@phdthesis{Wenderoth2024, author = {Wenderoth, Sarah}, title = {Synthesis and characterization of shear stress indicator supraparticles}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-35281}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-352819}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The detection of smallest mechanical loads plays an increasingly important role in many areas of advancing automation and manufacturing technology, but also in everyday life. In this doctoral thesis, various microparticle systems were developed that are able to indicate mechanical shear stress via simple mechanisms. Using a toolbox approach, these systems can be spray-dried from various nanoscale primary particles (silica and iron oxide) to micrometer-sized units, so-called supraparticles. By varying the different building blocks and in combination with different dyes, a new class of mechanochromic shear stress indicators was developed by constructing hierarchically structured core-shell supraparticles that can indicate mechanical stress via an easily detectable color change. Three different mechanisms can be distinguished. If a signal becomes visible only by a mechanical load, it is a turn-on indicator. In the opposite case, the turn-off indicator, the signal is switched off by a mechanical load. In the third mechanism, the color-change indicator, the color changes as a result of a mechanical load. In principle, these indicators can be used in two different ways. First, they can be incorporated into a coating as an additive. These coatings can be applied to a wide range of products, including food packaging, medical devices, and generally any sensitive surface where mechanical stress, such as scratches, is difficult to detect but can have serious consequences. Second, these shear stress indicators can also be used directly in powder form and for example then applied in 3D-printing or in ball mills. A total of six different shear stress indicators were developed, three of which were used as additives in coatings and three were applied in powder form. Depending on their composition, these indicators were readout by fluorescence, UV-Vis or Magnetic Particle Spectroscopy. The development of these novel shear stress indicator supraparticles were successfully combined molecular chemistry with the world of nano-objects to develop macroscopic systems that can enable smart and communicating materials to indicate mechanical stress in a variety of applications.}, subject = {Nanopartikel}, language = {en} } @unpublished{FerschMalyRueheetal.2023, author = {Fersch, Daniel and Mal{\´y}, Pavel and R{\"u}he, Jessica and Lisinetskii, Victor and Hensen, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Brixner, Tobias}, title = {Single-Molecule Ultrafast Fluorescence-Detected Pump-Probe Microscopy}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-31348}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-313485}, year = {2023}, abstract = {We introduce fluorescence-detected pump-probe microscopy by combining a wavelength-tunable ultrafast laser with a confocal scanning fluorescence microscope, enabling access to the femtosecond time scale on the micrometer spatial scale. In addition, we obtain spectral information from Fourier transformation over excitation pulse-pair time delays. We demonstrate this new approach on a model system of a terrylene bisimide (TBI) dye embedded in a PMMA matrix and acquire the linear excitation spectrum as well as time-dependent pump-probe spectra simultaneously. We then push the technique towards single TBI molecules and analyze the statistical distribution of their excitation spectra. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ultrafast transient evolution of several individual molecules, highlighting their different behavior in contrast to the ensemble due to their individual local environment. By correlating the linear and nonlinear spectra, we assess the effect of the molecular environment on the excited-state energy.}, subject = {Fluoreszenz}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Mahl2023, author = {Mahl, Magnus}, title = {Polycyclic Aromatic Dicarboximides as NIR Chromophores, Solid-State Emitters and Supramolecular Host Platforms}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-23462}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-234623}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The present thesis introduce different synthetic strategies towards a variety of polycyclic aromatic dicarboximides (PADIs) with highly interesting and diverse properties. This included tetrachlorinated, tetraaryloxy- and tetraaryl-substituted dicarboximides, fused acceptor‒donor(‒acceptor) structures as well as sterically shielded rylene and nanographene dicarboximides. The properties and thus the disclosure of structure‒property relationships of the resulting dyes were investigated in detail among others with UV‒vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and single crystal X-ray analysis. For instance, some of the fused and substituted PADIs offer strong absorption of visible and near infrared (NIR) light, NIR emission and low-lying LUMO levels. On the contrary, intriguing optical features in the solid-state characterize the rylene dicarboximides with their bulky N-substituents, while the devised sterically enwrapped nanographene host offered remarkable complexation capabilities in solution.}, subject = {Organische Chemie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Merz2020, author = {Merz, Julia}, title = {C-H Borylation: A Route to Novel Pyrenes and Perylenes and the Investigation of their Excited States and Redox Properties}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-18522}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-185226}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that has very interesting photophysical properties which make it suitable for a broad range of applications. The 2,7-positions of pyrene are situated on nodal planes in both the HOMO and LUMO. Hence, electrophilic reactions take place at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 8-positions. The goal of this project was to develop novel pyrene derivatives substituted at the 2- and 2,7-positions, with very strong donors or/and acceptors, to achieve unprecedented properties and to provide a deeper understanding of how to control the excited states and redox properties. For that reason, a julolidine-type moiety was chosen as a very strong donor, giving D-π and D-π-D systems and, with Bmes2 as a very strong acceptor, D-π-A system. These compounds exhibit unusual photophysical properties such as emission in the green region of the electromagnetic spectrum in hexane, whereas all other previously reported pyrene derivatives substituted at the 2,7-positions show blue luminescence. Furthermore, spectroelectrochemical measurements suggest very strong coupling between the substituents at the 2,7-positions of pyrene in the D-π-D system. Theoretical studies show that these properties result from the very strong julolidine-type donor and Bmes2 acceptor coupling efficiently to the pyrene HOMO-1 and LUMO+1, respectively. Destabilization of the former and stabilization of the latter lead to an orbital shuffle between HOMO and HOMO 1, and LUMO and LUMO+1 of pyrene. Consequently, the S1 state changes its nature sufficiently enough to gain higher oscillator strength, and the photophysical and electrochemical properties are then greatly influenced by the substituents. In another project, further derivatives were synthesized with additional acceptor moieties at the K-region of pyrene. These target derivatives exhibit strong bathochromically shifted absorption maxima (519-658 nm), which is a result of the outstanding charge transfer character introduced into the D-π-D pyrene system through the additional acceptor moiety at the K-region. Moreover, emission in the red to NIR region with an emission maximum at 700 nm in CH2Cl2 is detected. The excited state lives unusual long for K-region substituted pyrenes; however, such a lifetime is rather typical for 2,7-substituted pyrene derivatives. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon perylene, especially perylene diimide, has received considerable attention in recent years and has found use in numerous applications such as dyes, pigments and semiconductors. Nevertheless, it is of fundamental importance to understand how to modulate the electronic and photophysical properties of perylene depending on the specific desired application. Perylenes without carboxyimide groups at the peri positions are much less well studied due to the difficulties in functionalizing the perylene core directly. In particular, only ortho heteroatom substituted perylenes have not been reported thus far (exception: (Bpin)4-Per was already reported by Marder and co-workers). Thus, the effect of substituents on the ortho positions of the perylene core has not been investigated. Two perylene derivatives were synthesized that bear four strong diphenylamine donor or strong Bmes2 acceptor moieties at the ortho positions. These compounds represent the first examples of perylenes substituted only at the ortho positions with donors or acceptors. The investigations show that the photophysical and electronic properties of these derivatives are unique and different compared to the well-studied perylene diimides. Thus, up to four reversible reductions or oxidations are possible, which is unprecedented for monomeric perylenes. Furthermore, the photophysical properties of these two ortho-substituted derivatives are unusual compared to reported perylenes on many regards. Thus, large Stokes shifts are obtained, and the singlet excited state of these derivatives lives remarkably long with intrinsic lifetimes of up to 94 ns. In a cooperation with Dr. Gerard P. McGlacken at University College Cork in Ireland, different quinolones were borylated using an iridium catalyst system to study the electronic and steric effect of the substrates. It was possible to demonstrate that the Ir-catalyzed borylation with the dtbpy ligand allows the direct borylation of various 4-quinolones at the 6- and 7-positions. Thus, later stage functionalization is possible with this method and more highly functionalized quinolones are also compatible with this mild reaction conditions.}, subject = {Pyren}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Steinmetzger2020, author = {Steinmetzger, Christian}, title = {Fluorogenic Aptamers and Fluorescent Nucleoside Analogs as Probes for RNA Structure and Function}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20760}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-207604}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {RNA plays a key role in numerous cellular processes beyond the central dogma of molecular biology. Observing and understanding this wealth of functions, discovering new ones and engineering them into purpose-built tools requires a sensitive means of observation. Over the past decade, fluorogenic aptamers have emerged to fill this niche. These short oligonucleotides are generated by in vitro selection to specifically interact with small organic fluorophores and can be utilized as genetically encoded tags for RNAs of interest. The most versatile class of fluorogenic aptamers is based on derivatives of hydroxybenzylidene imidazolone (HBI), a conditional fluorophore mimicking the chromophore structure found in green and red fluorescent proteins. The respective aptamers are well-known by the "vegetable" nomenclature, including Spinach, Broccoli and Corn, and have found numerous applications for studying RNA function in vitro and in cells. Their success, however, is somewhat overshadowed by individual shortcomings such as a propensity for misfolding, dependence on unphysiologically high concentrations of magnesium ions or, in the case of Corn, dimerization that might affect the function of the tagged RNA. Moreover, most fluorogenic aptamers exhibit limited ligand promiscuity by design, thereby restricting their potential for spectral tuning to a narrow window of wavelengths. This thesis details the characterization of a new fluorogenic aptamer system nicknamed Chili. Chili is derived from an aptamer that was originally selected to bind 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy¬hydroxy-benzylidene imidazolone (DMHBI), resulting in a green fluorescent complex. Unlike other aptamers of its kind, Chili engages in a proton transfer cycle with the bound ligand, resulting in a remarkably large Stokes shift of more than 130 nm. By means of an empirical ligand optimization approach, several new DMHBI derivatives were found that bind to Chili with high affinity, furnishing complexes up to 7.5 times brighter compared to the parent ligand. In addition, Chili binds to π-extended DMHBI derivatives that confer fluorescence in the yellow-red region of the visible spectrum. The highest affinity and degree of fluorescence turn-on for both green and red fluorogenic ligands were achieved by the incorporation of a unique, positively charged substituent into the HBI scaffold. Supplemented by NMR spectroscopy, kinetic and thermodynamic studies showed that the binding site of Chili is loosely preorganized in the absence of ligand and likely forms a G-quadruplex upon ligand binding. To showcase future applications, Chili was incorporated into a FRET sensor for monitoring the cleavage of an RNA substrate by a 10-23 DNAzyme. Besides aptamers as macromolecular fluorescent complexes, fluorescent nucleobase analogs are powerful small isomorphic components of RNA suitable for studying structure and folding. Here, the highly emissive nucleobase analog 4-cyanoindole (4CI) was developed into a ribonucleoside (r4CI) for this purpose. A new phosphoramidite building block was synthesized to enable site-specific incorporation of 4CI into RNA. Thermal denaturation experiments confirmed that 4CI behaves as a universal nucleobase, i.e. without bias towards any particular hybridization partner. Photophysical characterization established r4CI as a generally useful fluorescent ribonucleoside analog. In this work, it was employed to gain further insight into the structure of the Chili aptamer. Using several 4CI-modified Chili-HBI complexes, a novel base-ligand FRET assay was established to obtain a set of combined distance and orientation restraints for the tertiary structure of the aptamer. In addition to their utility for interrogating structure and binding, supramolecular FRET pairs comprising a fluorescent nucleobase analog donor and an innately fluorogenic acceptor hold great promise for the construction of color-switchable RNA aptamer sensor devices.}, subject = {Aptamer}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Heil2020, author = {Heil, Hannah Sophie}, title = {Sharpening super-resolution by single molecule localization microscopy in front of a tuned mirror}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20432}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204329}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The „Resolution Revolution" in fluorescence microscopy over the last decade has given rise to a variety of techniques that allow imaging beyond the diffraction limit with a resolution power down into the nanometer range. With this, the field of so-called super-resolution microscopy was born. It allows to visualize cellular architecture at a molecular level and thereby achieve a resolution level that had been previously only accessible by electron microscopy approaches. One of these promising techniques is single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) in its most varied forms such as direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) which are based on the temporal separation of the emission of individual fluorophores. Localization analysis of the subsequently taken images of single emitters eventually allows to reconstruct an image containing super-resolution information down to typically 20 nm in a cellular setting. The key point here is the localization precision, which mainly depends on the image contrast generated the by the individual fluorophore's emission. Thus, measures to enhance the signal intensity or reduce the signal background allow to increase the image resolution achieved by dSTORM. In my thesis, this is achieved by simply adding a reflective metal-dielectric nano-coating to the microscopy coverslip that serves as a tunable nano-mirror. I have demonstrated that such metal-dielectric coatings provide higher photon yield at lower background and thus substantially improve SMLM performance by a significantly increased localization precision, and thus ultimately higher image resolution. The strength of this approach is that ─ except for the coated cover glass ─ no specialized setup is required. The biocompatible metal-dielectric nano-coatings are fabricated directly on microscopy coverslips and have a simple three-ply design permitting straightforward implementation into a conventional fluorescence microscope. The introduced improved lateral resolution with such mirror-enhanced STORM (meSTORM) not only allows to exceed Widefield and Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) dSTORM performance, but also offers the possibility to measure in a simplified setup as it does not require a special TIRF objective lens. The resolution improvement achieved with meSTORM is both spectrally and spatially tunable and thus allows for dual-color approaches on the one hand, and selectively highlighting region above the cover glass on the other hand, as demonstrated here. Beyond lateral resolution enhancement, the clear-cut profile of the highlighted region provides additional access to the axial dimension. As shown in my thesis, this allows for example to assess the three-dimensional architecture of the intracellular microtubule network by translating the local localization uncertainty to a relative axial position. Even beyond meSTORM, a wide range of membrane or surface imaging applications may benefit from the selective highlighting and fluorescence enhancing provided by the metal-dielectric nano-coatings. This includes for example, among others, live-cell Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer studies as recently demonstrated.}, subject = {Fluoreszenz}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Griesbeck2020, author = {Griesbeck, Stefanie Ingrid}, title = {A Very Positive Image of Boron: Triarylborane Chromophores for Live Cell Imaging}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-17992}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-179921}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Efficient quadrupolar chromophores (A-pi-A) with triarylborane moieties as acceptors have been studied by the Marder group regarding their non-linear optical properties and two-photon absorption ability for many years. Within the present work, this class of dyes found applications in live-cell imaging. Therefore, the dyes need to be water-soluble and water-stable in diluted aqueous solutions, which was examined in Chapter 2. Furthermore, the influence of the pi-bridge on absorption and emission maxima, fluorescence quantum yields and especially the two-photon absorption properties of the chromophores was investigated in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, a different strategy for the design of efficient two-photon excited fluorescence imaging dyes was explored using dipoles (D-A) and octupoles (DA3). Finding the optimum balance between water-stability and pi-conjugation and, therefore, red-shifted absorption and emission and high fluorescence quantum yields, was investigated in Chapter 5}, subject = {Borane}, language = {en} } @unpublished{MuellerDraegerMaetal.2018, author = {M{\"u}ller, Stefan and Draeger, Simon and Ma, Kiaonan and Hensen, Matthias and Kenneweg, Tristan and Pfeiffer, Walter and Brixner, Tobias}, title = {Fluorescence-Detected Two-Quantum and One-Quantum-Two-Quantum 2D Electronic Spectroscopy}, series = {Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters}, journal = {Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b00541}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-173468}, year = {2018}, abstract = {We demonstrate two-quantum (2Q) coherent two-dimensional (2D)electronic spectroscopy using a shot-to-shot-modulated pulse shaper and fluorescence detection. Broadband collinear excitation is realized with the supercontinuum output of an argon-filled hollow-core fiber, enabling us to excite multiple transitions simultaneously in the visible range. The 2Q contribution is extracted via a three-pulse sequence with 16-fold phase cycling and simulated employing cresyl violet as a model system. Furthermore, we report the first experimental realization of one-quantum-two-quantum (1Q-2Q) 2D spectroscopy, offering less congested spectra as compared with the 2Q implementation. We avoid scattering artifacts and nonresonant solvent contributions by using fluorescence as the observable. This allows us to extract quantitative information about doubly excited states that agree with literature expectations. The high sensitivity and background-free nature of fluorescence detection allow for a general applicability of this method to many other systems.}, subject = {Fluoreszenz}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bolze2018, author = {Bolze, Tom}, title = {Photodynamics of a fluorescent tetrazolium salt and shaping of femtosecond Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes in time and space}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-160902}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2018}, abstract = {This thesis will outline studies performed on the fluorescence dynamics of phenyl-benzo- [c]-tetrazolo-cinnolium chloride (PTC) in alcoholic solutions with varying viscosity using time-resolved fluoro-spectroscopic methods. Furthermore, the properties of femtosecond Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) laser pulses will be investigated with respect to their temporal and spatial features and an approach will be developed to measure and control the spatial intensity distribution on the time scale of the pulse. Tetrazolium salts are widely used in biological assays for their low oxidation and reduction thresholds and spectroscopic properties. However, a neglected feature in these applications is the advantage that detection of emitted light has over the determination of the absorbance. To corroborate this, PTC as one of the few known fluorescent tetrazolium salts was investigated with regard to its luminescent features. Steady-state spectroscopy revealed how PTC can be formed by a photoreaction from 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) and how the fluorescence quantum yield behaved in alcoholic solvents with different viscosity. In the same array of solvents time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) measurements were performed and the fluorescence decay was investigated. Global analysis of the results revealed different dynamics in the different solvents, but although the main emission constant did change with the solvent, taking the fluorescence quantum yield into consideration resulted in an independence of the radiative rate from the solvent. The non-radiative rate, however, was highly solvent dependent and responsible for the observed solvent-related changes in the fluorescence dynamics. Further studies with the increased time resolution of femtosecond fluorescence upconversion revealed an independence of the main emission constant from the excitation energy, however the dynamics of the cooling processes prior to emission were prolonged for higher excitation energy. This led to a conceivable photoreaction scheme with one emissive state with a competing non-radiative relaxation channel, that may involve an intermediate state. LG laser beams and their properties have seen a lot of scientific attention over the past two decades. Also in the context of new techniques pushing the limit of technology further to explore new phenomena, it is essential to understand the features of this beam class and check the consistency of the findings with theoretical knowledge. The mode conversion of a Hermite-Gaussian (HG) mode into a LG mode with the help of a spiral phase plate (SPP) was investigated with respect to its space-time characteristics. It was found that femtosecond LG and HG pulses of a given temporal duration share the same spectrum and can be characterized using the same well-established methods. The mode conversion proved to only produce the desired LG mode with its characteristic orbital angular momentum (OAM), that is conserved after frequency doubling the pulse. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that temporal shaping of the HG pulse does not alter the result of its mode-conversion, as three completely different temporal pulse shapes produced the same LG mode. Further attention was given to the sum frequency generation of fs LG beams and dynamics of the interference of a HG and a LG pulse. It was found that if both are chirped with inverse signs the spatial intensity distribution does rotate around the beam axis on the time scale of the pulse. A strategy was found that would enable a measurement of these dynamics by upconversion of the interference with a third gate pulse. The results of which are discussed theoretically and an approach of an experimental realization had been made. The simulated findings had only been reproduced to a limited extend due to experimental limitations, especially the interferometric stability of the setup.}, subject = {Tetrazoliumsalze}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schwenk2018, author = {Schwenk, Nicola}, title = {Seeing the Light: Synthesis of Luminescent Rhodacyclopentadienes and Investigations of their Optical Properties and Catalytic Activity}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-149550}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Luminescent organotransition metal complexes are of much current interest. As the large spin-orbit coupling of 2nd and 3rd row transition metals usually leads to rapid intersystem crossing from S1 to T1, which enables phosphorescence, there is a special interest in using triplet-emitting materials in organic or organometallic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Marder et al. have found that, reductive coupling of both para-R-substituted diarylbutadiynes and diaryldodecatetraynes on Rh(PMe3)4X leads to quantitative yields of bis(arylethynyl)-rhodacyclopentadienes with complete regiospecificity (R = BMes2, H, Me, OMe, SMe, CF3, CN, CO2Me, NMe2, NO2, C≡C-TMS and X = -C≡C-TMS, -C≡C-C6H4-4-NMe2, -C≡C-C≡C-C6H4-4-NPh2, Me, Cl).47,49 Unexpectedly, these compounds show intense fluorescence rather than phosphorescence (ɸf = 0.33-0.69, t = 1.2 3.0 ns). The substituent R has a significant influence on the photophysical properties, as absorption and emission are both bathochromically shifted compared to R = H, especially for R = π-acceptor. To clarify the mechanism of the formation of the rhodacyclopentadienes, and to investigate further their unique photophysical properties, a series of novel, luminescent rhodacyclopentadienes with dithiocarbamate as a bidentate ligand at the rhodium centre has been synthesised and characterised (R = NO2, CO2Me, Me, NMe2, SMe, Ar = C6F4-4-OMe). The rhodacyclopentadienes have been formed via reductive coupling of diaryl undecatetraynes with [Rh(k2-S,S`-S2CNEt2)(PMe3)2]. The structures of a series of such compounds were solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction and are discussed in this work. The compounds were fully characterised via NMR, UV/Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as by elemental analysis, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and X-ray diffraction. When heating the reactions, another isomer is formed to a certain extent. The so-called dibenzorhodacyclopentadienes already appeared during earlier studies of Marder et al., when acetylacetonate (acac) was employed as the bidentate ligand at the Rh-centre. They are probably formed via a [4+2] cycloaddition reaction and C-H activation, followed by a β-H shift. Use of the perfluorinated phenyl moiety Ar = C6F4-4-OMe provided a total new insight into the mechanism of formation of the rhodacyclopentadiene isomers and other reactions. Besides the formation of the expected rhodacyclopentadiene, a bimetallic compound was generated, isolated and characterised via X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and high resolution mass spectrometry. For further comparison, analogous reactions with [Rh(k2 S,S` S2CNEt2)(PPh3)2] and a variety of diaryl undecatetraynes (R = NO2 CO2Me, Me, NMe2, SMe, Ar = C6F4-4-OMe) were carried out. They also yield the expected rhodacyclopentadienes, but quickly react with a second or even third equivalent of the tetraynes to form, catalytically, alkyne cyclotrimerisation products, namely substituted benzene derivatives (dimers and trimers), which are highly luminescent. The rhodacyclopentadienes (R = NO2, CO2Me, Me, SMe, Ar = C6F4-4-OMe) are stable and were isolated. The structures of a series of these compounds were obtained via single crystal X-ray crystallography and the compounds were fully characterised via NMR, UV/Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as by elemental analysis and HRMS. Another attempt to clarify the mechanism of formation of the rhodacyclopentadienes involved reacting a variety of diaryl 1,3-butadiynes (R = CO2Me, Me, NMe2, naphthyl) with [Rh(k2 S,S` S2CNEt2)(PMe3)2]. The reactions stop at an intermediate step, yielding a 1:1 trans π-complex, confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy. Only after several weeks, or under forcing conditions (µw / 80 °C, 75 h), the formation of another major product occurs, having bound a second diaryl 1,3-butadiyne. Based on earlier results of Murata, the product is identified as an unusual [3+2] cycloaddition product, ϭ-bound to the rhodium centre.}, subject = {Rhodium}, language = {en} }