Synthesis and photoluminescent properties of geometrically hindered cis-tris(diphenylaminofluorene) as precursors to light-emitting devices

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules20034635

A novel highly luminescent tris-fluorenyl ring-interconnected chromophore tris(DPAF-C₉) was synthesized using a C₃ symmetrical triaminobenzene core as the synthon. This structure bears three light-harvesting 2-diphenylamino-9,9-dialkylfluorenyl (DPAF) ring moieties with each attached by two branched 3′,5′,5′-trimethylhexyl (C₉) arms. A major stereoisomer was chromatographically isolated and characterized to possess a 3D structural configuration of cis-conformer in a cup-form. Molecular calculation at B3LYP/6-31Glevel revealed the unexpected stability of this cis-cup-conformer of tris(DPAF-C₉) better than that of the stereoisomer in a propeller-form and the trans-conformer. The structural geometry is proposed to be capable of minimizing the aggregation related self-quenching effect in the condensed phase. Fluorescence emission wavelength of tris(DPAF-C₉) was found to be in a close range to that of PVK that led to its potential uses as the secondary blue hole-transporting material for enhancing the device property toward the modulation of PLED performance.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules20034635

Molecules 2015, 20, 4635-4654; doi:10.3390/molecules20034635
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Synthesis and Photoluminescent Properties of Geometrically
Hindered cis-Tris(diphenylaminofluorene) as Precursors to
Light-Emitting Devices
1
2
1
1
3
Nam-Goo Kang , Ken Kokubo , Seaho Jeon , Min Wang , Chang-Lyoul Lee ,
1
4
1,
Taizoon Canteenwala , Loon-Seng Tan and Long Y. Chiang *
1
Department of Chemistry, Institute of Nanoscience and Engineering Technology,
University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA;
E-Mails: papyrus92@gmail.com (N.-G.K.); seaho_jeon@uml.edu (S.J.);
wangmin81@gmail.com (M.W.); taizoonc@hotmail.com (T.C.)
2
Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita,
Osaka 565-0871, Japan; E-Mail: kokubo@chem.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
3
Advanced Photonics Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology,
Gwangju 500–712, Korea; E-Mail: vsepr@gist.ac.kr
4
AFRL/RXBN, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton,
OH 45433, USA; E-Mail: Loon-Seng.Tan@wpafb.af.mil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: Long_Chiang@uml.edu;
Tel.: +1-978-934-3663; Fax: +1-978-934-3013.
Academic Editor: Pall Thordarson
Received: 12 January 2015 / Accepted: 4 March 2015 / Published: 13 March 2015
Abstract: A novel highly luminescent tris-fluorenyl ring-interconnected chromophore
tris(DPAF-C
This structure bears three light-harvesting 2-diphenylamino-9,9-dialkylfluorenyl (DPAF)
ring moieties with each attached by two branched 3',5',5'-trimethylhexyl (C ) arms. A major
9
) was synthesized using a C symmetrical triaminobenzene core as the synthon.
3
9
stereoisomer was chromatographically isolated and characterized to possess a 3D structural
configuration of cis-conformer in a cup-form. Molecular calculation at B3LYP/6-31G*
level revealed the unexpected stability of this cis-cup-conformer of tris(DPAF-C ) better
9
than that of the stereoisomer in a propeller-form and the trans-conformer. The structural
geometry is proposed to be capable of minimizing the aggregation related self-quenching
effect in the condensed phase. Fluorescence emission wavelength of tris(DPAF-C
9
) was
found to be in a close range to that of PVK that led to its potential uses as the secondary

Molecules 2015, 20
blue hole-transporting material for enhancing the device property toward the modulation of
4636
PLED performance.
Keywords: cis-tris(diphenylaminofluorene); light-harvesting nanostructure; light emitting
chromophore; geometrically hindered diphenylaminofluorene; nonplanar stereoisomer
1
. Introduction
Organic donor fluorophores having extended polarizable ring-branching conjugations in their
structure often exhibit good efficiency in photoluminescence that makes them suitable as active
components in a number of materials applications, such as optoelectronic devices [1], light-emitting
diode (OLED/PLED) cells for flat-panel display [2–4], nonlinear optical (NLO) materials for optical
limiting (OL) [5], 3D nano/microfabrication [6], one-photon (1γ) or two-photon (2γ) fluorescence-based
optical bio-imaging and labeling substrates for medical diagnosis [7,8], biosensors [9–11], and
photo-diagnosis/photodynamic sensitizers for PDT treatments [12,13]. The former four applications
involve thin-film device or coating fabrication processes in a solid form of the material. Therefore, it is
crucial for organic donor fluorophores to exhibit either an ultrafast photoresponsive excited state
population (for NLO/OL) or intense electroluminescence (for OLED/PLED) in the solid state to increase
the performance efficiency. However, these physical property characteristics of fluorophores are often
difficult to manage and predict in the thin solid film owing to their strong tendency to aggregate among
π-conjugated planar aromatic moieties that cause either the concentration- or self-quenching effect of
excited states or luminescence in the condensed phase. Only certain highly bulky and geometrically
hindered π-conjugated chromophore examples possessing restricted or distorted intramolecular rotation
bonding units with steric hindrance were found to be fluorescence-active in different physical forms.
This led to the retention or increase of fluorescence emission instead of suffering the high
concentration-quenching effect upon either one-photon [14] or two-photon [15,16] excitation in the
aggregated state as compared with that in the solution. Accordingly, a significant structural
modification of organic fluorophores is necessary in order to generate appreciable solid-state nonlinear
optical absorptivity, photoluminescence (PL), and electroluminescence (EL) and improve the
corresponding quantum yields.
Structurally branched and dendrimeric design of molecular fluorophores was demonstrated to
achieve a large value of simultaneous two-photon absorption (2PA) cross sections during photoexcitation
in the NIR region that led to the release of up-converted fluorescence in visible wavelengths. These
photophysical properties were associated with the unique nonlinear optical and 2γ-photodynamic
sensitizing features. A number of structural variation were demonstrated, including a molecular
approach in a multibranched [17,18], octapolar [19–22], dendrimeric [23–26], or spiro [27] pattern.
Branched and π-conjugated fluorophores with semiconducting charge-transport, light-emission, and
high glass-transition temperature characteristics were also of high interest as novel host materials for
light-emitting diodes [28]. They consist of a luminescent chromophore at the core region with highly
branched conjugated dendron branching side-groups that gave enhanced effects of light emission and
charge transport [29]. Using the similar approach, we proposed a molecular configuration with

Molecules 2015, 20
4637
geometrically branched chromophores using a C
3
symmetrical 1,3,5-triaminobenzene ring as the center
core for the connection of three fused 2-diphenylaminofluorene moieties, leading to a new class of
tris(DPAF-C ) 7 structure (Scheme 1). The branched donor fluorophore 7 having high torsional stress
9
at the central core region forces all fluorene chromophore groups located at the outer-edge area to a
non-coplanar 3D-configuration. This should minimize the direct contact or π-stacking of the fluorene
ring with each other during molecular aggregation and prevent the excimer formation while allows
intermolecular interactions of photoluminescent fluorene moieties. We expect well-defined
intramolecular and intermolecular space-separation of all diphenylaminofluorene moieties from each
other, owing to the pre-designed geometrical configuration around the central benzene ring, should
effectively increase the light-exposure surface area of the material and minimize the self-quenching
effect of its photoexcited state in a high-concentration form or solids.
Br
1
MsCl, Et N
3
t-BuOK, THF
0 o
rt
OH
OMs
C
Br
Hd
Br
N
NH2
Hc
Hc
BrF-C , 2
9
Hd
N
Br
Br Pd (dba) (0) (cat.)
N
2
3
Pd (dba) (0) (cat.)
2
3
3
Hc
rac-BINAP
Hd
rac-BINAP
toluene, reflux
toluene, reflux
TPAB, 4
Hd
N
Hc
Hb
Hd
N
N
N
N
Hb
Hb
N
Ha
N
Ha
N
Ha
N
Hd
Hb
Ha
mono(DPAF-C ), 5
9
bis(DPAF-C ), 6
tris(DPAF-C ), 7
9
9
Scheme 1. Synthetic route of tris(DPAF-C ) 7.
9
2
. Results and Discussion
Photophysical properties associated with highly enhanced NLO absorption cross sections in the NIR
region were achieved by the attachment of one or multiple 9,9'-dialkyl-2-diphenylaminofluorene
moieties on a spherical C60 molecule using a periconjugated keto-bridging unit [30]. It also indicated

Molecules 2015, 20
4638
the improvement of light harvesting efficiency by using hindered and branched 3',5',5'-trimethylhexyl
) arms to maintain the space-separation of fluorophores intramolecularly within the nanostructure
and intermolecularly during possible cluster formation or aggregation in solution. These conclusions
became the basis of our new molecular design of tris(DPAF-C ) analogous structures 5–7. In this case,
the central benzene ring was shared by two and three phenylaminofluorene antenna unit in the molecular
structure of 6 and 7, respectively, as a fused dendron. Since tris(DPAF-C ) 7 is highly fluorescence
emissive, it can be utilized as a charge-injecting host fluorophore for the study of PLED devices.
The synthetic route for the preparation of asymmetrical chromophore mono(DPAF-C
bis(DPAF-C ) 6, and C -symmetrical chromophore tris(DPAF-C ) 7, having both dialkylated fluorenyl
(
C
9
9
9
9
) 5 and
9
3
9
and phenyl groups on each nitrogen atom of a central 1,3,5-triaminobenzene core was performed, as
shown in Scheme 1. Alkylation of 2-bromofluorene 1 with mesylated 3,5,5-trimethylhexanol giving
2
-bromo-9,9-bis(3',5',5'-trimethylhexyl)fluorene, BrF-C 2, was carried out using potassium t-butoxide
9
as a base. The reaction proceeded in a high yield of 90%. The synthesis of 1,3,5-tris(phenylamino)benzene,
TPAB 4, was reported previously [31,32]. However, in order to improve the yield of product,
we employed an modified procedure of the palladium-catalyzed amination reaction with
tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) [Pd
2
(dba) (0)] as the catalyst. The reaction was carried out
3
by using five equivalents (excess) of aniline in respect to the quantity of 1,3,5-tribromobenzene 3 in
the presence of rac-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (rac-BINAP) that resulted in a good
tendency for the tris-product formation. Accordingly, a higher yield of 4 in 75% was obtained. A
similar palladium-catalyzed amination was also applied in the next step synthesis. For instance, the
reaction of TPAB with six equivalents of BrF-C
9
in dry toluene at refluxing temperature for a period of
) 7. The crude product of 7 was then
72 h was conducted to afford the final product tris(DPAF-C
9
purified subsequently by column chromatography (silica gel) using only hexane and followed by
hexane–ethyl acetate (9:1) as the eluent to give light yellow solids or clear thick sticky gel-like paste,
while residual solvents are present, in a yield of 88%.
For the synthesis of asymmetrical fluorophores, a different equivalent ratio of starting materials
TPAB and BrF-C
synthesis of mono(DPAF-C
in dry toluene were performed to give the product bis(DPAF-C
purified by column chromatography (SiO ) using hexane–ethyl acetate (9:1) as the eluent to yield
white to light yellow glassy solids in 52%. For the synthesis of mono(DPAF-C ) 5, a shorter solvent
refluxing period of 48 h was used for the reaction of TPAB with one equivalent of 2 in dry toluene,
giving the product of mono(DPAF-C ) 5 as white to light yellow glassy solids in a yield of 68% after
column chromatography (SiO ) purification using hexane–ethyl acetate (9:1) initially and then 7:3 as
9
in 1:2 was applied for the preparation of bis(DPAF-C
) 5. In the case of the compound 6, similar reaction conditions as those for
). The crude thick liquid of 6 was
9
) 6 and in 1:1 for the
9
7
9
2
9
9
2
the eluent. All products 5, 6, and 7 were found to be photosensitive in the presence of electrophilic
solvents and stable as a dry solid. Therefore, dark conditions were necessary during the workup and
purification procedures.
Structural characterization of 5, 6, and 7 was made using various spectroscopic techniques. By
comparison between the IR spectra of tris(DPAF-C ) 7 and TPAB, the introduction of dialkylated
9
fluorenyl moiety to 4 was clearly confirmed by the appearance of strong aliphatic C–H stretching
vibration bands centered at 2953 cm−1 (supporting information) that was absent for TPAB. It also
−
1
accompanied with several characteristic bands at 3063 and 1583 cm assigned, for aromatic C-H

Molecules 2015, 20
4639
stretching and C=C absorption, respectively. Anti-symmetric deformations of CH
3
groups and scissor
−1
vibrations of CH
while symmetric deformations of CH
other bands at 1294 (m) and 1249 (m) were assigned to the asymmetric stretching vibrations of C-N-C
moieties. Close resemblance of these IR absorption bands was observed for both mono(DPAF-C ) 5
and bis(DPAF-C ) 6 indicating high similarity of functional groups consisting of DPAF-C and TPAB
2
groups appeared as medium intensity bands centered around 1493 (s) and 1450 cm ,
−1
3
groups exhibited the absorption around 1363 (m) cm . Two
9
9
9
−1
moieties. All compounds 5–7 showed strong C–H out-of-plan deformation bands at 756 and 711 cm ,
for example, for 7. Furthermore, systematic decrease in intensity of the broad N–H absorption band
centered at 3403 and 3375 cm−1 for TPAB to 3396 cm−1 for 5, 3402 cm−1 for 6, and complete
disappearance for 7, indicated clearly the corresponding progressive amination of fluorenyl moieties
(
F-C
9
) from 5 to 7.
Ha
(a)
H
d
H /Hb
a
(
b)
Hd
H /H
c
b
(
c)
d)
e)
Hd
Hc
(
(
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0 ppm
1
Figure 1. H-NMR spectra of (a) tris(DPAF-C
9
) 7, (b) bis(DPAF-C
9
) 6, (c) mono(DPAF-C )
9
5
, (d) TPAB 4, and (e) BrF-C 2.
9
1H-NMR spectra of the precursor molecules TPAB and BrF-C
shown in Figure 1d,e, for the comparison with those of mono-, bis-, and tris(DPAF-C
were used as the reference, as
). The most
9
9
critical evidence of the sequential attachment of 9,9-bis(3',5',5'-trimethylhexyl)fluorene dendrons to 4
was given by the systematic decrease in the integrated intensity ratio of the singlet signal at δ 5.67,
assigned for the chemical shift of N–H (H
peak matched well with the proton ratio of H
δ 5.52, Figure 1b), and 7 (Figure 1a), respectively. The spectra also indicated the corresponding ratio
increase of C -alkyl proton peaks at δ 0.4–2.1 in intensity going from 5 to 7 with roughly similar
multiplet peak patterns as those of the parent BrF-C . Characteristics of the central benzene protons
can be used for the analysis of the relative geometrically configuration of fluorenyl rings with respect
to each other. In the case of mono(DPAF-C ) 5 (Figure 1c), two peaks centered at δ 6.33 and 6.50 in a
peak integration ratio of 2:1 were clearly detected that allowed us to assign them as the chemical shifts
of H and H , respectively, with the latter having a slight down-fielded shift of 0.18 ppm from that of
the singlet H of 4 at δ 6.32. As the number of fluorene addend (F-C ) increased to the structure of
bis(DPAF-C ) 6, the central benzene protons changed to H (fluorene rings at both sides, 1H) and H
one fluorene ring and one phenyl ring at either sides, 2H) types. Two peak groups located at δ 6.42
broad singlet) and 6.53 (singlet) in an integration ratio of 2:1 (Figure 1b) allowed a clear assignment
d
) protons of TPAB (Figure 1d). The peak intensity of this
d
as two, one, and zero for 5 (at δ 5.56, Figure 1c), 6 (at
9
9
9
b
c
c
9
9
a
b
(
(

Molecules 2015, 20
4640
to the chemical shift of H
b
a
and H , respectively. The peak broadening and splitting at δ 6.42 revealed
two non-equivalent H
isomers of 6 with two fluorene rings either at a cis-conformation (up-up) or trans-conformation
up-down) since free rotation around the benzene–N bond is unlikely to occur. In addition, an
increased complexity and number of fluorenyl proton peaks at δ 6.70–7.70 also supported the existence
of two non-equivalent geometrical conformers. Interestingly, the only major product of tris(DPAF-C
isolated showed full disappearance of N–H proton signal at δ 5.5–6.0 and a singlet H proton peak at
δ 6.55 (Figure 1a) in a similar chemical shift as that of H in 6. The former indicated the completion of
palladium-catalyzed amination reactions with three equivalents of light-harvesting DPAF-antenna
moieties. The latter revealed three equivalent H s that led us to suggest a cis-conformation
geometrically at the same side of the central benzene ring as up-up-up configuration for three
b
s, perhaps, as the result of a mixture of two possible geometrical conformational
(
9
)
7
d
a
a
a
(
fluorenyl rings) for the structure of 7 (more discussion below by structural simulation and calculation).
Even though the peak and coupling pattern were more complex in the aromatic region of δ 7.0–8.0 in
the spectrum as compared to those of the precursor TPAB, however, without a symmetrical
environment for three fluorenyl rings in the structure of 7, the number of aromatic proton peaks each
with coupling multiplet should lead to a much more complicated spectrum than that of 6 in the same
chemical shift region. Therefore, the observation of only a limit number of fluorenyl aryl proton peak
groups at δ 6.82–7.57 with an overall higher proton integration ratio to the peak of H
a
supported the
argument of a quasi-symmetrical cis-conformation for 7.
(
a)
(
b)
(
c)
d)
(
(
e)
170
140
110
80
60
40
20 ppm
13
Figure 2. C-NMR spectra of (a) tris(DPAF-C
9
) 7, (b) bis(DPAF-C
9
) 6, (c) mono(DPAF-C )
9
5
, (d) TPAB 4, and (e) BrF-C 2.
9
13C-NMR spectra of the precursor molecules TPAB were also used as the reference for the
comparison with those of mono-, bis-, and tris(DPAF-C
9
). Attachment of one fluorenyl ring to TPAB
2
13
led clearly to two sets of aromatic carbon (sp ) peaks at δ 115–155 in the C-NMR spectrum of 5
2
(
Figure 2c). Chemical shifts of the group of five sp carbon peaks having higher peak intensity were
roughly identical to those of TPAB (Figure 2d). This allowed us to assign the rest of multiple peaks in
lower peak intensity to the fluorenyl carbons. The relative intensity of these two peak groups was
found to increase progressively for the latter as the number of attached fluorenyl ring increased from 5,

Molecules 2015, 20
4641
6
(Figure 2b), to 7 (Figure 2a), consistent with their corresponding structural composition. Upon the
attachment of one DPAF-C to 4, the central phenyl carbon (C ) peak of TPAB at δ 99.0 was found to
split and shift down-field to δ 105.9 (C ) and 100.3 (C ), in an intensity ratio of roughly 2:1 consistent
with the structure of 5, in Figure 2c of mono(DPAF-C ). Similar shifts to δ 108.0 (C , Figure 2b) and
00.0 (C ) for bis(DPAF-C ) 6 and to δ 115.6 (H , Figure 2a) for tris(DPAF-C ) 7 were detected.
9
c
b
c
9
a
1
b
9
a
9
These spectroscopic data provided an additional verification of the structures 5–7. High stability of 5–7
was observed during positive ion matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI–TOF) mass
spectroscopic measurements using 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (sinapic acid) as the matrix,
as shown in Figure 3a–c, respectively. All spectra of 5, 6, and 7 displayed a group of molecular ion
mass (MH ) peaks at m/z 768.9, 1184.9, and 1601.6 in good agreement with the calculated mass of M+
as m/z 767.52, 1183.86, and 1600.21, respectively. It also showed a clean fragmentation pattern
+
consistent with a main fragmented ion mass peak at m/z 510.2–510.5, corresponding to the mass of
+
PhN H-fluorene-C
9
. This revealed the central benzene-N bond as the weakest one to undergo
dissociation. The data also provided unambiguous evidence of the successful synthesis of mono-, bis-,
and tris(DPAF-C ).
9
5
10.5
768.9
(
a)
1
00
%
0
7
69.9
M+
7
70.9
7
67.9
68
1000
7
769
770
771
4
00
600
800
1200
1400
184.9
1600
m/z
1
1
183.9
(b)
1185.9
5
10.2
100
1
182.9
1187.0
1
183 1184 1185 1186 1187
%
0
M+
4
00
600
800
1000
601.6
1200
1400
1600
m/z
1
5
10.3
(c)
1
00
%
0
1
600.5
1602.6
M+
1603.5
1599.6
1604.6
1600 1601 1602 1603 1604
4
00
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
m/z
Figure 3. MALDI–TOF mass spectra of (a) mono(DPAF-C
9
) 5, (b) bis(DPAF-C ) 6, and
9
(
c) tris(DPAF-C ) 7.
9

Molecules 2015, 20
4642
Effect of TPAB ratio with respect to BrF-C
9
on the synthesis of tris(DPAF-C
9
) was also
investigated. Our initial synthesis of tris(DPAF-C
amount of BrF-C in respect to the central TPAB core. It was found that this ratio of starting materials
did not lead to a clean product, instead resulted in two different product fractions identified as bis- and
tris(DPAF-C ) showing H and H proton peaks (supporting information) at δ 6.56 and 6.48,
9
) was carried out by using an exact three-equivalent
9
9
a
b
respectively, slightly down-field shifted in the mixture from those of the corresponding pure sample.
By the integration ratio of these two peaks, the major product 7 and the minor product 6 were
accounted for 69.0% and 31.0%, respectively. Accordingly, we undertook the TPAB ratio-dependent
evaluation of the production formation with three additional ratio of 1:2, 1:4, and 1:6 (excess). As a
result, the decrease of TPAB quantity applied to 1:2, the H
significantly indicating the presence of mono(DPAF-C ) in addition to bis(DPAF-C
Contrarily, the H peak decreased sharply in intensity, corresponding to the yield of 6 as 17.3%, as the
TPAB ratio being increased to 1:4. We found that a full reaction conversion to 7 became possible by
using a TPAB ratio of 1:6, leading to the complete disappearance of H peak in the product spectrum.
UV-vis spectra of TPAB 4, mono-5, and bis-6, and tris-7 collected at a concentration of 1.0 × 10 M
in CHCl were shown in Figure 4A (solid lines). Chemical modification of TPAB with one or more
fluorenyl moieties converted the secondary to corresponding tertiary amines that led to a gradual
b
peak intensity at δ 6.48 increased
9
9
) as a mixture.
b
b
‒5
3
4
−1
−1
bathochromic shift from the absorption of 4 centered at 289 nm (λmax, ε = 4.80 × 10 L·mol ·cm ) to
4
4
that of 5 at 297 nm (ε = 5.16 × 10 ), of 6 at 308 nm (ε = 5.56 × 10 ), and of 7 at 323 nm
4
−1
−1
4
(
ε = 5.71 × 10 L·mol ·cm ). It also accompanied with a new band centered at 349 nm (ε = 2.64 × 10 )
4
4
−1
−1
for 5, 348 nm (ε = 5.07 × 10 ) for 6, and 348 nm (ε = 5.66 × 10 L·mol ·cm ) for 7. Intensity of the
latter band was found to increase progressively from 5 to 7 corresponding to the increasing number of
fluorenyl moiety that allowed us to assign this peak to the characteristic absorption band of F-C
moiety. With a new electron-releasing 3,5-diaminophenylamino group being bonded at C position of a
F-C , these bands presented a large bathochromic shift from those of BrF-C (λmax 299 and 310 nm)
9
2
9
9
with an electron-withdrawing bromo group instead at the same carbon position. The shift also
corresponds to an extended fluorenyl ring system interconnected by a 1,3,5-triaminobenzene central
core, consistent with the structure of 5–7 synthesized.
All mono-5, and bis-6, and tris(DPAF-C
showing an emission band at λem,max 391.2, 390.8, and 390.1 nm, respectively, (Figure 4A, dashed
lines; λex = 360 nm). Intensity of the band increased roughly in proportion to the number of F-C rings
substituted to TPAB. For the clarity, the absorption intensity and relative PL intensity of compounds
–7 were normalized at the excitation wavelength of 360 nm as shown in Figure 4B. Partly owing to
9
) are highly photoluminescent (PL) chromophores each
9
5
the molecular rigidity in the particular stereo-configuration with partial orbital overlap via unpaired
electrons of amino groups at the center core of 7 as compared with those of 5 and 6, an obvious
enhancement in the PL intensity (Figure 4B-a) was detected. Similar enhancement in a lesser extent
was also observed in the bis(DPAF-C
revealed emission-independency among F-C
self-quenching effect, presumably, owing to the geometrical stereo-conformation of F-C
respect to each other that prevented the close in-phase π-π plane contact of fluorene rings and yielded
high PL in significant intensity. Unlike tris(DPAF-C ), PL arising from the benzene and phenyl
moieties of TPAB was fully quenched (Figure 4A-d at the baseline) providing evidence of strong
9
) 6 (Figure 4B-b) in relation to that of mono(DPAF-C
units of 7 with no π-stacking related excimer or
moieties with
9
) 5. This
9
9
9

Molecules 2015, 20
4643
intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between nitrogen and hydrogen among molecules, leading
to a strong self-quenching effect. Accordingly, the S → S band gaps (0,0) of 5, 6, and 7 can be
0
1
estimated from the crossover onset position of their absorption and emission edges in CHCl
3
and were
found to be 3.24, 3.26 and 3.28 eV, respectively.
Figure 4. (A) UV-vis spectra (solid lines) and photoluminescence (dotted lines) of
a) tris(DPAF-C ) 7, (b) bis(DPAF-C ) 6, (c) mono(DPAF-C ) 5, (d) TPAB 4, and (e) BrF-C
in CHCl at a concentration of 1.0 × 10 M and (B) normalized absorption and PL
intensity of 5–7 at the excitation wavelength of 360 nm.
(
9
9
9
9
−
5
2
3
The fluorescent emission wavelength of cis-tris(DPAF-C
PVK with both HOMO (−4.81 eV) and LUMO energy level (−1.57 eV) in 1.0 and 0.7 eV,
respectively, higher than those of PVK. The former is only slightly lower than that of Ir(ppy)
−4.9 eV). Therefore, this donor chromophore may serve as the secondary blue hole-transporting
9
) was found in a close range to that of
3
(
material, which is capable of minimizing the aggregation-related self-quenching effect, in the
modulation of PLED performance (supporting information Figure S5).

Molecules 2015, 20
4644
2
1
.0×10-6
.0×10-6
(A)
0.0
-
1.0×10-6
2.0×10-6
-
-
-
-
-
3.0×10-6
4.0×10-6
5.0×10-6
6.0×10-6
-
7.0×10-6
2
.0×10-6
(B)
0
.0
2.0×10-6
4.0×10-6
-
-
-
-
-
-
6.0×10-6
8.0×10-6
1.0×10-5
1.2×10-5
-
1.4×10-5
.0×10-6
(C)
2
0
.0
2.0×10-6
4.0×10-6
-
-
-
-
-
6.0×10-6
8.0×10-6
1.0×10-5
(a) tris(DPAF-C
b) bis(DPAF-C9)
(c) mono(DPAF-C9)
9
)
(
-
1.2×10-5
-
1.4×10-5
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
E (V vs Ag/AgCl)
Figure 5. Cyclic voltammograms (CV) of (A–C) at different voltages vs Ag/AgCl with
a) tris(DPAF-C ) 7, (b) bis(DPAF-C ) 6, and (c) mono(DPAF-C ) 5 solution in a
concentration of 1.75 × 10‒3 M in CH
CN–CH Cl , containing (n-butyl)
(
9
9
9
+
‒
3
2
2
4
N -PF
6
electrolyte (0.4 M), using Pt as working and counter electrodes and Ag/AgCl as the
reference electrode at a scan rate of 10 mV/s.
We also carried out the cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement of mono-5, bis-6, and tris-7 in a
+
‒
solvent mixture of CH
2
Cl
2
–CH
3
CN in the presence of (n-butyl)
4
N -PF
6
electrolyte, using Pt as
working and counter electrodes and Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode. The CV characteristics of
compounds 5–7 under variation of the cyclic oxidation voltage vs Ag/AgCl from 1.0 to 1.3 V were
evaluated, as shown in Figure 5A–C. As a result, only one consistent reversible redox wave was
detectable in a similar current range (0.0–1.1 V) for all three compounds indicating that only one F-C
9
ring moiety was participating the oxidation–reduction cycle at the same concentration regardless its
structure being mono-, bis-, or tris-adduct of TPAB. This revealed full electrochemical independency
of all F-C rings in the structure. By taking the most stable (symmetrical) and reversible first cyclic
9

Molecules 2015, 20
4645
wave of Figure 5C as an example, a nearly identical onset oxidation potential (Eoxonset) was measured
for 5, 6, and 7 as 0.83 V. Under the same CV conditions, the first half-wave redox potential of
ferrocence reference sample was measured as 0.82 V. Therefore, by taking the oxidation potential
value of ferrocence at −4.8 eV below the vacuum level as the reference, the HOMO levels of mono-5,
bis-6, and tris-7 were calculated as a nearly identical value of −4.81 eV that was summarized in
Table 1. Furthermore, the optical energy gap (Eopt, S
from the absorption onset of all compounds 5, 6, and 7, via Figure 4, in a value of 3.28, 3.26, and
.24 eV, respectively, as discussed above. Consequently, corresponding LUMO levels were then
0
→ S band gap) can be obtained and calculated
1
3
calculated as −1.53, −1.55, and −1.57 eV, respectively.
Table 1. Electrochemical properties of mono-5, bis-6, and tris(DPAF-C ) 7.
9
onset
(V) HOMO (eV) a
−4.81
opt (eV) b
3.24
Compound
Tris(DPAF-C ) 7
Bis(DPAF-C ) 6
Mono(DPAF-C ) 5
E
ox
E
LUMO (eV)
−1.57
9
0.83
0.83
0.83
9
−4.81
3.26
−1.55
9
−4.81
3.28
−1.53
a
b
Estimated from the onset oxidation potential; Estimated from the onset of absorption edge.
In the consideration of the structural configuration, it is reasonable to expect two possible nonplanar
geometrical stereoisomers as, namely, tris-trans- (with two fluorenyl rings at the same side of the
central benzene ring and one fluorenyl rings located at the opposite side as an up-up-down
configuration) and tris-cis-conformation (geometrically at the same side of the central benzene ring as
an up-up-up configuration for all three fluorenyl rings) analogues, for the structure of tris(DPAF-C ) 7
9
in spite of only one chromatographic spot being detected on TLC (silica gel, toluene–hexane, 5:95).
This observation clearly suggests that the 3D-structure of 7 may not be a planar configuration with the
fluorenyl and/or the phenyl rings being possibly twisted relative to the center core position, forming a
pair of cis/trans stereo-conformers or isolable isomers, as discussed in Figure 6. In order to estimate
the C-C bond rotational barrier energy of tris(DPAF-C
9
) between possible stereo-conformers, we
. However,
conducted the variable temperature NMR measurement in the range of 300–335 K in CDCl
3
we did not observe any clear difference except small peak broadening. This result suggested that the
rotational barrier energy is high enough to restrict the cis–trans isomerization and allowed the isolation
of a single isomer at least in room temperature.
1
As we described above, uncongested H-NMR spectrum of tris(DPAF-C
9
) 7 revealed a C -symmetrical
3
cis-conformation for its structure. Our puzzle existed regarding to the exclusive formation of,
supposedly, sterically unfavorable cis-isomer. Accordingly, we undertook the comparison of formation
energy by calculation on the 3D-structure of three plausible isomers of tris(DPAF-C
Figure 6. Two cis-forms, especially a cis-(cup-)form, seem to be more crowded than trans-(chair-)form.
Surprisingly, heat of formation (ΔH ) calculated by the semi-empirical PM3 method revealed
unexpectedly high stability of the cup-form with other forms in an order of chair ≈ cup > propeller for
substituents (−9.19, −9.13, and −4.40 kcal/mol, respectively) and the highest stability of cup-forms
cup > chair > propeller) for the slightly less crowded n-C , C , and C substituents. Such cup-form
formation tends to be more preferable as the alkyl chains at 9-fluorenyl position become longer as can
be seen in the differential heat of formation ΔΔH for both cup–propeller and cup–chair energy gaps
9
) 7, as shown in
f
C
9
(
6
7
8
f

Molecules 2015, 20
4646
(
Table 2). These results imply that hydrophobic interaction between three alkyl chains as well as CH/π
interaction between the alkyl group and the fluorenyl ring plays an important role for the preferential
formation of the cup-form. The DFT calculation at B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory for some alkyl
groups resulted in the similar tendency, although the values suggested the slightly more stable
chair-form even for n-C group as compared with the cup-form, probably due to the lack of
6
consideration on the solvent polarity which affects to hydrophobic interactions (Table 3).
cis-Tris-C (Cup Form)
9
cis-Tris-C (Propeller Form, side view)
9
trans-Tris-C (Chair Form)
9
Figure 6. Optimized geometrical structures of tris(DPAF-C ) 7, by calculation, showing a
9
different degree of interaction force among terminal t-butyl groups (brown).
a
Table 2. Calculated heat of formation for tris(DPAF-C
n
) .
R b
ΔH
(kcal/mol)
ΔΔH (kcal/mol)
f
f
(
C
n
)
cis
trans
chair
cup–propeller
cup–chair
(cis–trans)
10.53
cup
propeller
253.67
223.91
95.12
Me
Et
258.38
231.59
87.01
59.59
22.23
−9.13
247.85
233.48
93.67
60.07
22.52
−9.19
4.71
7.68
1.89
n-C
6
−8.11
−4.41
−5.87
−4.73
−6.66
C
7
C
8
C
9
64.00
−0.48
28.10
−0.29
−4.40
0.06
a
Calculated by semi-empirical PM3 method using Spartan 08. b Substituents at 9-fluorenyl position. C
7
:
3
-methylhexyl group (3-Me); C : 5,5-dimethylhexyl group (4-t-Bu); C : 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl group (3-Me-4-t-Bu).
8
9

Molecules 2015, 20
4647
a
Table 3. DFT calculation of heat of formation for tris(DPAF-C ) .
n
R b
ΔH
(kcal/mol)
trans (chair)
ΔΔH (kcal/mol)
f
f
(
n
C )
cis (cup)
cup–chair
23.4
Et
MeOC
n-C
−1922585.7
−2353750.4
−2514673.7
−2958697.2
−1922609.1
−2353762.0
−2514677.3
−2958703.8
2
H
4
11.6
6
3.6
C
9
6.6
a
b
Calculated at B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory using SPARTAN08. Substituents at 9-fluorenyl position.
The unexpected stability of cup-form may be explained by the torsional angle of the center benzene
ring defined by the position of aryl groups on nitrogen atoms. The calculated torsional (dihedral) angles
between the aryl–nitrogen C–N bond and the center benzene ring C–C bond for two cis-conformers of
tris(DPAF-C ) (cup-form and propeller-form) obtained from the optimized 3D-structure are illustrated
9
in Figure 7. The angle strain of the cup-form was found to be much less than that of the propeller-form.
The angle strain of trans-conformers is somewhat higher than that of the symmetrical cup-form due to
unavoidable unsymmetrical conformation of the chair-form. Therefore, the highly symmetrical
cis-cup-isomer of tris(DPAF-C
9
) can be formed exclusively.
(a)
(b)
R
R
R
R
46.5°
59.0°
N
N
79.6°
center
benzene ring
10.6°
cup-form
propeller-form
Figure 7. Torsional (dihedral) angles between aryl–nitrogen bond and center benzene ring
for (a) cup-form and (b) propeller-form of tris(DPAF-C ) 7.
9
In summary, above explanations for the preferential cis-cup-formation are supported by results of
the calculated heat of formation and dihedral angle, which are based on the thermodynamically
controlled mechanism. However, the restricted bond rotation may not give the thermodynamically
stable isomer under the present condition. Therefore, an alternative explanation for the preferential
cis-cup-formation of tris(DPAF-C
in the critical amination reaction. Fluorenyl substitution at three phenylamino groups on the central
benzene ring of TPAB occurs one by one to form mono(DPAF-C ), bis(DPAF-C ), and tris(DPAF-C
9
) is also considered based on the kinetically controlled mechanism
9
9
9
)
sequentially. Owing to the unrestricted rotation of phenylamino group, two phenyl groups on nitrogen
atoms can be escaped from a larger fluorenyl substituent group via the steric hindrance. Consequently,
the tendency of subsequent substitution of a second fluorenyl group should favor the formation of
cis-bis(DPAF-C ). This preferred configuration may hinder its isomerization to the trans-form due to
9

Molecules 2015, 20
4648
the restricted bond rotation. Similarly, the third substitution of the last fluorenyl group should lead to
the selective product of cis-tris(DPAF-C ) (supporting information).
9
3
. Experimental
Materials. Reagents and solvent of 3,5,5-trimethylhexanol, methanesulfonyl chloride, triethylamine,
-bromofluorene, 1,3,5-tribromobenzene, rac-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (rac-BINAP),
2
tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) [Pd
2
(dba) (0)], aniline, and dichloroethane were purchased
3
from Aldrich Chemicals (Milwaukee, WI, USA) and used without further purification. All other chemicals
were purchased from Acros Ltd. (Fair Lawn, NJ, USA). The anhydrous grade solvent of THF was
−1
refluxed over sodium and benzophenone overnight and distilled under reduced pressure (10 mmHg).
1
13
Spectroscopic Measurements. H-NMR and C-NMR spectra were recorded on either a Bruker
Avance Spectrospin–200 or Bruker AC-300 spectrometer (Bruker, Billerica, MA, USA). UV-vis spectra
were recorded on a U-3410 UV spectrometer (Hitachi, Schaumburg, IL, USA). Infrared spectra were
recorded as KBr pellets on a Nicolet 750 series FT-IR spectrometer (Thermo Electron Corporation,
Madison, WI, USA). Photoluminescence (PL) spectra were measured using a PTI (Birmingham, NJ,
USA) Fluorescence Master Systems connected with a photomultiplier (914 Photomultiplier Detection
System), with a xenon short arc lamp as the excitation source. Mass spectroscopic measurements were
performed by the use of positive ion matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI–TOF)
technique on a micromass M@LDI-LR mass spectrometer (Bruker, Billerica, MA, USA). The sample
blended or dissolved in the matrix material was irradiated by nitrogen UV laser at 337 nm with 10 Hz
pulses under high vacuum. Mass ion peaks were identified for the spectrum using the MassLynx v4.0
software. In a typical experiment, the samples of 5, 6, and 7, were dissolved in CHCl in a
3
concentration of 1.0 mg/mL. The matrix of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (sinapic acid) was
dissolved in THF in a concentration of 10 mg/mL. The solution of matrix (1.0 mL) was taken and mixed
with the sample solution (0.1 mL) prior to the deposition on a stainless-steel MALDI target probe. It
was subsequently dried at ambient temperature.
Synthetic Procedures
Synthesis of 3,5,5-Trimethylhexyl Methanesulfonate
To a stirred solution of 3,5,5-trimethylhexanol (5.0 g, 34.6 mmol) in anhydrous dichloroethane
(
75 mL) was added triethylamine (3.85 g, 38.12 mmol). This reaction mixture was cooled to 0 °C in
ice bath, follwed by dropwise addition of methane sulfonyl chloride (4.36 g, 38.12 mmol) over a
period of 15 min under nitrogen. The reaction mixture was stirred for overnight and quenched by the
addition of water. Organic layer was washed with water (2 × 50 mL), dil. hydrochloric acid (1 × 50 mL),
saturated sodium bicarbonate (1 × 50 mL), and brine solution (1 × 50 mL). The residue was dried over
sodium sulphate and concentrated on a rotavapor to afford crude light brown colored liquid. After
chromatographic purification, the product 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl methanesulfonate was obtained in a yield
1
of 95%, as a colorless liquid after vacuum distillation at 130–140 °C. H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl
3
) δ 4.25
(t, J = 6.8 Hz, 2H), 3.01(s, 3H), 1.77 (dq, J = 13.8, 6.9, 6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.67 (q, J = 8.0, 6.3 Hz, 1H), 1.57

Molecules 2015, 20
4649
(
dq, J = 13.3, 6.6 Hz, 1H), 1.24–1.20 (m, 1H), 1.14–1.10 (m, 1H), 0.97 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 3H), 0.90 (s,
H), and 0.87–0.76 (m, 1H).
8
Synthesis of 2-Bromo-9,9-bis(3',5',5'-trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluorene (BrF-C , 2)
9
To a solution of 2-bromofluorene 1 (5.0 g, 20.4 mmol) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (100 mL) was
added potassium t-butoxide (5.03 g, 44.80 mmol) at 0 °C. The resulting orange brown colored reaction
mixture was stirred for 30 min. To this reaction mixture 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl methanesulfonate (9.98 g,
4
4.8 mmol) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (25 mL) was added dropwise over a period of 30 min. It was
stirred for overnight and subsequently diluted with water (50 mL). The product was extracted with
ethyl acetate (150 mL), washed with water, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na SO ). The
2
4
pale yellow crude product was purified by column chromatography using silica gel as the stationary
phase and hexane–ethyl acetate (19:1) as the eluent. The purified product 2-bromo-9,9-bis(3',5',5'-
trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluorene 2, BrF-C
9
, was obtained as colorless liquid in 90% yield (9.1 g). FT-IR
(
KBr) υmax 3063 (m), 3024 (m), 2953 (s), 2868 (s), 2744 (w), 2,715 (w), 1944 (w), 1905 (w), 1875 (w),
1
1
9
1
799 (w), 1749 (w), 1,642 (w), 1599 (m), 1570 (m), 1466 (s), 1443 (s), 1406 (m), 1389 (m), 1364 (s),
292 (w), 1264 (m), 1246 (m), 1217 (m), 1155 (w), 1132 (w), 1062 (m), 1028 (w), 1005 (m), 972 (w),
−
1
35 (w), 877 (m), 822 (m), 781 (m), 758 (m), 736 (s), 643 (w), and 572 (m) cm ; UV-vis (CHCl ,
3
−5
4
4
4
−1
−1
.0 × 10 M) λmax (ε) 279 (2.04 × 10 ), 299 (1.03 × 10 ), and 310 nm(1.37 × 10 L mol cm );
) δ 7.70–7.62 (m, 1H), 7.54 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.45–7.43 (m, 2H), 7.31(s,
H), 2.02–1.87 (m, 4H), 1.22–1.13 (br, 2H), 0.96–0.95 (m, 1H), 0.93–0.92 (m, 1H), 0.84–0.77 (m,
1H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl
3
3
3
1
3
H), 0.73 (t, J = 5.3 Hz, 23H), 0.58–0.50 (m, 2H), and 0.47–0.39 (m, 2H); C-NMR (125 MHz,
) δ 152.9, 150.2, 140.2, 140.1, 129.8, 127.5, 126.9, 126.1, 122.8, 121.0, 120.9, 119.7, 55.2,
0.74, 50.65, 37.82, 37.79, 37.7, 32.81, 32.75, 30.9, 29.9, 29.5, 29.4, 22.5, and 22.4.
CDCl
3
5
Synthesis of 1,3,5-Tris(phenylamino)benzene (TPAB, 4)
A mixture of aniline (7.4 g, 79.4 mmol), 1,3,5-tribromobenzene 3 (5.0 g, 15.88 mmol),
tris(dibenzylideneacetone) dipalladium(0) [Pd
bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binapthyl (BINAP, 0.22 g, 0.75 mol %), and sodium t-butoxide (7.63 g,
9.4 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (250 mL) was heated to refluxing temperature under nitrogen for a
period of 72 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and washed with water (100 mL).
The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na SO ). After evaporation of the solvent,
a crude brown color solid was obtained. Excess aniline was then removed by distillation at 130 °C
2
(dba)
3
(0), 0.11 g, 0.25 mol %], rac-2,2'-
7
2
4
‒
1
under reduced pressure of 10 mmHg. It was further purified by chromatography (SiO ). The resulting
2
light brown product 1,3,5-tris(phenylamino)benzene 4, TPAB, was obtained in 75% yield (4.18 g).
FT-IR (KBr) υmax 3403 (m), 3375 (m), 3078 (w), 3019 (w), 2945 (s), 1612 (m), 1591 (vs), 1518 (m),
1
1
496 (s), 1469 (m), 1431(w), 1456 (m), 1409 (m), 1365 (w), 1295 (m), 1269 (w), 1246 (m), 1,171 (m),
073 (w), 1030 (w), 897 (w), 834 (w), 820 (w), 802 (w), 756 (m), 721 (w), 700 (m), 688 (m), 613 (w),
−1
−5
4
−1
−1
1
and 558 (w) cm ; UV-vis (CHCl
500 MHz, CDCl ) δ 7.25 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 6H), 7.08 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 6H), 6.92 (t, J = 7.3 Hz, 3H), 6.32 (s,
H), and 5.60 (s, 3H, N–H); 13C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl
) δ 145.4, 142.7, 129.3, 121.3, 118.7,
and 99.0.
3
, 1.0 × 10 M) λmax (ε) 289 nm (4.80 × 10 L mol cm ); H-NMR
(
3
3
3

Molecules 2015, 20
4650
1
3
5
Synthesis of N ,N ,N -Tris(9,9-di(3',5',5'-trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluoren-2-yl)-1",3",5"-tris(phenylamino)-
benzene [tris(DPAF-C ), 7]
9
A mixture of 2-bromo-9,9-bis(3',5',5'-trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluorene (8.39 g, 17.04 mmol, excess),
1
,3,5-tris(N-phenylamino)benzene (1.0 g, 2.84 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0)
[Pd
2
(dba)
3
(0), 0.02 g, 0.25 mol %], rac-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binapthyl (BINAP, 0.04 g,
0
.75 mol %), and sodium t-butoxide (1.63 g, 17.04 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (75 mL) was heated to
refluxing temperature under nitrogen for a period of 72 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room
temperature and washed with water (50 mL). The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium
sulfate. After evaporation of the solvent, it afforded a crude brown colored paste. The paste was subjected
to column chromatography purification using silica gel as the stationary phase and hexane–ethylacetate
1
3
5
(
9:1) as the eluent, to afford N ,N ,N -tris(9,9-di(3',5',5'-trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluoren-2-yl)-1",3",5"-
tris(phenylamino)-benzene, tris(DPAF-C ) 7, as light yellow solids or clear thick sticky gel-like paste,
9
while residual solvents are present, in 88% yield (3.98 g). FT-IR (KBr) υmax 3,063 (w, aromatic C–H
stretching), 3,037 (w), 3,019 (w), 2,953 (vs, aliphatic C–H stretching), 2,865 (s), 1,583 (s, C=C), 1500
(
s), 1,493 (s, anti-symmetric deformations of CH
392 (w), 1363 (m, symmetric deformations of CH
vibrations of C–N–C), 1249 (w, asymmetric stretching vibrations of C–N–C), 1212 (w), 1178 (w),
155 (w), 1037 (w), 1006 (w), 933 (w), 878 (w), 826 (w), 756 (w), 738 (s, C–H out-of-plan
3
groups and scissor vibrations of CH
2
groups), 1,450,
1
3
groups), 1294 (m, asymmetric stretching
1
−1
deformation), 711 (m, C–H out-of-plan deformation), 693 (m), 628 (w), and 510 (w) cm ; UV-vis
−
5
4
4
−1
−1
(CHCl
3
, 1.0 × 10 M) λmax (ε) 323 (5.71 × 10 ) and 348 nm (5.66 × 10 L mol cm ); PL (CHCl ,
3
−5
1
1
3
1
1
5
.0 × 10 M) λem,max 390.1 nm; H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl
H), 7.32–7.21 (m, 9H), 7.09–7.01 (m, 18H), 6.82 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H), 6.55 (s, 3H, br), 1.92–1.67 (m,
2H), 1.11 (s, 6H), and 0.97–0.39 (m, 96H); 13C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl
) δ 151.9, 150.4, 149.3,
3
) δ 7.57 (s, 3H, br), 7.51 (d, J = 7.5 Hz,
3
47.6, 146.5, 141.0, 136.5, 128.9, 126.7, 126.3, 123.7, 122.7, 121.9, 120.2, 119.1, 115.6, 54.7, 50.9,
0.63, 50.57, 38.0, 37.9, 37.6, 37.5, 33.1, 32.8, 30.9, 30.0, 29.5, 29.3, 27.3, 22.7, and 22.5;
MALDI–TOF MS calcd for C117
H
153
N
, m/z 1600.2; found, m/z 1601.6 (MH+).
3
1
3
Synthesis of N ,N -Bis(9,9-di(3',5',5'-trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluoren-2-yl)-1",3",5"-tris(phenylamino)-
benzene [bis(DPAF-C ), 6]
9
A mixture of 2-bromo-9,9-bis(3',5',5'-trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluorene (0.71 g, 1.42 mmol),
,3,5-tris(phenylamino)benzene (0.25 g, 0.71 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0)
1
[Pd
2
(dba)
3
(0), 0.005 g, 0.25 mol %], rac-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binapthyl (BINAP, 0.01 g,
0
.75 mol %), and sodium t-butoxide (0.70 g, 7.10 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (50 mL) was heated to
refluxing temperature under nitrogen for 72 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and
washed with water (30 mL). The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. After evaporation
of the solvent, it afforded a crude brown colored semi-solid. It was purified by column chromatography
1
3
using silica gel as the stationary phase and hexane–ethylacetate (9:1) as the eluent to afford N ,N -bis(9,9-
di(3',5',5'-trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluoren-2-yl)-1",3",5"-tris(phenylamino)benzene, bis(DPAF-C ) 6, as white
to light yellow glassy solids in 52% yield (0.43 g). FT-IR (KBr) υmax 3402 (m), 3062 (w), 3036 (w), 3010
w), 2953 (s), 2865 (m), 1585 (s), 1492 (s), 1467 (m), 1450 (m), 1,422 (w), 1392 (m), 1363 (w), 1299 (m),
9
(

Molecules 2015, 20
4651
−
1
1
252 (m), 1213 (w), 1155 (w), 1079 (w), 1033 (w), 824 (w), 738 (m), 711 (w), 693 (m), and 512 (w) cm ;
−5
4
4
−1
−1
UV-vis (CHCl
3
, 1.0 × 10 M) λmax (ε) 308 (5.56 × 10 ) and 348 nm (5.07 × 10 L mol cm ); PL (CHCl ,
3
−5
1
1
.0 × 10 M) λem,max 390.8 nm; H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl
t, J = 7.2 Hz, 4H), 7.12–7.01 (m, 10H), 6.90 (t, J = 6.8 Hz, 1H), 6.86–6.83 (m, 2H), 6.74 (t, J = 6.5 Hz,
H), 6.53 (s, 1H), 6.42 (s, 2H), 5.51 (s, 1H), 1.98–1.71 (m, 8H), 1.21–1.07 (s, 4H, br), 0.97–0.86 (d, 4H),
and ,0.83–0.34 (m, 60H); 13C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl
) δ 151.9, 150.5, 149.6, 147.8, 146.7, 142.5,
41.0, 136.6, 129.1, 129.0, 126.7, 126.3, 124.1, 123.1, 122.7, 122.0, 120.6, 120.2, 119.1, 117.2, 112.8,
08.10, 108.0, 100.0, 54.8, 50.9, 50.7, 38.0, 37.9, 37.7, 37.6, 33.1, 32.9, 30.9, 29.9, 29.5, 29.30, 29.27,
3
) δ 7.61–7.58 (m, 4H), 7.34–7.21 (m, 7H), 7.16
(
1
3
1
1
2
7.3, 22.6, and 22.5; MALDI–TOF MS calcd for C86
H
109
N
, m/z 1,183.9; found, m/z 1,184.9 (MH+).
3
1
Synthesis of N -Mono(9,9-di(3',5',5'-trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluoren-2-yl)-1",3",5"-tris(phenylamino)-
benzene [mono(DPAF-C ), 5]
9
A mixture of 2-bromo-9,9-bis(3',5',5'-trimethyl-1'-hexyl)fluorene (0.36 g, 0.71 mmol),
,3,5-tris(phenylamino)benzene (0.25 g, 0.71 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0)
1
(
Pd
2
(dba)
3
(0), 0.005 g, 0.25 mol %), rac-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binapthyl (BINAP, 0.01 g,
0.75 mol %), and sodium t-butoxide (0.70 g, 7.10 mmol ) in anhydrous toluene (50 mL) was heated to
refluxing temperature under nitrogen for a period of 48 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room
temperature and washed with water (30 mL). The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium
sulfate. After evaporation of the solvent, it afforded a crude brown semi-solid. It was purified by
column chromatography using silica gel as the stationary phase and hexane–ethylacetate (9:1) as the
1
eluent then slowly increased ethyl acetate contents up to 30% to give N -mono(9,9-di(3',5',5'-trimethyl-
1
'-hexyl)fluoren-2-yl)-1",3",5"-tris(phenylamino)benzene, mono(DPAF-C
9
) 5, as white to light yellow
glassy solids in 68% yield (0.37 g). FT-IR (KBr) υmax 3396 (m), 3037 (w), 2952 (s), 2865(w), 1585
(
vs), 1518 (w), 1495 (s), 1467 (m), 1450 (m), 1421 (w), 1393 (w), 1363 (w), 1301 (m), 1249 (m), 1171 (w),
−1
−5
1
λ
3
4
078 (w), 1031 (w), 823 (w), 739 (m), 692 (m), 595(w), and 514 (w) cm ; UV-vis (CHCl
3
, 1.0 × 10 M)
4
4
−1
−1
−5
max (ε) 297 (5.16 × 10 ) and 349 nm (2.64 × 10 L mol cm ); PL (CHCl
3
, 1.0 × 10 M) λem,max
1
91.2 nm; H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl
3
) δ 7.62–7.58 (m, 2H), 7.33–7.11 (m, 14H), 7.00 (d, J = 7.5 Hz,
H), 6.85 (t, J = 7.3 Hz, 2H), 6.50 (s, 1H), 6.33 (d, J = 1.9 Hz, 2H), 5.56 (s, 2H), 1.98–1.73 (m, 4H), 1.15
13
(s, 2H), 0.91 (d, J = 13.8 Hz, 2H), and 0.84–0.39 (m, 30H); C-NMR (125 MHz, CDCl
3
) δ 152.0, 150.5,
50.1, 148.0, 146.9, 144.7, 142.7, 141.0, 136.7, 129.3, 129.1, 126.7, 126.4, 124.3, 123.9, 122.7, 122.4,
21.0, 120.3, 119.8, 119.2, 118.0, 105.9, 100.3, 54.8, 51.0, 50.7, 38.0, 37.8, 37.7, 33.2, 33.0, 30.9, 30.0,
1
1
2
9.5, 29.4, 22.6, and 22.5; MALDI–TOF MS calcd for C117
H
153
N
, m/z 767.5; found, m/z 768.9 (MH+).
3
4
. Conclusions
A novel highly luminescent tris-fluorenyl ring-interconnected chromophore tris(DPAF-C
designed and synthesized using a C symmetrical triaminobenzene core as the synthon. The structural
moiety bears a close resemblance to that of 2-diphenylamino-9,9-dialkylfluorenyl attachment in the
starburst nonlinear photonic materials C60(>DPAF-C , reported previously [33–36]. The synthetic
9
) 7 was
3
)
n x
chromophore 7 was chromatographically purified and characterized as a major stereoisomer possessing
a 3D structural configuration of the cis-cup-conformer showing symmetrical phenyl protons of the
central benzene ring. A molecular calculated structure of 7 at B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory based on

Molecules 2015, 20
4652
the optimized 3D structure indicated the unexpected stability of the cup-form as explained by the
dihedral torsional angle of the central benzene ring that revealed much less angle strain than that of the
stereoisomer in a propeller-form. Angle strain of the trans-chair-conformer was found to be higher by
the same calculation due to the unavoidable unsymmetrical conformation. These analyses provided the
explanation on the exclusive isolation of highly symmetrical cis-cup-conformer of tris(DPAF-C
fluorescent emission wavelength of cis-tris(DPAF-C ) was found in a close range to that of PVK with
slightly lower HOMO (−4.81 eV) than that of Ir(ppy) (−4.9 eV). Therefore, this donor chromophore
9
). The
9
3
may serve as the secondary blue hole-transporting material, which is capable of minimizing the
aggregation-related self-quenching effect, in the modulation of PLED performance.
Supplementary Materials
Supplementary materials can be accessed at: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/03/4635/s1.
Acknowledgments
The authors at UML thank the financial support of Air Force Office of Scientific Research
(
AFOSR) under the grant number FA9550-09-1-0380, FA9550-09-1-0183, and FA9550-14-1-0153.
The author at GIST thanks the financial support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
MEST) under Basic Science Research Program (Project no. 2011-0026341).
(
Author Contributions
All authors contribute a significant effort on this work. NGK, SJ, MW, and TC carried out synthetic
works, spectroscopic characterization, and data analysis; CLL carried out device fabrication, performance
evaluation, and physical property characterization; KK performed molecular simulation, energy
calculation, and a part of manuscript drafting; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Sample Availability: Samples are not available from the authors.
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2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
(