Emission spectroscopic and ODMR studies of the lowest excited triplet state of dichlorophenylborane

The triplet state T₁ of dichlorophenylborane (PhBCl₂) has been investigated by optical emission and ODMR spectroscopic methods in order to study the influence of substituents with mesomeric and inductive effects. The zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters D and E, the selective kinetic rates of radiative and non-radiative deactivation of the triplet sublevels and the phosphorescence spectrum were measured. From the small value of D = 0.1201 cm^?1 a considerable charge transfer admixture to the ³L_a state of benzene has to be assumed. The ratio of the radiative rates shows a distortion of the molecule. Further a heavy atom effect of the chlorine atoms on the in-plane rates of the deactivation of T₁ can be observed.     

The lowest excited triplet state of triphenylboron and of the isoelectronic triphenylcarbenium ion

Triphenylboron BPh₃ and the triphenylcarbenium salts C⁺Ph₃/SbCl₆^? and C⁺Ph₃/BF₄^? have been investigated by ODMR and emission spectroscopic methods. The zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters D and E and the decay rate constants of the triplet zero-field levels (ZFL) as well as the phosphorescence spectra were measured. The non-zero E values indicate a symmetry lower than D₃ for the Jahn-Teller unstable triplet state of all compounds. The radiative decay of T₁ shows a strong delocalization of the triplet wavefunction for C⁺Ph₃, but a strong localization on the benzene rings for BPh₃. This is in agreement with MO calculations.     

Fluorescence decay kinetics of acetone vapour at low pressures

Acetone-h₆ and -d₆ were excited by a short UV laser pulse to the nπ* state. Using pressures of 10^?4-10 ^?3 Torr, two distinct decay components were observed - the faster with a decay time of less than 20 ns and the slower of about 5 μs. Increasing the pressure leads to the appearance of two longer-lived decay components, which are apparently absent in the case of isolated molecules. Based on the deuteration effect, excitation wavelength dependence, quenching kinetics and analogy with other molecules, the four decay components are assigned as follows. The fastest component is due to dephasing of the initially excited state, forming a quasi-stationary eigenstate. The second component is due to the radiative decay of the latter states. The third, to decay of triplet states not directly coupled to the initially excited singlet states, and the last to the thermalized triplet state.     

On the low-lying triplet of the water molecule and its luminescent decay

Due to a significant discrepancy between theoretical calculations and experimental excitation data, the position of the low-lying triplet state of water has been much debated in recent years. We now report that the corresponding transition (≈ 4.0 eV) can be observed also in emission upon charge neutralization in γ-irradiated ordinary and heavy ices and also by photosensitization from the mercury ³P₁ or ³P₀ state. The observed radiative decay is characterized by an emission λ_max at 380–385 nm.     

Theoretical DFT study of phosphorescence from porphyrins

Geometrical structure of free-base porphin (H₂P) and Mg- and Zn-porphyrins together with their vibrational frequencies and vibronic intensities in phosphorescence are investigated by density functions theory (DFT) with the standard B3LYP functional. These molecules have a closed-shell singlet ground state (S₀) and low-lying triplet (T₁) excited states of ππ* type. The S₀–T₁ transition probability and radiative lifetime of phosphorescence (τ_p) of these molecules are calculated by time-dependent DFT utilizing quadratic response functions for account of spin–orbit coupling (SOC) and electric-dipole transition moments including displacements along active vibrational modes. The infrared and Raman spectra in the ground singlet and first excited triplet states are also studied for proper assignment of vibronic patterns. The long radiative lifetime of free-base porphin phosphorescence (τ_p ∼ 360 s at low temperature limit, 4.2 K) gets considerably shorter for the metalloporphyrins. An order of magnitude reduction of τ_p is predicted for Mg-porphyrin but no change of phosphorescence polarization is found. A forty times enhancement of the radiative phosphorescence rate constant is obtained for Zn-porphyrin in comparison with the H₂P molecule which is accompanied by a strong change of polarization and spin-sublevel radiative activity. A strong vibronic activity of free-base porphin phosphorescence is found for the b_2g mode at 430 cm⁻¹, while the 679 and 715 cm⁻¹ vibronic bands of b_3g symmetry are less active. These and other out-of-plane vibrations produce considerable changes in the radiative constants of different spin sublevels of the triplet state; they also promote the S₁ → T₁ intersystem crossing. Among the in-plane vibrations the a_g mode at 1614 cm⁻¹ is found very active; it produces a long progression in the phosphorescence spectrum. The time-dependent DFT calculations explain the effects of the transition metal atom on phosphorescence of porphyrins and reproduce differences in their phosphorescence and EPR spectra.     

Long fluorescence lifetime of pyrazine vapors

By the study of the pressure dependence of the fluorescence and phosphorescence yields of pyrazine vapors in the pressure range of 10⁻²-10 torr it was established that the fluorescence decay is not exponential but contains a long component (τ ≈ 10⁻⁶–10⁻⁷ sec) corresponding to the “dilution” of the singlet radiative properties in the dense manifold of triplet levels. The phosphorescence is due exclusively to the collisionally induced relaxation from the quasi-stationary state to the pure triplet state.     

Stochastic model for triplet yields

A stochastic model of triplet yields is considered where the singlet S₁ is initially excited and subsequently feeds the triplet T₁. Both S₁ and T₁ have Montroll—Shuler step ladder vibrational relaxation mechanisms and radiative and non-radiative decay rates that vary linearly with increasing vibrational energy. Assuming the S₁ → T₁ rates also have this linear variation, the kinetic model is exactly solved in terms of integrals of simple functions of hyperbolic functions. The predictions of the model are illustrated by application to naphthalene. The model parameters are chosen; wherever possible, from experimental data. The predictions are in gross qualitative agreement with available experiments on triplet yields, and they indicate more detailed future experiments to separate the S₁ → T₁ and S₁ → S₀ (ground singlet) decays (and their energy dependence) in aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Laser Spectroscopy and Lifetime Measurements of the S1 State of Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) in a Cold Gas-Phase Free-Jet

The S₁ electronic state of 7,7,8,8-Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) has been investigated by laser induced fluorescence (LIF), dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectroscopy, and lifetime measurements under jet-cooled conditions in the gas-phase. The LIF spectrum showed a weak origin band at 412.13 nm (24262 cm⁻¹) with prominent progression and combination bands involving vibrations of 327, 1098, and 2430 cm⁻¹. In addition, very strong bands appeared at ∼363.6 nm (3300 cm⁻¹ above the origin). Both the LIF and DF spectra indicate considerable geometric change in the S₁ state. The fluorescence lifetime of S₁ at zero-point level was obtained to be 220 ns. This lifetime is 40 times longer than the radiative lifetime estimated from the S₁−S₀ oscillator strength. Furthermore, the lifetimes of the vibronic bands exhibited drastic energy dependence, indicating a strong mixing with the triplet (T₁) or intramolecular charge-transfer (CT) state. This study is thought to disclose intrinsic nature of TCNQ, which has been well known as a component of organic semiconductors and a versatile p-type dopant.     

Position-dependent heavy atom effect in the subrates of the lowest triplet state of dichloronaphthalenes

By means of the microwave-induced delayed phosphorescence (MIDP) technique, the dynamics of the lowest triplet state T₀ of several dichloronaphthalenes in naphthalene and durene are investigated. It is shown that the position dependence is very selective in the nonradiative decay of the spin-sublevels: The out-of-plane spin state is nearly not affected, while the in-plane states are strongly affected. The radiative rates, on the other hand, are not selectively influenced by the position of substitution. Besides, the results show that the dynamics of the lowest triplet state is determined by the type of substitution, rather than by the symmetry of the molecule. The spin—orbit coupling of the in-plane states seems to profit from some distortion the guest molecule experiences in the naphthalene host lattice.     

Collision induced intersystem crossing the photophysics of glyoxal vapor excited at 4358 Å

The yields, lifetimes and spectra of singlet ¹A_u (S₁) and triplet ³A_u (T₁) emissions from glyoxal vapor (0.003 to 10 torr) have been measured after initially pumping levels about 1000 cm^?1 above the S₁ zero-point level with the 4358 A Hg line and with flash excitation centered at 4345 A. Only S₁ emission is observed at the lowest pressures. The singlet fluorescence contains appreciable structure from the zero-point level even when the hard sphere collision interval exceeds the radiative lifetime calculated from the absorption coefficient. Implications of long lifetimes (due to S₁ - T₁ vibronic interactions) are not confirmed by pulsed excitation studies. Both S₁ and T₁ emissions are observed at pressures above about 0.1 tert and both are self-quenched. However, added gases such as cyclohexane, argon, and helium selectively quench only S₁ emission. This quenching is collision-induced S₁→T₁ intersystem crossing with cross sections of order 0.1 hard sphere for transitions from the S₁ zero-point level. The triplet yield in 0.2 torr of pure glyoxal is probably near unity, and the subsequent crossing T₁ → S₀, if it occurs, lies in the statistical limit. Indications of fast nonradiative decay from high triplet vibrational levels are seen in the phosphorescence yields. Self-quenching of the triplet state appears to be associated with the photochemical activity of glyoxal.     

Theoretical calculations of kinetics of the radical pair PF state in bacterial photosynthesis

Calculations of the time evolution of the population in the transient radical pair P^F state and the magnetic field dependence of the effective decay time are presented. A general treatment is proposed to include (1) unequal decay rates k_T and ^kS for the triplet and the singlet, (2) the anisotropic electron — electron dipolar interaction and (3) the multiple nuclear hyperfine interaction. It is found that the dipolar interaction and the exchange interaction have a strong impact on the field dependence of the effective decay time. In addition, the time evolution of the P^F population is found to be quasi-exponential for k_T >k₅, and the effective decay rate is determined much more by the singlet decay rate that the triplet decay rate as long as dominant spin-spin interactions are present. The decay curve becomes non-exponential as k_S becomes larger than k_T.     

Unraveling the Efficiency of Thioxanthone Based Triplet Sensitizers: A Detailed Theoretical Study

Photochemical activation by triplet photosensitizers is highly expedient for a green focus society. In this work, we have theoretically probed excited state characteristics of thioxanthone and its derivatives for their triplet harvesting efficiency using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Absorption and triplet energies corroborate well with the available experimental data. Our results predict that both the S₁ and T₁ states are π-π^* in nature, which renders a high oscillator strength for S₀ to S₁ transition. Major triplet exciton conversion occurs through intersystem crossing (ISC) channel between the S₁ (¹π-π^*) and high energy ³n- π^* state. Apart from that, there is both radiative and non-radiative channel from S₁ to S₀, which competes with the ISC channel and reduces the triplet harvesting efficiency. For thioxanthones with −OMe (Me=Methyl) or −F substitution at 2 or 2’ positions, the ISC channel is not energetically feasible, causing sluggish intersystem crossing quantum yield (Φ_ISC). For unsubstituted thioxanthone and for isopropyl substitution at 2’ position, the S₁-T₁ gap is slightly positive ( ), rendering a lower triplet harvesting efficiency. For systems with −OMe or −F substitution at 3 or 3’ position of thioxanthone, because of buried π state and high energy π^* state, the S₁-³nπ^* gap becomes negative. This leads to a high Φ_ISC (>0.9), which is key to being an effective photocatalyst.     

Room-Temperature Near-Infrared Metastable Species Measured by Phase-Sensitive Lock-in and Fourier Transform Techniques

An ultrasensitive detecting system coupled with either a lock-in or Fourier transform technique has been used to detect near-infrared (1000-2500 nm) metastable species in room temperature solutions. These species include O₂(¹Δ_g), O₂(¹σ⁺_g), the solvent induced satellite peak of molecular singlet oxygen (¹Δ_g) emission, and the triplet state of bis(triisobutylsiloxy)silicon-2,-3-naphthalocyanine (SilNC). Using the O₂(¹Δ_g) emission in benzene as a standard, the quantum yield and radiative decay rate of SiINC triplet state have been determined. Depending on types of spectral acquisition, special techniques such as phase-distinguishing and step scan capabilities were utilized. Their advantages and disadvantages are discussed.     

Spin-Orbit coupling in aromatic hydrocarbons: A semiempirical evaluation of the radiative lifetimes of naphtalene and anthracene

Singlet-triplet spin-orbit matrix elements, which govern the lowest ³B_1u ← ¹A_g transition in typical aromatic molecules like naphtalene and anthracene, are calculated with INDO molecular orbitals and the conventional spin-orbit one-electron hamiltonian. The correct order of magnitude of the triplet radiative lifetimes is obtained for the two molecules, when INDO MO coefficients are referred to a symmetrically orthogonalized basis. The possibility of using the semiempirical Hamiltonian is explored using ab initio wave-functions for a few test cases. Reasonably accurate doublet-doublet and singlet-triplet matrix elements have been computed.     

Xanthone. I. optical detection of an extremely large sublevel splitting the lowest triplet state

The phosphorescence spectrum of xanthone in n-hexane is resolved into three components, one of which is due to thermally activated emission from a n_π* origin. The other two emissions originate from extremely widely split sublevels of the lowest triplet state, which is of ³ππ* origin. higher energy of T_Lx, and T_1y, and thus below 4K there is thermal depletion of T_1z which has the largest radiative strength. Th consequence of spin-orbit coupling between the T_x and T_y sublevels of the-two very close-lying, lowest triplet states. There are signif mixing of orbital character, a mixing which is governed by spin-orbit coupling rather than vibronic coupling.     

Deuteration effects on the phosphorescence of aromatic hydrocarbons

Observations of the phosphorescence decay of isotopic mixtures of naphthalene-h_s and -d_s, phenanthrene-h₁₀ and -d₁₀, and chrysene-h₁₂ and -d₁₂, in ethanol solutions at 77 K are analysed to determine the ratio k_PT^H/k_PT^D of the triplet radiative rate parameters of the perprotonated and perdeuterated compounds. The ratio is 1.20 (±0.07) for naphthalene, 1.39 (±0.06) for phenanthrene, and 0.98 (±0.04) for chrysene.     

Theoretical investigation of Wulf and Chappuis bands in the spectrum of ozone

The ground state and some lowest excited states of ozone are calculated by the semiempirical MNDO method using configuration interaction to explain the Wulf absorption band and photodissociation of ozone. The results of calculations show that³A₂(1³A′’) is the lowest excited triplet state of O₃; a transition to this state from the ground X¹ A₁ state is responsible for the weak Wulf absorption. The oscillator strength (f = 3.2·10^-7) and the radiative lifetime of the A₂ state (Τ = 0.01 s) are in agreement with recent ab initio calculations. Translated fromZhumal Struktumoi Khimii, Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 1067–1073, November–December, 1997.     

LASER PHOTOLYSIS STUDIES OF QUINONE REDUCTION BY CHLOROPHYLL a IN ALCOHOL SOLUTION

Upon laser photolysis of chlorophyll-quinone solutions in ethanol, transients due to the chlorophyll triplet state (C_t), the chlorophyll cation radical (C⁺) and the semiquinone radical (Q^-) can be observed. The rise of Q^- parallels the decay of C_t. demonstrating the precursor role of the triplet. The decay of C⁺ is second order, consistent with reverse electron transfer, and has a rate constant which is independent of quinone potential, and an activation energy of 14kJ/mol due mainly to the temperature dependence of solvent viscosity. Triplet quenching and C⁺ yield are found to decrease with decreasing quinone potential.     

Study of the Light‐Induced Spin Crossover Process of the [FeII(bpy)3]2+ Complex

Ab initio calculations have been performed on [Fe^II(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy=bipyridine) to establish the variation of the energy of the electronic states relevant to light‐induced excited‐state spin trapping as a function of the Fe? ligand distance. Light‐induced spin crossover takes place after excitation into the singlet metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (MLCT) band. We found that the corresponding electronic states have their energy minimum in the same region as the low‐spin (LS) state and that the energy dependence of the triplet MLCT states are nearly identical to the ¹MLCT states. The high‐spin (HS) state is found to cross the MLCT band near the equilibrium geometry of the MLCT states. These findings give additional support to the hypothesis of a fast singlet–triplet interconversion in the MLCT manifold, followed by a ³MLCT–HS (⁵T₂) conversion accompanied by an elongation of the Fe? N distance.     

A theoretical comparison of the lowest-lying singlet and triplet states of H2CBe and of HCBeH

The low-lying singlet and triplet states of H₂CBe and HCBeH are examined using ab inito molecular orbital theory. In agreement with earlier results, the lowest-lying structure of H₂CBe has C_2v symmetry and is a triplet with one π electron (³ B₁). The results presented here suggest that the lowest-energy singlet structure is the (¹B₁) open-shell singlet, also with C_2v symmetry, at least 2.5 kcal/mol higher in energy. The singlet C_2v structure with two π electrons (¹A₁) is 15.9 kcal/mol higher than ³B₁. All of these structures are bound with respect to the ground state of methylene and the beryllium atom. In HCBeH, linear equilibrium geometries are found for the triplet (³Σ) and singlet (¹Δ) states. The triplet is more stable than the singlet (¹Δ) by 35.4 kcal/mol, and is only 2.9 kcal/mol higher in energy than triplet H₂ CBe. Since the transition structure connecting these two triplet molecules is found to be 50.2 kcal/mol higher in energy than H₂ CBe, both triplet equilibrium species might exist independently. The harmonic vibrational frequencies of all structures are also reported.