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.     

基于ESIPT机理检测Al3+荧光探针分子结构和电子光谱的理论研究

本文应用密度泛函理论（DFT）和含时密度泛函理论（TD-DFT）方法，研究了具有激发态分子内质子转移（ESIPT）特性的3-羟基黄酮（3HF）及其两种氰基和氨基取代衍生物（3HF-CY和3HF-AM）作为水溶液中Al3+离子检测的荧光探针分子结构和电子光谱性质. 计算得到了与ESIPT过程相关的键长、键角以及势能曲线，模拟计算了单独分子和分子@Al3+复合物的吸收和荧光光谱. 结果表明，氰基或氨基的引入均会抑制3HF的质子在基态（S0）或激发态（S1）的转移. 而从得到的吸收光谱可以看出，在3HF中引入吸电子基团氰基可以引起其吸收光谱的红移，而给电子基团氨基的引入则出现相反现象. 此外，与3HF-AM的荧光光谱相比，3HF-AM@Al3+复合物发生了75.88 nm的蓝移，由此推测3HF-AM与水中的Al3+反应后，在光激发下溶液荧光会由绿色转变为紫色，表明3HF-AM分子可以作为有效检测水中Al3+的荧光探针.     

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.