Change in spin state and enhancement of redox reactivity of photoexcited states of aromatic carbonyl compounds by complexation with metal ion salts acting as Lewis acids. Lewis acid-catalyzed photoaddition of benzyltrimethylsilane and tetramethyltin via photoinduced electron transfer

The lowest excited state of aromatic carbonyl compounds (naphthaldehydes, acetonaphthones, and 10-methylacridone) is changed from the n,pi triplet to the pi,pi singlet which becomes lower in energy than the n,pi triplet by the complexation with metal ions such as Mg(ClO(4))(2) and Sc(OTf)(3) (OTf = triflate), which act as Lewis acids. Remarkable positive shifts of the one-electron reduction potentials of the singlet excited states of the Lewis acid-carbonyl complexes (e.g., 1.3 V for the 1-naphthaldehyde-Sc(OTf)(3) complex) as compared to those of the triplet excited states of uncomplexed carbonyl compounds result in a significant increase in the redox reactivity of the Lewis acid complexes vs uncomplexed carbonyl compounds in the photoinduced electron-transfer reactions. Such enhancement of the redox reactivity of the Lewis acid complexes leads to the efficient C-C bond formation between benzyltrimethylsilane and aromatic carbonyl compounds via the Lewis-acid-promoted photoinduced electron transfer. The quantum yield determinations, the fluorescence quenching, and direct detection of the reaction intermediates by means of laser flash photolysis experiments indicate that the Lewis acid-catalyzed photoaddition reactions proceed via photoinduced electron transfer from benzyltrimethylsilane to the singlet excited states of Lewis acid-carbonyl complexes.     

Photoinduced Electron Transfer between N,N, Nr,N' ‐Tetra‐(p‐methylphenyl)‐4, 4‐diamino‐1, 1'‐diphenyl Ether (TPDAE) and Fullerenes (C60/C70) by Laser Flash Photolysis

The photoinduced electron‐transfer reaction of N, N, N', N'‐tetra‐(p‐methylphenyl)‐4,4'‐diamino‐1,1'‐diphenyl ether (TPDAE) and fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) by nanosecond laser flash photolysis occurred in benzonitrile. Transient absorption spectral measurements were carried out during 532 nm laser flash photolysis of a mixture of the fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) and TPDAE. The electron transfer from the TPDAE to excited triplet state of the fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) quantum yields and rate constants of electron transfer from TPDAE to excited triplet state of fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) in benzonitrile have been evaluated by observing the transient absorption bands in the near‐IR region where the excited triplet state, radical anion of fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) and radical cations of TPDAE are expected to appear.     

A theoretical insight into the deactivating reactions of triplet excited state C60 by β-carotene

By means of quantum chemical calculations, the deactivating reactions of triplet excited state C₆₀ by β-carotene were explored from the thermodynamic point of view. The solvent effect on the deactivating mechanisms was also discussed. Primarily, the energy transfer from triplet excited state C₆₀ to β-carotene is feasible both in benzene and water. Secondly, β-carotene may also deactivate triplet excited state C₆₀ through electron transfer from ground state β-carotene to triplet excited state C₆₀ or from triplet excited state β-carotene to triplet excited state C₆₀ in water, while only the latter pathway is thermodynamically favorable in benzene.     

Photoinduced Energy and Electron Transfer in Phenylethynyl‐Bridged Zinc Porphyrin–Oligothienylenevinylene–C60 Ensembles

Donor–bridge–acceptor triad (Por‐2TV‐C₆₀) and tetrad molecules ((Por)₂‐2TV‐C₆₀), which incorporated C₆₀ and one or two porphyrin molecules that were covalently linked through a phenylethynyl‐oligothienylenevinylene bridge, were synthesized. Their photodynamics were investigated by fluorescence measurements, and by femto‐ and nanosecond laser flash photolysis. First, photoinduced energy transfer from the porphyrin to the C₆₀ moiety occurred rather than electron transfer, followed by electron transfer from the oligothienylenevinylene to the singlet excited state of the C₆₀ moiety to produce the radical cation of oligothienylenevinylene and the radical anion of C₆₀. Then, back‐electron transfer occurred to afford the triplet excited state of the oligothienylenevinylene moiety rather than the ground state. Thus, the porphyrin units in (Por)‐2TV‐C₆₀ and (Por)₂‐2TV‐C₆₀ acted as efficient photosensitizers for the charge separation between oligothienylenevinylene and C₆₀.     

Transient Absorption Spectral characterization of Electron Transfer between Fullerenes（C60／C70）and N,N,N’，N’—Tetra（p—methylphenyl）—4,4’—diamino—1,1’—diphenyl Sulphide（TPDAS）

In search of new systems with a photoexcited redox pair which exhibits a strong and stable photoinduced absorption band to understand the photophyscial and photochemical properties of electron transfer between fullernes (C60/C70) and organic donor[N,N,N’，N’-tetra(p-methylphenyl)-4,4’-diamino-1,1’-diphenyl sulphide(TPDAS)],we studied characteristic absorption spectra in the near-IR region obtained from 532nm nanosecond laser flash photolysis of a mixture of the fullerenes (C60/C70) and TPDAS in polar solvents.When fullerenes (C60/C70)were photoexcithed,the rise of the radical anion of fullerenes (C60/C70)with the rapid decay of their excited triplet states were observed in benzonitrile.It can be deduced that the electron transfer reaction does take place from TPDAS to excithed triplet state of rullerens(C60/C70).The rate consants(ket)and quantum yiekls(φet) of this process have been also evaluated.     

Fullerene-fluorescein-anthracene hybrids: a model for artificial photosynthesis and solar energy conversion

Two novel C₆₀-fluorescein-anthracene hybrids have been synthesized. Fluorescence quenching in the hybrids indicates an energy transfer from the excited state of anthracene to fluorescein and photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer from the excited state of fluorescein to the C₆₀ moiety.     

Combined Transient Spectra and Semiempirical Calculation of [60]Fullerenes Attached with Piperidinodithiocarboxylate and 7-Chloro-phenazine

[60]Fullerenes attached with piperidinodithiocarboxylate dyad （1） and 7-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenazine （2） were efficiently synthesized through Diels-Atder cycloaddition with dienes. The physical properties of the triplet states of these compounds, in which strong electron acceptor moieties were covalently attached to C60 cores, were investigated by nanosecond laser flash photolysis. The excited triplet states in benzonitrite have been evaluated by observing the transient absorption bands in the near-IR region. The HOMO and LUMO were calculated by semiempirical methods AM1, which could predict the intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer in 1 and 2, and the nanosecond transient absorption spectra observed experimentally in solution were in excellent agreement with the calculated ones.     

Ultrafast Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Charge Stabilization in Donor–Acceptor Dyads Capable of Harvesting Near‐Infrared Light

To harvest energy from the near‐infrared (near‐IR) and infrared (IR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, which constitutes nearly 70 % of the solar radiation, there is a great demand for near‐IR and IR light‐absorbing sensitizers that are capable of undergoing ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer when connected to a suitable electron acceptor. Towards achieving this goal, in the present study, we report multistep syntheses of dyads derived from structurally modified BF₂‐chelated azadipyrromethene (ADP; to extend absorption and emission into the near‐IR region) and fullerene as electron‐donor and electron‐acceptor entities, respectively. The newly synthesized dyads were fully characterized based on optical absorbance, fluorescence, geometry optimization, and electrochemical studies. The established energy level diagram revealed the possibility of electron transfer either from the singlet excited near‐IR sensitizer or singlet excited fullerene. Femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption studies were performed to gather evidence of excited state electron transfer and to evaluate the kinetics of charge separation and charge recombination processes. These studies revealed the occurrence of ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer leading to charge stabilization in the dyads, and populating the triplet states of ADP, benzanulated‐ADP and benzanulated thiophene‐ADP in the respective dyads, and triplet state of C₆₀ in the case of BF₂‐chelated dipyrromethene derived dyad during charge recombination. The present findings reveal that these sensitizers are suitable for harvesting light energy from the near‐IR region of the solar spectrum and for building fast‐responding optoelectronic devices operating under near‐IR radiation input.     

Photoinduced electron transfer of fullerenes (C60 and C70) studied by transient absorption measurements in near-IR region

Efficiencies and rates of electron transfer from various electron donors to excited fullerenes (C₆₀ and C₇₀) have been determined by observing the transient absorption bands in the near-IR region, where the anion radicals of fullerenes appear. From the rise of the absorption bands of C₆₀ ⁻⁺ and C₇₀ ⁻⁺ in the near-IR region, electron transfer takes place via the triplet states (^TC₆₀ ^* and ^TC₇₀ ^*) under appropriately low concentrations of electron donors. By analysis of the rise curves C₆₀ ⁻⁺ and C₇₀ ⁻⁺, contribution of the excited singlet states (^SC₆₀ ^* and ^SC₇₀ ^*) in addition to the route of the triplet states (^TC₆₀ ^* and ^TC₇₀ ^*) is confirmed. The quantum yield for electron transfer via the triplet states Φ_ct ^T was evaluated by the ratio of [C₆₀ ⁻⁺]/[^TC₆₀ ^*] (or [C₇₀ ⁻⁺/[^TC₇₀ ^*]). The Φ_ct ^T depends upon the donor-ability, donor concentration, and solvent polarity. The back electron-transfer process, which was evaluated by observing C₆₀ ⁻⁺, also depends upon the solvent polarity.     

Photoinduced electron transfer between C60 and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine (NTMB). Fourier transform electron paramagnetic resonance study

Fourier transform EPR spectroscopy was employed in studying the electron transfer (ET) reaction and the quenching mechanisms of the photoexcited triplet state of C₆₀ as electron acceptor and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine (NTMB) as electron donor in benzonitrile solution. The ET reaction product, the cation radical NTMB^*+, interacts with ^3*C₆₀, leading to photoinduced electron polarization of NTMB^*+ via triplet-doublet mixing mechanism combined with triplet mechanism. The quenching of ^3*C₆₀ and the polarization behavior of NTMB^*+ are discussed.     

Photophysical Properties and Photoinduced Electron Transfer between[60]Fullerene—containing Cyclic Sulphoxide [C60—C60H8SO]and Tetrathiafulvalene（TTF） by Laser Flash Photolysis

Photoinduced electron transfer(PET) processes between C60-C6H8SO and Tetrathiafulvalene(TTF) have been studied by nanosecond laser photolysis.Quantrm yiekds(φet) and rate constants of electron transfer(ket) from TTF to excited triplet state of[60] fullerene-containing cyclic sulphoxide in benzonitrile(BN) have been evaluated by observing the transient absorption bands in the NIR region.With the decay of excited triplet state of [60]fullerene-containing cyclic suplhoxide,the rise of radical anion of [60]fullerene-containing cyclic sulphoxinde is observed.     

Tuning Electron Donor–Acceptor Hybrids by Alkali Metal Complexation

A zinc phthalocyanine endowed with four [18]‐crown‐6 moieties, ZnPc_TeCr, has been prepared and self‐assembled with either pyridyl‐functionalized perylenebisimides (PDI‐Py) or fullerenes (C₆₀‐Py) to afford a set of novel electron donor–acceptor hybrids. In the case of ZnPc_TeCr, aggregation has been circumvented by the addition of potassium or rubidium ions to lead to the formation of monomers and cofacial dimers, respectively. From fluorescence titration experiments, which gave rise to mutual interactions between the electron donors and the acceptors in the excited state, the association constants of the respective ZnPc_TeCr monomers and/or dimers with the corresponding electron acceptors were derived. Complementary transient‐absorption experiments not only corroborated photoinduced electron transfer from ZnPc_TeCr to either PDI‐Py or C₆₀‐Py within the electron donor–acceptor hybrids, but also the unexpected photoinduced electron transfer within ZnPc_TeCr dimers. In the electron donor–acceptor hybrids, the charge‐separated‐state lifetimes were elucidated to be close to 337 ps and 3.4 ns for the two PDI‐Pys, whereas the longest lifetime for the photoactive system that contains C₆₀‐Py was calculated to be approximately 5.1 ns.     

Structure‐Dependent Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Fullerodendrimers with Light‐Harvesting Oligophenylenevinylene Terminals

Oligophenylenevinylene (OPV)‐terminated phenylenevinylene dendrons G1 – G4 with one, two, four, and eight “side‐arms”, respectively, were prepared and attached to C₆₀ by a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated in situ from dendritic aldehydes and N‐methylglycine. The relative electronic absorption of the OPV moiety increases progressively along the fullerodendrimer family C₆₀G1 – C₆₀G4 , reaching a 99:1 ratio for C₆₀G4 (antenna effect). UV/Vis and near‐IR luminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy was used to elucidate photoinduced energy and electron transfer in C₆₀G1 – C₆₀G4 as a function of OPV moiety size and solvent polarity (toluene, dichloromethane, benzonitrile), taking into account the fact that the free‐energy change for electron transfer is the same along the series owing to the invariability of the donor–acceptor couple. Regardless of solvent, all the fullerodendrimers exhibit ultrafast OPV→C₆₀ singlet energy transfer. In CH₂Cl₂, the OPV→C₆₀ electron transfer from the lowest fullerene singlet level (¹C₆₀*) is slightly exergonic (ΔG_CS≈0.07 eV), but is observed, to an increasing extent, only in the largest systems C₆₀G2 – C₆₀G4 with lower activation barriers for electron transfer. This effect has been related to a decrease of the reorganization energy upon enlargement of the molecular architecture. Structural factors are also at the origin of an unprecedented OPV→C₆₀ electron transfer observed for C₆₀G3 and C₆₀G4 in apolar toluene, whereas in benzonitrile, electron transfer occurs in all cases. Monitoring of the lowest fullerene triplet state by sensitized singlet oxygen luminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy shows that this level is populated through intersystem crossing and is not involved in photoinduced electron transfer.     

Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Tetrathiafulvalene−Porphyrin−Fullerene Molecular Triads

The two molecular triads 1a and 1b consisting of a porphyrin (P) covalently linked to a fullerene (C₆₀) electron acceptor and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) electron‐donor moiety were synthesized, and their photochemical properties were determined by transient absorption and emission techniques. Excitation of the free‐base‐porphyrin moiety of the TTF−P_{2 H}−C₆₀ triad 1a in tetrahydro‐2‐methylfuran solution yields the porphyrin first excited singlet state TTF−¹P_{2 H}−C₆₀, which undergoes photoinduced electron transfer with a time constant of 25 ps to give TTF−P_{2 H}^.+−C₆₀^.−. This intermediate charge‐separated state has a lifetime of 230 ps, decaying mainly by a charge‐shift reaction to yield a final state, TTF^.+−P_{2 H}−C₆₀^.−. The final state has a lifetime of 660 ns, is formed with an overall yield of 92%, and preserves ca. 1.0 eV of the 1.9 eV inherent in the porphyrin excited state. Similar behavior is observed for the zinc analog 1b . The TTF‐P_Zn^.+−C₆₀^.− state is formed by ultrafast electron transfer from the porphyrinatozinc excited singlet state with a time constant of 1.5 ps. The final TTF^.+−P_Zn−C₆₀^.− state is generated with a yield of 16%, and also has a lifetime of 660 ns. Although charge recombination to yield a triplet has been observed in related donor‐acceptor systems, the TTF^.+−P−C₆₀^.− states recombine to the ground state, because the molecule lacks low‐energy triplet states. This structural feature leads to a longer lifetime for the final charge‐separated state, during which the stored energy could be harvested for solar‐energy conversion or molecular optoelectronic applications.     

A tr esr study of the reactions of excited organic triplet molecules with inorganic sulfur oxoanions

The reactions of excited triplet ketones including benzophenone, 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone, and acetone with inorganic sulfur oxoanions: sulfite (SO₃ ⁼), metabisulfite (S₂O₅ ⁼), and dithionite (S₂O₄ ⁼) in solution were studied by TRESR. Observation of radical anion intermediates polarized by the Triplet Mechanism demonstrated the reactions of electron transfer from the sulfur dianions to the organic triplet states. Thus, electron transfer from SO₃ ⁼ to the triplet organic carbonyl compounds gave rise to the SO₃ ^? radical; reactions with metabisulfite and dithionite were more complex and may be interpreted as occurring via electron transfer to the carbonyl system followed by dissociation of the S-S bond in the resulting sulfur oxoanion radical. The initial radical ion pairs thus formed consist of pairs of anion radicals, one organic and one inorganic.     

Charge Transfer and Electron Pairing in Fullerenes

Electron transfer is a common characteristic in fullerene complexes and brings about an optoelectronic effect in a polymer-C₆₀ composite and superconductivity in alkali-metal doped C₆₀. This paper reports that the concept of self-trapping of the transferred electron in C₆₀ can explain the main features of photoinduced electron transfer in a polymer-CC₆₀ composite and electron pairing in alkali-metal doped C₆₀.     

Photosynthetic Antenna‐Reaction Center Mimicry with a Covalently Linked Monostyryl Boron‐Dipyrromethene–Aza‐Boron‐Dipyrromethene–C60 Triad

An efficient functional mimic of the photosynthetic antenna‐reaction center has been designed and synthesized. The model contains a near‐infrared‐absorbing aza‐boron‐dipyrromethene (ADP) that is connected to a monostyryl boron‐dipyrromethene (BDP) by a click reaction and to a fullerene (C₆₀) using the Prato reaction. The intramolecular photoinduced energy and electron‐transfer processes of this triad as well as the corresponding dyads BDP‐ADP and ADP‐C₆₀ have been studied with steady‐state and time‐resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic methods in benzonitrile. Upon excitation, the BDP moiety of the triad is significantly quenched due to energy transfer to the ADP core, which subsequently transfers an electron to the fullerene unit. Cyclic and differential pulse voltammetric studies have revealed the redox states of the components, which allow estimation of the energies of the charge‐separated states. Such calculations show that electron transfer from the singlet excited ADP (¹ADP*) to C₆₀ yielding ADP^.+‐C₆₀^.? is energetically favorable. By using femtosecond laser flash photolysis, concrete evidence has been obtained for the occurrence of energy transfer from ¹BDP* to ADP in the dyad BDP‐ADP and electron transfer from ¹ADP* to C₆₀ in the dyad ADP‐C₆₀. Sequential energy and electron transfer have also been clearly observed in the triad BDP‐ADP‐C₆₀. By monitoring the rise of ADP emission, it has been found that the rate of energy transfer is fast (≈10¹¹ s^?1). The dynamics of electron transfer through ¹ADP* has also been studied by monitoring the formation of C₆₀ radical anion at 1000 nm. A fast charge‐separation process from ¹ADP* to C₆₀ has been detected, which gives the relatively long‐lived BDP‐ADP^.+C₆₀^.? with a lifetime of 1.47 ns. As shown by nanosecond transient absorption measurements, the charge‐separated state decays slowly to populate mainly the triplet state of ADP before returning to the ground state. These findings show that the dyads BDP‐ADP and ADP‐C₆₀, and the triad BDP‐ADP‐C₆₀ are interesting artificial analogues that can mimic the antenna and reaction center of the natural photosynthetic systems.     

Redox photochemistry of thiouredopyrenetrisulfonate

1-Thiouredopyrene-3,6,8-trisulfonate (TUPS) has recently been used as a photoinduced covalent redox label capable of reducing various cofactors of proteins. A new reaction of this dye, whereby its excited triplet state oxidizes suitable electron donors, is now reported. The characteristic difference spectrum of the reduced radical of TUPS is determined. We also observe the self-exchange electron transfer between two TUPS molecules in their triplet excited states and determine the reaction scheme and the rate constants of the various pathways in the process of triplet depletion. The ability of photoexcited TUPS to withdraw an electron from reduced cytochrome-c is also observed. It is thus demonstrated that TUPS is an appropriate photoinduced covalent redox label for initiating both the oxidative and reductive phases of electron transfer processes in biological macromolecules.     

Light-Harvesting Antenna and Proton-Activated Photodynamic Effect of a Novel BODIPY−Fullerene C60 Dyad as Potential Antimicrobial Agent

A covalently linked BODIPY−fullerene C₆₀ dyad (BDP−C₆₀) was synthesized as a two-segment structure, which consists of a visible light-harvesting antenna attached to an energy or electron acceptor moiety. This structure was designed to improve the photodynamic action of fullerene C₆₀ to inactivate bacteria. The absorption spectrum of BDP−C₆₀ was found to be a superposition of the spectra of its constitutional moieties, whereas the fluorescence emission of the BODIPY unit was strongly quenched by the fullerene C₆₀. Spectroscopic, calculations, and redox studies indicate a competence between photoinduced energy and electron transfer. Protonating the dimethylaminophenyl substituent through addition of an acidic medium led to a substantial increase in the fluorescence emission, triplet excited state formation, and singlet molecular oxygen production. At physiological pH, photosensitized inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus mediated by 1 μM BDP−C₆₀ exhibited a 4.5 log decrease of cell survival (>99.997 %) after 15 min irradiation. A similar result was obtained with Escherichia coli using 30 min irradiation. Moreover, proton-activated photodynamic action of BDP−C₆₀ turned this dyad into a highly effective photosensitizer to eradicate E. coli. Therefore, BDP−C₆₀ is an interesting photosensitizing structure in which the light-harvesting antenna effect of the BODIPY unit combined with the protonation of dimethylaminophenyl group can be used to improve the photoinactivation of bacteria.