrolysis of the corresponding S,S′-bis(oxide) followed by the photocyclization. The structure of 1 is a unique hybrid of helicene and circulene with a molecular formula of C 48 H 24 , which can be regarded as an isomer for kekulene, [6,6]carbon nanobelt ([6,6]CNB), and [12]cyclacene. Infinitene ( 1) is a bench-stable yellow solid with green fluorescence and soluble to common organic solvents. Its figure-eight molecular structure was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The scaffold of 1 is significantly compressed as manifested by a remarkably shortened distance (3.152−3.192 Å) between the centroids of two π−π stacked central benzene rings and the closest C•••C distance of 2.920 Å. Fundamental photophysical properties of 1 were thoroughly elucidated by UV−vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies and density functional theory calculations. Its configurational stability enabled separation of the corresponding enantiomers (P,P) and (M,M) by a chiral HPLC. Circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) measurements revealed that 1 has moderate | g CD | and |g CPL | values.

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the two-photon absorption properties of a series of quadrupolar molecules possessing a highly electron-rich heterocyclic core, pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole is presented. In agreement with quantum-chemical calculations, we observe large two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-section values, σ2PA ~ 102–103 GM (1GM = 1050 cm4 s photon−1) at wavelengths 650–700 nm, corresponding to the 2-photon allowed but 1-photon forbidden transitions. The calculations also predict that increased planarity of this molecule via removal of two N-substituents leads to further increase in the σ2PA values. Surprisingly, the most quadrupolar pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole derivative bearing two 4-nitrophenyl substituents at positions 2 and 5 demonstrates very strong solvatofluorochromic effect, with the fluorescence quantum yield as high as 0.96 in cyclohexane, while the fluorescence vanishes in DMSO.