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Small differences in molecular or solid-state structure can afford significant differences in properties. Here, a diene derivative, 1,3-bis((E)-2-bromostyryl)benzene (2Brm), is synthesized and crystallized into two unique solid-state forms, each exhibiting a different π–π stacking geometry, which imparts distinct reactivity and photoresponsivity. Upon exposure of the two solids to UV–Vis light, a [2 + 2] photocycloaddition occurs to afford regioisomeric products due to the difference in the stacking geometries of the dienes. From a single molecular precursor, we further demonstrate that under different wavelengths of light, the chemical functionality can be programmed into discrete and distinct products containing one, two, or three cyclobutane rings as well as oligomeric/polymeric products. Moreover, the two initial solid forms exhibit wavelength-dependent photomechanical behaviors (i.e., photosalience). This work demonstrates a rare, template-free, self-assembly-based strategy that enables access to a suite of discrete and oligomeric/polymeric products via regiocontrolled solid-state photocycloadditions and further presents potential routes toward the design of photoactuating materials. 

The thermal and thermomechanical behavior of multi-component organic solids is tuned at the molecular levelviapreparation of mixed cocrystals. 

Thermosalience in an anthracene-thiocarboxamide occurs due to strong anisotropic thermal expansion, and the solid responds uniquely to different external stimuli. 

The thermal expansion behavior of a series of halogen-bonded cocrystals containing 1,4-diiodoperchlorobenzene as the donor is described. Two of the solids are polymorphs and contain 4-stilbazole as the acceptor, while the third solid contains 4-(phenylethynyl)pyridine as the acceptor, and this solid is isostructural with one of the polymorphs. All solids are sustained by I···N halogen bonds, and the least thermal expansion occurs along this direction in all solids. The polymorphs exhibit significant differences in π stacking, and we show that electronically similar face-to-face stacked rings undergo more expansion compared to electronically different stacked rings. Moreover, in the two polymorphs, the directions of moderate expansion and most expansion are reversed, demonstrating how cocrystal polymorphism can affect material properties. 

Thermal expansion (TE) behavior in solid-state materials is influenced by both molecular and supramolecular structure. For solid-state materials assembled through covalent bonds, such as carbon allotropes, solids with higher dimensionality (i.e., diamond) exhibit less TE than solids with lower dimensionality (e.g., fullerene, graphite). Thus, as the dimensionality of the solid increases, the TE decreases. However, an analogous and systematic variation of the dimensionality in solid-state materials assembled through noncovalent bonds with a correlation to TE has not been studied. Here, we designed a series of solids based on dimensional hierarchy to afford materials with zero-dimensional (0D), 1D, and 2D hydrogen-bonded structures. The 2D materials are structural analogues of graphite and covalent-organic frameworks, and we demonstrate that these 2D solids exhibit unique biaxial zero TE with anisotropic and colossal TE along the π-stacked direction (α ∼ 200 MK–1). The overall behavior in the 2D hydrogen-bonded solids is similar to 2D covalent-bonded solids; however, the coefficient of TE along the π-stacked direction for these hydrogen-bonded solids is an order of magnitude higher than in 2D graphite or phosphorus allotropes. The hierarchal materials design strategy and correlation to TE properties described herein can be broadly applied to the design and synthesis of new solid-state materials sustained by covalent or noncovalent bonds with control over solid-state behaviors. 

Designing materials to have three unique but predictable thermal expansion axes represents a major challenge. Inorganic materials and hybrid frameworks tend to crystallize in high-symmetry space groups, which necessarily limits this by affording isotropic behavior. On the other hand, molecular organic materials tend to crystallize in lower-symmetry space groups, offering significant opportunity to achieve anisotropic properties. The challenge arises in self-assembling the organic components into a predictable arrangement to afford predictable thermal expansion properties. Here, we demonstrate a design strategy for engineering organic solid-state materials that exhibit anisotropic thermomechanical behaviors. Presented are a series of multicomponent solids wherein one component features a BODPIY core strategically decorated with orthogonal hydrogen- and halogen-bond donor groups. A series of size-matched halogen-bond acceptors are used as the second component in each solid. By matching the molecular dimensions with the interaction strength, we obtained good control over the anisotropic thermal expansion of the molecular materials. Moreover, using shape-size mimicry and propensity for molecular motion, a rare ternary molecular system that is isostructural to the two binary solids was successfully achieved. The diiodo-functionalized BODIPY core in this study has been previously used in photocatalysts, and halogen bonding was hypothesized as a driving force; here, we provide corroborating solution and solid-state evidence of intermolecular halogen bonding in multicomponent solids featuring a 2,6-diiodo BODIPY. 

Abstract Achieving substantial anisotropic thermal expansion (TE) in solid‐state materials is challenging as most materials undergo volumetric expansion upon heating. Here, we describe colossal, anisotropic TE in crystals of an organic compound functionalized with two azo groups. Interestingly, the material exhibits distinct and switchable TE behaviors within different temperature regions. At high temperature, two‐dimensional, area zero TE and colossal, positive linear TE (α=211 MK⁻¹) are attained due to dynamic motion, while at low temperature, moderate positive TE occurs in all directions. Investigation of the solid‐state motion showed the change in enthalpy and entropy are quite different in the two temperature regions and solid‐state NMR experiments support motion in the solid. Cycling experiments demonstrate that the solid‐state motions and TE behaviors are completely reversible. These results reveal strategies for designing significant anisotropic and switchable behaviors in solid‐state materials. 

A strategy for modifying thermal expansion properties in dichroic, charge-transfer cocrystals is described. A solid-state Diels–Alder reaction is used to covalently connect adjacent molecules in the cocrystal, and thermal expansion along the direction of these bonds is reduced when compared to the unreacted cocrystals.