Optical properties of BPP and DPP spiro-cyclotriphosphazenes: experimental and DFT insights


Babali Özen L., Özkan G., Kurt E., Turgut Cin G., Gündüz B., Özen F.

CHEMICAL PAPERS, cilt.80, sa.5, ss.8-26, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 80 Sayı: 5
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s11696-026-04937-9
  • Dergi Adı: CHEMICAL PAPERS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Chemical Abstracts Core
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.8-26
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Spiro-cyclotriphosphazenes such as 2,2-dichloro-4,4,6,6-bis[spiro(2',2''-dioxy-1',1''-biphenyl)]cyclotriphosphazene (DPP)

and 2,2,4,4-tetrachloro-6,6-[spiro(2',2''-dioxy-1',1''-biphenyl)]cyclotriphosphazene (BPP) are well-established intermediates

for functional phosphazene derivatives. However, their intrinsic optical and electronic properties have not been systematically

explored under varying experimental conditions. In this work, DPP and BPP were synthesized and characterized

to elucidate the correlation between structural parameters and photophysical behavior. A complementary experimental

approach was employed: DPP optical properties were examined in solution as a function of molarity, while BPP properties

were investigated in the solid state as a function of film thickness. This strategy enables a comparative evaluation of how

intermolecular interactions and structural topology influence optical behavior. UV–Vis measurements revealed band-gap

narrowing from 3.904 to 3.805 eV for BPP and from 3.921 to 3.830 eV for DPP, accompanied by red shifts. DFT calculations

(B3LYP/6—31G(d,p)) reproduced the relative trends, with HOMO–LUMO gaps of 1.91 eV (BPP) and 0.92 eV

(DPP); although absolute values differ from experiment, the calculations correctly predict the relative absorption onsets

and tunable optical behavior. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps and conceptual DFT descriptors indicate that

BPP is harder and more electrophilic, while DPP is softer and more polarizable, consistent with red-shifted absorption.

These findings highlight the intrinsic optical robustness of both compounds and demonstrate that parameters such as

film thickness, solution molarity, and ring topology can be used to tailor optoelectronic properties. The study establishes

BPP and DPP as promising candidates for UV–blue optoelectronic devices, photodetectors, and wide-bandgap photonic

materials.