Supramolecular Chemistry
We explore the binding between electron-rich and planar donor molecules, for example cyclic trinuclear Au(I) complexes, and acceptors with potential interest for sensing applications, as well as the incorporation of guest molecules in macrocycles, such as calixarenes and conjugated nanohoops.
Selected articles by the group:
- M. Schmidt, M. Hermann, F. Otteny, B. Esser, "Calix[n]phenothiazines: Optoelectronic and Structural Properties and Host–Guest Chemistry," Org. Mater. 2020, 2, 235-239. DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1714295
- R. Hahn, F. Bohle, W. Fang, A. Walther, S. Grimme, B. Esser, "Raising the Bar in Aromatic Donor-Acceptor Interactions with Cyclic Trinuclear Gold(I) Complexes as Strong π-Donors," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 17932–17944. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b08823
- R. Hahn, F. Bohle, S. Kotte, T. J. Keller, S.-S. Jester, A. Hansen, S. Grimme, B. Esser, "Donor-acceptor interactions between cyclic trinuclear pyridinate gold(I)-complexes and electron-poor guests: Nature and energetics of guest-binding and templating on graphite," Chem. Sci. 2018, 9, 3477–3483. DOI: 10.1039/C7SC05355J
Small Molecule Semiconductors and Emitters
We investigate novel materials and concepts for small molecule organic semiconductors and emitters. Using dibenzopentalenes, we modulate their orbital energies and crystal packing by structural engineering to make them attractive ambipolar materials for n- and p-type organic field-effect transistors. For donor-acceptor-type emitters, we explored the effect of spiroconjugation on the optical properties of the compounds by incorporating spiro centers within the donor, acceptor or in between donor and acceptor unit.
Selected articles by the group:
- M. Hermann, R. Wu, D. C. Grenz, D. Kratzert, H. Li, B. Esser, "Thioether- and sulfone-functionalized dibenzopentalenes as n‑channel semiconductors for organic field-effect transistors," J. Mater. Chem. C 2018, 6, 5420–5426. DOI: 10.1039/C8TC00970H
- D. C. Grenz, D. Rose, J. S. Wössner, J. Wilbuer, F. Adler, M. Hermann, C.-Y. Chan, C. Adachi, B. Esser, "Spiroconjugated Tetraaminospirenes as Donors in Color-tunable Charge-transfer Emitters with Donor-acceptor Structure," Chem. Eur. J. 2021, 28, e202104150. DOI: 10.1002/chem.202104150
- J. S. Wössner D. C. Grenz, D. Kratzert, B. Esser, "Tuning the optical properties of spiro-centered charge-transfer dyes by extending the donor or acceptor part," Org. Chem. Front. 2019, 6, 3649–3656. DOI: 10.1039/C9QO01134J
This research is funded by the DFG.
The Esser Lab is located at the Institute of Organic Chemistry II and Advanced Materials at Ulm University. You can find us in M25 in rooms 3401 to 3410, in O25/O26 and at the POLiS Cluster of Excellence building, Lise-Meitner-Straße 16 in Ulm.
Our research on conjugated nanohoops is funded by the DFG and the ERC (Consolidator Grant NanOBatt).
