含不同质子供体的2-苯基苯并三唑衍生物激发态质子转移的理论研究

用密度泛函理论(DFT)和二级微扰理论(MP2)研究了带不同质子供体的2-苯基苯并三唑衍生物: 2-(2-羟苯基)苯并三唑(H-TIN), 2-(2-氨苯基)苯并三唑(APyBT)和2-(2-巯苯基)苯并三唑(MPyBT)的激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)性质以及它们作为紫外光吸收剂的光物理机制. 结果表明, 在基态时三个化合物的最稳定异构体是均存在分子内氢键的正常构型N, 而互变异构体T和其扭曲构型T_twisted都是不稳定的. 激发态势能曲线表明H-TIN和APyBT的ESIPT分别需要克服约7.06和20.7 kJ/mol的能垒, 而MPyBT的ESIPT无需能垒|同时结合分子轨道, 电荷差分密度三维立体图的分析结果表明三个化合物都能发生ESIPT, 并且伴随有扭曲分子内电荷转移, 这些原因均表明它们都具有好的紫外光稳定作用.     

Computational studies on amino-type excited-state intramolecular proton transfer and subsequent cis–trans isomerisation reactions of three 2-(2'-aminophenyl)benzothiazole derivatives

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reactions of three amino-type 2-(2'-aminophenyl)benzothiazole (PBT-NH₂) derivatives, that is, 2-(2'-methylaminophenyl)benzothiazole (PBT-NHMe), 2-(2'-acetylaminophenyl)benzothiazole (PBT-NHAc) and 2-(2'-tosylaminophenyl)benzothiazole (PBT-NHTs), have been explored by the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) method with the B3LYP density functional. In addition, their absorption and fluorescence spectra were also simulated at the same theoretical level. The present studies reveal that the energy barriers of the first singlet excited state of the three titled compounds along the ESIPT reactions are predicted at 0.39, 0.30 and 0.12 eV, respectively, suggesting that the inclusion of a strong electron-withdrawing tosyl group can remarkably facilitate the occurrence of the ESIPT reaction, while the involvement of an electron-donating methyl group has no effect on the ESIPT process of the amino-type hydrogen-bonding system. Following the ESIPT, both PBT-NHAc and PBT-NHTs molecules can also undergo the cis–trans isomerisation reactions along the C₂–C₃ bond between benzothiazole and phenyl moieties, in which the energy barriers of the trans-tautomer → cis-tautomer isomerisations in both ground states are calculated at 0.33 and 0.27 eV, respectively. This implies that there may exist a long-lived trans-tautomer species in the ground states for PBT-NHAc and PBT-NHTs, as observed in the spectroscopic experiments of PBT-NHTs.     

Developing a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe based on ESIPT for the detection of pH changes in living cells

As an important parameter of intracellular metabolism, pH plays important roles in maintaining normal physiological processes. The abnormal pH could cause disorder of cell function which may cause neurological diseases. Herein, we present two novel ratiometric fluorescent probes to detect pH changes. The probes employed 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole as fluorescent platform, and displayed desirable fluorescence response to pH on the basis of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. The probe BtyC-1 showed green fluorescence at 546 nm under acidic conditions, while it displayed strong blue fluorescence at 473 nm and weak green fluorescence at 546 nm under alkaline conditions. Biological experiments demonstrated that the probe BtyC-1 could be successfully applied for the ratiometric imaging of cellular pH and the NH₄Cl-induced pH changes in living cells.     

Fluorescence properties of amido-substituted 2,3-naphthalimides: Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) fluorescence and responses to Ca2+ ions

2,3-Naphthalimide derivatives incorporating trifluoroacetamido (3a) and methansulfonamido (3b) functionalities at the 1-position were prepared and their intramolecular excited state proton transfer (ESIPT) fluorescence and responses to metal ions were investigated. Compound 3a displayed normal fluorescence in the amide form in toluene and MeCN and no response to metal cations in the corresponding amidate ion form. In contrast, compound 3b gave off dual emission assignable to normal and ESIPT fluorescence. Additionally, the amidate form of compound 3b displayed off-on fluorescence response to Ca²⁺.     

A theoretical study on the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism of 4′‐dimethylaminoflavonol chemosensor

In this work, density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods are used to explore the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism of a novel system 4′‐dimethylaminoflavonol (DAF). By analyzing the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface, we verify that the intramolecular hydrogen bond in DAF exists in both the S₀ and S₁ states. We calculate the absorption and emission spectra of DAF in two solvents, which reproduce the experimental results. By comparing the bond lengths, bond angles, and relative infrared (IR) vibrational spectra involved in the hydrogen bonding of DAF, we confirm the hydrogen‐bond strengthening in the S₁ state. For further exploring the photoexcitation, we use frontier molecular orbitals to analyze the charge redistribution properties, which indicate that the charge transfer in the hydrogen‐bond moiety may be facilitating the ESIPT process. The constructed potential energy curves in acetonitrile and methylcyclohexane solvents with shortened hydrogen bond distances demonstrate that proton transfer is more likely to occur in the S₁ state due to the lower potential barrier. Comparing the results in the two solvents, we find that aprotic polar and nonpolar solvents seem to play similar roles. This work not only clarifies the excited‐state behaviors of the DAF system but also successfully explains its spectral characteristics.     

Insights into the excited state intramolecular proton transfer process and mechanism of the novel 3‐hydroxythioflavone system: A theoretical study

It is well known that the molecular excited state dynamical process plays important roles in designing and developing novel applications. In this work, based on density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, we theoretically explored a novel 3‐hydroxythioflavone (3HTF). Through calculating the electrostatic potential surface of the 3HTF structure, we confirm the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonding O2‐H3···O4. Our theoretically obtained dominating bond lengths and bond angles involved in hydrogen bonds demonstrate that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds should be strengthened in the S₁ state. Coupling with the simulated infrared vibrational spectra, we further verify the enhanced hydrogen bonding O2‐H3···O4 in the S₁ state. Upon photoexcitation, we found that the charge transfer characteristics around hydrogen bonding moieties play important roles in facilitating the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. Via constructing potential energy curves in both S₀ and S₁ states, we confirm the almost nonbarrier ESIPT reaction should be an ultrafast process that further explains the previous experimental phenomenon. At last, we search the S₁‐state transition state (TS) structure along with ESIPT path, based on which we simulate the intrinsic reaction coordinate path that further confirms the ESIPT mechanism. We hope that our theoretical work could guide novel applications based on the 3HTF system in future.     

Theoretical insights into the excited‐state process of 4‐tert‐butyl‐2‐(5‐(5‐tert‐butyl‐2‐methoxyphenyl)thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐phenol

In this paper, we theoretically explore the motivation and behaviors of the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction for a novel white organic light‐emitting diode (WOLED) material 4‐tert‐butyl‐2‐(5‐(5‐tert‐butyl‐2‐methoxyphenyl)thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐phenol (t‐MTTH). The “atoms in molecules” (AIM) method is adopted to verify the formation and existence of the hydrogen bond O? H···N. By analyzing the excited‐state hydrogen bonding behaviors via changes in the chemical bonding and infrared (IR) vibrational spectra, we confirm that the intramolecular hydrogen bond O? H···N should be getting strengthened in the first excited state in four kinds of solvents, thus revealing the tendency of ESIPT reaction. Further, the role of charge‐transfer interaction is addressed under the frontier molecular orbitals (MOs), which depicts the nature of the electronic excited state and supports the ESIPT reaction. Also, the electron distribution confirms the ESIPT tendency once again. The scanned and optimized potential energy curves according to variational O? H coordinate in the solvents demonstrate that the proton transfer reaction should occur in the S₁ state, and the potential energy barriers along with ESIPT direction support this reaction. Based on the excited‐state behaviors reported in this work, the experimental spectral phenomenon has been reasonably explained.     

Theoretical investigation on the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism of 2‐(2′‐benzofuryl)‐3‐hydroxychromone

Spectroscopic studies on excited‐state proton transfer of a new chromophore 2‐(2′‐benzofuryl)‐3‐hydroxychromone (BFHC) have been reported recently. In the present work, based on the time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT), the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of BFHC is investigated theoretically. The calculated primary bond lengths and angles involved in hydrogen bond demonstrate that the intramolecular hydrogen bond is strengthened. In addition, the phenomenon of hydrogen bond reinforce has also been testified based on infrared (IR) vibrational spectra as well as the calculated hydrogen bonding energies. Further, hydrogen bonding strengthening manifests the tendency of excited state proton transfer. Our calculated results reproduced absorbance and fluorescence emission spectra of experiment, which verifies that the TD‐DFT theory we used is reasonable and effective. The calculated Frontier Molecular Orbitals (MOs) further demonstrate that the excited state proton transfer is likely to occur. According to the calculated results of potential energy curves along O―H coordinate, the potential energy barrier of about 14.5 kcal/mol is discovered in the S₀ state. However, a lower potential energy barrier of 5.4 kcal/mol is found in the S₁ state, which demonstrates that the proton transfer process is more likely to happen in the S₁ state than the S₀ state. In other words, the proton transfer reaction can be facilitated based on the photo‐excitation effectively. Moreover, the phenomenon of fluorescence quenching could be explained based on the ESIPT mechanism. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unraveling solvent-dependent hydrogen bonding interaction and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer behavior for 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenol: A theoretical study

Organic chemosensors with excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) behavior have attracted much attention because it has great potential in a wide range of applications. Considering the paramount behavior of excited-state relaxation, in this work, we mainly focus on deciphering photo-induced hydrogen bonding effects and ESIPT mechanism for the novel 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenol (mCzOH) dye. Considering the effects of different solvents on excited-state dynamics of mCzOH flurophore, we adopt four solvents with different polarities. Analyses of fundamental structural changes, infrared (IR) vibrational spectra, and core valence partition index between S₀ and S₁ state, we confirm hydrogen bond O H···N of mCzOH should be enhanced via photoexcitation. Especially, the increase of solvent polarity could promote hydrogen bonding strengthening degree. Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) resulting from photoexcitation qualitatively facilitates the ESIPT occurrence to a large extent. For further checking and probing into ESIPT mechanism, via constructing potential energy curves (PECs) in four solvents, we clarify the ESIPT behavior for mCzOH. Most worthy of mention is that polar solvent plays critical roles in lowering potential barrier of ESIPT reaction and in facilitating ESIPT process. We not only clarify the detailed excited-state process, but also present the solvent-polarity-dependent ESIPT mechanism for mCzOH fluorophore.     

水杨醛衍生物激发态下的质子转移过程及在荧光探针领域的应用

从电子结构控制理论出发,通过在酚羟基对位引入吸电子取代基团稳定水杨醛中激发态的酮式构象,制备了目标化合物5-对氰基苯基-水杨醛(CN-SA).光谱测试结果显示,CN-SA表现出典型的ESIPT态荧光分子特性,而且辐射跃迁过程的酮式分配比例显著提高,荧光强度和颜色变化明显.CN-SA的荧光光谱不但能够对外围溶剂环境进行选择性识别,而且对溶解和聚集过程(聚集效应)及外围氢键形成能力的变化(pH效应和阴离子效应)等具有特异性响应,其变化可以定量表达.CN-SA仅通过结构微调即实现醇-酮构象的显著变化,可作为一个简单的多重刺激响应型荧光探针.