Ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer in the micelle and the gel phase of a PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer

Ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) to coumarin dyes is studied in the micelle and the gel phase of a triblock copolymer, (PEO)(20)-(PPO)(70)-(PEO)(20) (Pluronic P123) by picosecond and femtosecond emission spectroscopies. The rate of PET in a P123 micelle and gel is found to be nonexponential and faster than the slow components of solvation dynamics. In a P123 micelle and gel, PET occurs on multiple time scales ranging from a subpicosecond time scale to a few nanoseconds. In the gel phase, the highest rate constant (9.3 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) of ET for C152 is about two times higher than that (3.8 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) observed in micelle phase. The ultrafast components of electron transfer (ET) exhibits a bell shaped dependence with the free energy change which is similar to the Marcus inversion. Possible reasons for slower PET in P123 micelle compared to other micelles and relative to P123 gel are discussed.     

Photoinduced electron transfer reaction in room temperature ionic liquids: a combined laser flash photolysis and fluorescence study

A detailed study of the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reaction between pyrene and N,N-dimethylaniline has been made in four different room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) using steady state and time-resolved fluorescence and laser flash photolysis techniques. Unlike that in the conventional media, no exciplex emission for this well-known system could be observed in ILs. The rate constants for the PET induced quenching of the fluorescent state of pyrene, which lie between 6.9 and 37 x 107 M-1 s-1 depending on the viscosity, are found to be 2-4 times higher than the diffusion-controlled rates in ILs. The primary photoproducts of the PET process have been characterized by transient absorption spectroscopy, and the yields of the solvent-separated PET products have been determined. Even in the least viscous IL, [emim][Tf2N], the yield of the solvent-separated radical ion is estimated to be only 0.015 +/- 0.005. In more viscous ILs such as [bmim][PF6], the yield is found to be so low that absorption due to these species could not be observed. The rate constant for the escape of the ionic products from the geminate ion pair in ILs has been estimated to be nearly 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than the back electron transfer rate. However, the small fraction of the PET products, which manage to escape geminate recombination, have been found to survive much longer compared to those in less viscous conventional solvents.     

Dyads for photoinduced charge separation based on platinum diimine bis(acetylide) chromophores: synthesis,luminescence and transient absorption studies

The platinum diimine bis(acetylide) chromophore was utilized to explore photoinduced intramolecular reductive quenching with phenothiazine donors in chromophore-donor dyad complexes. Compounds of the general formula Pt(X(2)-bpy)(C triple bond C-p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)(D))(2) (where D = phenothiazine (PTZ) or trifluromethylphenothiazine (TPZ) and X = (t)Bu or CO(2)Et) were synthesized from the corresponding Pt(X(2)-bpy)Cl(2) and aryl acetylene by a CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction. Solvent dependence was explored for the system with X = (t)Bu in MeCN, CH(2)Cl(2), EtOAc, and toluene. Electron transfer quenching of the (3)MLCT excited state of the platinum diimine bis(acetylide) takes place in MeCN leaving no intrinsic emission from the excited state, but in toluene both the PTZ and TPZ dyad complexes exhibit no emission quenching. Picosecond pump-probe transient absorption (TA) experiments were used to monitor decay of the (3)MLCT excited state and electron transfer to form the charge-separated (CS) state. Electrochemical measurements were used to estimate the driving force for charge recombination (CR), with deltaE(CR) based on the reduction potential corresponding to Pt(X(2)-bpy)(C triple bond C-Ar)(2) --> Pt(X(2)-bpy(*)(-))(C triple bond C-Ar)(2) and the oxidation corresponding to donor --> donor(*)(+). Kinetic information from the TA measurements was used to correlate rate and driving force with the electron transfer reactions. Concomitant with the decay of the (3)MLCT excited state was the observation of a transient absorption at ca. 500 nm due to formation of the PTZ or TPZ radical cation in the CS state, with the rate of charge separation, k(CS), being 1.8 x 10(9) to 2 x 10(10) s(-1) for the three dyads explored in MeCN and 1:9 CH(2)Cl(2)/MeCN. The fastest rate of CR occurs for X = CO(2)Et and D = PTZ, the compound with smallest deltaE(CR) = 1.71 V. The rate of CR for dyads with X = (t)Bu and D = PTZ or TPZ was estimated to be 1.7-2.0 x 10(8) s(-1) in MeCN. The slower rate corresponds to a greater driving force for CR, deltaE(CR) = 2.18 and 2.36 V for D = PTZ and TPZ, respectively, suggesting that the driving force for charge recombination places it in the Marcus inverted region.     

Ground vs. excited state electron transfer: adsorbed monolayers and trimers in solution

Transient emission spectroscopy has been used to probe the rate of photoinduced electron transfer between metal centres within a novel trimeric complex [[Os(bpy)2(bpe)2][Os(bpy)2Cl]2]4+, where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridyl and bpe is trans-1,2-bis-(4-pyridyl)ethylene. Transient emission experiments on the trimer, and on [Os(bpy)2 (bpe)2]2+ in which the [Os(bpy)2 Cl]+ quenching moieties are absent, reveal that the rate of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) across the bpe bridge is 1.3 +/- 0.1 x 10(8) s(-1). Investigations into the driving forces for oxidation and reduction of the electronically excited state within the trimer indicate that quenching of the [Os(bpy)2 (bpe)2]2+ centre within the trimer involves electron transfer from the [bpe Os(bpy)2 Cl]+ centres to the electronically excited state with a driving force of -0.3 eV. Monolayers of the complex, [Os(bpy)2 bpe pyridine]2+, have been formed by spontaneous adsorption onto platinum microelectrodes and used to probe the dynamics of electron transfer across the trans-1,2-bis-(4-pyridyl)ethylene bridge in the ground state. These monolayers are stable and exhibit well defined voltammetric responses for the Os2+/3+ redox reaction. Cyclic voltammograms recorded at high scan rates can be accurately modelled according to a non-adiabatic electron transfer model based on the Marcus theory using a standard heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant, k(o), of 3.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) s(-1) and a reorganization energy of 0.4 +/- 0.1 eV. This rate constant is a factor of approximately two orders of magnitude smaller than that found for photoinduced electron transfer across the same bpe bridge for identical driving forces. This significant difference is interpreted in terms of both the nature of the orbitals involved in electrochemically and optically driven electron transfer, as well as the strength of electronic coupling between two molecular components as opposed to a molecular component and a metal electrode.     

Photoinduced electron transfer from the excited J-aggregate state of a thiacarbocyanine dye to TiO2 colloids

The photophysical properties of the J-aggregate of 3,3'-di(3-sulfopropyl)-4,5,4',5'-dibenzo-9-phenyl-thiacarbocyanine triethyl-ammonium salt in the absence and presence of TiO(2) colloids have been studied using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, and ESR spectroscopy. The fluorescence emission of the J-aggregate decreases with increasing concentration of TiO(2) colloids. The average fluorescence lifetime of the J-aggregate in the presence of TiO(2) colloids is shorter than that in the absence of TiO(2) colloids. A strong photoinduced ESR signal has been observed during illumination by light with lambda=633 nm in the presence of TiO(2) and the ESR signal can be attributed to the J-aggregate radical cation. From the above results, it is concluded that photoinduced electron transfer from the excited singlet state of the J-aggregate to the conduction band of TiO(2) takes place and the electron transfer rate is about 1.5 x 10(8) s(-1).     

Nanosecond time-resolved studies of long-lived photoinduced charge separation in the dyad fluorescein-anthraquinone-methyl ester adsorbed on TiO2 colloids

A dyad composed of fluorescein and 2-methyl-anthraquinone (FL-AQ) was synthesized and its photophysical properties were examined by absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, and fluorescence lifetime. The charge-separated state formed by photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer was detected by nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy for the first time. When FL is excited in solution, the photoinduced electron transfer from FL to AQ proceeds efficiently. The rate constant and the efficiency of intramolecular electron transfer are 3.95 x 10(9) s(-1) and 95%, respectively. Its charge-separated state lifetime is too short to detect by transient absorption spectroscopy. Adding nanometer colloidal TiO(2) to an FL-AQ ethanol solution prolongs the lifetime of the charge-separated state, so its transient absorption signal is recorded significantly. The lifetimes of FL(+). at 480 nm and AQ(-). at 560 nm in the FL-AQ/TiO(2) colloidal system are 11.1 and 8.93 mivros, respectively.     

Diversified Excited-State Relaxation Pathways of Donor–Linker–Acceptor Dyads Controlled by a Bent-to-Planar Motion of the Donor

Herein, we introduce the cyclic 8π-electron (C8π) molecule N,N′-diaryl-dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine ( DPAC ) as a dual-functional donor to establish a series of new donor–linker–acceptor (D–L–A) dyads DLA1 – DLA5 . The excited-state bent-to-planar dynamics of DPAC regulate the energy gap of the donor, while the acceptors A1 – A5 are endowed with different energy gaps and HOMO/LUMO levels. As a result, the rate and efficiency of the excited-state electron transfer vs. energy transfer can be finely harnessed, which is verified via steady-state spectroscopy and time-resolved emission measurements. This comprehensive approach demonstrates, for the first time, the manifold of excited-state properties governed by bifunctional donor-based D–L–A dyads, including bent-to-planar, photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from excited donor to acceptor (oxidative-PET), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), bent-to-planar followed by electron transfer (PFET), and PET from donor to excited acceptor (reductive-PET).     

Quantum yields of the initiation step and chain propagation turnovers in S(RN)1 reactions: photostimulated reaction of 1-iodo-2-methyl-2-phenyl propane with carbanions in DMSO

Neophyl radicals were generated by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from a suitable donor to the neophyl iodide (1, 1-iodo-2-methyl-2-phenylpropane). The PET reaction of 1 with the enolate anion of cyclohexenone (2) afforded mainly the reduction products tert-butylbenzene (5) and the rearranged isobutylbenzene (6), arising from hydrogen abstraction of the neophyl radical (15) and the rearranged radical 16 intermediates, respectively. The photostimulated reaction of 1 with 2 in the presence of di-tert-butylnitroxide, as a radical trap, afforded adduct 10 in 57% yield. The photoinduced reaction of the enolate anion of acetophenone (3) with 1 gave the substitution products 11 (50%) and 12 (16%), which arise from the coupling of 3 with radicals 15 and 16, respectively. The rate constant obtained for the addition of anion 3 to radical 15 was 1.2 x 10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), by the use of the rearrangement of this radical as a clock reaction. The anion of nitromethane (4) was almost unreactive at the initiation step, but in the presence of 2 under irradiation, it gave high yields (67%) of the substitution product 13 and only 2% of the rearranged product 14. When the ratio of 4 to 1 was diminished, it was possible to observe both substitution products 13 and 14 in 16% and 6.4% yields, respectively. These last results allowed us to estimate the coupling rate constant of neophyl radicals 15 with anion 4 to be at least of the order of 10(6) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). Although the overall quantum yield determined (lambda = 350 nm) for the studied reactions is below 1, the chain lengths (Phi(propagation)) for the reaction of 1 with anions 3 and 4 are 127 and 2, respectively.     

Cyanobacterial chlorophyll as a sensitizer for colloidal TiO2

Chlorophyll has been extracted from cyanobacteria. The adsorption of chlorophyll on the surface of colloidal TiO(2) through electrostatic interaction was observed. The apparent association constant (K(app)) of chlorophyll-TiO(2) obtained from absorption spectra is 3.78x10(4)M(-1). The K(app) value of chlorophyll-TiO(2) as determined from fluorescence spectra is 1.81x10(4)M(-1), which matches well with that determined from the absorption spectra changes. These data indicate that there is an interaction between chlorophyll and colloidal TiO(2) nanoparticle surface. The dynamics of photoinduced electron transfer from chlorophyll to the conduction band of colloidal TiO(2) nanoparticle has been observed and the mechanism of electron transfer has been confirmed by the calculation of free energy change (DeltaG(et)) by applying Rehm-Weller equation as well as energy level diagram. Lifetime measurements gave the rate constant (k(et)) for electron injection from the excited state chlorophyll into the conduction band of TiO(2) is 4.2x10(8)s(-1).     

A new selective fluorescent probe for lead ions

A new fluorescent probe(BPbl) for Pb~(2+) has been synthesized,where diethanolamine(receptor) is linked with 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a, 4a-diaza-s-indacene(BODIPY)(fluorophore) via a methylene group(spacer).The absorption(496 nm) and emission (505 nm) wavelengths are in visible range.The fluorescence quantum yields of the lead-free and lead-bound states of BPb_1 in acetonitrile are 0.013 and 0.693,respectively.The large chelation enhanced fluorescence effect(CHEF) with Pb~(2+) can be explained by the blocki...     

A new window towards multidimensional sensing of transition metal cations through dual mode sensing ability of N-benzyl-(3-hydoxy-2-naphthalene): emission enhancement coupled remarkable spectral shift

A structurally simple Schiff base N-benzyl-(3-hydroxy-2-naphthalene) (NBHN32) has been synthesized and characterized by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and DEPT spectroscopy. The photophysical behaviour of NBHN32 in response to the presence of various transition metal cations has been explored by means of steady-state absorption, emission and time-resolved emission spectroscopy techniques. Efficient through space intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between the naphthalene fluorophore and the imine group has been argued for extremely low fluorescence yield of NBHN32 compared to the parent molecule 3-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde (HN32) containing the same fluorophore but lacking the receptor moiety. Transition metal ion-induced emission enhancement is thus addressed on the lexicon of perturbation of the PET by the metal ions. Apart from fluorescence enhancement, transition metal ion imparts remarkable shift of the emission maxima of NBHN32, which is another unique aspect on the proposed ability of NBHN32 to function as a fluorescence chemosensor.     

A luminescence molecular switch via modulation of PET and ICT processes in DCM system

A novel versatile dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran (DCM) based derivative bearing ferrocenyl group (DCM-N-Fc) is designed as modulator to construct “off-on” logic operation. The optical properties of DCM-N-Fc are characterized by absorption and steady-state fluorescence technique, showing that the fluorescence from DCM chromophore via intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) is strongly quenched by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process from ferrocene moiety. In contrast with the references (DCM-N and DCM-Fc), the fluorescence of DCM-N-Fc can be triggered by oxidizing ferrocenyl unit either chemically or electrochemically, exhibiting a characteristic emission modulation at around 610 nm with an electrofluorochromic behavior. Furthermore, the free energy and the fluorescence lifetime in the PET path verify the thermodynamic feasibility. Cyclic voltammetry, absorption spectroscopy, time-resolved fluorescence as well as DFT calculation have been used to elaborate the manipulation via both PET and ICT processes.     

Fluorogenic sensing of CH3CO2- and H2PO4- by ditopic receptor through conformational change

Cyclo-bis-(urea-3,6-dichlorocarbazole) (1) forms a 1 : 2 complex with CH(3)CO(2)(-) and H(2)PO(4)(-) through hydrogen bonding with the two urea moieties, resulting in fluorescence enhancement via a combined photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and energy transfer mechanism. The binding mechanism involves a conformational change of the two urea receptors to a trans orientation after binding of the first anion, which facilitates the second interaction.     

Spectroscopy and femtosecond dynamics of type-II CdTe/CdSe core-shell quantum dots.

Syntheses of CdTe/CdSe type-II quantum dots (QDs) using CdO and CdCl2 as precursors for core and shell, respectively, are reported. Characterization was made via near-IR interband emission, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Femtosecond fluorescence upconversion measurements on the relaxation dynamics of the CdTe core (in CdTe/CdSe) emission and CdTe/CdSe interband emission reveal that as the size of the core increases from 5.3, 6.1 to 6.9 nm, the rate of photoinduced electron separation decreases from 1.96, 1.44 to 1.07 x10(12) s(-1). The finite rates of the initial charge separation are tentatively rationalized by the small electron-phonon coupling, causing weak coupling between the initial and charge-separated states.     

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) based Zn2+ fluorescent probe: transformation of turn-on sensors into ratiometric ones with dual emission in acetonitrile

Ratiometric sensors for the detection of metal ions have gained increasing attention due to its self-calibration tendency for the environmental effects. In this context, we have synthesized and characterized a dual emitting ratiometric Zn(2+) probe (1) having acridinedione as a fluorophore and N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (BPA) as a receptor unit. Existence of two different conformation of the molecule with photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from amine moiety to the acridinedione fluorophore leads to dual emission, namely locally excited (425 nm) and anomalous charge transfer emission (560 nm) in aprotic solvents. In the presence of one equivalent of Zn(2+), a 15-fold fluorescence enhancement in the locally excited state together with the quenching of charge transfer emission is observed. The intensity changes at the two emission peaks allow a ratiometric detection of Zn(2+) under PET signaling mechanism. The utilization of PET process for the ratiometric fluorescence change will further signify the importance of PET mechanism in sensing action. Addition of Zn(2+) to 1 in acetonitrile/water mixtures shows a single emission peak with fluorescence enhancement.     

Complexation and fluorescence behavior of 9,10-bis[bis(beta-hydroxyethyl)aminomethyl]anthracene

9,10-Bis[bis(beta-hydroxyethyl)aminomethyl]anthracene (1) showed weak emission, suggesting that photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from amine group to excited anthracene occur. The PET fluoroionophore (1) was found to display unique photophysical properties in the presence of the guest metal cations in H(2)OCH(3)OH (1:1, v/v). Complexation of 1 with guest metal cations increased the fluorescence intensity.     

Photoalkylation of 10-alkylacridinium ion via a charge-shift type of photoinduced electron transfer controlled by solvent polarity

A charge-shift type of photoinduced electron-transfer reactions from various electron donors to the singlet excited state of 10-decylacridinium cation (DeAcrH+) in a nonpolar solvent (benzene) is found to be as efficient as those of 10-methylacridinium cation (MeAcrH+) and DeAcrH+ in a polar solvent (acetonitrile). Irradiation of the absorption bands of MeAcrH+ in acetonitrile solution containing tetraalkyltin compounds (R(4)Sn) results in the efficient and selective reduction of MeAcrH+ to yield the 10-methyl-9-alkyl-9,10-dihydroacridine (AcrHR). The same type of reaction proceeds in benzene when MeAcrH+ is replaced by DeAcrH+ which is soluble in benzene. The photoalkylation of R'AcrH+ (R' = Me and De) also proceeds in acetonitrile and benzene using 4-tert-butyl-1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (Bu(t)BNAH) instead of R(4)Sn, yielding MeAcrHBu(t). The quantum yield determinations, the fluorescence quenching of R'AcrH+ by electron donors, and direct detection of the reaction intermediates by means of laser flash photolysis experiments indicate that the photoalkylation of R'AcrH+ in benzene as well as in acetonitrile proceeds via photoinduced electron transfer from the alkylating agents (R(4)Sn and Bu(t)BNAH) to the singlet excited states of R'AcrH+. The limiting quantum yields are determined by the competition between the back electron-transfer process and the bond-cleavage process in the radical pair produced by the photoinduced electron transfer. The rates of back electron transfer have been shown to be controlled by the solvent polarity which affects the solvent reorganization energy of the back electron transfer. When the free energy change of the back electron transfer (DeltaG(0)(bet)) in a polar solvent is in the Marcus inverted region, the rate of back electron transfer decreases with decreasing the solvent polarity, leading to the larger limiting quantum yield for the photoalkylation reaction. In contrast, the opposite trend is obtained when the DeltaG(0)(bet) value is in the normal region: the limiting quantum yield decreases with decreasing the solvent polarity.     

Synthesis and photophysics of monodisperse co-oligomers consisting of alternating thiophene and perylene bisimide

A series of monodisperse oligomers consisting of alternating thiophene (T) and perylene bisimide (P), denoted as (TP)(n)T (n = 1, 2, 3, 6), were synthesized and photophysically characterized. The steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectra revealed that the low-energy P-derived band remains almost unchanged upon the increment of the number of the repeat unit n. This can be rationalized as a consequence of nearly orthogonal molecular geometry and highly-localized electron density at LUMO level based on DFT calculation. A drastic reduction of the fluorescence quantum yields (Φ(F)) of (TP)(n)T was observed with the sequence of (TP)(6)T > (TP)(3)T > (TP)(2)T > (TP)(1)T, as compared to the parent perylene bisimide. Further femtosecond transient absorption studies clarified that the quenching mechanism is intramolecular electron transfer, in which the generated P radical anion was spectrally recognized. The rate of charge separation was found to be on the order of 10(11) s(-1), suggesting an efficient electron transfer reaction between the thiophene and perylene units. Interestingly, the charge separation rate constant increased more than three times upon the increment of n, whereas the charge-recombination rate constant remained almost unchanged at (1.58-2.21) × 10(9) s(-1). Analysis of the kinetic and thermodynamic data using the Marcus approach showed that the enhanced electronic coupling is the origin of the acceleration of electron-transfer reaction in the D-A copolymers.     

Enhanced Fluorescence Turn‐on Imaging of Hypochlorous Acid in Living Immune and Cancer Cells

Two closely related phenyl selenyl based boron‐dipyrromethene (BODIPY) turn‐on fluorescent probes for the detection of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) were synthesized for studies in chemical biology; emission intensity is modulated by a photoinduced electron‐transfer (PET) process. Probe 2 intrinsically shows a negligible background signal; however, after reaction with HOCl, chemical oxidation of selenium forecloses the PET process, which evokes a significant increase in fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence intensity of probes 1 and 2 with HOCl involves an ～18 and ～50‐fold enhancement compared with the respective responses from other reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) and low detection limits (30.9 nm for 1 and 4.5 nm for 2 ). Both probes show a very fast response with HOCl; emission intensity reached a maximum within 1 s. These probes show high selectivity for HOCl, as confirmed by confocal microscopy imaging when testing with RAW264.7 and MCF‐7 cells.     

痂囊腔菌素A与咔唑化合物间的光致电子转移

研究了咔唑、咔唑-9-乙酸、3-溴-咔唑-9-乙酸在缺氧条件下对天然苝醌化合物痂囊腔菌素A(简记为EA)的荧光猝灭行为;由竹红菌甲素(HA)和乙素(HB)的荧光寿命估算了EA在乙腈中的荧光寿命,并进而计算了三个咔唑化合物的双分子猝灭速度常数.结果表明,三个咔唑化合物在EA的可见光吸收区无光吸收,据此推测其对EA的荧光猝灭作用归因于咔唑化合物作为电子给体而EA作为电子受体的光致电子转移作用.三个咔唑化合物的Stern-Volmer猝灭常数分别为698、704和1 063L·mol-1;乙酸基对咔唑环的光致电子转移速率几乎没有影响,而溴原子取代能够增加咔唑化合物对EA的荧光猝灭程度和光致电子转移速率.此外,EA在乙腈中的荧光寿命为1.98ns,而三个咔唑化合物的双分子猝灭速率常数分别为3.52×1011,3.56×1011和5.37×1011 L·mol-1·s-1.