Recent advances in π-conjugated NC-chelate organoboron materials

Boron-containing π-conjugated materials are archetypical candidates for a variety of molecular scale applications. The incorporation of boron into the π-conjugated frameworks significantly modifies the nature of the parent π-conjugated systems. Several novel boron-bridged π-conjugated materials with intriguing structural, photo-physical and electrochemical properties have been reported over the last few years. In this paper, we review the properties and multidimensional applications of the boron-bridged fused-ring π-conjugated systems. We critically highlight the properties of π-conjugated NC-chelate organoboron materials. This is followed by a discussion on the potential applications of the new materials in opto-electronics (O-E) and other areas. Finally, attempts will be made to predict the future direction/outlook for this class of materials.