Electrochemistry, electrogenerated chemiluminescence, and excimer formation dynamics of intramolecular π-stacked 9-naphthylanthracene derivatives and organic nanoparticles.

We report the electrochemical characterization and the observation of excimer emission from a series of 9-naphthylanthracene-based dimer- and trimer-bridged high steric hindrance aromatic groups during photoluminescence (PL) measurements in the solid state and in solution electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) measurements. Cyclic voltammetry of 4,4'-bis(9-(1-naphthyl)anthracen-10-yl)biphenyl (4A) and 1,3,5-tris(9-(1-naphthyl)anthracen-10-yl)benzene (4C) showed two or three reversible, closely spaced one-electron transfers on oxidation in dichloromethane. The ECL emission spectra of 4A and 4C resulting from the annihilation reaction in benzonitrile showed two bands: one at the same wavelength as the PL peak in the solution state, and a broad band at longer wavelength. With a coreactant, such as peroxydisulfate, ECL spectra showed a single peak that was less broad in shape. PL measurement in the solid state and measurement of representative time traces of PL intensity, lifetimes, and picosecond time-correlated single-photon counting confirmed excimer emission at long wavelength. A reprecipitation method was used to prepare well-dispersed organic nanoparticles (NPs) of 4A in both aqueous and acetonitrile solutions. The smallest stable size of NPs produced was ~15 ± 6 nm, as analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. These organic NPs produced stable and weak ECL emission from the annihilation reaction in both aqueous and MeCN solutions. With a coreactant, such as peroxydisulfate, the ECL signal on reduction was sufficiently strong to obtain an ECL spectrum.