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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals
Published on: May 29, 2018
Electron-injection-induced global aromaticity enables stable open-shell nanopillars with intense mid-infrared
Kongchuan Wu1, Shicheng Dong2, Qiqi Chen1
1Department of Chemistry, Fujian Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Xiamen 361005 Fujian China meghjzhang@xmu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Open-shell species are central to spintronics and infrared optoelectronics, but remain challenging to stabilize in discrete molecular systems. Herein, we report that electron injection into pillar-shaped, radially π-conjugated [4]cyclonaphthodithiophene diimides ([4]C-NDTIs) triggers global aromaticity, yielding radical species with notable stability and optical properties. These globally aromatic radicals exhibit record-high mid-infrared (MIR) absorption (ε up to 105 M-1 cm-1), strong near-infrared (NIR) chiroptical activity (g CD up to 2.4 × 10-2), and exhibit MIR magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) with gMCD up to 5.0 × 10-3 T-1. In solution, the radical monoanion exhibits superior kinetic stability (τ 1/2 = 4.3 days) compared to the diradical dianion (τ 1/2 = 1.5 days), revealing a balance between aromatic stabilization and charge destabilization. These properties persist even upon C60 encapsulation, underscoring the robustness of the aromaticity-based design. This work establishes electron-injection-induced global aromaticity as a general strategy for stabilizing open-shell species while unlocking long-wavelength chiroptical and magneto-optical functionalities.
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