Electronically tunable anion-π interactions in pyrylium complexes: experimental and theoretical studies

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2014 Sep 14;16(34):18442-53. doi: 10.1039/c4cp01977f.

Abstract

Noncovalent interactions of anions with electron-deficient aromatic rings that have been studied so far involve non-heteroaromatic or nitrogen-based heteroaromatic systems. Here we report the first case of an organic oxygenated aromatic system, in particular the tri-aryl-pyrylium tetrafluoroborate system, for which noncovalent anion-π interactions of the pyrylium cation with the tetrafluoroborate anion have been experimentally detected and demonstrated by means of (19)F NMR spectroscopy in solution. A series of pyrylium tetrafluoroborate salts were synthesized in the presence of BF3·Et2O, by direct reaction of 4-substituted benzaldehydes with 4-substituted acetophenones or via the previously obtained chalcone of the less reactive ketone. Correlations of (19)F NMR chemical shifts of tetrafluoroborate anion for most of the synthesized tri-arylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate complexes with both the pyrylium cation molecular weight and the standard substituent Hammett constants, demonstrate anion-π(+) interaction to act between the polyatomic anion BF4(-) and the pyrylium aromatic system. DFT calculations reveal that an additional (C-H)(+)-anion hydrogen bond involving the H(5) of pyrylium ring exists for these fluorescent dyes that show a tunable cup-to-cap shape cavity. The strong fluorescence emission observed for some representative pyrylium tetrafluoroborates described herein, makes them a promising class of tunable emission wavelength dyes for laser technology applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anions / chemistry
  • Computer Simulation
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / chemistry*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / radiation effects
  • Materials Testing
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Conformation

Substances

  • Anions
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring