Imidazole-based excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT) materials: observation of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TDF)

We report the first observation of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TDF) from an excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT) molecule, a hydroxyl-substituted tetraphenyl imidazole derivative (HPI-Ac), in degassed solutions as well as in low-temperature organic matrixes. In the absence of oxygen, the blue emission of an identical spectral feature was observed in the nanosecond ( approximately 4.4 ns) and microsecond ( approximately 25 micros) time domains, and the fluorescence intensity increased with temperature. From the temperature dependence of the time-resolved spectra of HPI-Ac, the energy gap between the first-excited singlet state and the lowest triplet state was determined to be 7.6 +/- 0.3 kJ/mol (630 +/- 25 cm-1), and the limiting rate constant of intrinsic reverse intersystem crossing was estimated to be 1.3 (+/-0.5) x 107 s-1.     

Amplified spontaneous emission,optical waveguide and polarized emission based on 2,5-diaminoterephthalates

A series of 2,5-diaminoterephthalates with a simple structure were synthesized through one-step reaction, and their bar-shaped single crystals with a large size and a smooth surface have been obtained via the solvent-evaporation method. These crystals exhibit bright emission with fluorescence quantum yields higher than 0.2. They display the waveguide property, and low optical loss coefficients for waveguide have been determined for the crystal of one compound. In addition, the crystal can cause linear polarization of the light emitted from it, with a high polarization contrast of 0.70. Most importantly, these crystals can realize amplified spontaneous emission(ASE), including the red ASE, with appreciable energy thresholds of 72–198 k W/cm~2 and high gain coefficients, which suggests the potential of these crystals for the application in organic solid-state lasers.     

A CASSCF/CASPT2 insight into excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer of four imidazole derivatives

Excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of four imidazole derivatives, 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)imidazole (HPI), 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (HPBI), 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole (HPPI) and 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole (HPPPI), were studied by the sophisticated CASSCF/CASPT2 methodology. The state‐averaged SA‐CASSCF method was used to optimize their geometry structures of S₀ and S₁ electronic states, and the CASPT2 calculations were used for the calibration of all the single‐point energies, including the absorption and emission spectra. A reasonable agreement is found between the theoretical predictions and the available experimental spectral data. The forward ESIPT barriers of four target compounds gradually decrease with the increase of molecular size. On the basis of the present calculations, it is a plausible speculation that the larger the size, the faster is the ESIPT rate, and eventually, HPPPI molecule can undergo a completely barrierless ESIPT to the more stable S₁ keto form. Additionally, taking HPI as a representative example, the radiationless decays connecting the S₀ and S₁/S₀ conical intersection structures were also studied by constructing a linearly interpolated internal coordinate (LIIC) reaction path. The qualitative analysis shows that the LIIC barrier of HPI in the keto form is remarkably lower than that of its enol‐form, indicating that the former has a big advantage over the latter in the nonradiative process. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Multicolor Amplified Spontaneous Emissions Based on Organic Polymorphs That Undergo Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton Transfer

Two polymorphs emitting near‐infrared ( 1 R form: α phase, λ_em=702 nm, Φ_f=0.41) and orange‐red fluorescence ( 1 O form: β phase, λ_em=618 nm, Φ_f=0.05) were synthesized by finely controlling the crystallization conditions of compound 1 , a structurally simple excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)‐active molecule. Multicolor amplified spontaneous emissions (ASEs) were realized, for the first time, based on these polymorphs. Notably, the 1 O crystal underwent heating‐induced phase transformation from the β phase to the α form in a single‐crystal to single‐crystal (SCSC) manner accompanied with an unprecedented ASE changing. The ASE behavior of polymorphs 1 R , 1 O as well as the ASE changing during SCSC was investigated. The feasibility of multicolor lasing based on the present organic polymorphs was confirmed, which may provide a new development strategy for organic laser science and technology.     

Rotamerisation and intramolecular proton transfer of 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazole, 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)imidazole and 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)thiazole: a theoretical study

Semi-empirical (AM1-SCI) calculations have been performed on 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazole (HPO), 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)imidazole (HPI) and 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)thiazole (HPT) to rationalise the photophysical behaviour of the compounds exhibiting intramolecular rotation as well as excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). The calculations reveal that there is a gradual variation in the properties from HPO to HPT through HPI so far as the existence of the rotational isomers in the ground state is concerned. While HPO gives rise to two stable rotamers (I and II) in all the common solvents, there is only one stable species for HPT in the S₀ state. For HPI, rotamer II is possible only in the isolated state and/or in solvents of low polarity, but in high polar solvents it gives rise to the normal form (I) only. For all the molecules in the series, however, intramolecular proton transfer (IPT) takes place in the lowest excited singlet (S₁) and the triplet (T₁) states. Combination of the rotamerism and ESIPT gives rise to multiple fluorescence bands for the fluorophores. Theoretical assignments have been made for the excitation, fluorescence and phosphorescence bands. Simulated potential energy curves (PEC) in different electronic states reveal that the IPT process is feasible in either of the S₁ and T₁ states but not in the ground state. The ESIPT reaction has been found to be favoured both thermodynamically and kinetically in these electronic states compared to the ground state. However, quantum mechanical tunnelling has been proposed for the prototropic reaction to proceed in the excited states.     

溶剂效应和取代基效应对2-(2-氨基苯基)苯并噻唑光谱性质及激发态分子内质子转移的影响

合成了多种2-(2-氨基苯基)苯并噻唑(APBT)氨基氢原子被供电子及吸电子基团取代的衍生物, 并用紫外光谱﹑荧光光谱等方法和密度泛函理论(DFT)计算研究了溶剂效应和取代基效应对衍生物的光谱性质及激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)的影响规律. 结果表明, 相比于非极性溶剂环己烷, 随溶剂极性的增加及APBT-溶剂分子间氢键的形成, APBT的紫外-可见最大吸收峰和荧光最大发射峰均发生了一定程度的红移, 并对APBT的ESIPT产生了影响. 在APBT分子的氨基氮原子上引入不同的吸电子或斥电子取代基, 对氮原子的电荷性质有较大的影响. 在环己烷溶剂中, 甲基取代后的APBT仅有单重荧光发射峰, 体系未发生ESIPT过程; 而COCH₂Cl等吸电子基团能促进APBT的ESIPT, 其荧光发射光谱出现了明显的双重峰, 表明体系发生了激发态分子内质子转移反应. 量子化学的理论计算较好地验证了光谱实验结果.     

激发态分子内质子转移荧光探针的研究进展

荧光探针凭借其选择性好、灵敏度高、响应时间快、易于操作和检测限低等优点得到了广泛的关注。 激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)化合物具有特殊的激发态光物理过程,其显著的光物理性质是有较高的荧光量子产率及大的斯托克斯位移。 对于荧光分子而言,较大的斯托克斯位移可以减少自吸收和由内滤效应产生的干扰,增强分子的耐光性,有利于荧光的发射。 本文对ESIPT荧光探针检测离子(包括金属阳离子和阴离子)、中性小分子和生物大分子的研究进展进行阐述,并对ESIPT荧光分子的存在问题和应用前景进行评述。     

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Labeled with an Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Dye

Excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) is a particularly well known reaction that has been very little studied in magnetic environments. In this work, we report on the photophysical behavior of a known ESIPT dye of the benzothiazole class, when in solution with uncoated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and when grafted to silica‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles. Uncoated iron oxide nanoparticles promoted the fluorescence quenching of the ESIPT dye, resulting from collisions during the lifetime of the excited state. The assembly of iron oxide nanoparticles with a shell of silica provided recovery of the ESIPT emission, due to the isolation promoted by the silica shell. The silica network gives protection against the fluorescence quenching of the dye, allowing the nanoparticles to act as a bimodal (optical and magnetic) imaging contrast agent with a large Stokes shift.     

Synthesis of dipicolylamino substituted quinazoline as chemosensor for cobalt(II) recognition based on excited-state intramolecular proton transfer

A new fluorescent chemosensor for sensing Co(II) using di(2-picolyl)amino (DPA) as a recognition group and quinazoline as a reporting group has been synthesized and characterized. The quinazoline derivative contains an intramolecular hydrogen bond, which would undergo excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) at illumination. The fluorescence quenching is attributed to cation-induced inhibition of ESIPT, which constitutes the basis for the determination of Co(II) with the prepared chemosensor. The fluorophore forms 1:1 cobalt(II) complex with the logarithm of apparent dissociation constant log K(a)=6.8. The analytical performance characteristics of the proposed Co(II)-sensitive sensor were investigated. The chemosensor exhibits a linear response toward Co(II) in the concentration range 3.2 x 10(-8) to 1.4 x 10(-6) M, with a working pH range from 7.0 to 9.5 and high selectivity.     

Femtosecond dynamics on 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-diethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole: solvent polarity in the excited-state proton transfer.

Detailed insights into the excited-state enol(N*)-keto(T*) intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction in 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-diethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole (HABT) have been investigated via steady-state and femtosecond fluorescence upconversion approaches. In cyclohexane, in contrast to the ultrafast rate of ESIPT for the parent 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (>2.9+/-0.3 x 10(13) s(-1)), HABT undergoes a relatively slow rate (approximately 5.4+/-0.5 x 10(11) s(-1)) of ESIPT. In polar aprotic solvents competitive rate of proton transfer and rate of solvent relaxation were resolved in the early dynamics. After reaching the solvation equilibrium in the normal excited state (N(eq)*), ESIPT takes place with an appreciable barrier. The results also show N(eq)*(enol)<-->T(eq)*(keto) equilibrium, which shifts toward N(eq)* as the solvent polarity increases. Temperature-dependent relaxation dynamics further resolved a solvent-induced barrier of 2.12 kcal mol(-1) for the forward reaction in CH(2)Cl(2). The observed spectroscopy and dynamics are rationalized by a significant difference in dipole moment between N(eq)* and T(eq)*, while the dipolar vector for the enol form in the ground state (N) is in between that of N(eq)* and T(eq)*. Upon N-->N* Franck-Condon excitation, ESIPT is energetically favorable, and its rate is competitive with the solvation relaxation process. Upon reaching equilibrium configurations N(eq)* and T(eq)*, forward and/or backward ESIPT takes place with an appreciable solvent polarity induced barrier due to differences in polarization equilibrium between N(eq)* and T(eq)*.     

Photo-induced relaxation and proton transfer in some hydroxy naphthoic acids in polymers

Photophysical and photochemical properties of 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid [3,2-HNA] and 1-hydroxy-2naphthoic acid [1,2-HNA] in different aprotic, protic, and ion exchange (Nafion) polymers have been described in this article. In both molecules, intramolecular hydrogen bond (IMHB) exists between OH and COOH functional groups. Both 3,2-HNA and 1,2-HNA form different emitting species in different polymeric media. Fluorescence characteristic of 3,2-HNA is found to depend on its concentration, nature of the microenvironment, and wavelength of excitation, while 1,2-HNA is less susceptible to these changes. 3,2-HNA exhibits dual fluorescence band (normal and large Stokes shifted) in aprotic and only a single large Stokes shifted fluorescence in protic polymers, while 1,2-HNA shows a single fluorescence band along with weak phosphorescence emission in these polymers. Both excited-state inter and intramolecular proton transfer (ESPT) take place in 3,2-HNA in aprotic and protic polymers, resulting in large Stokes shifted emission band. A competition between ESIPT and excimer formation is observed by the appearance of rise time on increasing the concentration of 3,2-HNA in protic polymer. In Nafion film, 3,2-HNA is present as a cationic as well as neutral species. The presence of extra protons in Nafion film facilitates excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in the neutral species of 3,2-HNA and gives large Stokes shifted emission (10 500 cm(-1)). No such effect is observed in 1,2-HNA doped in Nafion film. It is observed that, depending on the position of the IMHB ring, the electronic spectra get modified and the strength of IMHB is affected by the micro-environment of the polymer which alters the photophysics of these molecules.     

Ratiometric fluorescence anion sensor based on inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)

A colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence anion sensor 1 was designed and synthesized according to site-signalling subunit approach. The sensor exhibited visible color changes from yellow to purple upon addition of the strong basic anions such as acetate. The ratiometric fluorescence changes with significant blue shift about 140 nm were observed during the fluorescence titrations. Such ratiometric fluorescence changes could be due to inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). The ¹H NMR titrations indicated that the sensor 1 showed deprotonation in presence of large amounts of acetate ion. Therefore, ESIPT was inhibited owing to presence of deprotonation of phenol unit.     

Janus-Type ESIPT Chromophores with Distinctive Intramolecular Hydrogen-bonding Selectivity

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)-based solid luminescent materials with multiple hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs) remain unexplored. Herein, we introduced a family of Janus-type ESIPT chromophores featuring distinctive hydrogen bond (H-bond) selectivity between competitive HBAs in a single molecule. Our investigations showed that the central hydroxyl group preferentially forms intramolecular H-bonds with imines in imine-modified 2-hydroxyphenyl benzothiazole (HBT) chromophores but tethers the benzothiazole moiety in hydrazone-modified HBT chromophores. Imine-derived HBTs generally exhibit higher fluorescence efficiency, while hydrazone-derived HBTs show a reduced overlap between the absorption and fluorescence bands. Quantum chemical calculations unveiled the molecular origins of the biased intramolecular H-bonds and their impact on the ESIPT process. This Janus-type ESIPT chromophore skeleton provides new opportunities for the design of solid luminescent materials.     

Strategic emission color tuning of highly fluorescent imidazole-based excited-state intramolecular proton transfer molecules

Highly fluorescent molecules harnessing the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process are promising for a new generation of displays and light sources because they can offer very unique and novel optoelectronic properties which are different from those of conventional fluorescent dyes. To realize innovative ESIPT devices comprising full emission colors over the whole visible region, a molecular design strategy for predictable emission color tuning should be established. Here, we have developed a general strategy for a wide-range spectral tuning of imidazole-based ESIPT materials based on three different strategies--introduction of a nodal plane model, extension of effective conjugation length, and modification of heterocyclic rings. A series of nine ESIPT molecules were designed, synthesized and comprehensively investigated for their characteristic emission properties. All these molecules commonly showed no clear and transparent visible range absorption with no absorption color, but showed different colors of intense photoluminescence over broad visible regions from 450 nm (HPI) to 630 nm (HPNO) depending on their molecular structure. With the aid of density functional theory and time-dependent DFT calculations using M06, wB97XD, and B3LYP parameters with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set, these tuned emission bands of nine emitters were assigned from the stabilized excited state conformations that were derived from modified molecular structures.     

Monitoring intracellular pH fluctuation with an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer-based ratiometric fluorescent sensor

Intracellular pH is a key parameter related to various biological and pathological processes. In this study, a ratiometric pH fluorescent sensor ABTT was developed harnessing the amino-type excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. Relying on whether the ESIPT proceeds normally or not, ABTT exhibited the yellow fluorescence in acidic media, or cyan fluorescence in basic condition. According to the variation, ABTT behaved as a promising sensor which possessed fast and reversible response to pH change without interference from the biological substances, and exported a steady ratiometric signal (I₄₇₈/I₅₄₆). Moreover, due to the ESIPT effect, large Stokes shift and high quantum yield were also exhibited in ABTT. Furthermore, ABTT was applied for monitoring the pH changes in living cells and visualizing the pH fluctuations under oxidative stress successfully. These results elucidated great potential of ABTT in understanding pH-dependent physiological and pathological processes.     

激发态分子内质子转移化合物的性能及作为荧光化学传感器的应用研究

本文简述了激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)化合物的理论研究进展,并对其作为荧光化学传感器的应用作了简要的综述,列举了一些代表性的工作,以期对该类化合物的后续研究工作有所帮助.     

Inter- and intramolecular excited state proton transfer in 2-hydroxy-9H-carzole-1-carboxylic acid

Absorption, fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectroscopy and single photon counting time dependence spectrofluorimetry have been used to study the inter- and intramolecular excited state proton transfer (ESIPT) reactions in 2-hydroxy-9H-carbazole-1-carboxylic acid (2-HCA). Except in cyclohexane and water (pH 5) dual fluorescence is observed in rest of the solvents used. Normal Stokes shifted band seems to originate from 2-HCA-1-c and tautomer emission band from the tautomer formed by ESIPT in 2-HCA-1-c followed by structural reorganization. Both these emission band systems originate from the same ground state species. AM1 and CNDO/S-CI calculations have been carried out to establish the identity of the species. Different prototropic equilibria have been determined and discussed.     

Size-dependent Amplified Spontaneous Emission from Organic Crystal Slabs

The authors investigated size-dependent amplified spontaneous emission(ASE) from organic crystals. Specifically, N-(4-{4-[4-(diphenylamino)styryl]styryl}phenyl)-N-phenylbenzene amine(Ph-TPA2) organic crystals were used in the experiment. The ASE threshold was decreased with the decrease of the width of the crystal at the same gain length, which reflects that total internal reflection plays an important role on the ASE properties in these slab organic crystals. The ASE properties pumped by one- and two-photon were also comparatively studied. We found that the thresholds of ASE in two-photon pumping condition are less size-dependent than those in single- photon condition because of the nonlinear light generation processes in two-photon absorption processes.     

Acid‐Induced Shift of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding Responsible for Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton Transfer

The significant progress recently achieved in designing smart acid‐responsive materials based on intramolecular charge transfer inspired us to utilize excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) for developing a turn‐on acid‐responsive fluorescent system with an exceedingly large Stokes shift. Two ESIPT‐active fluorophores, 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridine (HPP) and 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (HBT), were fused into a novel dye (HBT‐HPP) fluorescent only in the protonated state. Moreover, we also synthesized three structurally relevant control compounds to compare their steady‐state fluorescence spectra and optimized geometric structures in neutral and acidic media. The results suggest that the fluorescence turn‐on was caused by the acid‐induced shift of the ESIPT‐responsible intramolecular hydrogen bond from the HPP to HBT moiety. This work presents a systematic comparison of the emission efficiencies and basicity of HBT and HPP for the first time, thereby utilizing their differences to construct an acid‐responsive smart organic fluorescent material. As a practical application, red fluorescent letters can be written using the acid as an ink on polymer film.     

The effects of thermal quenching on the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer reaction in 3-hydroxyflavones

The 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF) and its derivatives are the classical objects in the studies of the mechanisms of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction due to very frequent observation of two separate bands in fluorescence emission belonging to reactant and reaction product. Those of them possessing electron-donor groups in 4' position find many applications as fluorescence sensors and probes because of their much higher sensitivity of their two-band ratiometric response to interactions with the environment. We report on the strong differences between 3HF and such derivatives in the behavior of their fluorescence spectra as a function of temperature. The thermal quenching changes the intensity ratio of two bands strongly for 3HF but does not change it for its studied derivatives. These results are interpreted in terms of different kinetic mechanisms of ESIPT reaction. In 3HF the equilibrium between the two excited-state species is not established prior to emission, so that the ESIPT reaction is under kinetic control, but in these derivatives the equilibrium is established faster than the emission and the reaction is under thermodynamic control. We suggest that the thermal perturbation of fluorescence spectra can be an extremely simple and convenient alternative to time-resolved spectroscopy for determining if slow irreversible or fast reversible ESIPT reaction gives rise to two bands of fluorescence spectra of similar magnitude. This is essential for the development of new wavelength-ratiometric fluorescence sensors and probes.