The structure of cinnamic acid and cinnamoyl azides,a unique localized π system: The electronic spectra and DFT‐treatment

The electronic absorption spectra of cinnamic acid and some cinnamoyl azides have been recorded in absolute methanol and investigated to explore the structure of the titled compounds. Cinnamic acid and its derivatives have a double bond, ? C?C? , between the aromatic ring and the carboxyl group which disturbs the π electron system of the molecule and inhibits electron delocalization as compared with styrene or benzoic acid. The azide group is neither a strong electron donor nor a strong electron acceptor but it increases conjugation in the molecule. The observed spectra confirm that each of the cinnamic acid and cinnamoyl azide molecules is one of a kind of unique disturbed π‐system and not of different independent π systems, each on a fragment of the molecule as predicted by the quantum theory of atom in molecule calculations. The spectra of cinnamic acid and its derivatives are not the additive spectra of the different fragments of the molecule. The spectra are characterized by few number, low intensity, and high‐energy electronic transitions (absorption bands) in the UV‐vis region. Molecular orbital calculations confirmed the spectral observations. The optimized geometry of the ground state of the studied compounds is calculated using the DFT/B3LYP/6‐31G** level of theory and an explicit molecular orbital analysis is carried out. Excited states are calculated using the TD/DFT procedure as implemented by the Gamess 2009 package of programs. The correspondence between calculated and the observed transition energies is adequate. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Ab initio and semiempirical computational studies on 1‐{(2E)‐2‐[(aminocarbonothioyl)hydrazono]‐2‐(3‐mesityl‐3‐methylcyclobutyl)ethyl}‐pyrrolidine‐2,5‐dione

The molecular geometry, vibrational frequencies, and gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) ¹H‐ and ¹³C NMR chemical shift values of the title compound in the ground state have been calculated using the Hartree‐Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) methods with 6‐31G(d) basis sets, and compared with the experimental data. The calculated results show that the optimized geometries can well reproduce the crystal structural parameters and the theoretical vibrational frequencies, and ¹H‐ and ¹³C NMR chemical shift values show good agreement with experimental data. To determine conformational flexibility, the molecular energy profile of the title compound was obtained by semiempirical (AM1) calculations with respect to the selected torsion angle, which was varied from ?180° to +180° in steps of 10°. The energetic behavior of the title compound in solvent media was examined using the B3LYP method with the 6‐31G(d) basis set by applying the Onsager and the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The results obtained with these methods reveal that the PCM method provided more stable structure than Qnsager's method. By using TD‐DFT method, electronic absorption spectra of the title compound have been predicted and a good agreement with the TD‐DFT method and the experimental one is determined. The predicted nonlinear optical properties of the title compound are much greater than ones of urea. In addition, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) analysis, NBO analysis and thermodynamic properties of the title compound were investigated using theoretical calculations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Isolation and Characterization of Radical Anions Derived from a Boryl‐Substituted Diphosphene

Radical anions of a diphosphene with two boryl substituents were isolated and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, electron spin resonance (ESR), and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy as well as DFT calculations. Structural analysis of the radical anions revealed an elongation of the P=P bond and a contraction of the B−P bonds relative to the neutral diphosphene. The UV/Vis spectra of these radical anions showed a strong absorption in the visible region, which was assigned to SOMO‐related transitions on the basis of DFT calculations. The ESR spectra revealed that the hyperfine coupling constant with the phosphorus nuclei is the smallest that has been reported thus far. The results of the DFT calculations furthermore suggest that this should be attributed to a soaking of electron spin to the vacant p orbitals of the boryl substituents.     

Synthesis and DFT study of the spectral behavior of new 4‐hydroxycoumarins

4‐Hydroxycoumarins are compounds with a lot of applications as drugs and herbicides. They have very interesting spectral and chemical properties, which are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Some new 4‐hydroxycoumarins with arylydene‐β‐ketoester or arylydene‐2,4‐pentanedione side chain were synthesized by two step synthetic scheme. Their structure was characterized by UV–vis, IR, and ¹H NMR methods. The spectral behavior of the optimized structures of these compounds was reproduced by the hybrid DFT methods B3LYP and B3P86 with 6‐31G** and aug‐cc‐pVDZ basis sets. Electronic excited states and vibrational frequencies were calculated. HF method was also used for comparison, because of the lack of electronic correlation. The theoretical spectra were compared with the experimental ones. A lot of compounds show good agreement between experimental and some of the theoretical data, especially obtained by aug‐cc‐pVDZ basis set. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Synthesis,structural analysis,spectral investigations,and DFT calculations of 1‐(3‐amino‐4‐thia‐1,2‐diazaspiro[4.11]hexadec‐2‐en‐1‐yl)ethan‐1‐one

1‐(3‐amino‐4‐thia‐1,2‐diazaspiro[4.11]hexadec‐2‐en‐1‐yl)ethan‐1‐one was synthesized and experimentally characterized by using FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The structure of the compound was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In the crystal structure, the molecules are linked by pairs of N‐H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming centrosymmetric dimers with the graph‐set motif. The water molecule also plays an important role in the stabilization of the crystal structure, bridging the dimers to form a two‐dimensional supramolecular network. The molecular geometry, frontier molecular orbitals, vibrational frequencies, electronic properties, and molecular electrostatic potential were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) basis set. Geometric parameters, vibrational assignments, and electronic properties such as calculated energies, excitation energies, and oscillator strengths were compared with the experimental data, and it was seen that the theoretical results support the experimental parameters.     

A Molecular Nanotube with Three‐Dimensional π‐Conjugation

A π‐conjugated twelve‐porphyrin tube is synthesized in 32 % yield by a template‐directed coupling reaction that joins together six porphyrin dimers, forming twelve new C? C bonds. The nanotube has two bound templates, enclosing an internal volume of approximately 4.5 nm³. Its UV/Vis/NIR absorption and fluorescence spectra resemble those of a previously reported six‐porphyrin ring, but are red‐shifted by approximately 300 cm^?1, reflecting increased conjugation. Ultrafast fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrates extensive excited‐state delocalization. Transfer of electronic excitation from an initially formed state polarized in the direction of the nanotube axis (z axis) to an excited state polarized in the xy plane occurs within 200 fs, resulting in a negative fluorescence anisotropy on excitation at 742 nm.     

Combined experimental and computational modeling studies on 4‐[(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbenzylidene) amino]‐1,5‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazol‐3‐one

The Schiff base compound, 4‐[(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbenzylidene)amino]‐1,5‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazol‐3‐one, has been synthesized and characterized by IR, UV–vis, and X‐ray single‐crystal determination. Molecular geometry from X‐ray experiment of the title compound in the ground state have been compared using the density functional method (B3LYP) with 6‐31G(d,p) basis set. Calculated results show that density functional theory (DFT) can well reproduce the structure of the title compound. The energetic behavior of the title compound in solvent media has been examined using B3LYP method with the 6‐31G(d,p) basis set by applying the Onsager and the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The results obtained with these methods reveal that the PCM method provided more stable structure than Onsager's method. By using TD‐DFT method, electronic absorption spectra of the title compound have been predicted and a good agreement with the TD‐DFT method and the experimental one is determined. The predicted nonlinear optical properties of the title compound are much greater than ones of urea. In addition, DFT calculations of the title compound, molecular electrostatic potential and NBO analysis were performed at B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level of theory. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

A Tetrasilicon Analogue of Bicyclo[1.1.0]but‐1(3)‐ene Containing a Si=Si Double Bond with an Inverted Geometry

Bicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasil‐1(3)‐ene 1 , a tetrasilicon analogue of bicyclo[1.1.0]but‐1(3)‐ene that contains a formal double bond between bridgehead silicon atoms in an inverted geometry, was synthesized and isolated in the form of thermally stable orange crystals. The distance between the bridgehead Si atoms in 1 is much longer than those in typical Si=Si bonds, but still shorter than that of a previously reported pentasila[1.1.1]propellane. DFT calculations suggest that the bridgehead bond in 1 comprises a σ bond with an inverted geometry and a π bond. This notion is supported by the UV/Vis spectrum of 1 , which exhibits several absorption bands in the UV/Vis region. While 1 is stable toward typical trapping agents for Si=Si double bonds, 1 reacts with carbon tetrachloride to furnish a hexachlorotetrasilane.     

Experimental and Theoretical Study of the n‐Doped Successive Polyanions of Oligocruciform Molecular Wires: Up to Five Units of Charge

The electronic structure of polyanions of sterically encumbered triisopropylsilyl‐substituted linear and cyclic oligo(phenyleneethynylene)s ( M onomer, T rimer, P entamer, and Tr iangle) is investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), and UV/Vis–near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and theoretical calculations (DFT). Increasing anion orders are generated sequentially in vacuo at room temperature by chemical reaction with potassium metal up to the pentaanion. The relevance of these compounds acting as electron reservoirs is thus demonstrated. Even‐order anions are EPR silent, whereas the odd species exhibit different signatures, which are identified after comparison of the measured hyperfine couplings by ENDOR spectroscopy with those predicted by DFT calculations. With increasing size of the oligomers the electron spin density is first distributed over the backbone carbon atoms for the monoanions, and then further localized at the outer phenyl rings for the trianion species. Examination of the UV/Vis‐NIR spectra indicates that the monoanions ( T^.? , P^.? ) exhibit two transitions in the Vis‐NIR region, whereas a strong absorption in the IR region is solely observed for higher reduced states. Electronic transitions of the neutral monoanions and trianions are redshifted with increasing oligomer size, whereas for a given oligomer a blueshift is observed upon increasing the charge, which suggests a localization of the spin density.     

Electronic structures and spectra of porphyrin with fused benzoheterocycles: DFT and TDDFT‐PCM investigations

Density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT (TDDFT) are applied to study seven asymmetric π‐conjugated porphyrins with extended benzoheterocycles: quinoline, indole, benzoimidazole, benzothiazole, benzooxazole, 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole, and 2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole. The solvation effects on the excitation energies for these porphyrin derivatives in chloroform are taken into account by using the continuum model (C‐PCM) combined with TDDFT, and this method makes a closer agreement with the experimental values, especially for the B‐bands of these objects. Great efforts have been made on investigating the influences of the fused aromatic units of the porphyrins on the absorption properties as these can be particularly important for many applications. Benzoheterocycle introduction and solvent effects have been systemically investigated, and close agreement is obtained between calculated and measured UV–vis spectra. These theoretical data could shed light on future synthetic chemistry. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Cyanine‐Like Dyes with Large Bond‐Length Alternation

Herein, the synthesis and properties of alkyne‐bridged carbocations, which are analogous in structure to cyanine dyes, are reported. An alkene‐bridged dye, linked at the third position of the indole, was also synthesized as a reference compound. These new carbocations are stable under ambient conditions, allowing characterization by UV/Vis and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopies. These techniques revealed a large degree of delocalization of the positive charge, similar to a previously reported porphyrin carbocation. The linear and nonlinear optical properties are compared with cyanine dyes and triarylmethyl cations, to investigate the effects of the bond‐length alternation and the overall molecular geometry. The value of Re(γ), the real part of the third‐order microscopic polarizability, of ?1.3×10^?33 esu for the alkyne‐linked cation is comparable to that of a cyanine dye of similar length. Nondegenerate two‐photon absorption spectra showed that the alkene‐bridged dye exhibited characteristics of cyanines, whereas the alkyne‐bridged dye is reminiscent of octupolar chromophores, such as the triarylmethyl carbocation brilliant green. Such attributes were confirmed and rationalized by quantum chemical calculations.     

Combined experimental and computational modeling studies on 3,5‐dimethyl‐pyrazole‐1‐carbodithioic acid benzyl ester

The title compound, 3,5‐Dimethyl‐pyrazole‐1‐carbodithioic acid benzyl ester, has been synthesized and structurally characterized by X‐ray single crystal diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectra, and UV‐Vis spectrum. The crystal belongs to orthorhombic, space group P212121, with a = 5.3829(15), b = 11.193(3), c = 21.824(6) Å, V = 1315.0(6) ų, and Z = 4. The molecules are connected via intermolecular C–H···N hydrogen bonds into 1D infinite chains. The crystal structure is consolidated by the intramolecular C–H···S hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the structure, stabilities, orbital energies, composition characteristics of some frontier molecular orbitals and Mulliken charge distributions of the title compound were performed by means of Gaussian 03W package and taking B3LYP/6‐31G(d) basis set. The time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) calculations have been employed to calculate the electronic spectrum of the title compound, and the UV‐Vis spectra has been discussed on this basis. The results show that DFT method at B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level can well reproduce the structure of the title compound. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Conversion of 1,3‐Dimethyl‐5‐(Arylazo)‐6‐Amino‐Uracils to 1,3‐Dimethyl‐5‐(Arylazo)‐Barbituric Acids: Spectroscopic Characterization,Photophysical Property and Determination of pKa of the Products

The study of inter‐conversion between molecules, especially biologically and pharmaceutically important molecules, is extremely important. This study reports the inter‐conversion between two azo‐derivtives: azo‐6‐aminouracils to azo‐barbituric acids. We successfully converted the 1,3‐dimethyl‐5‐(arylazo)‐6‐aminouracils ( Uazo‐1 to Uazo‐4 ) to 1,3‐dimethyl‐5‐(arylazo)‐barbituric acids ( BAazo‐1 to BAazo‐4 ) (where aryl?C₆H₅‐( 1 ); p‐MeC₆H₄‐( 2 ), p‐ClC₆H₄‐( 3 ), and p‐NO₂C₆H₄‐( 4 )) following an acid‐hydrolysis path. The products were characterized using spectroscopic tools like UV‐vis, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. UV‐vis spectra of the as‐prepared dyes reveal that in contrast to the azo‐6‐aminouracils they are hardly responsive towards solvatochromism. IR spectra exhibit three characteristic >C?O frequencies for as‐prepared azobarbituric acids instead of two for mother azo‐6‐aminouracils. ¹H NMR spectra which reflect the existence of solution species evidence the absence of >C?NH group (characteristic imido‐H at the 6‐position of hydrazone species of azo‐6‐aminouracils) and consequence presence of >C?O group at the same position in as‐prepared azobarbituric acids. They exhibit structural emissions in the range of 400–440 nm upon excitation at 360 nm. The determined acid dissociation constant (pKa) values of BAazos increase according to the following sequence: BAazo ‐ 2 > 1 > 3 > 4 .     

Physicochemical Interaction of ZnO Fine Particles with 5‐Mono‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐10,15,20‐Triphenylporphyrin

This study deals with an investigation on the preparation and physicochemical interactions of ZnO nanoparticles with acid functionalized porphyrin [5‐mono‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐10,15,20‐triphenylporphyrin (CPTPP)] for photovoltaic applications in a detailed manner. Zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide were used as the starting materials for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles at 60 °C in an alcoholic medium. The freshly prepared fine particles were then functionalized with CPTPP. Both the virgin and pregnant ZnO particles were characterized by using UV‐Visible spectrophotometry (UV), fluorescence emission (PL), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The band gap energy obtained for ZnO particles, having a value of 3.47 eV, shows significant quantum confinement effect and enhanced photophysical activity. FTIR analysis of the doped ZnO nanostructures showed the presences of some chemical species. SEM analysis revealed a clear change in the surface morphologies of undoped ZnO. The average crystallite size of nanoparticles, calculated from XRD peaks, was found in the nano regime. The lattice parameters calculated for ZnO nanocrystals were also found in good agreement with those given in the literature. From the enhancement in the red shift of the UV‐Vis spectra, it is concluded that hybridization of acid functionalized porphyrin can cause a significant expansion in the total absorption region of ZnO semiconductor for photovoltaic applications.     

Highly near‐infrared photoluminescence from aza‐borondipyrromethene‐based conjugated polymers

Near‐infrared (NIR) emissive conjugated polymers were prepared by palladium‐catalyzed Sonogashira polymerization of diiodobenzene‐functionalized aza‐borondipyrromethene (Aza‐BODIPY) monomers, which were substituted at 3 and 5 or 1 and 7 positions on the Aza‐BODIPY core, with 1,4‐diethynyl‐2,5‐dihexadecyloxybenzene or 3,3′‐didodecyl‐2,2′‐diethynyl‐5,5′‐bithiophene. The structures of the polymers were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹¹B NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopies, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The optical properties were then characterized by UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies, and theoretical calculation using density‐functional theory (DFT) method. The polymers were fusible and soluble in common organic solvents including tetrahydrofuran (THF), o‐xylene, toluene, CHCl₃, and CH₂Cl₂, etc. The UV–vis absorption and PL spectra of the polymers shifted to long wavelength region in comparison with simple Aza‐BODIPY as the counterpart because of extended π‐conjugation of the polymers. The polymers efficiently emitted NIR light with narrow emission bands at 713～777 nm on excitation at each absorption maximum. Especially, the polymer attached 1,4‐diethynyl‐2,5‐dihexadecyloxybenzene to 3,5‐position on the core revealed intense quantum yields (?_F = 24%) in this NIR region (753 nm). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

The oxyfunctionalization of 4‐methylcoumarins using dimethyldioxirane

The kinetic study of the efficient regioselective oxidation of the C? C double bond of 4‐methylcoumarins with isolated dimethyldioxirane was investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy methods. In the excess of dimethyldioxirane, the pyrone ring of a coumarin skeleton is selectively epoxidated and hydroxylated in neutral media, in high yields. Kinetic analyses demonstrate two independent reaction pathways, epoxidation and hydroxylation, respectively, which was also confirmed using kinetic isotope effect methods. Both reaction products were isolated, and their structures were determined by NMR and mass spectra. The position of methyl groups attached at the aromatic part of coumarin molecule shows significant influence on kinetic rate constants and activation parameters. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 414–420, 2009     

Vacancy‐Rich Monolayer BiO2−x as a Highly Efficient UV,Visible, and Near‐Infrared Responsive Photocatalyst

Vacancy‐rich layered materials with good electron‐transfer property are of great interest. Herein, a full‐spectrum responsive vacancy‐rich monolayer BiO_2?x has been synthesized. The increased density of states at the conduction band (CB) minimum in the monolayer BiO_2?x is responsible for the enhanced photon response and photo‐absorption, which were confirmed by UV/Vis‐NIR diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and photocurrent measurements. Compared to bulk BiO_2?x, monolayer BiO_2?x has exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B and phenol removal under UV, visible, and near‐infrared light (NIR) irradiation, which can be attributed to the vacancy V_Bi‐O′′′ as confirmed by the positron annihilation spectra. The presence of V_Bi‐O′′′ defects in monolayer BiO_2?x promoted the separation of electrons and holes. This finding provides an atomic level understanding for developing highly efficient UV, visible, and NIR light responsive photocatalysts.     

Solid‐Phase Synthesis of Peptide Libraries Combining α‐Amino Acids with Inorganic and Organic Chromophores

The synthesis of two series of peptidic chains composed of bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) acceptor units and organic chromophores (coumarin, naphthalene, anthracene, fluorene) by stepwise solid‐phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) techniques is described. The first series of dyads comprises directly amide linked chromophores, while the second one possesses a glycine spacer between the two chromophores. All dyads were studied by UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopy, steady‐state luminescence, luminescence decay and electrochemistry, as well as by DFT calculations. The results of these studies indicate weak electronic coupling of the chromophores in the ground state. Absorpion spectra of all dyads are dominated by metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (MLCT) bands around 500 nm. The bichromophoric systems, especially with coumarin as organic chromophore, display additional strong absorptions in the visible spectral region. All complexes are luminescent at room temperature (³MLCT). Efficient quenching of the fluorescence of the organic chromophore by the attached ruthenium complex is observed in all dyads. Excitation spectra indicate energy transfer from the organic dye to the ruthenium chromophore.     

A Highly Photostable Near‐Infrared Labeling Agent Based on a Phospha‐rhodamine for Long‐Term and Deep Imaging

Various fluorescence microscopy techniques require bright NIR‐emitting fluorophores with high chemical and photostability. Now, the significant performance improvement of phosphorus‐substituted rhodamine dyes (PORs) upon substitution at the 9‐position with a 2,6‐dimethoxyphenyl group is reported. The thus obtained dye PREX 710 was used to stain mitochondria in living cells, which allowed long‐term and three‐color imaging in the vis‐NIR range. Moreover, the high fluorescence longevity of PREX 710 allows tracking a dye‐labeled biomolecule by single‐molecule microscopy under physiological conditions. Deep imaging of blood vessels in mice brain has also been achieved using the bright NIR‐emitting PREX 710‐dextran conjugate.     

Electronic Excitation of [(μ4‐η2‐alkyne)Rh4(CO)8(μ‐CO)2]: An In Situ UV/Vis Spectroscopy,Spectral Reconstruction and DFT Study

Reactions of three alkynes, namely, 1‐heptyne, 3‐hexyne and 1‐phenyl‐1‐butyne, with [Rh₄(CO)₉(μ‐CO)₃] are performed in anhydrous hexane under argon atmosphere with multiple perturbations of alkynes and [Rh₄(CO)₉(μ‐CO)₃]. The reactions are monitored by in situ UV/Vis spectroscopy, and the collected electronic spectra are further analyzed with the band‐target entropy minimization (BTEM) family of algorithms to reconstruct the pure component spectra. Three BTEM estimates of [(μ₄‐η²‐alkyne)Rh₄(CO)₈(μ‐CO)₂], in addition to that of [Rh₄(CO)₉(μ‐CO)₃], are successfully reconstructed from the experimental spectra. Time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) predicted spectra at the PBE0/DGDZVP level are consistent with the corresponding BTEM estimates. The present study demonstrates that: 1) the BTEM family of algorithms is successful in analyzing multi‐component UV/Vis spectra and results in good spectral estimates of the trace organometallics present; and 2) the subsequent DFT/TD‐DFT methods provide an interpretation of the nature of the electronic excitation and can be used to predict the electronic spectra of similar transition organometallic complexes.