Twisting dynamics in the excited singlet state of Michler's ketone

Ultrafast relaxation dynamics of the excited singlet (S(1)) state of Michler's ketone (MK) has been investigated in different kinds of solvents using a time-resolved absorption spectroscopic technique with 120 fs time resolution. This technique reveals that conversion of the locally excited (LE) state to the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state because of twisting of the N,N-dimethylanilino groups with respect to the central carbonyl group is the major relaxation process responsible for the multi-exponential and probe-wavelength-dependent transient absorption dynamics of the S1 state of MK, but solvation dynamics does not have a significant role in this process. Theoretical optimization of the ground-state geometry of MK shows that the dimethylanilino groups attached to the central carbonyl group are at a dihedral angle of about 51 degrees with respect to each other because of steric interaction between the phenyl rings. Following photoexcitation of MK to its S1 state, two kinds of twisting motions have been resolved. Immediately after photoexcitation, an ultrafast "anti-twisting" motion of the dimethylanilino groups brings back the pretwisted molecule to a near-planar geometry with high mesomeric interaction and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character. This motion is observed in all kinds of solvents. Additionally, in solvents of large polarity, the dimethylamino groups undergo further twisting to about 90 degrees with respect to the phenyl ring, to which it is attached, leading to the conversion of the ICT state to the TICT state. Similar characteristics of the absorption spectra of the TICT state and the anion radical of MK establish the nearly pure electron transfer (ET) character of the TICT state. In aprotic solvents, because of the steep slope of the potential energy surface near the Franck-Condon (FC) or LE state region, the LE state is nearly nonemissive at room temperature and fluorescence emission is observed from only the ICT and TICT states. Alternatively, in protic solvents, because of an intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interaction between MK and the solvent, the LE region is more flat and stimulated emission from this state is also observed. However, a stronger hydrogen-bonding interaction between the TICT state and the solvent as well as the closeness between the two potential energy surfaces due to the TICT and the ground states cause the nonradiative coupling between these states to be very effective and, hence, cause the TICT state to be weakly emissive. The multi-exponentiality and strong wavelength-dependence of the kinetics of the relaxation process taking place in the S1 state of MK have arisen for several reasons, such as strong overlapping of transient absorption and stimulated emission spectra of the LE, ICT, and TICT states, which are formed consecutively following photoexcitation of the molecule, as well as the fact that different probe wavelengths monitor different regions of the potential energy surface representing the twisting motion of the excited molecule.     

A laser flash photolysis study of dibenzocycloheptadienylidene

Laser flash photolysis of diazodibenzocyclohaptadiene gives the title carbene which is readily observed and which reacts by hydrogen abstraction to give the corresponding radical.     

Photosensitized reactions of oxime ethers: a steady-state and laser flash photolysis study

The mechanistic aspects of the photosensitized reactions of a series of oxime ethers were studied by steady-state (product studies) and laser flash photolysis methods. Nanosecond laser flash photolysis studies have shown that chloranil-sensitized reactions of the oxime ethers result in the formation of the corresponding radical cations. The radical cation species react with nucleophiles such as MeOH by clean second-order kinetics with rate constants of (0.7-1.4) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). Only a small steric effect is observed in these reactions, which is taken as an indication that the reaction center is not the O-alkyl moiety, but rather somewhere else in the molecule. Product studies in a polar nonnucleophilic solvent (MeCN) revealed that in order for the oxime ether radical cation to react more readily, alpha-protons must be available on the alkyl group. The O-methyl (1), O-ethyl (2), and O-benzyl (3) acetophenone oximes all reacted readily to give acetophenone oxime as the major product (as well as an aldehyde derived from the O-alkyl group), whereas O-tert-butyl acetophenone oxime (4) did not. The product formation can be explained by a mechanism that involves electron transfer followed by proton transfer (alpha to the oxygen) and subsequent beta-cleavage. When using 3 in MeOH, a change in the product formation is observed, the most important difference being the presence of benzyl alcohol rather than benzaldehyde as the major product. On the basis of the data from LFP and steady-state experiments, it is suggested that the competing mechanism under these conditions involves electron transfer, followed by a nucleophilic attack on the nitrogen, a MeOH-assisted [1,3]-proton transfer, and subsequent loss of benzyl alcohol. This mechanism is supported by DFT (B3LYP/6-31G) and AM1 calculations.     

Effect of aggregation on bacteriochlorin a triplet-state formation: a laser flash photolysis study

Bacteriochlorin a (BCA) is a potential photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy of cancer. It has been shown previously that the photoefficiency of the dye is mainly dependent on singlet oxygen (1O2) generation. Nanosecond laser flash photolysis was used to produce and to investigate the excited triplet state of the dye in methanol, phosphate buffer and dimiristoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes. The transients were characterized in terms of their absorption spectra, decay kinetics, molar absorption coefficients and formation quantum yield of singlet-triplet intercrossing. The lifetime of the BCA triplet state was measured at room temperature. The triplet-state quantum yield is quite high in methanol (0.7) and in DMPC (0.4) but only 0.095 in phosphate buffer. In the last case, BCA is in a monomer-dimer equilibrium, and the low value of the quantum yield observed was ascribed to the fact the triplet state is only formed by the monomers.     

Time-resolved CIDNP in laser flash photolysis of di-tert-butyl ketone. Multiplet versus net effects

Based on the principles of Fourier spectroscopy of non-equilibrium systems a method for the separate determination of net and multiplet type CIDNP effects in chemical reactions is developed. Further, a theoretical model for the analysis of time evolution of high-field CIDNP following pulse initiated reactions is extended to cover multiplet effects. Experimental data on multiplet and net CIDNP effects created by laser photolysis of di-tert-butyl ketone are presented and verify the theoretical conclusions. The observed magnitudes of net and multiplet effects support the Pedersen-Freed high-field radical pair theory.     

Photochemistry of 5-allyloxy-tetrazoles: steady-state and laser flash photolysis study

The photochemistry of three 5-allyloxy-tetrazoles, in methanol, acetonitrile and cyclohexane was studied by product analysis and laser flash photolysis. The exclusive primary photochemical process identified was molecular nitrogen elimination, with formation of 1,3-oxazines. These compounds were isolated in reasonable yields by column chromatography on silica gel and were fully characterized. DFT(B3LYP)/6-31G(d,p) calculations predict that these 1,3-oxazines can adopt two tautomeric forms (i) with the NH group acting as a bridge connecting the oxazine and phenyl rings and (ii) with the -N=bridge and the proton shifted to the oxazine ring. Both tautomeric forms are relevant in the photolysis of oxazines in solution. Secondary reactions were observed, leading to the production of phenyl vinyl-hydrazines, enamines, aniline and phenyl-isocyanate. Transient absorption, detected by laser flash photolysis, is attributed to the formation of triplet 1,3-biradicals generated from the excited 5-allyloxy-tetrazoles. The 1,3-biradicals are converted to 1,6-biradicals by proton transfer, which, after intersystem crossing, decay to generate the products. Solvent effects on the photoproduct distribution and rate of decomposition are negligible.     

Photosensitized xanthone-based oxidation of guanine and its repair: a laser flash photolysis study

The photosensitized oxidation of guanine (G) by the triplet state of xanthone (XT) and the repair for photo-damaged G(-H)(·) by ferulic acid (FCA) were investigated using the laser flash photolysis technique. The rate constants of the reaction of triplet state of XT with G and with FCA were determined as 4.5×10(9) and 8.0×10(9) L mol(-1) s(-1), respectively. Laser exposure was performed on the N(2)-saturated acetonitrile/water (v/v, 1:1) solution containing G, XT and FCA. The transient absorption spectra indicated that the triplet state of XT first reacted with G predominantly to form the oxidized radical G(-H)(·). The radical G(-H)(·) was rapidly repaired by FCA, and the rate constant for the repair reaction was determined as 1.1×10(9) L mol(-1) s(-1). These results demonstrated that non-enzymatic repair is a feasible method for repairing photosensitized DNA bases oxidation.     

On the electrophilicity of hydroxyl radical: a laser flash photolysis and computational study

The rate coefficients for reactions of hydroxyl radical with aromatic hydrocarbons were measured in acetonitrile using a novel laser flash photolysis method. Comparison of kinetic data obtained in acetonitrile with those obtained in aqueous solution demonstrates an unexpected solvent effect on the reactivity of hydroxyl radical. In particular, reactions of hydroxyl radical with benzene were faster in water than in acetonitrile, and by a significant factor of 65. Computational studies, at the B3LYP and CBS-QB3 levels, have confirmed the rate enhancement of hydroxyl radical addition to benzene via calculation of the transition states in the presence of explicit solvent molecules as well as a continuum dielectric field. The origin of the rate enhancement lies entirely in the structures of the transition states and not in the pre-reactive complexes. The calculations reveal that the hydroxyl radical moiety becomes more anionic in the transition state and, therefore, looks more like hydroxide anion. In the transition states, solvation of the incipient hydroxide anion is more effective with water than with acetonitrile and provides the strong energetic advantage for a polar solvent capable of hydrogen bonding. At the same time, the aromatic unit looks more like the radical cation in the transition state. The commonly held view that hydroxyl radical is electrophilic in its reactions with DNA bases is, therefore, strongly dependent on the ability of the organic substrate to stabilize the resulting radical cation.     

Reactivity of aromatic amines with triplet 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone: a laser flash photolysis study

The property of the lowest excited triplet states of 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (DHAQ) was investigated by using time-resolved laser flash photolysis at 355nm in organic solvents, i.e. acetonitrile and cyclohexane. The transient absorption spectra of the excited triplet DHAQ were obtained in acetonitrile, which have an absorption maximum at 480nm and two broad absorption bands around 350 and 650nm. 3DHAQ(*) is efficiently quenched by triphenylamine (TPA) via photoinduced electron transfer pathway, which was testified by the finding of TPA radical cation. In addition, aniline derivatives such as N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA), 3,5,N,N-tetramethylaniline (TMA), 4-dimethylaminobenzoic acid (DMABA) and dimethyl-p-toluidine (DMT) could also quench 3DHAQ(*) rapidly. Evidence for electron transfer interaction with anilines in acetonitrile was obtained from transient spectral characterization of formed radicals. Experimental k(q) values approach the diffusion-controlled rate limit, and decrease significantly from DMT (1.85x10(10)M-1s-1) to DMABA (1.95x10(9)M-1s-1). These k(q) values depend on the charge density on the "N" atom of anilines, which could be quantified by Hammett sigma constant.     

Deprotonation and dimerization of maleimide in the triplet state: a laser flash photolysis study with optical and conductometric detection

The photochemistry of maleimide in aqueous solution is governed by the coexistence of up to three different triplet states, the keto triplet (lambda(max)=250, 330 nm, lambda(min)=290 nm, pK(a)=4.4+/-0.1, tau=5 micros), the deprotonated or enolate triplet (lambda(max)=360, 260 nm, lambda(min)=320 nm, shoulder at 370-380 nm) and a dimer triplet. This biradical is formed by the addition of the keto triplet to the double bond of a ground state maleimide in competition with electron transfer, (k( (3)MI+MI)=2.6 x 10(9) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)). Its spectrum is identical to that of the maleimide H-adduct radical (lambda(max)=370-380 (broad), 255 nm (narrow), lambda(min)=290 nm) and its lifetime is 110 ns. While protolysis is confined to maleimide and aqueous solutions, the dimer triplet is also found in acetonitrile. Dimer triplet formation is also observed with N-ethylmaleimide. Time-resolved conductometry and buffer experiments were used to characterise excited state protolysis. Multi-wavelength "global analysis" of the time profiles allowed the separation of the transient spectra and study of the kinetics of the monomer and dimer triplets. The cyclobutane dimer yield (determined by GC) is independent of maleimide concentration. This indicates that the dimer triplet does not contribute significantly to the initiation of free-radical polymerisation. Time-dependent Hartree-Fock calculations agree with the experimental data and further confirm the proposed mechanisms.     

Photochemistry of tetrasulfur tetranitride: laser flash photolysis and quantum chemical study

The photochemistry of tetrasulfur tetranitride (1) was studied in hexane solution by the laser flash photolysis technique (LFP). The experimental findings were interpreted using the results of previous matrix isolation studies (Pritchina, E.A.; Gritsan, N.P.; Bally, T.; Zibarev, A.V. Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 4075) and high-level quantum chemical calculations. LFP produces two primary intermediates, one of which is the boat-shaped 8-membered cyclic compound (2) and the other is the 6-membered S(3)N(3) cyclic compound carrying an exocyclic (S)-N═S group (3). The primary products 2 and 3 absorb a second photon and undergo transformation to the 6-membered S(3)N(3) cycle carrying an exocyclic (N)-S≡N group (4), which is very unstable and converts back to intermediate 3. The quantum yield of the primary product formation is close to unity even though the quantum yield of photodegradation of 1 is low (~0.01). Thus, 1 is a photochromic compound undergoing in solution the thermally reversible photochemical isomerization. The mechanism of the photochromic process was established, and the rate constants of the elementary reactions were measured.     

A laser flash photolysis study of curcumin in dioxane-water mixtures.

Curcumin [bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione] was studied by means of UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy and nanosecond laser flash photolysis in 1,4-dioxane-water mixtures in a series of dioxane-water volume ratios. The transient characteristics were found to be dependent on the amount of water. In pure dioxane the triplet state of the molecule in its enolic form was detected (lambda(max) = 720 nm, tau = 3.2 micros), whereas upon water addition, the diketo form was found to prevail, because of the perturbation of intramolecular H-bonded structure. This led to hydrogen abstraction from dioxane by curcumin triplet state and the formation of the corresponding ketyl radical (lambda(max) = 490 nm, tau approximately 10 micros). Laser flash photolysis measurements, carried out in solvents of different polarity and proticity (benzene, cyclohexane and various alcohols), allowed the transient assignments to be confirmed, supporting our interpretation.     

Radical dynamics of puerarin as revealed by laser flash photolysis and spin density analysis

Puerarin, a C-glycoside of daidzein, forms upon direct photoexcitation in acetonitrile an excited-state with a lifetime of 4.2 micros assigned by oxygen quenching and sensitized formation of triplet zeaxanthin as a triplet and phenoxyl radicals of ms lifetime insensitive to oxygen and with spin density delocalized over the ACB isoflavonoid ring system, [ACB]*, as shown by laser flash photolysis and theoretical spin density calculations. Photoexcitation of A-ring 7-phenolate puerarin yields a [AC]* radical, which converts into the [ACB]* radical with a rate constant of 3.6 x 10(5) s(-1) in 5% methanolic acetonitrile in a process triggered by B-ring deprotonation (4'-phenol). For the 7-phenolate with the 4'-phenol derivatized to yield a propyl anisole, no rearrangement of the initially formed [AC]* radical was observed. With the A-ring phenol derivatized, the 7-propyl-4'-phenolate forms a radical with spin density delocalized over the CB ring system, [CB]*, together with a minor fraction of [ACB]* due to propyl radical dissociations confirmed by BDE-calculations. Dianionic puerarin forms initially the [ACB]* radical, which is converted into the [CB]* radical in a slower process (1.6 x 10(4) s(-1)) assigned to 7-methylation. The radical dynamics is discussed in relation to puerarin/carotenoid antioxidant synergism at water/lipid interphases.     

Photolytic degradation of poly(olefin sulphones): A laser flash photolysis study

Poly(styrene sulphone) (PSS) and poly(butene-1 sulphone) (PBS) were irradiated in dilute solutions (dioxane and other solvents) with single 15-ns flashes of 265-nm light. Changes in the light scattering intensity (LSI) and the optical density (OD) after the flash were recorded with aerated solutions. It turned out that, with both polymers, the rate of LSI decrease (due to main-chain scission) is correlated to the rate of fragment diffusion. Optical density measurements with PSS revealed the existence of a short-lived species (λ_max = 500 nm), probably a singlet excimer (τ < 25 ns) which is considered a precursor in the main-chain scission process. The existence of macroradicals, even after fragment separation, was inferred from an absorption band below 400 nm decaying with a half-life of 40 ms. In the absence of oxygen, main-chain scission and cross-linking occur simultaneously. Therefore, the presence of oxygen, which acts as a fixing agent for main-chain breaks, is prerequisite for using the photodegradation of poly(olefin sulphones) as a probe for studying the dynamics of polymers in solution.     

Carbonate radical induced polymerisation of pyrrole: A steady state and flash photolysis study

A study was undertaken to determine experimentally the uptake of pollutants into of the different parts of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) found in “José Antonio Alzate” dam in the State of México, México. There is evidence for efficient and significant root accumulation of Ti, Mn, Fe, and Ba; but in the upper parts concentrations was consistently determined by the degree of watering. However, a significant input could by derived from a common generic source, such as the atmospheric deposition. The experimental study would, therefore, indicate that water hyacinth species can be highly effective in providing a control and treatment buffer for toxic discharges to the dam.     

Diffuse reflectance laser flash photolysis of adsorbed molecules

Recent progress which allows laser flash photolysis investigation of opaque materials by using diffuse reflectance from analysing sources for the detection of laser induced transient species is described. Experimental details of nanosecond and picosecond diffuse reflectance laser photolysis systems are presented and methods of analysis of data are discussed. The potential of the technique for studying elementary reactions at interfaces is demonstrated with particular reference to bimolecular reactions of (a) the triplet state of acridine adsorbed on various porous silica surfaces and (b) ion-electron recombination following multi-photon ionisation of diphenyl polyenes adsorbed on γ-alumina. The mechanisms of formation and decay of these transient adsorbed species are discussed.     

A laser flash photolysis study of fenofibric acid in aqueous buffered media: unexpected triplet state inversion in a derivative of 4-alkoxybenzophenone

Laser excitation of aqueous solutions of fenofibric acid (FA) at pH 7.4 show the formation of two reaction intermediates, the triplet state and the hydrated electron. The former is longer lived in water than in acetonitrile; its anionic form decays irreversibly by decarboxylation to give a carbanion that protonates before or after rearrangement. Several spectroscopic and quenching studies suggest that in aqueous media the triplet state of FA has a pi,pi* character, in comparison with an n,pi* character in organic media. Further, the known chemistry of the triplet, including decarboxylation and hydrogen abstraction, occurs predominantly from the n,pi* state, and as a consequence, activation energies are higher when the lowest triplet has a pi,pi* character. Photoionization is more important in aqueous than in organic media and involves a biphotonic process. Hydrated electrons are trapped by FA, leading to the corresponding ketyl radical after protonation.