Picosecond time-resolved spectroscopy and the intersystem crossing rates of anthrone and fluorenone

The rise time of the T_n ← T₁ absorption of anthrone in benzene is determined to be 70 ps. The mechanism of efficient intersystem crossing of anthrone has been discussed and is compared with that of benzophenene. The rise time of fluorenone has been found to be sensitive to solvent, changing from 140 ps in cyclohexane to 12 ns in acetone. This tendency is explained in terms of the change in the character of the lowest excited singlet state of fluorenone from ππ^* in acetone to nπ^* in cyclohexane.     

Matrix elements for intersystem crossing

A new formulation of intersystem-crossing matrix elements is presented which includes correction for prompt scattering and avoids the Herzberg-Teller expansion for nonadiabatic coupling.     

Ultrafast intersystem crossing in 9,10-anthraquinones and intramolecular charge separation in an anthraquinone-based dyad

Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was employed to determine quantitatively the ultrafast S1-T1 intersystem crossing in a 2-substituted 9,10-anthraquinone derivative (3), kisc = 2.5 x 10(12) s-1. Notwithstanding this rapid process, photoexcitation of dyad 1 is followed by competition between intersystem crossing and intramolecular charge separation, the latter leading to a short-lived (2 ps) singlet charge-transfer (CT) state. The local triplet state itself undergoes slower charge separation to populate a relatively long-lived (130 ns) triplet CT state. An earlier report about the formation of an extremely long-lived CT state (> 900 micros) in 1 was found to be erroneous and was related to the sacrificial photo-oxidation of the dimethylsulfoxide solvent used in that study. Finally, some important criteria have been formulated for future experimental validation of "unusually long-lived" CT states.     

Direct measurement of ultrafast intersystem crossing time for the PtIVBr62− complex

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Picosecond laser studies on the effect of structure and environment on intersystem crossing in aromatic carbenes

A large solvent polarity effect on the rate of singlet to triplet intersystem crossing (k_ST) has been observed in the carbenes, diphenylcarbene (DPC) and dicycloheptadienylidene (DCHD). It is found that both k_ST and the energy splitting (ΔE_ST) separtaing the singlet and triplet states decrease as the solvent polarity increases for the aromatic carbenes. This “inverse” gap effect, i.e. the time for intersystem crossing decreases with increasing energy gap, is explained by an off-resonance intersystem crossing from the singlet to a sparse triplet vibronic manifold characteristic of a small energy gap. The trend in ΔE_ST, which is proposed to be responsible for the variation in k_ST for DPC, DCHD and structurally related aromatic carbenes, is suggested to arise from the variation in the bond angle of the central methylene carbon atom.     

Reduced equations of motion for collision-induced intersystem crossing

A model is proposed for collision-induced intersystem crossing in “intermediate case” and small molecules. The collisions are assumed to cause dephasing (T₂) among the zero order singlet and triplet molecular states. The combined effect of the intramolecular spin-orbit coupling (μ) and the collisional dephasing, results in the experimentally observable relaxation of populations (T₁). The basic assumption of the present model is that the duration of a collision τ_c is short compared to the intramolecular coupling (μτ_c ? 1). Reduced equations of motion for the molecular density matrix are derived and conditions for observing nonexponential relaxations are discussed. The model demonstrates the equivalence of T₁ and T₂ processes, depending on our choice of a basis set.     

Time-dependent approaches for the calculation of intersystem crossing rates

We present three formulas for calculating intersystem crossing rates in the Condon approximation to the golden rule by means of a time-dependent approach: an expression using the full time correlation function which is exact for harmonic oscillators, a second-order cumulant expansion, and a short-time approximation of this expression. While the exact expression and the cumulant expansion require numerical integration of the time correlation function, the integration of the short-time expansion can be performed analytically. To ensure convergence in the presence of large oscillations of the correlation function, we use a Gaussian damping function. The strengths and weaknesses of these approaches as well as the dependence of the results on the choice of the technical parameters of the time integration are assessed on four test examples, i.e., the nonradiative S(1) ? T(1) transitions in thymine, phenalenone, flavone, and porphyrin. The obtained rate constants are compared with previous results of a time-independent approach. Very good agreement between the literature values and the integrals over the full time correlation functions are observed. Furthermore, the comparison suggests that the cumulant expansion approximates the exact expression very well while allowing the interval of the time integration to be significantly shorter. In cases with sufficiently high vibrational density of states also the short-time approximation yields rates in good agreement with the results of the exact formula. A great advantage of the time-dependent approach over the time-independent approach is its excellent computational efficiency making it the method of choice in cases of large energy gaps, large numbers of normal modes, and high densities of final vibrational states.     

Temperature dependence of intersystem crossing of pyrene

The temperature dependence of the rate constant for intersystem crossing from S₁ of pyrene was determined by means of a method proposed previously. In contrast to the conclusions of Stevens, Thomaz and Jones, and of Kropp, Dawson and Windsor, we conclude that both temperature-independent and temperature-dependent intersystem crossing processes exist. These two processes contribute equally at ≈ 150 K.     

Studies of intersystem crossing dynamics in acetylene

We report a new ab initio study of the acetylene T3 potential energy surface, which clarifies the nature of its energy minimum, and present computed equilibrium geometries and diabatic frequencies. This information enables the computation of harmonic vibrational overlap integrals of T3 vibrational levels with the S1 3nu3 state. The results of this calculation support the interpretation of two local perturbations of S1 3nu3, revealed in ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence/surface electron ejection by laser excited metastables spectroscopy and Zeeman anticrossing measurements, respectively, as arising from two rotational submanifolds of a single T3 vibrational state. We present plausible assignments for this state as a guide for future experimental work.     

Mechanism of collision-induced intersystem crossing in CO

We have studied inert-gas pressure effects on the fluorescence decay in CO selectively excited to the υ = 0 to 7 vibronic levels of the A ¹Π electronic state. It is shown that the dependence of the quenching cross section σ_isc on the average value of the ST mixing coefficient (β²) has a quasi-logarithmic form. A simple two-level model describing semiquantitatively this behavior is proposed.     

Influence of solvent on carbene intersystem crossing rates

The influence of coordinating solvents on singlet-to-triplet carbene intersystem crossing (ISC) rates has been studied with diphenylcarbene (DPC) and para-biphenyltrifluoromethylcarbene (BpCCF 3) by using ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy. DPC has a triplet ground state in all of the solvents considered, and the concentration of singlet carbene at equilibrium is too small to be measured. It is found that the lifetime of (1)DPC is extended in acetonitrile, benzene, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, and halobenzene solvents relative to cyclohexane. The solvent effect does not well correlate with bulk measures of solvent polarity. The singlet-triplet energy separation of BpCCF 3 is close to zero. The data demonstrates that BpCCF 3 has a triplet ground state in benzene, fluorobenzene, and hexafluorobenzene. Halogenated solvents are found to dramatically retard the rate of ISC in (1)BpCCF 3. We postulate that the empty p orbital of a singlet carbene coordinates with a nonbonding pair of electrons of a halogen atom of the solvent to form a pseudoylide solvent complex, stabilize the singlet carbene, and decrease the singlet-triplet (S-T) energy gap. The "golden rule" of radiationless transitions posits that the smaller the energy gap between the two states, the faster their rate of interconversion. To explain the apparent violation of the golden rule of radiationless transitions for the carbene ISC processes monitored in this study, we propose that the significantly different specific solvation of the singlet and triplet carbenes imposes a Franck-Condon-like factor on the ISC process. Those solvents that most solvate the singlet carbene will also have the greatest structural difference between singlet carbene-solvent complex and their triplet spin isomer-solvent complex, the smallest S-T gap, and the slowest ISC rate. Alternatively, one can propose that a highly solvated singlet carbene must desolvate prior to ISC, and that this requirement decelerates the radiationless transition.     

On the intersystem crossing of pentacene in p-terphenyl

Applying methods developed for single molecule spectroscopy to small ensembles, we have recorded high-resolution fluorescence-excitation spectra for pentacene in all substitutional sites of a p-terphenyl single crystal. The difference in intersystem crossing efficiency for pentacene molecules in the various substitutional sites is discussed on the basis of these spectra and data from optically detected magnetic resonance experiments.     

Theory of collision induced intersystem crossing. Application to glyoxal

Our recent theory of collision induced intersystem crossing is applied to glyoxal where Beyer, Zittle, and Lineberger have determined single vibronic level rates. The magnitude of observed rates, their lack of deuterium isotope effect, their correlation with perturber dipole and dipole-polarizability induced collision rates, and the possible anomalous quenching efficiency of oxygen, are all explained by the theory and are correlated with the observed rotational relaxation cross sections in the ¹A_u state.     

Inverse deuterium isotope effect in the intersystem crossing of diphenylcarbene

The singlet-to-triplet intersystem crossing rate (k_st) of diphenylcarbene (DPC) is found to exhibit an inverse isotope effect in various solvents. An off-resonance coupling model between the initial singlet state and a sparse triplet vibronic manifold accounts for k_ST showing both an inverse isotope effect in a given solvent as well as an inverse energy gap effect in a solvent series.     

The nature of internal conversion and intersystem crossing in exciplexes

Experimental data obtained by the authors themselves and other published data on the dependence of the rate constants of internal conversion and intersystem crossing in exciplexes (back electron transfer) on the value of energy gap were critically revisited. The conclusion that these processes occur according to the mechanism of radiationless diabatic quantum transitions, rather than the preceding thermally activated solvent and reactant reorganizations was substantiated.Translated from Khimiya Vysokikh Energii, Vol. 39, No. 2, 2005, pp. 114–125.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kuzmin, Soboleva, Dolotova, Dogadkin.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Picosecond spectroscopic investigations of diphenylcarbene protonation

The details of the picosecond kinetic investigation of diphenylcarbene (Ph₂C:) protonation with H₂O, MeOH, EtOH and 2-propanol by optical absorption technique are presented. The protonation reactions were monitored by detection of the diphenylcarbenium ion (Ph₂C⁺H). Evidence of solvent induced alteration of the singlet-triplet energy level of Ph₂C:, and involvement of an excited carbene singlet state in the protonation of Ph₂C: diphenylcarbene with H₂O are presented.     

Accessing the triplet state of perylenediimide by radical-enhanced intersystem crossing

Owing to their exceptional photophysical properties and high photostability, perylene diimide (PDI) chromophores have found various applications as building blocks of materials for organic electronics. In many light-induced processes in PDI derivatives, chromophore excited states with high spin multiplicities, such as triplet or quintet states, have been revealed as key intermediates. The exploration of their properties and formation conditions is thus expected to provide invaluable insight into their underlying photophysics and promises to reveal strategies for increasing the performance of optoelectronic devices. However, accessing these high-multiplicity excited states of PDI to increase our mechanistic understanding remains a difficult task, due to the fact that the lowest excited singlet state of PDI decays with near-unity quantum yield to its ground state. Here we make use of radical-enhanced intersystem crossing (EISC) to generate the PDI triplet state in high yield. One or two 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxyl (TEMPO) stable radicals were covalently attached to the imide position of PDI chromophores with and without p-tert-butylphenoxy core substituents. By combining femtosecond UV-vis transient absorption and transient electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies, we demonstrate strong magnetic exchange coupling between the PDI triplet state and TEMPO, resulting in the formation of excited quartet or quintet states. Important differences in the S₁ state deactivation rate constants and triplet yields are observed for compounds bearing PDI moieties with different core substitution patterns. We show that these differences can be rationalized by considering the varying importance of competitive excited state decay processes, such as electron and excitation energy transfer. The comparison of the results obtained for different PDI–TEMPO derivatives leads us to propose design guidelines for optimizing the efficiency of triplet sensitization in molecular assemblies by EISC.

The triplet state of PDI can be sensitized efficiently by radical-enhanced intersystem crossing. A detailed study of several related structures allows us to propose new strategies to optimize triplet formation in materials for optoelectronic devices.