Laser photolysis study of trans→cis photoisomerization of trans-1-phenyl-2-(2-naphthyl) ethylene

The direct trans→cis photoisomerization of trans-1-phenyl-2-(2-naphthyl) ethylene (trans-PNE) in liquid solution at room temperature was studied by the nanosecond laser photolysis technique. The time-resolved S_n←S₁ and T_n←T₁ absorption spectra were observed with trans-PNE at 300 K and 77 K. The lifetime of the triplet state of trans-PNE was found to be much shorter in liquid solution at room temperature than in rigid solution at 77 K. This fact and the effect of a triplet quencher shows that the photoisomerization of trans-PNE occurs mainly via the triplet state.     

Photophysical properties of some phenetidines in non-polar and hydrogen bonding solvents at room temperature and 77 K

The present study was undertaken to investigate the photophysical processes in o-, m- and p-phenetidines, when dissolved in nonpolar and hydrogen bonding solvents, in their ground state and excited electronic state S₁, both at 300 and 77 K. In the ground as well as in the S₁ state it is proposed that the o-phenetidine molecule possesses a structure in which NH₂ and OC₂H₅ groups are away from each other, both in nonpolar cyclohexane (CH) and H-bond acceptor solvent triethylamine (TEA). The formation of a transient or nonemissive charge transfer (CT) complex resulting from strong excited state hydrogen bonding interaction with TEA is found to be responsible for the observed fluorescence quenching of the proton donor phenetidines at 300 K. From the room as well as low (77 K) temperature electronic absorption and steady state fluorescence studies, it was deduced that nonplanarity in the structure of the molecules increases as one moves from aniline to the phenetidines. It is suggested that in the solvent stiffening temperature 77 K, triplet states of all the phenetidines (o-, m- and p-) acquire some nπ* character due to conformational changes, whereas ππ* character is retained in their S₁ state. This facilitates a larger intersystem crossing (ISC) rate in phenetidines relative to the situation in aniline where both S₁ and T₁ possess the same nπ* nature at 77 K due to its more planar structure. However, ISC efficiency in phenetidines at 77 K is found to be impeded, especially in the case of o- and m-isomers, in the presence of TEA as inferred from the lowering of φ_p/φ_⨍ values and the increment of τ_p. In p-phenetidine, rapid equilibrium between a triplet state hydrogen bonded species and free molecules during the triplet excited state lifetime is suggested.     

Triplet-Triplet Absorption Spectroscopy of Some Highly Dipolar Unsaturated Nitro Compounds

The triplet-triplet absorption spectra of p-N, N-dimethylnitroaniline, 4-nitro-p-terphenyl, 1-amino-4-nitrofluorene, 5-nitroacenaphthene, trans-1-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-2-nitroethylene (MeONS), and trans-1-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-nitroethylene (DANS) in EPA glass at 77 K are reported, together with molar extinction coefficients and PPP-SCF-MO-CI calculations. The two nitrostyrenes, MeONS and DANS, have been examined in fluid media at room temperature using nanosecond laser photolysis, and their triplet lifetimes found to increase substantially with increase in solvent polarity and charge-transfer character of the compound. This is interpreted in terms of the diradical/zwitterionic nature of the triplet state affecting the T₁–S₀ energy gap at the 90° twisted configuration of the olefinic linkage. The decrease in both the triplet yield and the fluorescence yield of DANS with increase in solvent polarity is explained by the intervention of an internal conversion process involving a rotation of the dimethylamino group in the lowest singlet excited state.     

The first observation of the effect of dendritic structure to produce the triplet excited state of the core stilbene by dendron excitation

We report that both singlet and triplet energy transfers in stilbene-cored benzophenone dendrimers (trans-BPST) took place quite efficiently. On excitation (290 nm) of stilbene group, the intramolecular singlet energy transfer from the excited core stilbene to the benzophenone part (99.7%) was confirmed by quenching of the fluorescence from the core stilbene. The benzophenone in the excited singlet state is known to undergo intersystem crossing to give its excited triplet state quantitatively. However, the very weak phosphorescence from benzophenone part in trans-BPST was observed even at 77 K. The phosphorescence intensity of trans-BPST is only 1% of that of model compound (4-methylbenzophenone) at 77 K. During the irradiation, the absorption spectra also changed due to the trans-cis isomerization. This is probably due to the ultrafast triplet energy transfer from the benzophenone to produce the triplet state stilbene.     

Photoinduced processes in bis(diethylaminobenzylidene)cyclohexanone and its bis(aza-18-crown-6)-containing analogue in acetonitrile

Photoinduced processes in bis(diethylaminobenzylidene)cyclohexanone (CH1) and its bis(aza-18-crown-6) derivative (CH2) in acetonitrile at ambient temperature and 77 K have been studied. The absorption, fluorescence, and phosphorescence spectra of CH1 and CH2 are similar. The probability of the formation of the triplet state is higher for CH2 molecules (λ_T-T^max = 660 nm, lifetime τ_T ~ 20 μs). The lifetime of the CH1 molecule in the triplet state is estimated at τ_T ~ 2–3 μs. Photoisomers of CH1 and CH2 are formed along with the triplet state. According to DFT calculation results, the formation of trans–cis photoisomers of CH1 and CH2 is the most energetically favorable.     

Spectroscopic evidence for triplet excitation energy transfer among carotenoids in the LH2 complex from photosynthetic bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodopseudomonas palustris</Emphasis>

The LH2 complex from Rhodopsudomonas (Rps.) palustris is unique in the heterogeneous carotenoid compositions. The dynamics of triplet excited state Carotenoids (³Car* has been investigated by means of sub-microsecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy both at physiological temperature (295 K) and at cryogenic temperature (77K). Broad and asymmetric T _n ←T ₁ transient absorption was observed at room temperature following the photo-excitation of Car at 532 nm, which suggests the contribution from various carotenoid compositions having different numbers of conjugated C=C double bonds (N_c=c). The triplet absorption bands of different carotenoids, which superimposed at room temperature, could be clearly distinguished upon decreasing the temperature down to 77 K. At room temperature the shorter-wavelength side of the main T_n04T₁ absorption band decayed rapidly to reach a spectral equilibration with a characteristic time constant of ∽1 μs, the same spectral dynamics, however, was not observed at 77 K. The aforementioned spectral dynamics can be explained in terms of the triplet-excitation transfer among heterogeneous carotenoid compositions. Global spectral analysis was applied to the time-resolved spectra at room temperature, which revealed two spectral components peaked at 545 and 565 nm, and assignable to the T_n04 T₁ absorption of Cars with Nc=c=11 and Nc=c=13, respectively. Surprisingly, the decay time constant of a shorter-conjugated Car, i.e. 0.72 ώs (aerobic) and 1.36 ώs (anaerobic), is smaller than that of a longer-conjugated Car, i.e. 2.12 us (aerobic) and 3.75 ώs (anaerobic), which is contradictory to the general rule of carotenoids and relative polyenes. The results are explained in terms of triplet-excitation transfer among different types of Cars. It is postulated that two Cars with different conjugation lengths coexist in an α, β-subunit in the LH2 complex.     

The Absorption Spectrum of the Lowest Triplet State in Crystalline trans-Stilbene

The absorption spectrum of the lowest triplet state (T₁*-S₀) of trans-stilbene is observed between 14,000 and 18,000 cm^?1 with a crystal four centimeters long, cooled to 4.2°.K. This transition is more intense (f=3×10^?9) than the similar transition in anthracene, due to vibration-induced spin-orbital coupling. Vibrational structures in the spectrum are well resolved and seven frequencies are assigned to normal modes in the T₁* state of trans-stilbene. Exciton structures in crystal are not resolved.     

Photophysical Properties of Pyrazinopsoralen,A New Monofunctional Psoralen*

Abstract— Pyrazinopsoralen (PzPs), a new monofunctional psoralen, has a UV absorption spectrum similar to other psoralens except that it absorbs more strongly in the long-UVA than 8-methoxypsoralen. The solvent effects on the UV absorption and fluorescence emission spectra indicate that the lowest excited singlet state is the π,π* state like other psoralen derivatives. It shows a much lower fluorescence quantum yield (0.0008 in ethanol at room temperature) than the other psoralens as expected by the increased proximity effect (vibronic perturbation) due to close ¹(n,π*) to ¹(π,π*) states. The fluorescence lifetime was 1.05 ns in methylcyclohexane with a single exponential decay, while more than two components were observed in other solvents with the short-lived component being the major (>95%). The triplet state of PzPs could not be detected by phosphorescence, laser flash excitation (T-T absorption) and singlet oxygen formation probably due to very low φ_isc, or short lifetime of the triplet state (τ_T) caused by the fast T₁→ S₀ intersystem crossing.     

The TS0 transitions and molecular conformations of p-terphenyl

The T ← S_o absorption spectra of a p-terphenyl (TP) crystal at 77 K and room temperature were measured. These spectra were compared with the T ← S_o absorption and phosphorescence spectra of TP in solution. The comparison of these spectra gave some information about the potential curves of TP molecules as a function of the angle between the outer and central benzene rings both in the triplet and ground state.     

Delayed fluorescence S2 → S0 of azulene in isopentane,due to hetero-triplet—triplet annihilation of 3azulene* and 3fluoranthene*

The lowest triplet state of azulene, T₁(Az), can be populated efficiently by triplet energy transfer from the lowest triplet state of fluoranthene, T₁(F1). In isopentane at temperatures 120 K ? T ? 193 K a delayed fluorescence S₂(Az) → S₀(Az) is found, caused by hetero-triplet—triplet annihilation T₁(Az) + T₁(Fl) → S₂(Az) + S₀(F1).     

Temperature dependence of the deactivation of electronically excited indazoles in solution

The T-T spectra, the triplet quantum yield φ_T and the fluorescence quantum yield φ_F of 2-tert. butyl-4-methylindazole and 1,3-dimethylindazole have been measured in the temperature range of +25° to −196°C in solvents of different viscosities. It could be shown that in all cases where photochemical reactions from the first excited singlet state are absent, the sum φ_F + φ_T equals unity within the limits of error.     

Temperature effects on the phosphorescence spectra and lifetimes of 2,4-, 2,5-, and 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehydes dispersed in durene single crystals

The phosphorescence spectra and lifetimes of 2,4-, 2,5-, and 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehydes dispersed in durene single crystals have been measured as a function of temperature between 10 and 200 K. For all the guests involved, the vibrational structures of the spectra are found to be temperature dependent. This is interpreted in terms of two emissions that proceed from a triplet state having predominantly a ππ* character at low temperatures and from a thermally populated triplet state having essentially a nπ* character at higher temperatures. The energy gaps ΔE_T between ³ππ* and ³nπ* states evaluated spectroscopically are found to be 100, 70, and 340 cm^?1, respectively for 2,4-, 2,5- and 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehydes.Activation energies ΔE* determined from the Arrhenius plots of the phosphorescence decay rate constants are in good agreement with the ΔE_T for the first two guests. In contrast, the ΔE* are higher than the ΔE_T for 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehydes as well as for 2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde (where ΔE_T ≈ 400 cm^?1) because of the rapid increase of radiationless transitions in the temperature range where thermal population of the upper ³nπ* state is efficient. In the low and high temperature ranges, the phosphorescence decays for all these guests are exponential. In the intermediate range, these decays are non-exponential. The origin of these non-exponential decays is discussed.     

Photoexcited States of UV Absorbers,Benzophenone Derivatives

The UV absorption, phosphorescence and phosphorescence‐excitation spectra of benzophenone (BP) derivatives used as organic UV absorbers have been observed in rigid solutions at 77 K. The triplet–triplet absorption spectra have been observed in acetonitrile at room temperature. The BP derivatives studied are 2,2′,4,4′‐tetrahydroxybenzophenone (BP‐2), 2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzophenone (BP‐3), 2,2′‐dihydroxy‐4,4′‐dimethoxybenzophenone (BP‐6), 5‐chloro‐2‐hydroxybenzophenone (BP‐7) and 2‐hydroxy‐4‐n‐octyloxybenzophenone (BP‐12). The energy levels and lifetimes of the lowest excited triplet (T₁) states of these BP derivatives were determined from the first peak of phosphorescence. The time‐resolved near‐IR emission spectrum of singlet oxygen generated by photosensitization with BP‐7 was observed in acetonitrile at room temperature. BP‐2, BP‐3, BP‐6 and BP‐12 show photoinduced phosphorescence enhancement in ethanol at 77 K. The possible mechanism of the observed phosphorescence enhancement is discussed. The T₁ states of 2‐hydroxy‐5‐methylbenzophenone, 4‐methoxybenzophenone and 2,4′‐dimethoxybenzophenone have been studied for comparison.     

Electronic spectra and luminescence properties of 1,2-benzotetraphene in crystalline matrices at 77 K

Quasilinear absorption and luminescence spectra of 1,2-benzotetraphene were obtained in polycrystalline matrices at 77 K. Tne energies of successive excited singlet states as well as the energy of the lowest excited triplet state were found experimentally and compared with those calculated by the PPP CI method. The fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield were determined experimentally. Moreover, the radiationless transition probabilities, lifetime of triplet state and phosphorescence quantum yield were estimated employing the Siebrand-Williams model. The results obtained suggest that radiationless ISC processes are the main deactivation channel of the S₁ and T₁ states. The vibrational analysis of quasilinear absorption and luminescence spectra was performed and fundamental frequencies of ground and first excited singlet states were determined.     

Solvent and temperature effects on the fluorescence and competitive photoreactions of cis-9-styrylanthracene

A fluorimetric and photochemical study of cis-9-styrylanthracene as a function of temperature has been carried out in different solvents with the aim of answering some open questions about the behavior of its first excited singlet state, S₁. In non-polar solvents, a parallel photoreactive pathway, leading to a cyclization adduct, was found to compete with fluorescence and isomerization already at 200 K, its contribution increasing markedly with temperature. The cis » trans photoisomerization occurs prevalently by a triplet mechanism, a detectable contribution of diabatic and adiabatic isomerization in S₁ being operative in these solvents from room temperature upwards. In polar solvents, the main deactivation pathway competitive with fluorescence is isomerization to trans, which occurs prevalently through a mixed singlet mechanism with a major diabatic and a minor adiabatic components.     

EFFECT OF THE BROMINE ATOM UPON THE DISSOCIATION CONSTANTS OF BROMOPYRIDINES,BROMOQUINOLINES AND 4-BROMOISOQUINOLINE IN THEIR LOWEST EXCITED SINGLET AND TRIPLET STATES*

Abstract— The lowest excited singlet-state dissociation constants (pK^S_a) of bromosubstituted pyridines, quinolines, and isoquinolines were determined from the pH-dependent shifts in their electronic absorption spectra. The lowest excited triplet-state dissociation constants (pK^T_a) of bromosubstituted quinolines and 4-bromoisoquinoline were obtained from the shifts of the 0–0 phosphorescence bands measured in rigid aqueous solution at 77 K. The pK^S_a values indicate that the basicity of these brominated nitrogen heterocycles is increased in the lowest excited singlet state by 2 to 10 orders of magnitude as compared with the ground state. The pK^T_a values are found to be significantly different from the corresponding ground-state pK_a values, indicating that the basicity of bromoquinolines is increased in the lowest excited triplet state by 1.7 to 3.0 pK units. The enhancement of the excited singlet-and triplet-state basicity of brominated nitrogen heterocycle derivatives as compared with the unsuhstituted parent compounds is attributed to the increased electron-donor conjugative interactions of the bromine atom pπ orbitals with π orbitals in the lowest excited singlet and triplet state.     

A PREVIOUSLY UNREPORTED INTENSE ABSORPTION BAND AND THE pK, OF PROTONATED TRIPLET METHYLENE BLUE

Abstract— Excitation by a Q-switched giant ruby laser (1.2 J output at 694 nm ?50 ns flash) of 2–10 µM solutions of methylene blue in water, 30% ethanol in water or 50 v/v% water-CH₃CN at pH values in the range 2.0–9.3 converted the dye essentially completely to its T₁ state. The absorption spectrum of T₁ dye was measured in different media at pH 2.0 and 8.2 by kinetic spectrophotometry. Previously reported T-T absorption in the violet in acidic and alkaline solutions and in the near infrared in alkaline solution was confirmed. Values found for these absorptions in the present work with 30% ethanol in water as solvent are λ_max - 370nm, ε_max, - 13,200 M^-1 cm^-1 at pH 2 and λ_max,?420nm, ε_max 9000 M^-1 cm^-1, λ_max, - 840 nm, ε_max - 20,000 m ^-1 cm^-1 at pH 8.2. Long-wavelength T-T absorption in acidic solution is reported here for the first time: λ_max, ? 680 nm, e_max? 19,000 M cm^-1 in 30% ethanol in water at pH 2. Observation of a pH-independent isobestic point ? 720 nm confirms that the long-wavelength absorptions are due to different protonated states of the same species, MB⁺(T₁) and MBH²⁺(T₁). The pK_a of MBH²⁺(T₁) in water was determined from the dependence on pH of absorption at 700 and 825 nm to be 7.1₄± 0.1 and from the kinetics of decay of triplet absorption to be 7.2. The specific rate of protonation of MB⁺(T₁) by H₂PO₄ in water at pH 4.4 was found to be 4.5 ± 0.4 times 10⁸M^-1s^-1.     

Triplet Lifetime Determination of Molecules in the Gas Phase by T-T Energy Transfer

It has been demonstrated that the triplet lifetime of nonemitting molecules in the dilute vapor phase - even for complex triplet decays - can be accurately determined by means of time-resolved triplet-triplet (T-T) energy transfer to a strong emitter molecule. Besides the test molecules 1-butyne-3-one and benzaldehyde the lifetime of the vibrationally relaxed nonemitting T₁(nπ*) state of cycloheptanone, τ=63 ± 5 µs at ～?0.5 Torr, together with its energy transfer rate constant to biacetyl, k_ET=(1.80±0.08) x 10⁶ s^?1 Torr^?1, have been measured.     

Synthesis, structures and photoluminescence behavior of some group 10 metal alkynyl complexes derived from 3-(N-carbazolyl)-1-propyne

A new class of luminescent and thermally stable mononuclear group 10 platinum(II) and palladium(II) acetylides trans-[Pt(PR₃)₂(L)₂] (R = Bu, Et) and trans-[Pd(PBu₃)₂(L)₂] (LH = 3-(N-carbazolyl)-1-propyne) have been successfully synthesized and characterized. The structural properties of these discrete metal complexes have been studied by X-ray crystallography. We report their optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra and interpret the results in terms of the nature of the metal center and the type of phosphines used. Our investigations indicate that they display heavy metal-enhanced phosphorescence bands at 77 K and we find that the platinum complexes afford more intense triplet emission than that for the palladium congener, consistent with the stronger heavy-atom effect of the third row element than the second row neighbor of the same group.     

Triplet–Triplet Energy Transfer from a UV‐A Absorber Butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane to UV‐B Absorbers

The phosphorescence decay of a UV‐A absorber, 4‐tert‐butyl‐4′‐methoxydibenzolymethane (BMDBM) has been observed following a 355 nm laser excitation in the absence and presence of UV‐B absorbers, 2‐ethylhexyl 4‐methoxycinnamate (octyl methoxycinnamate, OMC) and octocrylene (OCR) in ethanol at 77 K. The lifetime of the lowest excited triplet (T₁) state of BMDBM is significantly reduced in the presence of OMC and OCR. The observed quenching of BMDBM triplet by OMC and OCR suggests that the intermolecular triplet–triplet energy transfer occurs from BMDBM to OMC and OCR. The T₁ state of OCR is nonphosphorescent or very weakly phosphorescent. However, we have shown that the energy level of the T₁ state of OCR is lower than that of the enol form of BMDBM. Our methodology of energy‐donor phosphorescence decay measurements can be applied to the study of the triplet–triplet energy transfer between UV absorbers even if the energy acceptor is nonphosphorescent. In addition, the delayed fluorescence of BMDBM due to triplet–triplet annihilation was observed in the BMDBM–OMC and BMDBM–OCR mixtures in ethanol at 77 K. Delayed fluorescence is one of the deactivation processes of the excited states of BMDBM under our experimental conditions.