Excited singlet (S1)-state interactions of Nile red with aromatic amines

Both steady-state (SS) and time-resolved (TR) studies show that the fluorescence of the dye Nile red (NR) is quenched by various aromatic amines (ArA). Bimolecular quenching constants (kq) from both SS and TR measurements are observed to match well, indicating that the interaction is dynamic in nature. The quenching interaction in the present systems has been attributed to electron transfer (ET) from ArA to excited NR, based on the variations in the kq values with the oxidation potentials of the amines. The kq values calculated within the framework of Marcus' outer-sphere ET theory at different free-energy changes (deltaG0) of the ET reactions match well with the experimental ones, supporting the ET mechanism in the systems studied. The reorganization energy (lambda) estimated from the correlation of the experimental and the calculated kq values is quite similar to the solvent reorganization energy (lambda(s)), calculated on the basis of the solvent dielectric continuum model along with the assumption that the reactants are the effective spheres. Although a modest error is involved in this lambda(s) calculation, the similarity in lambda and lambda(s) values suggests that the solvent reorganization plays a dominant role in governing the ET dynamics in the present systems.     

Photoluminescence electron-transfer quenching of rhenium(I) rectangles with amines

Electron-transfer (ET) reactions from aromatic amines to excited states of rhenium(I)-based molecular rectangles [{Re(CO)3(mu-bpy)Br}{Re(CO)3(mu-L)Br}]2 (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine, L = 4,4'-dipyridylacetylene (dpa), I; L = 4,4'-dipyridylbutadiyne (dpb), II; and L = 1,4-bis(4'-pyridylethynyl)benzene (bpeb), III) were investigated in a dichloromethane solution using luminescence quenching techniques. Direct evidence for the ET reaction was obtained from the detection of the amine cation radical in this system using time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. The values of the luminescence quenching rate constants, kq, of the 3MLCT excited state of Re(I) rectangles with amines were found to be higher than those for the monomeric Re(I) complexes and other Re(I)-based metallacyclophanes. The observed kq values were correlated well with the driving force (Delta G degrees) for the ET reactions. In addition, a semiclassical theory of ET was successfully applied to the photoluminescence quenching of Re(I) rectangles with amines.     

Photoinduced Electron and H-atom Transfer Reactions of Xanthone by Laser Flash Photolysis

The property of the lowest excited triplet states of xanthone in acetonitrile was investigated using time-resolved laser °ash photolysis at 355 nm. The transient absorption spectra and the quenching rate constants(kq) of the excited xanthone with several amines were determined. Good correlation between lgkq and the driving force of the reactions suggests the electron transfer mechanism, except aniline and 3-nitroaniline (3-NO2-A) which showed energy transfer mechanism. With the appearance of ketyl radical, hydrogen atom transfer also happened between xanthone and dimethyl-p-toluidine, 3,5,N,N-tetramethylaniline, N,N-dimethylaniline, and triethylamine. Therefore, both electron transfer and H-atom transfer occured in these systems. Great discrepancies of kq values were discovered in H-atom abstraction reactions for alcohols and phenols, which can be explained by di?erent abstraction mechanisms. The quenching rate constants between xanthone and alcohols correlate well with the ?-C?H bonding energy of alcohols.     

Interaction of the excited singlet state of neutral red with aromatic amines

Quenching of neutral red (NR; neutral form of the dye) fluorescence by a number of aromatic amines has been investigated in acetonitrile solutions. The bimolecular quenching constants ( k _q) obtained from steady-state and time-resolved measurements for a particular donor–acceptor pair are seen to be the same within experimental error. Correlation of the changes in the k _q values with the oxidation potentials of the donors (amines) indicates that electron transfer (ET) is the mechanism operative in the present systems. Direct evidence for ET has been obtained from picosecond transient absorption studies on a suitable amine–NR pair. Experimentally determined k _q values are seen to correlate well with the free energy changes (Δ G ⁰) for the ET reactions, within the framework of the Marcus outer sphere ET theory. From the correlation between the experimentally determined and theoretically calculated k _q values, it appears that solvent reorganization plays a major role in governing ET dynamics in the systems investigated.     

Roles of diffusion and activation barrier on the appearance of Marcus inversion behavior: a study of a photoinduced electron-transfer reaction in aqueous triblock copolymer (p123) micellar solutions

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) reactions between amines and a series of coumarins have been investigated using fluorescence-quenching measurements in aqueous P123 triblock copolymer micellar solutions. Fluorescence spectral characteristics and fluorescence anisotropy measurements indicated a nearly similar microenvironment for all of the coumarins used in P123 micelles. Substantial quenching of coumarin fluorescence in the presence of amines has been observed. The quenching rates (k(q)(TR)) are largely reduced in the P123 micelle as compared to those in other micelles (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Triton-X 100 (TX-100), cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB)), which is probably due to larger coumarin-amine separations in the micellar phase. The k(q)(TR) values, when plotted against free energy changes (DeltaG degrees), follow a Marcus predicted bell-shaped correlation. The estimated activation energy for the ET reactions follow an inverse bell-shaped correlation with DeltaG degrees. Present results indicate that the appearance of Marcus inversion is primarily related to the changes in the activation barrier, as predicted from the Marcus ET theory. As the k(q)(TR) values are higher than the estimated bimolecular diffusional rate constant, the role of reactant diffusion on the quenching kinetics in the P123 micelle is negligible. The appearance of Marcus inversion at unexpectedly lower exergonicity has been rationalized on the basis of slow solvent relaxation and by the application of the two-dimensional ET (2DET) theory. Critical analysis of the present results establishes that the inversion in the ET rates at high exergonicity is not due to the alteration in the diffusion parameters of the reactants, as has been suggested in some recent reports. Instead, it is evident that the inversion in quenching rates at high exergonicity is due to the alteration in the activation barrier for the ET reactions.     

Studies on photoinduced H-atom and electron transfer reactions of o-naphthoquinones by laser flash photolysis

The quenching of the triplets of 1,2-naphthoquinone (NQ) and 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid sodium salt (NQS) by various electron and H-atom donors was investigated by laser flash photolysis measurement in acetonitrile and benzene. The results showed that the reactivities and configurations of 3NQ* (3NQS*) are governed by solvent polarity. All the quenching rate constants (kq) measured in benzene are larger than those in acetonitrile. The SO3Na substituent at the C-4 position of NQS makes 3NQS* more reactive than 3NQ* in electron/H-atom transfer reactions. Large differences of kq values were discovered in H-atom transfer reactions for alcohols and phenols, which can be explained by different H-abstraction mechanisms. Detection of radical cations of amines/anilines in time-resolved transient absorption spectra confirms an electron transfer mechanism. Triplets are identified as precursors of formed radical anions of NQ and NQS in photoinduced reactions. The dependence of electron transfer rate constants on the free energy changes (DeltaG) was treated by using the Rehm-Weller equation. For the four anilines with different substituents on the para or meta position of amidocyanogen, good correlation between log kq values with Hammett sigma constants testifies the correctness of empirical Hammett equation. Charge density distributions, adiabatic ionization/affinity potentials and redox potentials of NQ (NQS) and some quenchers were studied by quantum chemistry calculation.     

Kinetics and mechanism of bimolecular electron transfer reaction in quinone-amine systems in micellar solution

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) reactions between anthraquinone derivatives and aromatic amines have been investigated in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) micellar solutions. Significant static quenching of the quinone fluorescence due to high amine concentration in the micellar phase has been observed in steady-state measurements. The bimolecular rate constants for the dynamic quenching in the present systems k(q) (TR), as estimated from the time-resolved measurements, have been correlated with the free energy changes DeltaG(0) for the ET reactions. Interestingly it is seen that the k(q) (TR) vs DeltaG(0) plot displays an inversion behavior with maximum k(q) (TR) at around 0.7 eV, a trend similar to that predicted in Marcus ET theory. Like the present results, Marcus inversion in the k(q) (TR) values was also observed earlier in coumarin-amine systems in SDS and TX-100 micellar solutions, with maximum k(q) (TR) at around the same exergonicity. These results thus suggest that Marcus inversion in bimolecular ET reaction is a general phenomenon in micellar media. Present observations have been rationalized on the basis of the two-dimensional ET (2DET) theory, which seems to be more suitable for micellar ET reactions than the conventional ET theory. For the quinone-amine systems, it is interestingly seen that k(q) (TR) vs DeltaG(0) plot is somewhat wider in comparison to that of the coumarin-amine systems, even though the maxima in the k(q) (TR) vs DeltaG(0) plots appear at almost similar exergonicity for both the acceptor-donor systems. These observations have been rationalized on the basis of the differences in the reaction windows along the solvation axis, as envisaged within the framework of the 2DET theory, and arise due to the differences in the locations of the quinones and coumarin dyes in the micellar phase.     

Compartmentalization of reactants in different regions of sodium 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate/heptane/water reverse micelles and its influence on bimolecular electron-transfer kinetics

Sodium 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micellar medium has been used to study the photoinduced electron-transfer (ET) reactions between some coumarin derivatives and amines, namely, aniline (AN) and N,N-dimethylaniline (DMAN) at different w(0) (w(0) = [water]/[AOT]) values, to explore the appearance of Marcus inversion and also the possible role of w(0), if any, on the Marcus correlation curves. The coumarin derivatives are found to partition between the heptane-like and the water-like phases of the reverse micelles, and their locations have been confirmed by time-resolved anisotropy measurements. Fluorescence quenching is found to depend both on the location of the coumarin molecules and on the hydrophobicity of the amine donors. Various aspects such as the effect of differential partitioning of the quenchers, the location of the probes in the two phases, the diffusion of the reactants in the micellar phase, etc. have been considered to rationalize the fluorescence quenching rates in reverse micelles. Rotational relaxation times and the diffusion parameters estimated from the anisotropy results do not show good correlation with the observed quenching rates indicating that the diffusion of reactants has no role in the quenching kinetics in reverse micelles. Marcus inversion behavior has been observed for the coumarin-amine systems in the water-like phase at a relatively high exergonicity of approximately 1.2 eV suggesting that the solvent reorganization energy contributes fully to the free energy of activation for the ET reactions in the present systems. This is in accordance with the fast solvent relaxation dynamics reported in reverse micelles. Quenching rates in the water-like phase are found to decrease or increase marginally with increasing w(0) for the coumarin-DMAN and coumarin-AN systems, respectively. This is explained on the basis of the changing solubility of these amines in the water-like phase with changing w(0) values of the reverse micelles. In the heptane-like phase, no clear inversion in the quenching rate versus free energy plot could be observed because the study could not be extended to higher exergonicity due to nonsolubility of the dye C151 in this phase. Present results, especially in the water-like phase, suggest that the confinement of reactants in micellar media can effectively remove the influence of reactant diffusion on bimolecular ET rates and thus make the systems more conducive for the observation of the Marcus inverted region.     

Electron-transfer fluorescence quenching of aromatic hydrocarbons by europium and ytterbium ions in acetonitrile

To make the effects of molecular size on photoinduced electron-transfer (ET) reactions clear, the ET fluorescence quenching of aromatic hydrocarbons by trivalent lanthanide ions M3+ (europium ion Eu3+ and ytterbium ion Yb3+) and the following ET reactions such as the geminate and free radical recombination were studied in acetonitrile. The rate constant k(q) of fluorescence quenching, the yields of free radical (phi(R)) and fluorescer triplet (phi(T)) in fluorescence quenching, and the rate constant k(rec) of free radical recombination were measured. Upon analysis of the free energy dependence of k(q), phi(R), phi(T), and k(rec), it was found that the switchover of the fluorescence quenching mechanism occurs at deltaG(fet) = -1.4 to -1.6 eV: When deltaG(fet) < -1.6 eV, the fluorescence quenching by M3+ is induced by a long-distance ET yielding the geminate radical ion pairs. When deltaG(fet) > -1.4 eV, it is induced by an exciplex formation. The exciplex dissociates rapidly to yield either the fluorescer triplet or the geminate radical ion pairs. The large shift of switchover deltaG(fet) from -0.5 eV for aromatic quenchers to -1.4 to -1.6 eV for lanthanide ions is almost attributed to the difference in the molecular size of the quenchers. Furthermore, it was substantiated that the free energy dependence of ET rates for the geminate and free radical recombination is satisfactorily interpreted within the limits of the Marcus theory.     

Photoinduced intramolecular electron-transfer reactions of reconstituted met- and zinc-myoglobins appending acridine and methylacridinium ion as DNA-binders

Three types of reconstituted met- and zinc-myoglobin (metMb and ZnMb) dyads, ZnMbAc(4)Me+, ZnMbAc(6)Me+, and metMbAc(6) have been prepared by incorporating chemically modified metalloporphyrin cofactor appending an acridine (Ac) or a methylacridinium ion ([AcMe]+) into apo-Mb. In the bimolecular system between ZnMb and [AcMe]+, the photoexcited triplet state of ZnMb, 3(ZnMb)*, was successfully quenched by [AcMe]+ to form the radical pair of ZnMb cation (ZnMb*+) and reduced methylacridine ([AcMe]*), followed by a thermal back ET reaction. The rate constants for the intermolecular quenching ET (kq) and the back ET reaction (kb) at 25 degrees C were successfully obtained as kq = (8.8 +/- 0.4) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) and kb = (1.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. On the other hand, in case of the intramolecular photoinduced ET reactions of ZnMbAc(4)Me+ and ZnMbAc(6)Me+ dyads, the first-order quenching rate constants (kET) of 3(ZnMb)* by [AcMe]+ moiety were determined to be kET = 2.6 x 10(3) and 2.5 x 10(3) s(-1), respectively. When such ET occurs along the alkyl spacer via through-bond mechanism at the surface of Mb, the obtained kET is reasonable to provide decay constant of beta (1.0-1.3 A(-1)). Upon photoirradiation of [AcMe]+ moiety, kinetic studies also presented the intramolecular quenching reactions from the excited singlet state, 1([AcMe]+)*, whose likely process is the photoinduced energy-transfer reaction. For metMbAc(6) dyad, steady-state fluorescence was almost quenched, while the signal around 440 nm gradually appeared in the presence of various concentrations of DNA. Our study implies that synthetic manipulation at the Mb surface, by using an artificial DNA-binder coupled with photoinduced reaction, may provide valuable information to construct new Mb-DNA complex and sensitive fluorescent for DNA.     

光致噻吨酮与胺类、酚类、醇类的电子转移和氢转移反应

利用激光闪光光解方法研究了一系列胺类、酚类、醇类在脱氧乙腈中猝灭噻吨酮(TX)三重态的反应,得到了相应的瞬态吸收光谱和猝灭速率常数(kq).通过对光谱演变特性的分析,推断出三重态噻吨酮与不含有活泼氢的胺发生了电子转移反应,与含有活泼氢的胺发生了电子-质子转移反应.三重态噻吨酮与酚类、醇类反应中观察到噻吨酮加氢自由基的生成,据此推断出三重态噻吨酮与酚类、醇类发生了氢转移反应.胺类的猝灭速率常数随着反应自由能变(ΔG)的增大而减小,说明电子转移影响了噻吨酮三重态的猝灭.酚类的猝灭速率常数先随ΔG增大而减小,后随酚阳离子的酸性增强逐渐增大,可能是猝灭过程中电子转移影响减弱的同时氢转移影响逐渐增强.醇类的猝灭速率常数随着醇的α-C—H键能的增大而减小,说明α-C—H键能是影响噻吨酮三重态猝灭的关键因素.比较以前研究的胺类、酚类、醇类与三重态呫吨酮(XT)、芴酮(FL)反应的结果可知,由于分子结构差异性的影响,相关的猝灭速率常数按照呫吨酮、噻吨酮、芴酮的顺序逐渐减小.     

Static and dynamic model for 4-aminodiphenyl fluorescence quenching by carbontetrachloride in hexane

The fluorescence quenching of 4-aminodiphenyl (4ADP) with chloromethanes (CH2Cl2, CHCl3 and CCl4) have been studied in solvents of different polarity and viscosity. The quenching rate constants (kq) have been determined in all solvents. For CCl4 and CHCl3 quenching, the kq depends on solvent viscosity whereas for CH2Cl2, the kq values show a mixed trend with no clear-cut variation with either solvent polarity or solvent viscosity. Quenching mechanism involving an intermediate donor-acceptor complex formation is proposed for CH2Cl2 quenching. A positive deviation was observed in the Stern-Volmer (SV) plot for CCl4 quenching in hexane. The static-dynamic model could explain this.     

Fluorescence decay of singlet excited-state of safranine T and its interaction with ground-state of pyridinthiones in micelles and homogeneous media

The fluorescence decays of safranine T were studied in different homogeneous solvents and heterogeneous micellar solutions. It has been found that micellization leads to an increase in the lifetime. The lifetime distributions were studied in micelles and homogeneous media. It was found that the different half-width distributions of the dye in different micelles are related to the different orientation of the dye in different micelles. Also, the fluorescence quenching of safranine T by 4,6-disubstituted-3-cyanopyridin-2(1H)-thiones was studied in chloroform, methanol and acetonitrile as well as in different micelles. In heterogeneous media the kq values for quenching of safranine T by thiones in various micelles increase on the following order: kq(CTAB) < kq(TX-100) < kq(SDS). This is due to the electrostatic interactions between the anionic SDS and the cationic moiety of safranine T and therefore the quenching process will be less significant.     

Effect of micellar environment on Marcus correlation curves for photoinduced bimolecular electron transfer reactions

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) between coumarin dyes and aromatic amine has been investigated in two cationic micelles, namely, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB), and the results have been compared with those observed earlier in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and triton-X-100 (TX-100) micelles for similar donor-acceptor pairs. Due to a reasonably high effective concentration of the amines in the micellar Stern layer, the steady-state fluorescence results show significant static quenching. In the time-resolved (TR) measurements with subnanosecond time resolution, contribution from static quenching is avoided. Correlations of the dynamic quenching constants (k(q) (TR)), as estimated from the TR measurements, show the typical bell-shaped curves with the free-energy changes (DeltaG(0)) of the ET reactions, as predicted by the Marcus outersphere ET theory. Comparing present results with those obtained earlier for similar coumarin-amine systems in SDS and TX-100 micelles, it is seen that the inversion in the present micelles occurs at an exergonicity (-DeltaG(0)> approximately 1.2-1.3 eV) much higher than that observed in SDS and TX-100 micelles (-DeltaG(0)> approximately 0.7 eV), which has been rationalized based on the relative propensities of the ET and solvation rates in different micelles. In CTAB and DTAB micelles, the k(q) (TR) values are lower than the solvation rates, which result in the full contribution of the solvent reorganization energy (lambda(s)) towards the activation barrier for the ET reaction. Contrary to this, in SDS and TX-100 micelles, k(q) (TR) values are either higher or comparable with the solvation rates, causing only a partial contribution of lambda(s) in these cases. Thus, Marcus inversion in present cationic micelles is inferred to be the true inversion, whereas that in the anionic SDS and neutral TX-100 micelles are understood to be the apparent inversion, as envisaged from two-dimensional ET theory.     

Photoinduced bimolecular electron transfer kinetics in small unilamellar vesicles

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) from N,N-dimethylaniline to some coumarin derivatives has been studied in small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) of the phospholipid, DL-alpha-dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine, using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence quenching, both below and above the phase transition temperature of the vesicles. The primary interest was to examine whether Marcus inversion [H. Sumi and R. A. Marcus, J. Chem. Phys. 84, 4894 (1986)] could be observed for the present ET systems in these organized assemblies. The influence of the topology of SUVs on the photophysical properties of the reactants and consequently on their ET kinetics has also been investigated. Absorption and fluorescence spectral data of the coumarins in SUVs and the variation of their fluorescence decays with temperature indicate that the dyes are localized in the bilayer of the SUVs. Time-resolved area normalized emission spectra analysis, however, reveals that the dyes are distributed in two different microenvironments in the SUVs, which we attribute to the two leaflets of the bilayer, one toward bulk water and the other toward the inner water pool. The microenvironments in the two leaflets are, however, not indicated to be that significantly different. Time-resolved anisotropy decays were biexponential for all the dyes in SUVs, and this has been interpreted in terms of the compound motion model according to which the dye molecules can experience a fast wobbling-in-cone type of motion as well as a slow overall rotating motion of the cone containing the molecule. The expected bimolecular diffusion-controlled rates in SUVs, as estimated by comparing the microviscosities in SUVs (determined from rotational correlation times) and that in acetonitrile solution, are much slower than the observed fluorescence quenching rates, suggesting that reactant diffusion (translational) does not play any role in the quenching kinetics in the present systems. Accordingly, clear inversions are observed in the correlation of the fluorescence quenching rate constants k(q) with the free energy change, DeltaG(0) of the reactions. However, the coumarin dyes, C152 and C481 (cf. Scheme 1), show unusually high k(q) values and high activation barriers, which is not expected from Marcus ET theory. This unusual behavior is explained on the basis of participation of the twisted intramolecular charge transfer states of these two dyes in the ET kinetics.     

Unified interpretation of exciplex formation and marcus electron transfer on the basis of two-dimensional free energy surfaces

The mechanism of exciplex formation proposed in a previous paper has been refined to show how exciplex formation and Marcus electron transfer (ET) in fluorescence quenching are related to each other. This was done by making simple calculations of the free energies of the initial (DA*) and final (D+A-) states of ET. First it was shown that the decrease in D-A distance can induce intermolecular ET even in nonpolar solvents where solvent orientational polarization is absent, and that it leads to exciplex formation. This is consistent with experimental results that exciplex is most often observed in nonpolar solvents. The calculation was then extended to ET in polar solvents where the free energies are functions of both D-A distance and solvent orientational polarization. This enabled us to discuss both exciplex formation and Marcus ET in the same D-A pair and solvent on the basis of 2-dimensional free energy surfaces. The surfaces contain more information about the rates of these reactions, the mechanism of fluorescence quenching by ET, etc., than simple reaction schemes. By changing the parameters such as the free energy change of reaction, solvent dielectric constants, etc., one can construct the free energy surfaces for various systems. The effects of free energy change of reaction and of solvent polarity on the mechanism and relative importance of exciplex formation and Marcus ET in fluorescence quenching can be well explained. The free energy surface will also be useful for discussion of other phenomena related to ET reactions.     

Intermolecular electron transfer between coumarin dyes and aromatic amines in Triton-X-100 micellar solutions: evidence for Marcus inverted region

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) between coumarin dyes and aromatic amines has been investigated in Triton-X-100 micellar solutions and the results have been compared with those observed earlier in homogeneous medium. Significant static quenching of the coumarin fluorescence due to the presence of high concentration of amines around the coumarin fluorophore in the micelles has been observed in steady-state fluorescence studies. Time-resolved studies with nanosecond resolutions mostly show the dynamic part of the quenching for the excited coumarin dyes by the amine quenchers. A correlation of the quenching rate constants, estimated from the time-resolved measurements, with the free energy changes (DeltaG0) of the ET reactions shows the typical bell shaped curve as predicted by Marcus outer-sphere ET theory. The inversion in the ET rates for the present systems occurs at an exergonicity (-DeltaG0) of approximately 0.7-0.8 eV, which is unusually low considering the polarity of the Palisade layer of the micelles where the reactants reside. Present results have been rationalized on the basis of the two dimensional ET model assuming that the solvent relaxation in micellar media is much slower than the rate of the ET process. Detailed analysis of the experimental data shows that the diffusional model of the bimolecular quenching kinetics is not applicable for the ET reactions in the micellar solutions. In the present systems, the reactions can be better visualized as equivalent to intramolecular electron transfer processes, with statistical distribution of the donors and acceptors in the micelles. A low electron coupling (Vel) parameter is estimated from the correlation of the experimentally observed and the theoretically calculated ET rates, which indicates that the average donor--acceptor separation in the micellar ET reactions is substantially larger than for the donor--acceptor contact distance. Comparison of the Vel values in the micellar solution and in the donor--acceptor close contact suggests that there is an intervention of a surfactant chain between the interacting donor and acceptor in the micellar ET reaction.     

SYNTHETIC CAROTENOIDS, NOVEL POLYENE POLYKETONES AND NEW CAPSORUBIN ISOMERS AS EFFICIENT QUENCHERS OF SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN

Novel synthetic polyene polyketones and new synthetic capsorubin isomers were examined for their ability to quench singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) generated by the thermodissociation of the endoperoxide of 3,3'-(1,4-naphthylene) dipropionate (NDPO2). C28-polyene-tetrone (1) exhibits the highest physical quenching rate constant with 1O2 (kq = 16 x 10(9) M-1 s-1). For comparison, the rate constant for the most efficient biological carotenoid, lycopene (3) is kq = 9 x 10(9) M-1 s-1 and that of beta-carotene (5) kq = 5 x 10(9) M-1 s-1. The presence of two oxalyl chromophores at the ends of the polyene chain seems to enhance the 1O2 quenching ability in the C28-polyene-tetrone (1). C28-polyene-tetrone-diacetal (2) (kq = 9 x 10(9) M-1 s-1) and C40-epiisocapsorubin (4) (kq = 8 x 10(9) M-1 s-1) also have high 1O2 quenching abilities. Two carotenoids from plants, phytoene and phytofluene, were much less efficient, kq values being below 10(7) M-1 s-1. Due to the very high singlet oxygen quenching abilities, C28-polyene-tetrone (1), C28-polyene-tetrone-diacetal (2) and C40-epiisocapsorubin (4) may have potential use in preventing 1O2-induced damage in biological and non-biological systems.     

Photochemistry and spectroscopy of "stable organic radicals": steric and electronic effects in intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer

The intermolecular reactivities of amino-substituted perchlorotriphenylmethyl radicals 1-3 were studied, with particular emphasis on electron transfer (ET) reactions. The natural fluorescence lifetimes and the rates of the electron-transfer quenching were studied with several electron donors and acceptors. Fluorescence quenching studies demonstrate the importance of the redox potentials of the ET pair on the observed steric and electronic properties.     

QUENCHING OF SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN BY PHTHALOCYANINES AND NAPHTHALOCYANINES

Using the direct measurement of the photosensitized luminescence of singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) the rate constants (kq) have been determined for 1O2 quenching by the monomeric molecules of the following phthalocyanines and naphthalocyanines in chloroform: tetra-(4-tert-butyl) phthalocyanine (I); octa-(3,6-butoxy) phthalocyanine (II), tetra-(6-tert-butyl)-2,3 naphthalocyanine (III), aluminium tetra-(1-tert-phenyl)-2,3 naphthalocyanine (IV), tri-(n-hexyl-siloxy) derivatives of silicon- (V), tin- (VI), aluminium- (VII) and gallium- (VIII) 2,3 naphthalocyanine. The following kq values were obtained (kq x 10(-8) M-1 s-1): 2.9 (I), 59 (II), 100 (III), 20 (IV), 3.9 (V), 53 (VI), 33 (VII), 110 (VIII). As most of the quenchers have the low-lying triplet levels, a contribution of the quenching mechanism based on the energy transfer from 1O2 to these levels has been analysed. A formula is proposed describing the relation between kq values caused by this mechanism, and photophysical constants of the quencher triplet state. This formula was applied to phthalocyanines, naphthalocyanines, beta-carotene and bacterochlorophyll a. The data suggest that the energy transfer can fully explain the activity of V and strongly contributes into the activities of II, III and VI-VIII. A charge transfer interaction might be an additional mechanism involved in 1O2 quenching by compounds studied. As some phthalocyanines and naphthalocyanines are strong physical quenchers of singlet oxygen they can be used as efficient inhibitors for photodestructive processes in photochemical systems.