Photoinduced charge separation in self-assembled cofacial pentamers of zinc-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(perylenediimide)porphyrin

A bichromophoric electron donor-acceptor molecule composed of a zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) surrounded by four perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide)(PDI) chromophores (ZnTPP-PDI(4)) was synthesized. The properties of this molecule were compared to a reference molecule having ZnTPP covalently bound to a single PDI (ZnTPP-PDI). In toluene, ZnTPP-PDI(4) self-assembles into monodisperse aggregates of five molecules arranged in a columnar stack, (ZnTPP-PDI(4))(5). The monodisperse nature of this assembly contrasts sharply with previously reported ZnTPP-PDI(4) derivatives having 1,7-bis(3,5-di-t-butylphenoxy) groups (ZnTPP-PPDI(4)). The size and structure of this assembly in solution was determined by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) using a high flux synchrotron X-ray source. The ZnTPP-PDI reference molecule does not aggregate. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy shows that laser excitation of both ZnTPP-PDI and (ZnTPP-PDI(4))(5) results in quantitative formation of ZnTPP(+*)-PDI(-*) radical ion pairs in a few picoseconds. The transient absorption spectra of (ZnTPP-PDI(4))(5) suggest that the PDI(-*) radicals interact strongly with adjacent PDI molecules within the columnar stack. Charge recombination occurs more slowly within (ZnTPP-PDI(4))(5)(tau= 4.8 ns) than it does in ZnTPP-PDI (tau= 3.0 ns) producing mostly ground state as well as a modest yield of the lowest triplet state of PDI ((3*)PDI). Formation of (3*)PDI occurs by rapid spin-orbit induced intersystem crossing (SO-ISC) directly from the singlet radical ion pair as evidenced by the electron spin polarization pattern exhibited by its time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum.     

Effects of localized triplet exciton on reactivity of photoinduced omega-bond dissociation in naphthyl phenyl ketones having pi,pi* lowest triplet (T1) states studied by laser flash photolysis

Photochemical properties of photoinduced omega-bond dissociation in naphthyl phenyl ketones having a phenylthiyl moiety as a leaving group, p-(alpha-naphthoyl)benzyl phenyl sulfide (NBPS) and 4-benzoyl-1-naphthylmethyl phenyl sulfide (BNMPS), in solution were investigated by laser flash photolysis techniques. Both ketones were shown to undergo photoinduced omega-bond cleavage of the C-S bond to release the phenyl thiyl radical (PTR) at room temperature. Irrespective of excitation wavelengths of NBPS, a quantum yield (Phi(rad)) of the PTR formation was obtained to be 0.1, whereas that for BNMPS was found to depend on the excitation wavelength, i.e., absorption bands from the ground state (S0) to the excited singlet states, S3, S2, and S1 of BNMPS; Phi(rad)(S3) = 0.77 and Phi(rad)(S2) = Phi(rad)(S1) = 1.0. By using triplet sensitization of p-phenylbenzophenone (PBP), efficiencies (alpha(rad)) of the radical formation in the lowest triplet state (T1(pi,pi*)) of NBPS and BNMPS were determined to be 0 and 1.0, respectively. The agreement between Phi(rad)(S1) and alpha(rad) values for BNMPS indicates that the C-S bond dissociation occurs in the T1 state via the S1 state via a fast intersystem crossing from the S1 to the T1 state. The wavelength dependence of the radical yields upon direct excitation of BNMPS was interpreted in terms of the C-S bond cleavage in the S3 state competing with internal conversion from the S3 to the S2 state. The smaller value of Phi(rad)(S3) than those of Phi(rad)(S1) and Phi(rad)(S2) was proposed to originate from the geminate recombination of singlet radical pairs produced by the bond dissociation via the S3 state. Photoinduced omega-cleavage of NBPS was concluded to take place only in the S1(n,pi*) state. Difference in reactivity of omega-cleavage between the triplet states of NBPS and BNMPS was interpreted in terms of localized triplet exciton in the naphthoyl moieties.     

Triplet formation involving a polar transition state in a well-defined intramolecular perylenediimide dimeric aggregate

A cofacially stacked perylenediimide (PDI) dimer with a xanthene linker was studied under a variety of conditions (solvent, temperature) and serves as a model for the molecular interactions occurring in solid films. Intrinsically, the PDI units have a fluorescence quantum yield (Phi F) close to unity, but Phi F is lowered by a factor of 6-50 at room temperature when two PDI moieties are held in a cofacial arrangement, while the decay time of the most emissive state is increased significantly (tau F = 27 ns in toluene) compared to a monomeric PDI molecule (tau F = 4 ns). Fluorescence measurements show a strong solvent and temperature dependence of the characteristics of the emissive excited state. In a glassy matrix of toluene (TOL) or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF), Phi F is high, and the decay time is long (tau F = approximately 50 ns). At higher temperature, both Phi F and tau F are reduced. Interestingly, at room temperature, Phi F and tau F are also reduced with increasing solvent polarity, revealing the presence of a polar transition state. Photoinduced absorption of the stacked molecules from the picosecond to the microsecond time scale shows that after photoexcitation reorganization occurs in the first nanoseconds, followed by intersystem crossing (ISC), producing the triplet excited state. Using singlet oxygen ( (1)Delta g) luminescence as a probe, a triplet quantum yield (Phi T) greater than 50% was obtained in air-saturated 2-Me-THF. Triplet formation is exceptional for PDI chromophores, and the enhanced ISC is explained by a decay involving a highly polar transition state.     

Does bimolecular charge recombination in highly exergonic electron transfer afford the triplet excited state or the ground state of a photosensitizer?

The investigations were made on photoinduced electron transfer (ET) from the singlet excited state of rubrene (1RU*) to p-benzoquinone derivatives (duroquinone, 2,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone, p-benzoquinone, 2,5-dichloro-p-benzoquinone, and p-chloranil) in benzonitrile (PhCN) by using the steady state and time-resolved spectroscopies. The photoinduced ET produces solvent-separated type charge-separated (CS) species and the charge-recombination (CR) process between RU radical cation and semiquinone radical anions obeys second-order kinetics. Not only the CS species but also the triplet excited state of RU (3RU*) is seen in the transient absorption spectra upon laser excitation of a PhCN solution of RU and p-benzoquinone derivatives. The comparison of their time profiles clearly suggests that the CR process between RU radical cation and semiquinone radical anions to the ground state is independent from the deactivation of 3RU*. This indicates that the CR in a highly exergonic ET occurs at a longer distance with a large solvent reorganization energy, which results in faster ET to the ground state than to the triplet excited state that is lower in energy than the CS state. Photoinduced ET from 3RU* in addition from 1RU* also occurs when p-benzoquinone derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents were employed as electron acceptors.     

Competition between singlet fission and charge separation in solution-processed blend films of 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene with sterically-encumbered perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide)s

The photophysics and morphology of thin films of N,N-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (1) and the 1,7-diphenyl (2) and 1,7-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl) (3) derivatives blended with 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-Pn) were studied for their potential use as photoactive layers in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Increasing the steric bulk of the 1,7-substituents of the perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) impedes aggregation in the solid state. Film characterization data using both atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction showed that decreasing the PDI aggregation by increasing the steric bulk in the order 1 < 2 < 3 correlates with a decrease in the density/size of crystalline TIPS-Pn domains. Transient absorption spectroscopy was performed on ~100 nm solution-processed TIPS-Pn:PDI blend films to characterize the charge separation dynamics. These results showed that selective excitation of the TIPS-Pn results in competition between ultrafast singlet fission ((1*)TIPS-Pn + TIPS-Pn → 2 (3*)TIPS-Pn) and charge transfer from (1*)TIPS-Pn to PDIs 1-3. As the blend films become more homogeneous across the series TIPS-Pn:PDI 1 → 2 → 3, charge separation becomes competitive with singlet fission. Ultrafast charge separation forms the geminate radical ion pair state (1)(TIPS-Pn(+?)-PDI(-?)) that undergoes radical pair intersystem crossing to form (3)(TIPS-Pn(+?)-PDI(-?)), which then undergoes charge recombination to yield either (3*)PDI or (3*)TIPS-Pn. Energy transfer from (3*)PDI to TIPS-Pn also yields (3*)TIPS-Pn. These results show that multiple pathways produce the (3*)TIPS-Pn state, so that OPV design strategies based on this system must utilize this triplet state for charge separation.     

Relationship between symmetry of porphyrinic pi-conjugated systems and singlet oxygen (1Delta g) yields: low-symmetry tetraazaporphyrin derivatives

We have investigated the excited-state properties and singlet oxygen ((1)Delta(g)) generation mechanism in phthalocyanines (4M; M = H(2), Mg, or Zn) and in low-symmetry metal-free, magnesium, and zinc tetraazaporphyrins (TAPs), that is, monobenzo-substituted (1M), adjacently dibenzo-substituted (2AdM), oppositely dibenzo-substituted (2OpM), and tribenzo-substituted (3M) TAP derivatives, whose pi conjugated systems were altered by fusing benzo rings. The S(1)(x) and S(1)(y) states (these lowest excited singlet states are degenerate in D(4)(h) symmetry) split in the low-symmetry TAP derivatives. The excited-state energies were quantitatively determined from the electronic absorption spectra. The lowest excited triplet (T(1)(x)) energies were also determined from phosphorescence spectra, while the second lowest excited triplet (T(1)(y)) states were evaluated by using the energy splitting between the T(1)(x) and T(1)(y) states previously reported (Miwa, H.; Ishii, K.; Kobayashi, N. Chem. Eur. J. 2004, 10, 4422-4435). The singlet oxygen quantum yields (Phi(Delta)) are strongly dependent on the pi conjugated system. In particular, while the Phi(Delta) value of 2AdH(2) is smallest in our system, that of 2OpH(2), an isomer of 2AdH(2), is larger than that of 4Zn, in contrast to the heavy atom effect. The relationship between the molecular structure and Phi(Delta) values can be transformed into a relationship between the S(1)(x) --> T(1)(y) intersystem crossing rate constant (k(ISC)) and the energy difference between the S(1)(x) and T(1)(y) states (DeltaE(S)(x)(T)(y)). In each of the Zn, Mg, and metal-free compounds, the Phi(Delta)/tau(F) values (tau(F): fluorescence lifetime), which are related to the k(ISC) values, are proportional to exp(-DeltaE(S)(x)(T)(y)), indicating that singlet oxygen ((1)Delta(g)) is produced via the T(1)(y) state and that the S(1)(x) --> T(1)(y) ISC process follows the energy-gap law. From the viewpoint of photodynamic therapy, our methodology, where the Phi(Delta) value can be controlled by changing the symmetry of pi conjugated systems without heavy elements, appears useful for preparing novel photosensitizers.     

Monomeric azaheterofullerene derivatives RC59N: influence of the R moiety on spectroscopic and photophysical properties

We have synthesised nine monomeric azaheterofullerene (AZA) derivatives, RC(59)N, with a wide variety of different side chains R and investigated their spectroscopic and photophysical properties in toluene and o-dichlorobenzene (ODCB). Measurements include their ground-state absorption spectra, molar absorption coefficient (epsilon(G)), fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yields (Phi(F)), singlet-state lifetimes (tau(F)), triplet-state absorption spectra, triplet molar absorption coefficients (epsilon(T)), singlet oxygen (Phi(Delta)), and triplet state (Phi(T)) quantum yields. The replacement of a carbon by a nitrogen atom in the C(60) sphere strongly affects most of the spectroscopic and photophysical properties. The chemical nature of the R moiety has definite effects on these properties in contrast with minor effects on the chemical nature of the addends in [6,6]-ring bridged monoadduct methano[60]fullerene derivatives. These effects concern properties of the ground state, singlet excited state, and triplet states of our nine RC(59)N derivatives and in particular the values of photophysical parameters epsilon(G), epsilon(T), Phi(Delta), and Phi(T), which are significantly lower than those of analogous monoadduct [6,6]-ring bridged methano[60]fullerene derivatives.     

The benzophenone S1(n,pi*) --> T1(n,pi*) states intersystem crossing reinvestigated by ultrafast absorption spectroscopy and multivariate curve resolution

The well-known benzophenone intersystem crossing from S(1)(n,pi*) to T(1)(n,pi*) states, for which direct transition is forbidden by El-Sayed rules, is reinvestigated by subpicosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy and effective data analysis for various excitation wavelengths and solvents. Multivariate curve resolution alternating least-squares analysis is used to perform bilinear decomposition of the time-resolved spectra into pure spectra of overlapping transient species and their associated time-dependent concentrations. The results suggest the implication of an intermediate (IS) in the relaxation process of the S(1) state. Therefore, a two step kinetic model, S(1) --> IS --> T(1), is successfully implemented as an additional constraint in the soft-modeling algorithm. Although this intermediate, which has a spectrum similar to the one of T(1)(n,pi*) state, could be artificially induced by vibrational relaxation, it is tentatively assigned to a hot T(1)(n,pi*) triplet state. Two characteristic times are reported for the transition S(1) --> IS and IS --> T(1), approximately 6.5 ps and approximately 10 ps respectively, without any influence of the solvent. Moreover, an excitation wavelength effect is discovered suggesting the participation of unrelaxed singlet states in the overall process. To go further discussing the spectroscopic relevancy of IS and to rationalize the expected involvement of the T(2)(pi,pi*) state, we also investigate 4-methoxybenzophenone. For this neighboring molecule, triplet energy level is tunable through solvent polarity and a clear correlation is established between the intermediate resolved by multivariate data analysis and the presence of a T(2)(pi,pi*) above the T(1)(n,pi*) triplet. It is therefore proposed that the benzophenone intermediate species is a T(1)(n,pi*) high vibrational level in interaction with T(2)(pi,pi*) state.     

First generation and characterization of the enol of glycine, H(2)N--CH=C(OH)(2), in the gas phase

The enol of glycine, H(2)N-CH&dbond;C(OH)(2), is generated in the gas phase by neutralization of the corresponding radical cation, which is available by dissociative electron ionization of isoleucine. Reionization approximately 0.6 micros later shows that the isolated enol (2) exists and does not isomerize to the significantly more stable glycine molecule, H(2)N--CH(2)--COOH (1); hence the intramolecular tautomerization 2-->1 must be associated with high barriers. The neutralization-reionization reactivity of 1(+*) further confirms that neutral glycine has a canonical structure (1) and is not a zwitterion. The unimolecular chemistry of 1(+*) is dominated by C--C bond cleavage to the immonium ion (+)H(2)NCH(2); in sharp contrast, 2(+*) primarily loses H(2)O. The ylide ion (+)H(3)N--CH(*)--COOH, an intermediate in the water loss from 2(+*), is found to readily equilibrate to 2(+*) prior to dissociation. Tautomers 1(+*) and 2(+*) differ in their charge-stripping behavior, with only 2(+*) forming a stable dication. The radical anions 1(-*) and 2(-*), formed by charge reversal of 1(+*) and 2(+*), respectively, dissociate extensively to (mainly) different closed-shell fragment anions. An important channel is H(*) loss; 1(-*) yields the carboxylate ion H(2)N--CH(2)--COO(-) whereas 2(-*) yields the enolate ion H(2)N--CH=C(OH)O(-).     

Entropy changes drive the electron transfer reaction of triplet flavin mononucleotide from aromatic amino acids in cation-organized aqueous media. A laser-induced optoacoustic study

The thermodynamic parameters for the formation of the free radicals upon electron transfer quenching of the flavin triplet state (3FMN) by tryptophan and tyrosine, Delta(FR)H and Delta(FR)V, were obtained in aqueous solution by the application of laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy at various temperatures. The Delta(FR)H and Delta(FR)V values include the electron transfer and charge separation steps plus the protonation of the FMN anion radical and the deprotonation of the amino-acid cation radical. A linear correlation was found between the Delta(FR)H and Delta(FR)V values for each of the amino acids in phosphate buffers of [CH3(CH2)3]4N+, Li+, NH4+, K+ and Cs+. The compensation between Delta(FR)H and Delta(FR)V within the salt series, and the independent evaluation of the Gibbs energy for electron transfer Delta(ET)G(o) afforded the entropy change, Delta(FR)S, for the reaction, different for the two amino acids. The values of Delta(FR)H, Delta(FR)V and Delta(FR)S in each buffer are mainly determined by the changes in strength and probably number of hydrogen bonds between the reacting partners and water produced along all steps leading to the radicals FMNH* and A*. The Delta(FR)V values linearly correlate with the tabulated entropy of organization of the water structure for the five cations, DeltaS(o)(cat). The entropy change upon formation of the free radicals, Delta(FR)S, quantitatively correlated to the Delta(FR)V value, drives the separation of the ion pair after the electron transfer reaction in the case of highly organizing cations. The ratio X = T Delta(FR)S/Delta(FR)V = (55 +/- 9) kJ cm(-3) for Trp as 3FMN quencher is smaller than X = (83 +/- 9) kJ cm(-3) for Tyr as quencher. These values are discussed in conjunction with the Marcus reorganization energy, as calculated from the Gibbs activation energy of the electron transfer process, which is independent of the salt present but different for each of the two quenchers.     

Photodecomposition profiles of beta-bond cleavage of phenylphenacyl derivatives in the higher triplet excited states during stepwise two-color two-laser flash photolysis

Photochemical properties of p-phenylphenacyl derivatives (PP-X) having C-halide, C-S, and C-O bonds in the lowest (T 1) and higher (T n ) triplet excited states were investigated in solution by using single-color and stepwise two-color two-laser flash photolysis techniques. PP-Xs (X = Br, SH, and SPh) undergo beta-bond dissociation in the lowest singlet excited states (S 1) while the C-X bonds of other PP-Xs are stable upon 266-nm laser photolysis. The T 1(pi,pi*) states of PP-X were efficiently produced during 355-nm laser photolysis of benzophenone as a triplet sensitizer. Triplet PP-Xs deactivate to the ground state without photochemical reactions. Upon 430-nm laser photolysis of the T 1 states of PP-X (X = Br, Cl, SH, SPh, OH, OMe, and OPh), decomposition of PP-X in the T n states was found. On the basis of the changes in the transient absorption, quantum yields (Phi dec) of the decomposition of PP-X in the T n states were determined, while bond dissociation energies (BDE) of the C-X bonds were calculated by computations. According to the relationship between the Phi dec and BDE values, it was shown that the decomposition of PP-X in the T n state is due to beta-cleavage of the corresponding C-X bond, and that the state energy of the reactive T n for the C-O bond cleavage differs from that for the C-halide and C-S bond cleavage. The reaction profiles of the C-X bond cleavage of PP-X in the T n states were discussed.     

Mesolytic Scission of C-C Bonds as a Probe for Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions of Quinones

Photoinduced electron transfer reactions of chlorinated benzoquinones are investigated using bibenzylic donors that undergo rapid fragmentation upon oxidation. The fragmentation rates and the quantum yields are used to probe the dynamics of back-electron transfer (BET) in two types of radical ion pairs. The triplet ion pairs formed by interception of excited state quinones give products with high quantum yields. The singlet ion pairs formed by irradiation of the charge-transfer (CT) complexes between the quinones and the donors undergo reactions with significantly lower efficiency. The advantage of the first method (triplet quenching) over the CT-irradiation depends on the energetics of BET. It is large for reactions with relatively small DeltaG(et) for BET and it decreases for reactions with more negative DeltaG(bet). The indirectly obtained rates of BET are in excellent agreement with literature data for similar, but unreactive systems, and the rates of C-C bond scission in radical cations generated in these systems are consistent with the thermodynamics of these processes.     

Accessing the Triplet State in Heavy‐Atom‐Free Perylene Diimides

Previous studies of perylenediimides (PDIs) mostly utilized the lowest singlet excited state S₁. Generation of a triplet excited state (T₁) in PDIs is important for applications ranging from photodynamic therapy to photovoltaics; however, it remains a formidable task. Herein, we developed a heavy‐atom‐free strategy to prompt the T₁←S₁ intersystem crossing (ISC) by introducing electron‐donating aryl (Ar) groups at the head positions of an electron‐deficient perylenediimide (PDI) core. We found that the ISC efficiency increases from 8 to 54 % and then to 86 % by increasing the electron‐donating ability of head‐substituted aryl groups from phenyl (p‐PDI) to methoxyphenyl (MeO‐PDI) and then to methylthioxyphenyl (MeS‐PDI). By enhancing the intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) interaction from p‐PDI to MeO‐PDI, and then to MeS‐PDI, singlet oxygen generation via energy‐transfer reactions from T₁ of PDIs to ³O₂ was demonstrated with the highest yield of up to 80 %. These results provide guidelines for developing new triplet‐generating PDIs and related rylene diimides for optoelectronic applications.     

Theoretical study on the photolysis mechanism of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene

A CASPT2/CASSCF study has been carried out to investigate the mechanism of the photolysis of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO) under direct and triplet-sensitized irradiation. By exploring the detailed potential energy surfaces including intermediates, transition states, conical intersections, and singlet/triplet crossing points, for the first excited singlet (S(1)) and the low-lying triplet states (T(1), T(2), and T(3)), we provide satisfactory explanations of many experimental findings associated with the photophysical and photochemical processes of DBO. A key finding of this work is the existence of a significantly twisted S(1) minimum, which can satisfactorily explain the envelope of the broad emission band of DBO. It is demonstrated that the S(1) (n-pi*) intermediate can decay to the T(1) (n-pi*) state by undergoing intersystem crossing (rather inefficient) to the T(2) (pi-pi*) state followed by internal conversion to the T(1) state. The high fluorescence yield and the extraordinarily long lifetime of the singlet excited DBO are due to the presence of relatively high barriers, both for intersystem crossing and for C-N cleavage. The short lifetime of the triplet DBO is caused by fast radiationless decay to the ground state.     

Ultrafast dynamics of the excited states of 1-(p-nitrophenyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine

The dynamics of the excited states of 1-(p-nitrophenyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (p-NPP) has been investigated using the subpicosecond transient absorption spectroscopic technique in different kinds of solvents. Following photoexcitation using 400 nm light, conformational relaxation via twisting of the nitro group, internal conversion (IC) and the intersystem crossing (ISC) processes have been established to be the three major relaxation pathways responsible for the ultrafast deactivation of the excited singlet (S(1)) state. Although the nitro-twisting process has been observed in all kinds of solvents, the relative probability of the occurrence of the other two processes has been found to be extremely sensitive to solvent polarity, because of alteration of the relative energies of the S(1) and the triplet (T(n)) states. In the solvents of lower polarity, the ISC is predominant over the IC process, because of near isoenergeticity of the S(1)(ππ*) and T(3)(nπ*) states. On the other hand, in the solvents of very large polarity, the energy of the S(1)(ππ*) state becomes lower than those of both the T(3)(nπ*) and T(2)(nπ*/ππ*) states, but those of the T(1)(ππ*) state and the IC process to the ground electronic (S(0)) state are predominant over the ISC, and hence the triplet yield is nearly negligible. However, in the solvents of medium polarity, the S(1) and T(2) states become isoenergetic and the deactivation of the S(1) state is directed to both the IC and ISC channels. In the solvents of low and medium polarity, following the ISC process, the excited states undergo IC, vibrational relaxation, and solvation in the triplet manifold. On the other hand, following the IC process in the Franck-Condon region of the S(0) state, the vibrationally hot molecules with the twisted nitro group subsequently undergo the reverse nitro-twisting process via dissipation of the excess vibrational energy to the solvent or vibrational cooling.     

A concept for controlling singlet oxygen (1 Delta g) yields using nitroxide radicals: phthalocyaninatosilicon covalently linked to nitroxide radicals

In this study, we have investigated the singlet oxygen ((1)Delta(g)) generation mechanism using phthalocyaninatosilicon (SiPc) covalently linked to nitroxide radicals (NRs), and we succeeded in increasing the singlet oxygen quantum yield (Phi(Delta)) by linking the NRs. This originates from both an increase in the triplet quantum yield and excited-state lifetimes long enough to utilize photochemical reactions. Because the electron exchange interactions with paramagnetic species were known to result only in very fast excited-state relaxation, leading to a decrease in photochemical reaction yields, this increase in Phi(Delta) is an unusual and precious example for increasing photochemical reaction yields by electron exchange interactions with paramagnetic species. In addition, our experiments and theoretical analyses show that the spin-selective energy transfer rate constant is not influenced by linking the NRs and can be evaluated by the product of spin-statistical factors and matrix elements between the initial and final states.     

Theoretical studies of the photochemical dynamics of acetylacetone: isomerzation, dissociation, and dehydration reactions

The potential energy surfaces of the C-O cleavage, rotational isomerization, keto-enolic tautomerization, and dehydration reactions of acetylacetone in the lowest triplet and ground states have been determined using the complete active space self-consistent field and density functional theory methods. The main photochemical mechanism obtained indicates that the acetylacetone molecule in the S(2)((1)pipi*) state can relax to the T(1)((3)pipi*) state via the S(2)-S(1) vibronic interaction and an S(1)/T(1)/T(2) intersection. The C-O fission pathway is the predominant dissociation process in the T(1)((3)pipi) state. Rotational isomerization reactions proceed difficultly in the ground state but very easily in the T(1)((3)pipi*) state. Keto-enolic tautomerization takes place with little probability for acetylacetone in the gas phase.     

An optical-optical double resonance probe of the lowest triplet state of jet-cooled thiophosgene: rovibronic structures and electronic relaxation

The vibrational structure, rotational structure, and electronic relaxation of the "dark" T1 3A2(n,pi*) state of jet-cooled thiophosgene have been investigated by two-color S2<--T1<--S0 optical-optical double resonance (OODR) spectroscopy, which monitors the S2-->S0 fluorescence generated by S2<--T1 excitation. This method is capable of isolating the T1 vibrational structure into a1, b1, and b2 symmetry blocks. The fluorescence-detected vibrational structure of the Tz spin state of T1 shows that the CS stretching frequency as well as the barrier height for pyramidal deformation are significantly greater in the 3A2(n,pi*) state than in the corresponding 1A2(n,pi*) state. The differing vibrational parameters of the T1 thiophosgene relative to the S1 thiophosgene can be attributed to the motions of unpaired electrons that are better correlated when they are in the excited singlet state than when they are in the triplet state of same electron configuration. A set of T1 structural parameters and the information concerning the T1 spin states have been obtained from least-square fittings of the rotationally resolved T1<--S0 excitation spectrum. The nearly degenerate mid R:x and mid R:y spin states are well removed from mid R:z spin component, indicating that T1 thiophosgene is a good example of case (ab) coupling. The decay of the mid R:z spin state of T1 thiophosgene, obtained from time-resolved S2<--T1<--S0 OODR experiment, is characteristic of strong-coupling intermediate-case decay in which an initial rapid decay is followed by recurrences and/or a long-lived quasiexponential decay.     

The charge-transfer properties of the S2 state of fucoxanthin in solution and in fucoxanthin chlorophyll-a/c2 protein (FCP) based on stark spectroscopy and molecular-orbital theory

Fucoxanthin chlorophyll-a/c 2 protein (FCP), the membrane-intrinsic light harvesting complex from the diatom Cyclotella meneghiniana, is characterized by Stark spectroscopy to obtain a quantitative measure of the excited-state dipolar properties of the constituent pigments. The electro-optical properties of the carotenoid fucoxanthin (Fx), the primary light harvester in FCP, were determined from the Stark spectrum measured in a MeTHF glass (77 K) and compared to the results from electronic-structure calculations. On photon absorption by Fx, a 17 D change in the static dipole moment (|Delta mu|exp), and a somewhat larger |Delta mu|exp at the red edge, are measured for the S 0 --> S 2 (1 (1)A g (-)-like -->1 (1)B u *+-like) transition. The large change in dipole moment indicates that Fx undergoes photoinduced charge transfer (CT), and underscores the influence of the S 2 state on the polarity-dependent excited-state dynamics of Fx that has so far been attributed to, and discussed in terms of, the S 0 and the S 1/ICT states. MNDO-PSDCI and SACCI-CISD calculations indicate that the 1 (1)B u (*+)-like state intrinsically possesses a dipole moment much smaller than the 2 (1)A g (*-)-like state, suggesting that solvent fields promote the mixing of these two states and could account for the large dipole moments measured here for the S 0 --> S 2 transition. These CT properties of the 1 (1)B u (*+)-like state of Fx are further enhanced in the protein and underpin its photosynthetic capabilities for light harvesting and energy transfer (ET). In FCP, the CT properties of the Fx's vary according to the energetic position: between 450 and 500 nm there appear to be two sets of Fx's that exhibit |Delta mu| exp values on the order of 5 and 15 D, whereas the red-most Fx's, that are very efficient in ET to chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), exhibit strikingly large |Delta mu| exp values on the order of 40 D. Such magnitudes of |Delta mu| exp suggest a mechanism that enhances Coulombic coupling to promote ET from the S 2 state of Fx to Chl-a. These three sets of Fx's, including a fourth red Fx, are identified by fitting the Stark spectrum of FCP with the Stark spectrum of Fx in MeTHF. In contrast to the Fx's in the protein, the electrostatic properties of the Chl's in FCP are comparatively much smaller. Notably, for the Q y band of Chl-a, a |Delta mu| exp of 0.92 D and a change in polarizability ( Delta alpha exp) of 20 A (3), indicate that the Chl-a's are monomeric in nature and decoupled from each other.     

Environmental photochemistry of nitro-PAHs: direct observation of ultrafast intersystem crossing in 1-nitropyrene

Femtosecond broadband transient absorption experiments of 1-nitropyrene, a nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon of environmental concern are presented in cyclohexane and hexane solutions. The transient absorption spectra show the presence of three species that are assigned to the Franck-Condon excited lowest singlet (S1) state, the structurally relaxed S1 state, and the lowest excited triplet state. The spectral changes at early times are interpreted in terms of conformational dynamics; primarily due to an ultrafast rotation of the nitro group in the S1 state. This excited state relaxation is followed by intersystem crossing with a time constant of 7 ps. CIS/6-31G(d,p) calculations predict planarization of the nitro-aromatic torsional angle as the major nuclear relaxation coordinate, from 32.8 degrees at the HF/6-31G(d,p) level of theory in the ground state (27.46 degrees at B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)) to 0.07 degrees in the S1 state. Vertical excitation energies at the TDDFT/6-31++G(d,p) and TDDFT/IEFPCM/6-31++G(d,p) levels of theory predict a small energy gap (<0.12 eV) between the S1(pipi*) state and the third excited triplet state T3(npi*) in the gas phase and in cyclohexane, respectively. The small energy gap suggests a large spin-orbit coupling between the S1(pipi*) and T3(npi*) states, which explains the ultrafast intersystem crossing of 1-nitropyrene in nonpolar solvents.