Nonradiative decay processes in benzene

We investigate the behavior of single vibronic level nonradiative decay rates in benzene and benzene-d₆. The effects of excitation in a promoting mode which undergoes frequency and geometry changes in the S₁ relaxation (to T₁ or S₀) are considered in detail. Calculated relative nonradiative decay rates are compared with experimental values and are used to assign triplet state vibrational frequencies to the ν_s, ν₁₀ and ν₁₆ vibrations. This comparison also indicates that none of these modes, nor the modes ν₁ and ν6, are likely to be the dominant promoting modes for the S₁ → T₁ decay. Some simple expressions are given which provide good estimates of the vibronic state dependence of the non-radiative decay rates. In conjuction with experimental decay rate data, these estimates can aid in guiding spectral assignments of vibronic bands. Simple but general theoretical criteria are derived which are useful in determining those vibrations which are poor (or good) accepting modes. Our previous theory is generalized to consider absolute nonradiative decay rates. The results are used to suggest a possible mechanism for the “channel three” decay process observed by Callomon . Although the numerical applications presented here are to benzene electronic relaxation processes, the theoretical developments also apply to and the calcultions illustrate general features of nonradiative decay in the statistical limit.     

Effect of rotational relaxation on the intensity and polarization of fluorescence emission caused by sequential two-photo excitation

General formulas are derived for the intensity and the degree of polarization of the S_m-fluorescence emission (m ? 2) of a sample excited by the sequential two-photon excitation process (S_n ← S₁ ← S₀, n ? 2) with plane-polarized pulsed light. They show how the S_m-fluorescence intensity and anisotropy depend on the relative orientation of the relevant transition dipoles within a molecule and on the degree of rotational relaxation of molecules in the intermediate state (S₁) and in the S_m state (for the case m = n), or in the S_n → S_m process (m ≠ n).     

The interrelation between transfer and relaxation processes in aqueous solutions of electrolytes and hydration numbers and activation energies of molecular motions

The influence of transfer processes and activation energies on the electrical conductivity and nuclear magnetic relaxation rate of a reference aqueous solution of KCl and sea water at 15°C was studied. The closest agreement between the calculated and experimental conductivity values was obtained with the coordination numbers n _S of the K⁺ and Cl^? ions equal to 4 and 1, respectively, and the activation energy close to E _a for vapor (3.38 kcal/mol). According to nuclear magnetic relaxation rate, viscosity, diffusion, and self-diffusion measurements, the n _S values of these ions are 8 and 4, respectively, and E _a ≈ 4.6 kcal/mol. The main reasons for the difference in the n _S and E _a values for transfer processes in aqueous solutions of strong electrolytes are discussed. The temperature and concentration dependences of NMR relaxation rates and the other parameters related to molecular mobility are best described by a function which is the sum of exponential functions whose number depends on solution concentration.     

Dielectric relaxation of a short molecule in a liquid-crystalline solvent

Abstract

Dielectric relaxation measurements of 5 mole % 4-n-hexyloxycyanobenzene (I) dissolved in 4-n-pentyloxyphenyl-trans-4-n-octylcyclohexylcarboxylate (II) were carried out from 1 kHz to 10 MHz in the nematic, smectic A and smectic B phases. The relaxation frequency of I parallel to the director is about 05 MHz in the S_Bphase and increases rapidly at the transition from S_B to S_A.     

Homogeneous linewidth and optical dephasing of the S1 ← So transition of magnesium porphin in an n-octane crystal: A study by transient and photochemical hole-burning

Transient and photochemical hole-burning is used to determine the homogeneous linewidths of the S_x ← S_o and S_y ← So transitions of a magnesium porphin-pyridine complex in four sites of n-octane (T = 1.2–4.2 K). Thermally induced dephasing of S_x ← S_o is consistent with “exchange” to low-frequency local modes identified in the spectra. The relaxation time of S_y varies front ≈ to 4 ps from site to site.     

Some comments on vibronic intensities of naphthalene fluorescence spectra from single vibronic levels

It is shown that some features of intensity distribution among certain vibronic transitions in naphthalene molecule can be understood, when one takes into account adiabatic and nonadiabatic interaction between S₁(¹B_3u), S₂(^tB_2u), and S₃(^IB_3u) electronic states. the vibronic activity of the $\text{6}\text{?}$(b_1g) mode in naphthalene-d₈ can be explained in terms of an anharmonic coupling with the $\text{7}\text{?}$(b_1g) mode. The theoretical analysis suggests reinterpretation of some vibronic transitions.     

Excitation-energy dependence of the radiative decay rate of s-triazine vapor: Participation of a higher singlet electronic state than S1 in the fluorescence emission

Emission spectra, quantum yields and decays of the fast emission component of s-triazine vapor following excitation into various vibronic levels in S₁ are reported. A monotonic increase of the radiative decay constant with increasing excitation energy suggests that a singlet electronic state higher than S₁ should participate in the fluorescence emission.     

Laser multiphoton ionization of aromatic molecules in nonpolar liquids

The laser multiphoton ionization (MPI) of fluoranthene in tetramethylsilane (TMS) and of azulene in n-tridecane, n-pentane, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane, TMS and tetramethyltin is reported. Three distinct types of MPI mechanisms have been identified: two-photon ionization, stepwise three-photon ionization and mixed two- and three-photon ionization. The stepwise three-photon process consists of two-photon excitation, relaxation to a lower lying excited state with a lifetime comparable to the laser pulse duration (for azulene this state is the S₂ while for fluoranthene both the S₁ and S₂ states) and subsequent ionization with the absorption of a third photon. The ionization threshold of azulene in each liquid has been determined and found to vary linearly with the V₀ of the liquid.     

The Nature of the vibronic intensity borrowing mechanism in the 1B3u(n)1Ag(X) transition of pyrazine

The transition intensities of the S₀S₁ gas phase absorption spectra of pyrazine-d₀ and -d₄ were carefully measured. A discussion of the various aspects of vibronic intensity borrowing for this unique case is presented using our new experimental results.     

Rydberg states (n = 4–29) of azabicyclo [2.2.2] octane as studied by two-color fluorescence DIP and multiphoton ionization spectroscopies

Two-color fluorescence dip and multiphoton ionization (MPI) spectra have been observed for azabicyclo [2.2.2] octane in a supersonic jet. The spectra showed well-resolved structures consisting of five Rydberg series of n = 4–29. The five Rydberg series were assigned to s, p_z, p_xy, and two d orbitals. From the spectra obtained after exciting the molecule to various vibronic levels in the S₁ (3s) state, the Δν = 0 selection rule was obtained for the Rydberg-Rydberg transition. The same selection rule was found to be preserved also for the transition from the S₁ state to the ion. It was shown that the autoionization of the high Rydberg states to the ion is governed by Δν=?1. The existence of a very fast non-radiative channel was found for the Rydberg state from the ω₂ power dependence on the two-color MPI spectra.     

Exact results on the relaxation spectrum of a simple model for micelle formation

We consider the reaction scheme A₁ + A_i ? A_i+1 (i - 1,2, …, n), where the equilibrium of the first n - 1 reactions is strongly shifted towards the left while the equilibrium of the nth reaction is strongly shifted towards the right as a model for formation of micelles and prove that under reasonable assumptions the relaxation spectrum has one relaxation time corresponding to the gross reaction (n = 1)A_n ? A_n+1 and, at much higher frequencies, a cluster of relaxation times corresponding to the n - 1 first reactions.     

Formation, structure, thermal and dynamic mechanical behavior of polyurethane networks based on a diethanolamine derivative with mesogenic group

Dynamic mechanical, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray scattering behavior of ordered polyurethane systems, based on a diol with rigid (mesogenic) group in side chain (D), 2(4)-methyl-1,3-phenylene diisocyanate (DI) and two triols (T)--stiff trimethylolpropane (TMP) or flexible poly(oxypropylene)triol (PPT), was investigated during crosslinking and on the networks. The networks were prepared at various stoichiometric initial molar ratios of the reactive groups, [OH]_T/[NCO]_DI/[OH]_D ranging from 1/2/1 to 1/20/19. From our measurements it follows that: (a) Power-law parameters, which are characteristic of the structure at the gel point (the gel strength S and the relaxation exponent n), are dependent on the initial ratio of the reactants. With increasing content of mesogenic diol in the system (increasing length of elastically active network chains, EANCs), the gel strength S increases and the relaxation exponent n decreases; higher S and lower n are found for stiffer TMP networks in comparison with more flexible PPT ones. (b) Introduction of crosslinks reduces the flexibility of the network chains in fully cured samples and inhibits conformational rearrangements required for ordering. A more complex thermal behavior was found for networks based on TMP in comparison with those based on PPT. (c) Strong physical interactions between the mesogens promote cyclization in the course of crosslinking; the fraction of bonds lost in intramolecular cycles is ∼15% for fully cured networks.     

The fluorescence of all-trans diphenyl polyenes

The temperature dependence of the fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectra of all-trans diphenyl hexathene (DPH) and octatetraene (DPO) in six solvents confirms the S₁(¹A_g*) and S₂(¹B_u*) state assignment, and determines their energy difference ΔE. The S₁ fluorescence rate parameter k_F depends on ΔE, the solvent refractive index n, the S₂ (n = 1) fluorescence rate parameter k_F20 (2.23 × 10⁸ s^?1 for DPH, 2.33 × 10⁸ s^?1 for DPO), and the S₂-S₁ coupling matrix element V (745 cm^?1 for DPH, 500 cm^?1 for DPO). The S₁ fluorescence is induced by ¹B_u*-¹A_g* potential interaction (PI), via a b_u vibrational mode (≈ 900 cm^?1), and not by vibronic coupling. The main S₁ radiationless transition, rate parameter k_R, is thermally-activated internal rotation through an angle θ about the central ethylenic bond(s). The PI distorts the S₁ (θ) potential surface and thus influences k_R.     

Vibronic coupling of pyrene in the first ππ* excited state

The two-photon fluorescence excitation spectrum of pyrene in n-hexane and n-heptane matrices has been measured at 10 K in the region of the first electronic transition (26800–30200 cm^?1). The spectrum consists of a rich number of sharp bands, being in general better resolved in n-hexane than in n-heptane matrix. Shpol'skii multiplets have been observed for the most intense bands. A strong two-photon band dominates the spectrum = 1495 cm^?1 from the 0—0 line and was assigned to B_1u × b_1u = A_g symmetry. Other weaker vibronic origins occur in the spectrum which were correlated to vibrational modes of b_1u, b_2u, b_3u and a_u symmetry. Intense vibronic bands are observed close to the origin of the second electronic transition and were interpreted as combination bands of B_1u × b_1u × b_3g symmetry. A two-photon vibronic theory to account for their intensity is proposed where the electronic moment is linearly expanded in powers of the nuclear displacements.     

Intersystem crossing in jet-cooled naphthalene, α- and β-chloronaphthalene as studied by sensitized phosphorescence excitation spectroscopy

The fluorescence excitation and sensitized phosphorescence excitation spectra of jet-cooled naphthalene-h₈, -d₈, α-chloro naphthalene, β-chloronaphthalene have been measured. It is shown that the intersystem crossing efficiency of naphthalene is large for specific vibronic levels in S₁. This efficiency is due to an accidental resonance with the vibronic level belonging to nearby T₂ state. Cl atom accelerates the intersystem crossing rate of naphthalene by about two orders of magnitude.     

On the origin of the red-shift of the resonant raman profile from the electronic absorption spectrum

The red-shift of the position of the resonant Raman scattering excitation profile with respect to the maximum of the electronic absorption band is explained by considering the variation of the inverse vibronic lifetime _γn in the electronic excited state with quantum number n.     

List of subjects

The quantum yields of fluorescence and intersystem crossing in pyrazine-h₄ and -d₄ and pyrimidine vapors have been studied at moderately high pressures (50–100 Torr) in the presence of a foreign gas as a function of excitation energy in the S₁ (n, π*) ← S_o absorption region. The fluorescence quantum yield of pyrazine fluctuates in the lower energy region, but on the average is constant over the range of the excess vibrational energy 0–4000 cm^?1, whereas the fluorescence yield of pyrimidine decreases smoothly with increasing excess energy. For each of the three molecules, the intersystem crossing yield is approximately constant with a value near unity in a wide range of the excess energy, indicating that the intramolecular nonradiative transition from S₁ is governed by the crossing to the triplet state. From a calculation based on the first-order vibronic coupling (Herzberg-Teller) theory the radiative rate constant of the pyrazine fluorescence is found to be relatively large for the vibronic levels involving a non-totally symmetric vibration, ν₁₀₂. This accounts for the fluctuation of the fluorescence yields of pyrazine-h₄ and -d₄.     

On the photoisomerisation of stilbene in n-alcohols

Photoisomerisation of t-stilbene in n-alcohols is discussed on the basis of recent experiments by Sundstro¨m and Gillbro. The reaction is proposed to consist of three steps: rotational relaxation on S₁^1rans →_k1S₁^p (p = perpendicular configuration) in a barrierless potential U₁(θ); a fast electronic transition S₁^p → S₀^p due to strong non-adiabatic interactions, and a rotational relaxation S₀^p →_k2S₀^cis(trans) in a barrierless potential U₀(θ); k₁ ≈ k₂. In the diffusion limit the photoexcited state lifetime, τ = [(k₁ + k₂)/2]⁻¹, is a linear function of the solvent viscosity in qualitative agreement with experiment.     

Engineering a highly selective probe for ratiometric imaging of H2Sn and revealing its signaling pathway in fatty liver disease

Hydrogen polysulfides (H₂S_n, n > 1) have continuously been proved to act as important signal mediators in many physiological processes. However, the physiological role of H₂S_n and their signaling pathways in complex diseases, such as the most common liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), have not been elucidated due to lack of suitable tools for selective detection of intracellular H₂S_n. Herein, we adopted a general and practical strategy including recognition site screening, construction of a ratiometric probe and self-assembly of nanoparticles, to significantly improve the probes'' selectivity, photostability and biocompatibility. The ratiometric probe PPG-Np-RhPhCO selectively responds to H₂S_n, avoiding interaction with biothiol and persulfide. Moreover, this probe was applied to image H₂S_n in NAFLD for the first time and reveal the H₂S_n generation pathways in the cell model of drug-treated NAFLD. The pathway of H₂S_n revealed by PPG-Np-RhPhCO provides significant insights into the roles of H₂S_n in NAFLD and future drug development.

A highly selective probe (PPG-Np-RhPhCO) used for revealing the intracellular H₂S_n signaling pathways in a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model.     

Photoinduced electron transfer from higher excited singlet states of tryprophan: 1. Effects of the excitation wavelength, pH, and temperature on quenching of Tryptophan fluorescence by europium(III) ions

Effects of the excitation energy, temperature, and pH on the quantum yield and the Stern-Volmer quenching constant for tryptophan fluorescence quenching by europium(III) chloride were studied. Competition between intracomplex reversible photoinduced electron transfer from tryptophan to Eu(III) ions and the processes of internal conversion and vibrational relaxation of higher excited singlet states S _n (n > 1) of tryptophan was revealed.