Reimagining <i>o</i> ‐Carborane‐Based Fluorophores: Charge‐Transfer from Boron Substituents Triggers Aggregation‐ and Crystallization‐Induced Emission

B Balázs Szathmári (Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3. Budapest H‐1111 Hungary) Y Yanhong Gao (Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3. Budapest H‐1111 Hungary) D Dániel Buzsáki (HUN‐REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics P.O. Box 49. Budapest H‐1525 Hungary) D Dániel Zámbó (Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science HUN‑REN Centre for Energy Research Konkoly‑Thege Miklós út 29‑33. Budapest H‐1121 Hungary) T Tamás Holczbauer (Chemical Crystallography Research Laboratory and Stereochemistry Research Group Institute for Organic Chemistry, HUN‐REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences Magyar Tudósok körútja 2A. Budapest H‐1117 Hungary) A Antal Udvardy (Department of Physical Chemistry University of Debrecen Egyetem tér 1. Debrecen H‐4032 Hungary) P Pál Szabó J Júlia Kertész (Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3. Budapest H‐1111 Hungary) D Dóra Hessz (Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science and MTA‐BME Lendület Quantum Chemistry Research Group Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3 Budapest H‐1111 Hungary) Z Zsolt Kelemen (Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3. Budapest H‐1111 Hungary)

Abstract

Abstract o ‐Carborane‐based fluorophores are widely recognized for their aggregation‐induced and crystallization‐induced emission (AIE and CIE) properties, making them valuable building blocks for materials used in fluorescence applications such as bioimaging or optoelectronics. Until now, observing AIE/CIE required the fluorophore to be attached via the carbon atom of the carborane, inherently limiting further functionalization possibilities. Herein, we report for the first time that boron‐substituted carboranes (substituent is at position 9) exhibit AIE/CIE activity, which originates from photoexcitation‐induced electron‐transfer from the substituents linked to the carborane cage via its boron vertices. Furthermore, the solid state emission can be tailored by the proper selection of the substituents. This finding not only significantly broadens the scope of AIE‐active compounds but also offers new design strategies for the development of luminescent carborane‐based materials.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 10
Published March 02, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

B

Balázs Szathmári

Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3. Budapest H‐1111 Hungary

Y

Yanhong Gao

Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3. Budapest H‐1111 Hungary

D

Dániel Buzsáki

HUN‐REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics P.O. Box 49. Budapest H‐1525 Hungary

D

Dániel Zámbó

Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science HUN‑REN Centre for Energy Research Konkoly‑Thege Miklós út 29‑33. Budapest H‐1121 Hungary

T

Tamás Holczbauer

Chemical Crystallography Research Laboratory and Stereochemistry Research Group Institute for Organic Chemistry, HUN‐REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences Magyar Tudósok körútja 2A. Budapest H‐1117 Hungary

A

Antal Udvardy

Department of Physical Chemistry University of Debrecen Egyetem tér 1. Debrecen H‐4032 Hungary

P

Pál Szabó

J

Júlia Kertész

Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3. Budapest H‐1111 Hungary

D

Dóra Hessz

Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science and MTA‐BME Lendület Quantum Chemistry Research Group Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3 Budapest H‐1111 Hungary

Z

Zsolt Kelemen

Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Műegyetem rkp. 3. Budapest H‐1111 Hungary