Theoretical study on the mechanism for the excited-state double proton transfer process of an asymmetric Schiff base ligand

Excited-state double proton transfer (ESDPT) in the 1-[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-hydrazonomethyl]-naphthalen-2-ol (HYDRAVH₂) ligand was studied by the density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory method. The analysis of frontier molecular orbitals, infrared spectra, and non-covalent interactions have cross-validated that the asymmetric structure has an influence on the proton transfer, which makes the proton transfer ability of the two hydrogen protons different. The potential energy surfaces in both S₀ and S₁ states were scanned with varying O-H bond lengths. The results of potential energy surface analysis adequately proved that the HYDRAVH₂ can undergo the ESDPT process in the S₁ state and the double proton transfer process is a stepwise proton transfer mechanism. Our work can pave the way towards the design and synthesis of new molecules.     

溶剂极性对1，5-二羟基蒽醌分子双质子转移过程的影响

具有激发态分子内双质子转移特性的分子在荧光传感器、激光材料、生物分子探针等领域具有广泛的应用. 羟基蒽醌作为蒽醌类化合物是自然界中广泛存在且具有质子转移特性的次级代谢物,其衍生物已被广泛研究并成功应用于染料、免疫增强和抗癌药物. 近年来,1,5-二羟基蒽醌(1,5-DHAQ)作为一种具有两个分子内氢键的羟基蒽醌衍生物受到了广泛的关注. 本文采用飞秒瞬态吸收光谱结合含时密度泛函理论方法研究了溶剂极性对1,5-DHAQ分子激发态分子内双质子转移过程的影响. 1,5-DHAQ分子在甲苯、四氢呋喃和乙腈溶剂中的稳态荧光光谱表明,溶剂极性的改变对1,5-DHAQ的荧光峰位置产生了影响. 瞬态吸收光谱表明,溶剂极性的增大加快了质子转移的速率. 超快动力学拟合结果表明,溶剂极性的增大有助于加快1,5-DHAQ分子中的激发态分子内双质子转移过程. 此外,通过理论计算得到的势能曲线分析表明质子转移的能垒随着溶剂极性的增加而逐渐减小,从而促进1,5-DHAQ分子激发态分子内双质子转移过程的发生,这进一步验证和解释了实验结果. 本工作有助于开发和合成更稳定、高效的羟基蒽醌衍生物.     

Theoretical investigation of fluorescence changes caused bymethanol bridge based on ESIPT reaction

The different fluorescence behavior caused by the excited state proton transfer in 3-hydroxy-4-pyridylisoquinoline (2a) compound has been theoretically investigated. Our calculation results illustrate that the 2a monomer in tetrahydrofuran solvent would not occur proton transfer spontaneously, while the 2a complex in methanol (MeOH) solvent can undergo an asynchronous excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. The result was confirmed by analyzing the related structural parameters, infrared vibration spectrum and reduced density gradient isosurfaces. Moreover, the potential curves revealed that with the bridging of single MeOH molecular the energy barrier of ESIPT was modulated effectively. It was distinctly reduced to 4.80 kcal/mol in 2a-MeOH complex from 25.01 kcal/mol in 2a monomer. Accordingly, the ESIPT process induced a fluorochromic phenomenon with the assistant of proton-bridge. The elucidation of the mechanism of solvent discoloration will contribute to the design and synthesis of fluorogenic dyes as environment-sensitive probes.