Platinum chromophore-based systems for photoinduced charge separation: a molecular design approach for artificial photosynthesis

Photoinduced charge separation is a fundamental step in photochemical energy conversion. In the design of molecularly based systems for light-to-chemical energy conversion, this step is studied through the construction of two- and three-component systems (dyads and triads) having suitable electron donor and acceptor moieties placed at specific positions on a charge-transfer chromophore. The most extensively studied chromophores in this regard are ruthenium(II) tris(diimine) systems with a common 3MLCT excited state, as well as related ruthenium(II) bis(terpyridyl) systems. This Forum contribution focuses on dyads and triads of an alternative chromophore, namely, platinum(II) di- and triimine systems having acetylide ligands. These d8 chromophores all possess a 3MLCT excited state in which the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital is a pi orbital on the heterocyclic aromatic ligand. The excited-state energies of these Pt(II) chromophores are generally higher than those found for the ruthenium(II) tris(diimine) systems, and the directionality of the charge transfer is more certain. The first platinum diimine bis(arylacetylide) triad, constructed by attaching phenothiazene donors to the arylacetylide ligands and a nitrophenyl acceptor to 5-ethynylphenanthroline of the chromophore, exhibited a charge-separated state of 75-ns duration. The first Pt(tpy)(arylacetylide)+-based triad contains a trimethoxybenzamide donor and a pyridinium acceptor and has been structurally characterized. The triad has an edge-to-edge separation between donor and acceptor fragments of 27.95 Angstroms. However, while quenching of the emission is complete for this system, transient absorption (TA) studies reveal that charge transfer does not move onto the pyridinium acceptor. A new set of triads described in detail here and having the formula [Pt(NO2phtpy)(p-C triple-bond C-C6H4CH2(PTZ-R)](PF6), where NO2phtpy = 4'-{4-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)vinyl]phenyl}-2,2';6',2'-terpyridine and PTZ = phenothiazine with R = H, OMe, possess an unsaturated linkage between the chromophore and a nitrophenyl acceptor. While the parent chromophore [Pt(ttpy)(C triple-bond CC6H5)]PF6 is brightly luminescent in a fluid solution at 298 K, the triads exhibit complete quenching of the emission, as do the related donor-chromophore (D-C) dyads. Electrochemically, the triads and D-C dyads exhibit a quasi-reversible oxidation wave corresponding to the PTZ ligand, while the R = H triad and related C-A dyad display a facile quasi-reversible reduction assignable to the acceptor. TA spectroscopy shows that one of the triads possesses a long-lived charge-separated state of approximately 230 ns.     

Vibrational dephasing and hydrodynamic effects on vibrational relaxation rates in acetophenone: Raman bandshape analysis

The isotropic component of Raman band for C=O stretching mode of acetophenone in solution was analyzed by estimating the correlation coefficient with reference to Lorentzian lineshape. In the intermediate region of solute/solvent concentration there is a sharp decrease in the correlation coefficient and there appears to be a transition from non-Lorentzian to Lorentzian lineshape. The vibrational relaxation rates have been estimated from the isotropic component of Raman band in different solvents. The rate is shown to be dependent on several macroscopic as well as microscopic properties of the solute-solvent system and intermolecular interactions. The hydrodynamic and dispersion forces appear to play a major role in determining the vibrational relaxation rate and the broadening of the bands.     

Quantification of clenbuterol in equine plasma,urine and tissue by liquid chromatography coupled on-line with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Clenbuterol (CBL) is a potent beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist used for the management of respiratory disorders in the horse. The detection and quantification of CBL can pose a problem due to its potency, the relatively low dose administered to the horse, its slow clearance and low plasma concentrations. Thus, a sensitive method for the quantification and confirmation of CBL in racehorses is required to study its distribution and elimination. A sensitive and fast method was developed for quantification and confirmation of the presence of CBL in equine plasma, urine and tissue samples. The method involved liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), separation by liquid chromatography (LC) on a short cyano column, and pseudo multiple reaction monitoring (pseudo-MRM) by electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). At very low concentrations (picograms of CBL/mL), LLE produced better extraction efficiency and calibration curves than solid-phase extraction (SPE). The operating parameters for electrospray QTOF and yield of the product ion in MRM were optimized to enhance sensitivity for the detection and quantification of CBL. The quantification range of the method was 0.013-10 ng of CBL/mL plasma, 0.05-20 ng/0.1 mL of urine, and 0.025-10 ng/g tissue. The detection limit of the method was 13 pg/mL of plasma, 50 pg/0.1 mL of urine, and 25 pg/g of tissue. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of CBL in plasma, urine and various tissue samples, and in pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of CBL in the horse. CBL was quantified for 96 h in plasma and 288 h in urine post-administration of CLB (1.6 micro g/kg, 2 x daily x 7 days). This method is useful for the detection and quantification of very low concentrations of CBL in urine, plasma and tissue samples.     

Studies on the kinetics and mechanism of dissociation of copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of the macrocyclic ligand 1, 5, 9, 13-tetraaza-2, 4, 4, 10, 12, 12-hexamethyl-cyclohexadecane-1, 9-diene in perchloric acid media

Summary Acid catalysed dissociation of the copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes (ML²⁺ of the quadridentate macrocyclic ligand 1, 5, 9, 13-tetraaza-2, 4, 4, 10, 12, 12-hexamethyl-cyclohexadecane-1, 9-diene (L) has been studied spectrophotometrically. Both complexes dissociate quite slowly with the observed pseudo-first order rate constants (k_obs) showing acid dependence; for the nickel(II) complex (k_obs)=k_O+k_H[H⁺], the k_o path is however absent with the copper(II) complex. At 60°C (I=0.1M) the k_H values areca 10^–4 M^–1 s^–1 for both complexes; k _H ^Cu /k _H ^Ni =ca. 3.9, comparable to some other square-planar complexes of these metal ions. The rate difference is primarily due to H values [copper(II) complex, 29.4±0.5 kJ mol^–1; nickel(II) complex, 35.6±1.5 kJ mol^–1] with highly negative S values [for copper(II), –215.5 ±6.1 JK^–1 mol^–1 and for nickel(II), –208.1 ±5.6 JK^–1 mol^–1] which are much higher than the entropy of solvation of Ni²⁺ (ca. –160 JK^–1 mol^–1) and Cu²⁺ (ca. –99 JK^–1 mol^–1) ions; significant solvation of the released metal ions and the ligand is indicated.     

Synthesis of 2-Azobenzo[b]thiophene Derivatives and Their Application on Nylon Fibre

A series of novel monoazo disperse dyes derived from the coupling of diazotized 2-aminobenzo[b]thiophene derivatives with N-arylmaleimides is described. The monoazo disperse dyes applied to nylon fabric and their dyeing performance has been assessed. These dyes have been found to give light yellow to reddish pink color shades with very good depth and levelness on nylon fabric. The dyed fabric shows moderate light fastness and excellent washing, rubbing, perspiration, and sublimation fastness. The percentage dyebath exhaustion on nylon fabric has been found to be good and acceptable.     

Effect of applied curent on copper sulphide-based ion-selective electrodes

The properties of precipitate-based copper sulphide electrodes are investigated. Solid-phase studies wre done by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and solution-phase studies by combined potentiometric and atomic absorptioni spectrometric techniques. The predominant valence state of copper in the copper sulphide samples is shown to be Cu(I), but Cu(II) can also be identified at the surfaces. The oxidation of the membrane surface results in dissolution of copper ion and a decrease in the Cu/S ratio in the solid phase; reduction of the surface causes sulphide dissolution and an increase in the Cu/S ratio. Application of anodic or cathodic curents was used to study the redox behaviour of the copper suphide memebrane.     

Ultrafast Excited State Relaxation Dynamics of New Fuchsine- a Triphenylmethane Derivative Dye

An all-inclusive investigation of the ultrafast excited state relaxation dynamics of a triphenylmethane derivative molecule, New Fuchsine (NF), using a combined approach of density functional theory (DFT), femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs-TAS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy is presented in this work. The DFT calculations confirmed the formation of twisted molecular structure in the excited state of NF in ethanol solution with bond rotation of ≈86°. TAS measurements of NF solution exhibited ultrafast ground state-recovery pathway via a conical intersection confirming an ultrafast structural reorientation. On the contrary, TAS measurements of NF thin-film exhibited a longer excited-state lifetime suggesting a hindered molecular twisted state formed as an intermediate step. Photophysical kinetic models are proposed to globally fit the fs-TAS data establishing the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state mediated ground state recovery for NF in solution and thin film, respectively. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence study of NF film provided a clear insight into the effect of rotational motion of phenyl rings in NF molecules over the TICT mediated emission.     

Detection, quantification, and identification of dermorphin in equine plasma and urine by LC–MS/MS for doping control

Dermorphin is a unique opioid peptide that is 30–40 times more potent than morphine. It was misused and went undetected in horse racing until 2011 when intelligence obtained from a few North American race tracks suggested its use. To prevent such misuse, a reliable analytical method became necessary for detection and identification of dermorphin in post-race horse samples. This paper describes the first liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for such a purpose. Equine plasma and urine samples were pre-treated with ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid and urea prior to solid-phase extraction (SPE) on Oasis MCX cartridges. Resulting eluates were dried under vacuum and analyzed by LC–MS/MS for dermorphin. The matrix effect, SPE efficiency, intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision, and stability of the analyte were assessed. The limit of detection was 10 pg/mL in plasma and 20 pg/mL in urine, and the limit of confirmation was 20 pg/mL in plasma and 50 pg/mL in urine. Dermorphin in plasma is stable at ambient temperature, but its diastereomer is unstable. With isotopically labeled dermorphin as an internal standard, the quantification range was 20–10,000 pg/mL in plasma and 50–20,000 pg/mL in urine. The intra-day and inter-day accuracy was from 91 % to 100 % for the low, intermediate, and high concentrations. The intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation were less than 12 %. The method differentiates dermorphin from its diastereomer. This method is very specific for identification of dermorphin in equine plasma and urine, as assessed by BLAST search and targeted SEQUEST search, and by MS/MS spectrum library search. The method has been successfully applied to analysis of samples collected following dermorphin administration to research horses and of official post-race samples.