Excited-state metal-to-ligand charge transfer dynamics of a ruthenium(II) dye in solution and adsorbed on TiO2 nanoparticles from resonance Raman spectroscopy

The dynamics of metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) in a cis-bis(4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine)-bis(isothiocyanato)ruthenium(II) dye (N3) are compared for the free dye in solution and the dye adsorbed on the surface of the TiO(2) nanoparticles from resonance Raman spectroscopy. The 544-nm MLCT absorption band of N3 adsorbed on TiO(2) is slightly blue-shifted from that of the free N3, indicating a weak electronic coupling between N3 and TiO(2). The resonance Raman spectra of N3 and the N3|TiO(2) complex obtained upon excitation within the lowest-lying MLCT singlet state of the dye are similar except for slight shifts in band positions. Resonance Raman cross sections have been obtained for the vibrational modes of both N3 and N3|TiO(2) with excitation frequencies spanning the 544-nm MLCT band. Self-consistent analysis of the resulting resonance Raman excitation profiles and absorption spectrum using a time-dependent wave packet formalism over two electronic states yields mode-specific vibrational and solvent reorganization energies. Despite the weak electronic coupling between N3 and TiO(2) in N3|TiO(2), adsorption strongly affects the reorganization energies of N3 in the intramolecular MLCT state. Adsorption of N3 onto TiO(2) increases the absolute Raman cross section of each mode by a factor of ca. 1.6 and decreases the vibrational and solvent reorganization energies by factors of 2 and 6, respectively. The excited-state dynamics of N3 adsorbed on the surface of TiO(2) nanoparticles were observed to be independent of the number of N3 molecules adsorbed per TiO(2) nanoparticle. The effect of TiO(2) on the dynamics of the adsorbed N3 is primarily due to both mode-specific vibrational and electronic pure dephasing, with the dominant contribution from the latter process.     

Fourier transform Raman and DFT study of three annulated oligothiophenes with different molecular shapes.

Herein, we study the conjugation properties of three different thienoacenes, each of which has three or four fused thiophene rings, by means of Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. The B3LYP/6-31G** vibrational analysis of all of the collected spectroscopic data evidences that the selective enhancement of a limited number of Raman scatterings is related to the occurrence in the three thienoacenes of a vibronic coupling between the lowest unoccupied frontier molecular orbital (LUMO) and some Raman-active skeletal nu(C==C) stretching modes of 1600-1300 cm(-1).     

Effect of dimerization on vibrational spectra of eumelanin precursors

We have synthesized a compound ideally suited to the study of structure-function relationships in eumelanin synthesis. N-methyl-5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-indole (MHMI) has key functional groups strategically placed on the indole framework to hinder binding in the 2, 5, 6 and 7 positions. Thus, the dimer bound exclusively in the 4-4' positions was isolated and characterized. In order to study the difference in vibrational structure between the MHMI monomer and dimer, Raman spectra were acquired of both compounds, as well as indole, indole-2-carboxylic acid and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA). Peaks were assigned to particular vibrational modes using B3LYP density functional theory calculations, and experimental and theoretical spectra displayed good agreement. Addition of functional groups to either benzene or pyrrole rings in the indole framework impacted vibrational spectra attributed to vibrations in either ring, and in some cases, peaks appearing unchanged between two compounds corresponded to different contributing vibrations. Dimerization resulted in an expected increase in the number of vibrational modes, but not a significant increase in the number of apparent peaks, as several modes frequently contributed to an individual observed peak. Comparison of spectral features of the monomer and dimer provides insight into eumelanin photochemistry, but final conclusions depend on the planarity of oligomeric structure in vivo.     

Nonrigid molecule effects on the energy levels of XeF6

The geometric and electronic structure of XeF₆ is not yet fully understood, even though most of the means of structure determination available to the chemist have been employed in an effort to describe the molecule. We suggest that many of the experimental anomalies and theoretical difficulties arise from the possibility of rapid polytopal rearrangement in this system, and put forward in this report an analysis which accommodates the experimental data. We show that easy rearrangement produces substantial splittings in rigid-molecule energy levels, and with the aid of Longuet-Higgins group theory developed expressly for flexible molecules, compute energy-level schemes for a set of plausible rearrangement modes. By appropriate choice of parameters specifying the extent of splitting, we match the reported infrared and Raman spectra, and their temperature dependence. The puzzling “time lag” in the Raman (but not the infrared) spectrum is tentatively ascribed to selective relaxation of Raman-active vibrational modes.     

Electron-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy: a theoretical approach.

Enhancement of the Raman scattering and IR absorption activities due to the electron-attachment was investigated for water systems by DFT calculations. DFT calculation of a 6-ring water cluster system that included the diffusive nature of electrons well reproduced the Raman enhancement effects and Raman shifts of the OH stretching modes observed in experiments. Based on the same model and calculations, enhancement of the IR absorption activity was also studied and was found to also be improved. Furthermore, the same calculation revealed that the enhancement can be also expected not only in the OH stretching but also in the lower wavenumber region. The enhancement factors for the various vibrational modes of the OH groups range from 10(2) - 10(5) thanks to the electron addition. Based on the coincidence between the theoretical model and the experimental results for the Raman signals and theoretical prediction for IR absorption, new enhancement techniques based on an electron-attachment in both Raman scattering and IR absorption, denoted as "electron-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy (EEVS)", is proposed, where molecular polarizability itself is modulated by the strong electrostatic field induced by neighboring electrons.     

Vibrational spectroscopic study on 2-[2-(4-dipropylamino-phenyl)-vinyl]-1,3,3-trimethyl-3H-indolium chloride

A new styryl dye were prepared, 2-[2-(4-dipropylamino-phenyl)-vinyl]-1,3,3-trimethyl-3H-indolium chloride (DPPTVI) chloride. Its infrared and Raman were measured. Quantum chemical calculations were computed for both the isolated and the solute cation. Optimized geometry, atomic net charges were calculated. The calculated vibrational frequencies were scaled to the experimental ones. Only 12 scale factors were used for the scaling of 174 vibrational modes. Based on these results, normal coordinate analysis were carried out for both the isolated and the solute cations. Infrared and Raman spectra were simulated. The results for the isolated and the solute cations were compared.     

Formation of an ion-pair molecule with a single NH(+)...Cl(-) hydrogen bond: Raman spectra of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidinium chloride in the solid state, in solution, and in the vapor phase

Some ionic compounds (salts) form liquids when heated to temperatures in the range of 200-300 degrees C. They may be referred to as moderate temperature ionic liquids. An example of such a compound is the 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidinium chloride, [TMGH]Cl, melting at approximately 212 degrees C. The chemistry of this compoundcontaining a dimeric ion-pair "molecule"was investigated in the solid state, in solutions in water and ethanol, and in the vapor phase, based on ab initio molecular orbital density functional theory (DFT)-type calculations with 6-311+G(d,p) basis sets. Calculations on the monomeric [TMGH] (+) ion and the dimeric chloride ion-pair salt converged to give geometries near the established crystal structure of [TMGH]Cl. The structures and their binding energies are given as well as calculated vibrational harmonic normal modes (IR and Raman band wavenumbers and intensities). Experimentally obtained Raman scattering spectra are presented and assigned, by comparing to the quantum mechanical calculations. It is concluded that dimeric molecular ion pairs with four N-H (+)...Cl (-) hydrogen bonds probably exist in the solutions and are responsible for the relatively high solubility of the "salt" in ethanol. It was discovered that the compound can be easily sublimed by heating to about 200-230 degrees C. In the Raman spectrum of the vapor at 225 degrees C, a characteristic strong band at 2229 cm (-1) was found and interpreted to show that the gas phase consists of monomeric ion-pair "molecules" held together by a single N-H (+)...Cl (-) hydrogen bond, the stretching band of which is causing the band.     

Raman spectroscopic studies of the solid-state polymerization of diacetylenes. I. Thermal polymerization of 1,6-di-p-toluenesulfonyloxy-2,4-hexadiyne

The resonance Raman spectra of polymer chains in partially polymerized crystals of 1,6-di-p-toluenesulfonyloxy-2,4-hexadiyne are reported. The polymer chain distortion is deduced using the results obtained previously for fully polymerized samples under tensile strain. Changes in crystal lattice dimensions both parallel and lateral to the polymer chains are found to be important in interpreting the variations in frequency of the Raman-active vibrational modes. Further evidence is found for the resonant interaction of backbone and side-group vibrations reported previously. This interaction is affected by the lateral dimensional changes and is also sensitive to residual strain fields in the monomer crystals. It is not necessary in the interpretation of the Raman spectra to take any account of changes in polymer chain length during polymerization.     

Mode-dependent enhancement of photodissociation and photoionization in a seven atom molecule

We report the first experimental demonstration of vibrational mode-dependent enhancement in photodissociation and photoionization of a seven atom molecule, methylamine (CH(3)NH(2)). The fundamental C-H stretches and the overtones or combinations of CH(3) bends were prepared via stimulated Raman excitation (SRE) prior to their 243.135 nm one-photon dissociation or two-photon ionization. The photodissociation or photoionization of the vibrationally excited molecules was achieved via 10 ns delayed or temporally overlapping SRE and UV pulses, respectively. It is shown that bending modes are more effective than stretches in promoting photodissociation and photoionization, since their UV excitation is favored by larger Franck Condon factors. This behavior provides clear evidence for vibrational mode-dependence in a relatively large molecule with a torsional degree of freedom, indicating that these modes survive intramolecular vibrational redistribution on a time scale considerably longer than hitherto inferred from previous studies.     

An ab-initio study of the C3H6-HX, C2H4-HX and C2H2-HX hydrogen-bonded complexes with X=F or Cl.

MP2/6-31G** ab-initio molecular orbital calculations have been performed to obtain geometries, H-bond energies and vibrational properties of the C3H6-HX, C2H4-HX and C2H2-HX H-bonded complexes with X=F or Cl. The more pronounced effects on the structural parameters of the isolated molecules due to complexation are verified to the CC and HX bond lengths, which are directly involved in the H-bond formation. They are increased after complexation. The calculated H-bond lengths for the hydrogen complexes for X=F are shorter than those for x-Cl by about 0.55 A, whereas the corresponding experimental value is 0.58 A. The H-bond energies are essentially determined by the nature of the proton donor molecule. For X=F, the AE mean value is 20 kJ/mol, whereas it is approximately 14.5 kJ/mol for X-Cl. The H-bond energies including zero-point corrections show a good correlation with the H-bond lengths. The more pronounced effect on the normal modes of the isolated molecules after complexation occurs to the H-X stretching mode. The H-X stretching frequency is shifted downward, whereas its IR intensity is much enhanced upon H-bond formation. The new vibrational modes arising from complexation show several interesting features.     

Probing inhomogeneous vibrational reorganization energy barriers of interfacial electron transfer

An atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal Raman microscopy study of the interfacial electron transfer of a dye-sensitization system, i.e., alizarin adsorbed upon TiO(2) nanoparticles, has revealed the distribution of the mode-specific vibrational reorganization energies encompassing different local sites ( approximately 250-nm spatial resolution). Our experimental results suggest inhomogeneous vibrational reorganization energy barriers and different Franck-Condon coupling factors of the interfacial electron transfer. The total vibrational reorganization energy was inhomogeneous from site to site; specifically, mode-specific analyses indicated that energy distributions were inhomogeneous for bridging normal modes and less inhomogeneous or homogeneous for nonbridging normal modes, especially for modes far away from the alizarin-TiO(2) coupling hydroxyl modes. The results demonstrate a significant step forward in characterizing site-specific inhomogeneous interfacial charge-transfer dynamics.     

FT-IR, FT-Raman, NMR and UV-vis spectra, vibrational assignments and DFT calculations of 4-butyl benzoic acid

The solid phase FTIR and FT-Raman spectra of 4-butyl benzoic acid (4-BBA) have been recorded in the regions 400-4000 and 50-4000cm(-1), respectively. The spectra were interpreted in terms of fundamentals modes, combination and overtone bands. The structure of the molecule was optimized and the structural characteristics were determined by density functional theory (DFT) using B3LYP method with 6-311++G(d,p) as basis set. The vibrational frequencies were calculated for monomer and dimer by DFT method and were compared with the experimental frequencies, which yield good agreement between observed and calculated frequencies. The infrared and Raman spectra were also predicted from the calculated intensities. (13)C and (1)H NMR spectra were recorded and (13)C and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts of the molecule were calculated using the gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method. UV-visible spectrum of the compound was recorded in the region 200-400nm and the electronic properties HOMO and LUMO energies were measured by time-dependent TD-DFT approach. The geometric parameters, energies, harmonic vibrational frequencies, IR intensities, Raman intensities, chemical shifts and absorption wavelengths were compared with the available experimental data of the molecule.     

酞菁铅在石墨烯表面吸附行为的拉曼光谱研究

利用石墨烯增强拉曼散射效应可以获得与石墨烯接触的某些分子的拉曼增强信号, 并且对于不同的分子或振动模, 其拉曼增强因子不同. 根据这一特征, 本工作利用拉曼光谱技术对石墨烯表面上酞菁铅(PbPc)分子Langmuir-Blodgett (LB)膜在退火过程中吸附构型的变化进行了跟踪研究. 发现随着退火温度的升高, 石墨烯表面上PbPc分子的拉曼信号经历了一个先增强后减弱的过程, 在升华温度点附近强度达到最大, 表明PbPc发生了由直立向平躺取向的转变; 同时, 在PbPc分子升华温度点附近, 由于对称性破坏导致散射截面低的振动模出现, 并且该振动模强度随着退火温度的进一步升高而增强, 表明非平面的PbPc分子受石墨烯π-π相互作用的影响而形变加剧, 向平面结构转变; 在更高的退火温度下, 则出现一些不属于PbPc分子的拉曼振动峰, 表明PbPc分子在石墨烯表面由Pb(II)被还原成Pb(0).     

Vibrational spectra of trans-1,1-dihalo-2,3-dimethylcyclopropanes

The infrared spectra of trans-1,1-dichloro-2,3-dimethylcyclopropane and trans-1,1-dibromo-2,3-dimethylcyclopropane as liquids and polycrystalline solids have been measured. The gas-phase infrared spectrum of trans-1,1-dichloro-2,3-dimethylcyclopropane was also recorded from 4000 to 400 cm⁻¹. Raman spectra of the two compounds in the liquid phase have been obtained as well. An assignment of the vibrational frequencies has been proposed and discussed. A large number of fundamentals of the parent hydrocarbon are essentially unaffected by halogen substitution. Group frequencies like the ring pulsation and ring deformation modes are slightly, but characteristically shifted by halogen substitution. There is no indication of substantial steric crowding in these molecules.     

Interaction of cyanine dyes with nucleic acids. XVII. Towards an aggregation of cyanine dyes in solutions as a factor facilitating nucleic acid detection

Spectral properties of newly synthesized cyanine dyes, namely 1-[6-(4-[6-[2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-benzothiazol- 2-ylidenmethyl)-1-pyridiniumyl]hexanoyl]piperazino)-6- oxohexyl]-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-benzothiazol+ ++-2-ylidenmethyl)pyridinium (K-6) (bichromophoric dye) and 1-[5-di(3-[5-[2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-benzothiazol++ +-2-ylidenmethyl)-1-pyridiniumyl]pentylcarboxamido]pro pyl) carbamoylpentyl]-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-benzo thiazol-2-ylidenmethyl) pyridinium (K-T) (trichromophoric dye) in solutions in the presence of and without deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were studied within a wide concentration range. It has been established that absorption, as well as fluorescence of investigated dye solutions, without DNA are mainly determined by H-aggregates of dye molecules. On the contrary, the fluorescence of dye solutions in the presence of DNA gives an intrinsic dye molecular fluorescence. H-aggregates are broken because of binding dye molecules with DNA. It has been suggested that both K-T and K-6 molecules bind mainly with DNA via the interaction of two chromophores. As the ratio of the number of dye molecules to that of DNA base pairs increases with an increase in dye concentration, a formation of dye molecule H-aggregates on DNA molecules are observed. Such aggregates have a different structure than those formed in the solutions without DNA. On the grounds of the data obtained, it is concluded that it is possible to use a dye aggregation capable of obtaining higher values for fluorescence enhancement of the DNA stains.     

Pre-resonance Raman intensity studies of TCNQ and TCNQ−

Pre-resonance Raman spectra have been obtained for TCNQ and LiTCNQ in acetonitrile solution using an Ar⁺—Kr⁺ laser and a tunable rhodamine 6G dye laser. Using the theory of Albrecht and Hutley, we have calculated frequency factors for the intensity variations for several symmetric vibrational modes of each molecule. The observed spectra for TCNQ and LiTCNQ with violet, blue, and green excitation give evidence for B-type resonance enhancement due to vibronic mixing between at least two violet and ultraviolet transitions. The Raman spectra for LiTCNQ with yellow, orange, and red excitation show A-type enhancement due to a single electronic excitation in the near infrared.     

In silico modeling of functionalized graphene oxide-metal cluster conjugates as Raman probe: Raman activity of pyridine

Functionalized graphene – metal nano-conjugates are used as Raman probes, in recent years, for trace level identification of materials having specific Raman active modes. In the present paper, model Raman probes were modeled through conjugation of Au₄ and Ag₄ clusters with functionalized graphene systems. In silico models of functionalized (5,5)-graphene sheets were designed at the density functional theory (DFT) level through attachments of epoxy, -OH and –NH(CH₃)₂SH/-CONH(CH₃)₂SH groups. Model Raman probes were designed through attachment of Au₄ and Ag₄ clusters to the functional sites. Full geometry optimizations followed by vibrational analysis were carried out to ensure that the designed Raman probes have acceptable geometric characteristics to attach Raman-active molecules to the metal site. Pyridine was used as a test system to investigate the functionality of such model Raman probes through attachment with the metal clusters. It was observed that the chemical effects due to such attachments increase the Raman intensities (RI) of specific Raman modes of pyridine (in-plane symmetric bending (1040 cm^-1) and asymmetric stretch-bend (1634 cm^-1)), which are too weak in the isolated molecule. Furthermore, the suggested in silico system could provide an important model for basic understanding of RI-enhancements of molecules through increase of the size of the metal clusters, as the observed enhancement was found to be dependent on the polarizability of the metal clusters attached to the molecule of interest.     

Vibrational analysis of substituted nitrobenzenes. I—Vibrational spectra,normal coordinate analysis and transferability of force constants of some chlorinated nitrobenzenes

The Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectra of 2,3-dichloro-, 2,4-dichloro-, 2,5-dichloro-, 3,4-dichloro-, 3,5-dichloro-, 2,3,4-trichloro-, 2,4,5-trichloro-, 2,4,6-trichloro-, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro- and pentachloronitrobenzene were recorded. Raman polarization measurements were made wherever possible. A normal coordinate analysis was carried out for both the in-plane and out-of-plane vibrations of these molecules using a 59-parameter modified valence force field. The force constants were refined using an Overlay least-squares technique employing 352 frequencies of 10 molecules. The reliability of the force constants so obtained was tested by making a zero-order calculation for p-, m- and o-dinitrobenzenes, 1-fluoro-, 1-chloro- and 1-bromo-, 2,4-dinitrobenzenes, 2,4-difluoro- and 2,5-difluoro- and 2,5-dibromonitrobenzenes. Unambiguous vibrational assignments of all the fundamentals were made using the potential energy distribution and eigen vectors.     

Bioanalytical applications of SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy)

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful technique for analyzing biological samples as it can rapidly and nondestructively provide chemical and, in some cases, structural information about molecules in aqueous environments. In the Raman scattering process, both visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths of light can be used to induce polarization of Raman-active molecules, leading to inelastic light scattering that yields specific molecular vibrational information. The development of surface enhancement has enabled Raman scattering to be an effective tool for qualitative as well as quantitative measurements with high sensitivity and specificity. Recent advances have led to many novel applications of SERS for biological analyses, resulting in new insights for biochemistry and molecular biology, the detection of biological warfare agents, and medical diagnostics for cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. This trend article highlights many of these recent investigations and provides a brief outlook in order to assess possible future directions of SERS as a bioanalytical tool.     

DFT vibrational calculations of rhodamine 6G adsorbed on silver: analysis of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The tip-enhanced near-field Raman (TERS) bands of Rhodamine 6G (R6G), that we reported earlier [Chem. Phys. Lett. 2001, 335, 369.], are assigned on the basis of density-functional theory (DFT) calculations at the 6-311++G(d,p) level. The Raman and infrared intensities as well as frequencies of the vibrational modes are used for band assignments. These vibrational modes, in combination with characterization of resonant electronic transitions using time-dependent DFT calculations, predict spectral changes in resonant Raman and surface-enhanced resonant Raman scatterings of R6G. Moreover, the TERS spectra of R6G are analyzed in detail, where interactions between the tip and R6G molecules and their enhancement mechanisms are discussed. Finally, we propose a novel Raman spectroscopy technique capable of detecting molecular vibrations at sub-nanometer scale.