Luminescent Donor‐Acceptor Radical With Propeller Chirality: Bright and Photostable Red Circularly Polarized Luminescence and Whispering Gallery Mode Resonance

K Kazuhiro Nakamura (Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University 1 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,) K Kenshiro Matsuda (Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University 1 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,) K Kosuke Anraku (Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University 1 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,) K Keiko Yamaoka (Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University 4 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,) T Taisuke Matsumoto (Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering Kyushu University Kasuga Japan) F Fumitaka Ishiwari T Takeaki Zaima (Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University 1 , Takano Nishibiraki-cho 34-4, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8103,) W Wataru Ota (MOLFEX, Inc., 34-4 Takano Nishibiraki-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8103, Japan) E Emiko Fujiwara (Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University 2 , Takano Nishibiraki-cho 34-4, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8103,) T Tohru Sato (Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry) Y Yoshitaka Inoue (Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan) S Soh Kushida (Department of Materials Science, Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan) Y Yohei Yamamoto (Department of Materials Science, Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan) T Takuya Hosokai (National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) 5 , Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565,) K Ken Albrecht (Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University 4 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Luminescent radicals are an emerging class of materials for organic electronics, bioimaging, and quantum applications. Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) from luminescent radicals with propeller‐type chirality remains challenging because it is difficult to simultaneously achieve high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), high stability, and high racemization barriers. A series of brominated chiral luminescent radicals, CzTTBrM, 2CzTTBrM, and 3CzTTBrM, was obtained by attaching carbazole donors to TTBrM. The donor‐acceptor‐type design induces red to near‐infrared (NIR) emission via charge transfer (CT) excited states with remarkably high PLQY (up to 76%) and high photostability. The new radicals possess high racemization barriers (Δ G ‡ (353K) = 27.9–29.1 kcal/mol), allowing the isolation of enantiopure compounds at room temperature. The enantiopure radicals exhibit CPL with broad emission across the red to NIR range (650–800 nm) and display B CPL values (0.76–1.1), nearly one order of magnitude higher than that of TTBrM (B CPL = 0.16). Moreover, doping these radicals into polystyrene microspheres produces whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonances, marking the first observation of WGM emission from luminescent radicals. This strategy establishes a versatile platform for integrating spin, chirality, and luminescence, offering new opportunities for applications in electroluminescence, bioimaging, and quantum photonics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 24
Published June 08, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

K

Kazuhiro Nakamura

Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University 1 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,

K

Kenshiro Matsuda

Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University 1 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,

K

Kosuke Anraku

Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University 1 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,

K

Keiko Yamaoka

Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University 4 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,

T

Taisuke Matsumoto

Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering Kyushu University Kasuga Japan

F

Fumitaka Ishiwari

T

Takeaki Zaima

Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University 1 , Takano Nishibiraki-cho 34-4, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8103,

W

Wataru Ota

MOLFEX, Inc., 34-4 Takano Nishibiraki-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8103, Japan

E

Emiko Fujiwara

Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University 2 , Takano Nishibiraki-cho 34-4, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8103,

T

Tohru Sato

Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry

Y

Yoshitaka Inoue

Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Japan

S

Soh Kushida

Department of Materials Science, Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan

Y

Yohei Yamamoto

Department of Materials Science, Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan

T

Takuya Hosokai

National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) 5 , Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565,

K

Ken Albrecht

Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University 4 , 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,