Excitation conversion in excimers and exciplexes of aromatic hydrocarbons

Flurorescence spectra of a number of aromatic hydrocarbons, their excimers and exciplexes with diethylaniline have been measured in n-hexane under aerobic conditions. It has been found that the value of the red shift of the structureless excimer or exciplex band in reference to the monomer fluorescence band is about 4200 or 3000 cm⁻¹, respectively. For indole—ethanol exciplexes the red shift was about 3700 cm⁻¹. It is suggested, that the shift depends on the intramolecular vibrations in the quencher accepting the vibrational energy from the electronically excited donor molecule. It has been proposed that excimer and exciplex fluorescence occurs due to the donor emission of a number of quanta from the virtual levels.     

Photoinduced three-component reactions of tetracyanobenzene with alkenes in the presence of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds as nucleophiles

Photoinduced three-component reactions between tetracyanobenzene (TCNB), an aromatic olefin, and a beta-dicarbonyl compound afford products composed of the three components via formal elimination of hydrogen cyanide, leading to the vicinal dialkylation of the olefin and the alpha-alkylation of the beta-dicarbonyl compounds. It is shown that these reactions are initiated by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from the olefin to the singlet excited TCNB and proceed by a nucleophile-olefin combination, aromatic substitution (NOCAS) reaction sequence with the enolized beta-dicarbonyl compound as a nucleophile. Therefore, aromatic olefins are suitable substrates in photo-NOCAS reactions when TCNB is used as the electron acceptor. In addition, these results show that the enol of beta-dicarbonyl compound serves as a carbon nucleophile to trap the alkene cation radical in PET reactions to lead to C-C bond formation.     

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of TCNB in Potatoes

Abstract

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of TCNB (tetrachloronitrobenzene), a sprout inhibitor, in potato peels and flesh fortified at levels of 0.16 to 53.5 ppm. TCNB was analyzed on a u Bondapak C₁₈ column with UV detection at 210 nm. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-methanol-water (35:35:30) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. Retention time was approximately 10 min. TCNB was extracted by blending for 5 min in acetone. Samples at a level of 1 ppm or higher were directly injected whereas samples below 1 ppm were partitioned into hexane followed by passage through an alumina column. Average recoveries varied from 85.6 to 96.8% with coefficients of variation ranging from 2.18 to 11.68%. A study conducted to test 23 pesticides for possible interferences with TCNB demonstrated that none of them co-chromatographed. The lower limit of detection was 0.08 ppm.     

Theoretical and spectroscopic study of infrared spectra of hydrogen-bonded 1-methyluracil crystal and its deuterated derivative

Theoretical simulation of the band shape and fine structure of the N-H(D) stretching band is presented for 1-methyluracil and its deuterated derivative taking into account anharmonic coupling between the high-frequency N-H(D) stretching and the low-frequency N...O stretching vibrations, resonance interaction between two equivalent hydrogen bonds in the dimer, anharmonicity of the potentials for the low-frequency vibrations in the ground and excited state of the N-H(D) stretching mode, Fermi resonance between the N-H(D) stretching and the first overtone of the N-H(D) bending vibrations, and electrical anharmonicity. The effect of deuteration has been successfully reproduced by our model calculations. Infrared, far-infrared, Raman, and low-frequency Raman spectra of the polycrystalline 1-methyluracil have been recorded. The geometry and experimental frequencies are compared with the results of harmonic and anharmonic B3LYP6-311++G(**) calculations.     

The nature of the rapid relaxation of excited charge-transfer complexes

Examples of contact radical-ion-pair (CRIP) formation from excited charge-transfer (CT) complexes are described. The reduced absorption and emission spectra of the CT complexes formed between hexamethylbenzene, pentamethylbenzene, and durene donors and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) in 1,2-dichloroethane (DCLE) exhibit a mirror image relationship, suggesting that each set of spectra describes transitions between the same two states. It was concluded that a CRIP is produced immediately upon excitation of the CT complex and that relaxation of the CRIP includes only minor geometry changes and changes in solvent polarization. In contrast to these results, the reduced absorption and emission spectra of the mesitylene (MES)/TCNB CT complex in DCLE are distinctly different and do not display a mirror image relationship. Time-resolved emission decay traces reveal the presence of an initial intermediate species that contributes approximately 10% of the total steady-state emission. The emission spectrum of this initial species mirrors the absorption spectrum of the MES/TCNB complex. In the MES/TCNB complex, excitation does not lead directly to the CRIP, and the relaxation of the excited complex must include an electronic component in addition to changes in geometry and solvation. The implications of these results on the applicability of golden-rule expressions of electron transfer are discussed.     

Competition between Arene–Perfluoroarene and Charge‐Transfer Interactions in Organic Light‐Harvesting Systems

Two typical types of luminescent organic cocrystals comprising pyrene–octafluoronaphthalene (pyrene–OFN) and pyrene–1,2,4,5‐tetracyanobezene (pyrene–TCNB) were developed by a simple supramolecular assembly strategy. The cocrystals exhibit distinct optical properties because of their different intermolecular interaction modes; that is, arene–perfluoroarene (AP) and charge‐transfer (CT) interactions. Unexpectedly, a pyrene–TCNB system with strong CT interactions was incorporated into a pyrene–OFN host as a robust guest to generate white‐light emission (WLE). In the supramolecular cocrystal system, an efficient energy‐transfer process from pyrene–OFN to pyrene–TCNB occurred because of the well‐matched spectra of the constituents and a desirable energy donor/acceptor (D/A) distance. The present competitive intermolecular interaction strategy could be applied to the fabrication of more complicated organic light‐harvesting systems.     

An Electron-Rich Helical Host for the Exclusive Removal of a Planar Electron-Deficient Organic Compound

In this study, a series of electron-rich helical hosts, viz. Pyr-HAC , Anth-HAC and Ben-HAC , containing pyrene, anthracene and benzene residues, respectively, at their periphery, were screened for their interaction with different planar electron-deficient organic guests (PEDOGs). A strong and highly selective charge-transfer interactions (CTI) was observed between the host Pyr-HAC and the guest 1,2,4,5-tetracyano-benzene (TCNB), leading to a yellow-to-bright-red color change in both the solubilized and the solid state. The interaction between Pyr-HAC and TCNB also induced profound structural and morphological changes. Pyr-HAC self-assembled into belt-like morphology created by homochiral stacking of the host molecules, but in the Pyr-HAC⊃TCNB complex, square bipyramids containing intertwined heterochiral C₂-double helices of Pyr-HAC were observed. Other PEDOGs did not induce any of the above changes in Pyr-HAC . Detailed UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR, and X-ray diffraction studies confirmed this selectivity, which arises due to CTI assisted by complementary, directional intermolecular hydrogen bonding (DIHB) between Pyr-HAC and TCNB. This allowed for the exclusive extraction of TCNB from a solution enriched in other PEDOGs. Thus, this study provides a ground work for designing responsive helical hosts towards CTI-driven selective “catch-and-release” of guests.     

Chemical degradation of polystyrene induced by chlorinated nitrosobenzene

Chemically induced degradation of polystyrene (PSt) in the presence of 2,4,6-tri-chloronitrosobenzene (TCNB) as radical generator was investigated in benzene solution by means of the electron spin resonance (ESR) method. The ESR spectra observed after the addition of TCNB to PSt in benzene solution were assigned to the nitroxide radicals (spin adducts) of the PSt radicals,

,

and

. These assignments were deduced from comparisons between observed and computer simulated spectra and were supported by experiments using α-deuterated PSt. It was found by analyses of ESR spectra that two kinds of type (B) radicals were produced, which were different in local conformation. The radicals (A) and (B) were thought to be produced by hydrogen abstraction by the chlorinated phenyl radical which results from homolytic scission of the CN bond of TCNB on slight warming. On the other hand, it was concluded that β-scission of radical (A) results in the formation of the chain scission radical (C). The mechanism of degradation of PSt induced by TCNB as radical initiator is discussed, together with the decrease in molecular weight observed after the addition of TCNB to a PSt-benzene solution. From the decrease of molecular weight it is concluded that TCNB acts as a scission inducer.     

On-Surface Synthesis of Iron Phthalocyanine Using Metal-Organic Coordination Templates

On-surface synthesis provides a convenient route to many kinds of conjugated molecular nanostructures, but it has remained challenging to precisely control the reaction pathway for using multicomponent precursors. Herein, we demonstrate a two-step strategy to synthesize iron phthalocyanine (FePc) molecules using metal-organic coordination for templating by using high-resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy and non-contact atomic force microscopy. In a first step, 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) precursors and Fe atoms self-assembly into Fe(TCNB)₄ coordination complexes on a clean Au(111) surface. The Fe(TCNB)₄ complexes further undergo cyclic tetramerization upon thermal annealing, forming single FePc molecules. We expect that our demonstrated synthetic strategy may shed light on the design and synthesis of two-dimensional extended conjugated systems.     

Studies on TMPD:TCNB; a donor-acceptor with room temperature paramagnetism and n-pi interaction

A donor-acceptor compound based on N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylene-diamine and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TMPD:TCNB) has been synthesized. The crystal structure of the black 1:1 complex formed between TMPD and TCNB has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with cell dimensions: a = 7.4986(15) ?, b =7.6772(11) ?, c = 8.0764(15) ?, alpha = 78.822(12) degrees, beta = 83.3779(19) degrees, gamma = 86.289(17) degrees .TMPD and TCNB molecules are stacked alternately in infinite columns along the a-axis. The structure does not seem to show the usual pi-pi interaction between the two aromatic rings, but indicates an n-pi interaction localized between the nitrogen atoms of the donor and the cyano groups of the acceptor.     

Visual observation of contact-induced intercrystalline migration of aromatic species adsorbed in zeolites by fluorescence microscopy.

Intercrystalline migration and a migration-assisted chemical reaction of adsorbed aromatic species between zeolite particles in physical contact were visualized by fluorescence microscopy coupled with a particle manipulation technique. The luminescence color characteristics of particular zeolite particles originating from the specific photochemistry of adsorbed species was exploited to follow the migration of the molecules. Two examples are shown that are relevant to the visualization of the time-dependent migration process: A one guest-two sets of zeolite crystals system: chrysene (Chry)-loaded zeolite Na+ -X (the sodium form of zeolite X) crystals were placed in contact with unloaded Tl+ -X (thallium-exchanged X) crystals and allowed to stand at room temperature. Initially, the blue fluorescence of Chry was detected only from the Na+ -X particles, but later, the development of green phosphorescence emission was discernible from the Tl+ -X which suggests that Chry migrated from the Na+ -X to the Tl+ -X crystals. A two guest-species systems: Electron-donating Chry-loaded Na+ -X crystals were placed in contact with electron-accepting 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB)-loaded Na+ -X or Na+ -Y crystals. With time, the former system (Chry/Na+ -X and TCNB/Na+ -X) gave rise to the emission of Chry-TCNB charge-transfer complexes resulting mainly from the migration of Chry while the latter system (Chry/Na+ -X and TCNB/Na+ -Y) afforded the same emission resulting largely from the migration of TCNB. The present investigation reveals that there is a certain direction for guest migration depending on the zeolite host and the nature of host-guest or guest-guest interaction.     

Terahertz time-domain and Raman spectroscopy of the sulfur-containing peptide dimers: Low-frequency markers of disulfide bridges

The terahertz time-domain and Raman spectra of sulfur-containing cystein-based peptides in the region of the low-frequency infrared vibrations have been measured at room temperature. The low-frequency bands that can be assigned to the S–S bridges are observed. The vibrational modes found in molecular crystalline materials should be described as phonon modes with strong coupling to the intra molecular vibrations.     

Dynamics in host-guest complexes of molecular tweezers and clips

The dynamics in the host-guest complexes of the molecular tweezers 1 a,b and clips 2 a,b with 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB, 3) and tropylium tetrafluoroborate (4) as guest molecules were analyzed by temperature-dependent 1H NMR spectroscopy. The TCNB complexes of tweezers 1 a,b were found to be particularly stable (dissociation barrier: DeltaG(++)=16.8 and 15.7 kcal mol(-1), respectively), more stable than the TCNB complexes of clips 2 a,b and the tropylium complex of tweezer 1 b (dissociation barrier: DeltaG(++)=12.4, 11.2, and 12.3 kcal mol(-1), respectively). A detailed analysis of the kinetic and thermodynamic data (especially the negative entropies of activation found for complex dissociation) suggests that in the transition state of dissociation the guest molecule is still clipped between the aromatic tips of the host molecule. The 1H NMR analysis of the TCNB complexes 3@1 b and 3@2 a at low temperatures (T<-80 degrees C) showed that 3 undergoes fast rotation inside the cavity of tweezer 1 b or clip 2 a (rotational barrier: DeltaG( not equal)=11.7 and 8.3 kcal mol(-1), respectively). This rotation of a guest molecule inside the host cavity can be considered to be the dynamic equilibration of noncovalent conformers. In the case of clip complex 3@2 a the association and rotational barriers are smaller by DeltaDeltaG(++)=3-4 kcal mol(-1) than those in tweezer complexes 3@1 a,b. This can be explained by the more open topology of the trimethylene-bridged clips compared to the tetramethylene-bridged tweezers. Finally, the bromo substituents in the newly prepared clip 2 b have a substantial effect on the kinetics and thermodynamics of complex formation. Clip 2 b forms weaker complexes with (TCNB, 3) and tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ, 12) and a more stable complex with 2,4,7-trinitrofluoren-9-ylidene (TNF, 13) than the parent clip 2 a. These results can be explained by a less negative electrostatic potential surface (EPS) inside the cavity and a larger van der Waals contact surface of 2 b compared to 2 a. In the case of the highly electron-deficient guest molecules TCNB and TCNQ the attractive electrostatic interaction is predominant and hence responsible for the thermodynamic complex stability, whereas in the case of TNF with its extended pi system, dispersion forces are more important for host-guest binding.     

Kinetics of the phosphorescent triplet states of tetracyanobenzene complexes as studied by microwave induced delayed phosphorescence

Using microwave induced delayed phosphorescence techniques we determined the populating and depopulating rate constants for the individual spin-sublevels of the phosphorescent states of tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) and its charge-transfer complexes with benzene and hexamethylbenzene (HMB) in n-hexane at 1.25 K. It was shown that the non-radiative decay process from the shortest lifetime sublevel is most responsible for the previously observed shortening in the phosphorescence lifetime of the TCNBHMB complex.     

Sensitized biphotonic radical-anion formation of solute—solvent electron donor—acceptor complex

A solution of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) in 2-methyltetrahehydrofuran (MTHF), in which a solute—solvent electron donor—acceptor (EDA) complex is formed, has been photoirradiated by 350–400 nm light at 77 K so as to excite only benzophenone. The intensity dependence of the exciting UV light on the photoinduced radical-anion formation of TCNB has been studied by means of optical absorption, suggesting a sensitized biphotonic ionic dissociation of the EDA complex.     

Exciplexes of pyrene with indole and diethylaniline in liposomes and biomembranes

The formation of exciplexes of pyrene with indole and diethylaniline incorporated into the lipid bilayer was observed in phospholipid liposomes and membranes of sarcoplasmic reticulum from rabbit muscles. The intensity and lifetime of pyrene luminescence were found to decrease and the structureless emission of the exciplexes appeared. Exciplex emission in the membrane has a low quantum yield (compared with exciplexes formed in hexane solutions). This is probably due to the presence of polar groups in the membranes. It was shown that the formation of exciplexes is markedly dependent on the physical state of membranes. It is suggested also that pyrene can form an exciplex with tryptophan residues of membrane proteins.     

Radiative and radationless decay of exciplexes of 1,12-benzperylene

Many molecules in their excited states react with other species having suitable electron donor or acceptor properties to form complexes (exciplexes) stable only in the excited state. This letter reports a study of the modes of decay of a series of exciplexes in which the donor molecule (1,2-benzperylene) formed exciplexes with a series of dimethylaniline derivatives. By measuring the flourescence and intersystem crossing quantum yields, together with the fluorescence lifetimes of the exciplexes, it was possible to derive the rate constants for fluorescence, radationless decay to the ground state, and intersystem crossing. The first two decay processes were found to show a marked sensitivity to the exciplex energy, while the intersystem crossing rate constant was affected only by the presence of heavy atoms.     

Vibronic coupling in organic semiconductors: the case of fused polycyclic benzene-thiophene structures

The nature of vibronic coupling in fused polycyclic benzene-thiophene structures has been studied using an approach that combines high-resolution gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopy measurements with first-principles quantum-mechanical calculations. The results indicate that in general the electron-vibrational coupling is stronger than the hole-vibrational coupling. In acenedithiophenes, the main contributions to the hole-vibrational coupling arise from medium- and high-frequency vibrations. In thienobisbenzothiophenes, however, the interaction of holes with low-frequency vibrations becomes significant and is larger than the corresponding electron-vibrational interaction. This finding is in striking contrast with the characteristic pattern in oligoacenes and acenedithiophenes in which the low-frequency vibrations contribute substantially only to the electron-vibrational coupling. The impact of isomerism has been studied as well.     

Theoretical modeling of infrared spectra of benzoic acid and its deuterated derivative

Theoretical simulation of the ν_s stretching band is presented for benzoic acid and its OD derivative at 300 K. The simulation takes into account an adiabatic coupling between the high-frequency O–H(D) stretching and the low-frequency intermolecular OO stretching modes, linear and quadratic distortions of the potential energy for the low-frequency vibrations in the excited state of the O–H(D) stretching vibration, resonance interaction between the two hydrogen bonds in the dimer, and Fermi resonance between the fundamental ν OH(D) stretching and the overtone of the δ O–H(D) bending vibrations.

Infrared, far-infarared, Raman and low-frequency Raman spectra of the polycrystalline benzoic acid and its deuterated form have been measured. The geometry and experimental frequencies are compared with the results of our B3LYP/6-311++G** and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ calculations.     

Photoionization and imaging spectroscopy of rubidium atoms attached to helium nanodroplets

Highly excited states of rubidium (Rb) atoms attached to helium (He) nanodroplets are studied by two-photon ionization spectroscopy in combination with electron and ion imaging. We find high yields of RbHe and RbHe(2) exciplexes when exciting to the 4D and 6P bands but not at the 6S band, in accord with a direct formation of exciplexes in binding RbHe pair potentials. Photoion spectra and angular distributions are in good agreement with a pseudodiatomic model for the RbHe(N) complex. Repulsive interactions in the excited states entail fast dissociation followed by ionization of free Rb atoms as well as of RbHe and RbHe(2) exciplexes.