Reaching Optimal Light‐Induced Intramolecular Spin Alignment within Photomagnetic Molecular Device Prototypes

Ground‐state (GS) and excited‐state (ES) properties of novel photomagnetic molecular devices (PMMDs) are investigated by means of density functional theory. These organic PMMDs undergo a ferromagnetic alignment of their intramolecular spins in the lowest ES. They are comprised of: 1) an anthracene unit (An) as both the photosensitizer (P) and a transient spin carrier (SC) in the triplet ES (³An*); 2) imino‐nitroxyl (IN) or oxoverdazyl (OV) stable radical(s) as the dangling SC(s); and 3) bridge(s) (B) connecting peripheral SC(s) to the An core at positions 9 and 10. Improving the efficiency of the PMMDs involves strengthening the ES intramolecular exchange coupling (J_ES) between transient and persistent SCs, hence the choice of 2‐pyrimidinyl (pm) as B elements to replace the original p‐phenylene (ph). Dissymmetry of the pm connectors leads to [SC‐B‐P‐B‐SC] regio‐isomers int. and ext., depending on whether the pyrimidinic nitrogen atoms point towards the An core or the peripheral SCs, respectively. For the int. regio‐isomers we show that the photoinduced spin alignment is significantly improved because the J_ES/k_B value is increased by a factor of more than two compared with the ph‐based analogue (J_ES/k_B>+400 K). Most importantly, we show that the optimal J_ES/k_B value (≈+600 K) could be reached in the event of an unexpected saddle‐shaped structural distortion of the lowest ES. Accounting for this intriguing behavior requires dissection of the combined effects of 1) borderline intramolecular steric hindrance about key An–pm linkages, which translates into the flatness of the potential energy surface; 2) spin density disruption due to the presence of radicals; and 3) possibly intervening photochemistry, with An acting as a light‐triggered electron donor while pm, IN, and OV behave as electron acceptors. Finally, potentialities attached to the [(SC)‐pm‐An‐pm]_int pattern are disclosed.     

pi-topology and spin alignment utilizing the excited molecular field: observation of the excited high-spin quartet (S = 3/2) and quintet (S = 2) states on purely organic pi-conjugated spin systems.

As a model system for the photoinduced/photoswitched spin alignment in a purely organic pi-conjugated spin system, 9-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1-yloxyimidazolin-2-yl)phenyl]anthracene (1a), 9-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1-yloxyimidazolin-2-yl)phenyl]anthracene (1b), 9,10-bis[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1-yloxyimidazolin-2-yl)phenyl]anthracene (2a), and 9,10-bis[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1-yloxyimidazolin-2-yl)phenyl]anthracene (2b) were designed and synthesized. In these spin systems, 9-phenylanthracene and 9,10-diphenylanthracene were chosen as photo spin couplers and iminonitroxide was chosen as a dangling stable radical. Time-resolved electron spin resonance (TRESR) spectra of the first excited states with resolved fine-structure splittings were observed for 1a and 2a in an EPA or a 2-MTHF rigid glass matrix. Using the spectral simulation based on the eigenfield method, the observed TRESR spectra for 1a and 2a were unambiguously assigned as an excited quartet (S = 3/2) spin state (Q) and an excited quintet (S = 2) spin state (Qu), respectively. The g value and fine-structure splitting for the quartet state of 1a were determined to be g(Q) = 2.0043, D(Q) = 0.0235 cm(-1), and E(Q) = 0.0 cm(-1). The relative populations (polarization) of each M(S)() sublevel in Q were determined to be P(+1/2') = P(-1/2') = 0.5 and P(+3/2') = P(-3/2') = 0.0 with an increasing order of energy in zero magnetic field. The spin Hamiltonian parameters for Qu are g = 2.0043, D = 0.0130 cm(-1), and E = 0.0 cm(-1), and the relative populations in Qu were determined to be P(0') = 0.30, P(-1') = P(+1') = 0.35 and P(-2') = P(+2') = 0.0. These are the first observations of a photoexcited quartet and a quintet high-spin state in pi-conjugated triplet-radical pair systems. In contrast high-spin excited states were not observed for 1b and 2b, the pi-topological isomers of 1a and 2a, showing the role of pi-topology in the spin alignment of the excited states. Since a weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction was observed in the ground state of 2a, the clear detection of the excited quintet high-spin state shows that the effective exchange coupling between the two dangling radicals through the diphenylanthracene spin coupler has been changed from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic upon photoexcitation. Thus, a photoinduced spin alignment utilizing the excited triplet molecular field was realized for the first time in the purely organic pi-conjugated spin system. Furthermore, the mechanism for the generation of dynamic electron spin polarization was investigated for the observed quartet and quintet states, and a plausible mechanism of the enhanced selective intersystem crossing was proposed. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations based on density functional theory were carried out to determine the electronic structures of the excited high-spin states and to understand the mechanism of the spin alignment utilizing the excited molecular field. The role of the spin delocalization and the spin polarization mechanisms were revealed on the photoexcited state.     

Intramolecular Spin Alignment within Mono‐Oxidized and Photoexcited Anthracene‐Based π Radicals as Prototypical Photomagnetic Molecular Devices: Relationships Between Electrochemical,Photophysical, and Photochemical Control Pathways

AnOV is a π‐conjugated radical built from an anthracene (An) unit linked by a p‐phenylene to an oxoverdazyl (OV) moiety. The mono‐oxidized (cationic) form of AnOV was generated both electrochemically and photochemically (in the presence of an electron acceptor). The triplet nature (S=1) of the electronic ground state of AnOV ⁺ was demonstrated by combining spectroelectrochemistry, electron‐spin resonance (ESR) experiments, and ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations. The intramolecular spin alignment (ISA) within AnOV ⁺ results from the ferromagnetic coupling (J_electrochem>0) of the two unpaired electrons located on the oxidized electron donor (An⁺) and on the pendant OV radical. The spin‐density distribution pattern of AnOV ⁺ is akin to that of AnOV when photopromoted ( AnOV *) to its high‐spin (HS) lowest excited quartet (S=3/2) state. This high‐spin state results from the ferromagnetic coupling (J_photophys>0) of the triplet locally excited state of An (³An*) with the doublet ground state of OV. As a shared salient feature, AnOV ⁺ and AnOV * (HS) show a spin delocalization within the domain of activated An in either An⁺ or ³An* (nexus states) forms. The present study essentially contributes to establish and clarify relationships between electrochemical, photophysical, and photochemical pathways to achieve ISA processes within AnOV . In particular, we discuss the impact of the spin polarization of the unpaired electron of OV on electronic features of the An electron‐donating subunit. Close analysis of this polarizing interplay allows one to derive a novel functional paradigm to manipulate electron spins at the intramolecular level with light and under an external magnetic field. Indeed, two original functional elements are identified: light‐triggered donors of spin‐polarized electrons and spin‐selective electron acceptors, which are of potential interest for molecular spintronics.     

Photoinduced magnetization in molecular compounds

In this review, recent studies on photoinduced magnetization in molecular compounds are introduced. The magnetic materials presented here range from Prussian blue analogues to purely organic radicals. Various photomagnetic phenomena observed in those materials are briefly described. These are, for example, photoinduced magnetization, photoinduced demagnetization, photoinduced spin cluster, photoinduced magnetic-pole inversion, photoinduced spin flipping, light-induced excited spin state trapping, photoinduced valence tautomerism, etc. It is thought that these can be used for future high-density photo-recording media and optical switches in molecular devices.     

Photomagnetic and nonlinear optical properties in cis‐trans green fluoroprotein chromophore coupled Bis‐imino nitroxide diradicals

The current study extends an earlier investigation (Bhattacharya, et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2012, 14, 6905) to further explore various photomagnetic and optical properties of bis‐imino nitroxide, that is, (IN)₂‐based green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore coupled diradicals revealing new significant features. The conversion mechanisms of selected trans‐isomers into their corresponding cis‐conformers are discussed in detailed using a number of recently‐developed density functional theory (DFT) functionals based on the Minnesota suite of DFT‐models as well as using some other DFT functionals developed earlier. To provide a more in‐depth analysis of variations in magnetic properties as trans‐conformers (singlet ground‐state) convert into their cis‐analogues (triplet ground‐state), the changes in exchange magnetic coupling constants J are compared with the variation of the selected aromaticity indices. The aromaticity indices include the nuclear independent chemical shift [NICS(0)] values calculated at the center of ring structures and the harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity. Furthermore, the investigation of static nonlinear optical response properties in the (IN)₂‐based GFP chromophore coupled diradicals reveal unusually large static first hyperpolarizabilities for these systems which is highly significant for practical applications in optics and optoelectronics. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A computational investigation on singlet and triplet exciton couplings in acene molecular crystals

Quantum chemical calculations (DFT, TDDFT and ZINDO/S) of singlet and triplet exciton couplings are presented and discussed for some acene derivatives (such as anthracene, tetracene, 9,10-di(phenyl)anthracene and 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene). An accurate excited state single molecule characterization has been carried out followed by an analysis of the inter-molecular excitonic interactions, taking place in the crystalline phase. These have been correlated to exciton coupling terms obtaining guidelines for the choice of molecular materials with large exciton couplings. Such organic systems are likely to show multiexciton processes such as singlet fission (SF) and triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) which are useful in energy conversion phenomena to be exploited in photonic and optoelectronic devices.     

Dual chromophore-nitroxides: novel molecular probes, photochemical and photophysical models and magnetic materials

Over the last decades scientists have faced growing requirements in novel methods of fast and sensitive analysis of antioxidant status of biological systems, spin redox probing and spin trapping, investigation of molecular dynamics, and of convenient models for studies of photophysical and photochemical processes. In approaching this problem, methods based upon the use of dual chromophore-nitroxide (CN) compounds have been suggested and developed. A CN consists of two molecular sub-functionality (a chromophore and a stable nitroxide radical) tethered together by spacers. In the dual compound the nitroxide is a strong intramolecular quencher of the fluorescence from the chromophore fragment. Reduction to hydroxylamine, oxidation of the nitroxide fragment or addition of an active radical yield the fluorescence increase and the parallel decay of the fragment electron spin resonance (ESR) signal. At certain conditions the dual molecules undergo photomagnetic switching and form excited state multi-spin systems. These unique properties of CN were intensively exploited as the basis for several methodologies, which include molecular probing, modeling intramolecular photochemical and photophysical processes, and construction of new magnetic materials.     

Electronic properties of anthracene derivatives for blue light emitting electroluminescent layers in organic light emitting diodes: a density functional theory study

Molecular level parameters are investigated computationally to understand the factors that are responsible for the higher efficiency in derivatives of 9,10-bis(1-naphthyl)anthracene (alpha-ADN), 9,10-bis(2-naphthyl)anthracene (beta-ADN), their tetramethyl derivatives (alpha,beta-TMADN) and the t-Bu derivative (beta-TBADN) as blue light emitting electroluminescent (EL) layers in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). DFT studies at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level have been carried out on the substituted anthracenes. The absorption spectra are simulated using time dependent DFT methods (TD-DFT) whereas the emission spectra are approximated by optimizing the excited state by HF/CI-Singles and then carrying out the vertical CI calculations by the TD-DFT method. The reorganization energy for estimating the hole and electron transport is calculated. The transfer integrals between parallely stacked molecules in the bulk state are estimated by calculating the electronic splitting. The substituted anthracenes are compared with unsubstituted anthracene and yet untested 9,10-dianthrylanthracene (TANTH). A larger and slower buildup of the electrons and holes in the EL layer, due to the higher reorganization energy and smaller electronic coupling between the adjacent molecules could lead to an increase in hole-electron recombination in the layer and thus increase the efficiency.     

Two‐Step Thermal Spin Transition and LIESST Relaxation of the Polymeric Spin‐Crossover Compounds Fe(X‐py)2[Ag(CN)2]2 (X=H, 3‐methyl, 4‐methyl, 3,4‐dimethyl, 3‐Cl)

In the series of polymeric spin‐crossover compounds Fe(X‐py)₂[Ag(CN)₂)]₂ (py=pyridine, X=H, 3‐Cl, 3‐methyl, 4‐methyl, 3,4‐dimethyl), magnetic and calorimetric measurements have revealed that the conversion from the high‐spin (HS) to the low‐spin (LS) state occurs by two‐step transitions for three out of five members of the family (X=H, 4‐methyl, and X=3,4‐dimethyl). The two other compounds (X=3‐Cl and 3‐methyl) show respectively an incomplete spin transition and no transition at all, the latter remaining in the HS state in the whole temperature range. The spin‐crossover behaviour of the compound undergoing two‐step transitions is well described by a thermodynamic model that considers both steps. Calculations with this model show low cooperativity in this type of systems. Reflectivity and photomagnetic experiments reveal that all of the compounds except that with X=3‐methyl undergo light‐induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) at low temperatures. Isothermal HS‐to‐LS relaxation curves at different temperatures support the low‐cooperativity character by following an exponential decay law, although in the thermally activated regime and for aX=H and X=3,4‐dimethyl the behaviour is well described by a double exponential function in accordance with the two‐step thermal spin transition. The thermodynamic parameters determined from this isothermal analysis were used for simulation of thermal relaxation curves, which nicely reproduce the experimental data.     

Investigation of the photoinduced magnetization of copper octacyanomolybdates nanoparticles by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism

Through an extensive set of SQUID magnetic measurements, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, we have determined the nature of the metastable photomagnetic phase in the cyano-bridged 3D network Cs(2)Cu(7)[Mo(CN)(8)](4). The photomagnetic effect is induced by the photoconversion of Mo(IV) ions in low spin (LS) configuration (S = 0) into Mo(IV) ions in high spin (HS) configuration (S = 1). The magnetic and spectroscopic measurements fully support the LS to HS conversion, whereas the previously invoked charge transfer mechanism Mo(IV) + Cu(II) ? Mo(V) + Cu(I) can be completely ruled out.     

Charge and spin correlation structures of conjugated π systems: Analysis of full CI wave functions of the PPP hamiltonian

An analysis of the electronic correlation structures by means of the charge and spin correlation functions is carried out for full CI wave functions of four, five, and six membered conjugated π systems described by the Pariser–Parr–Pople Hamiltonian. The low-lying states of these systems are classified as covalent (CV ) and ionic (IN ) states depending on whether the probability of finding two electrons simultaneously at the same position is small or large. It is found that many of excited CV states, the typical ones of which are the 2¹A_g state of linear π systems, have stronger CV character than the ground CV state, and their spin coupling structures are different from each other as well as from that of the ground CV state. The spin coupling structure in the ground CV state has an “antiferromagnetic” spin arrangement in favor of antiparallel coupling between nearest neighbor spins while in excited CV states the extent of the antiparallel spin coupling between nearest neighbor sites is decreased. IN states, which are less common for low-lying states than CV ones, are also found to have characteristic modulations in the charge correlation. In particular, the charge correlations in the lowest singlet IN states, 1¹B_u of linear π systems, 1¹B_2g of cyclobutadiene and 1¹B_1U of benzene, are alternating.     

Syntheses and photophysical studies of cyclodextrin derivatives with two proximate anthracenyl groups

A series of permethylated cyclodextrin derivatives, cyclodextrin dimers doubly bridged with two anthracene moieties (An2CD2) and singly bridged with one (AnCD2) and the monomer bearing two anthracene moieties (An2CD), were newly synthesized. For An2CD2, the two isomeric forms are also identified. All compounds are soluble in both aqueous and various organic solvents. The bisanthracene systems, An2CD2 and An2CD, show the thermal equilibrium in an aqueous solution between the intramolecularly interacting (closed) and less-interacting (open) states of the anthracene moieties, which results in the temperature-dependent absorption changes. These systems also show the characteristic excimer emission that is enhanced in water and weakened in organic solvents. The excitation spectra for the monomer and excimer fluorescence are found to be quite different from each other and similar to the absorption spectra of the open and the closed forms, respectively. The observed unique parallelism between excitation and absorption spectra for the present excimer systems indicates the dual ground state-dual excitation scheme where the excitation state formed from the closed ground state mainly gives excimer. The fluorescence lifetime analyses reveal that the rates of the conversion from the excited state of the open form to that of the closed one (6.0 x 10(6) s(-1) for An2CD2-2) are largely retarded compared with that of the ethyleneoxy linked bisanthracene system (8.8 x 10(7) s(-1)).     

取代对N,N-二甲基苯乙烯基蒽的含时密度泛函研究

运用B3LYP方法和HF单激发态相互作用（CIS）方法分别优化了2-对N,N-二甲基苯乙烯基蒽（2-pNC）和9-对N,N-二甲基苯乙烯基蒽（9-pNC）分子的基态及最低激发单重态几何结构.系统分析了前线分子轨道特征,并探索了电子跃迁机理,应用含时密度泛函理论计算了分子的电子光谱.     

Organic triplet sensitizer library derived from a single chromophore (BODIPY) with long-lived triplet excited state for triplet-triplet annihilation based upconversion

Triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) based upconversions are attractive as a result of their readily tunable excitation/emission wavelength, low excitation power density, and high upconversion quantum yield. For TTA upconversion, triplet sensitizers and acceptors are combined to harvest the irradiation energy and to acquire emission at higher energy through triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) and TTA processes. Currently the triplet sensitizers are limited to the phosphorescent transition metal complexes, for which the tuning of UV-vis absorption and T(1) excited state energy level is difficult. Herein for the first time we proposed a library of organic triplet sensitizers based on a single chromophore of boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY). The organic sensitizers show intense UV-vis absorptions at 510-629 nm (ε up to 180,000 M(-1) cm(-1)). Long-lived triplet excited state (τ(T) up to 66.3 μs) is populated upon excitation of the sensitizers, proved by nanosecond time-resolved transient difference absorption spectra and DFT calculations. With perylene or 1-chloro-9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene (1CBPEA) as the triplet acceptors, significant upconversion (Φ(UC) up to 6.1%) was observed for solution samples and polymer films, and the anti-Stokes shift was up to 0.56 eV. Our results pave the way for the design of organic triplet sensitizers and their applications in photovoltaics and upconversions, etc.     

CASCI-DFT study of the phenalenyl radical system

We present ab initio complete-active-space configuration interaction (CASCI) density functional theory (DFT) study of the phenalenyl radical systems. Our approach employed in this study is based on the assumption that one-electron per one phenalenyl unit is responsible for magnetic properties of the phenalenyl radical dimeric compounds and that the residual correlation effects can be covered by DFT correlation potential for CASCI[2,2] wavefunction. The effective exchange integrals and lowest-lying excited energies of several phenalenyl dimeric compounds are calculated by CASCI[2,2]-DFT method. The implication of the computational results are discussed in relation with those of spin unrestricted Hartree–Fock (UHF), hybrid DFT, and pure DFT, and the experimental ones.     

Pi topology and spin alignment in unique photoexcited triplet and quintet states arising from four unpaired electrons of an organic spin system

Syntheses, electronic structures in the ground state, unique photoexcited states, and spin alignment are reported for novel biradical 1, which was designed as an ideal model compound to investigate photoinduced spin alignment in the excited state. Electron spin resonance (ESR), time-resolved ESR (TRESR), and laser-excitation pulsed ESR experiments were carried out. The magnetic properties were examined with a SQUID magnetometer. In the electronic ground state, two radical moieties interact very weakly (almost no interaction) with each other through the closed-shell diphenylanthracene spin coupler. On photoirradiation, a novel lowest photoexcited state with the intermediate spin (S = 1) arising from four unpaired electrons with low-lying quintet (S = 2) photoexcited state was detected. The unique triplet state has an interesting electronic structure, the D value of which is reduced by antiferromagnetic spin alignment between two radical spins through the excited triplet spin coupler. The general theoretical predictions of the spin alignment and the reduction of the fine-structure splitting of the triplet bis(radical) systems are presented. The fine-structure splitting of the unique photoexcited triplet state of 1, as well as the existence of the low-lying quintet state, is interpreted well on the basis of theoretical predictions. Details of the spin alignment in the photoexcited states are discussed.     

Cooperative Iron(II) spin crossover complexes with N4O2 coordination sphere

Two new spin crossover complexes [FeL(py)(2)] (1) and [FeL(DMAP)(2)] (2) with L being a tetradentate N(2)O(2)(2-) coordinating Schiff-base-like ligand [([3,3']-[1,2-phenylenebis(iminomethylidyne)]bis(2,4-pentanedionato)(2-)-N,N',O(2),O(2)'], py = pyridine and DMAP = p-dimethylaminopyridine have been investigated using temperature-dependent susceptibility and thermogravimetric and photomagnetic measurements as well as M?ssbauer spectroscopy and X-ray structure analysis. Both complexes show a cooperative spin transition with an approximately 9 K wide thermal hysteresis loop in the case of 2 (T(1/2) upward arrow = 183 K and T(1/2) downward arrow = 174 K) and an approximately 2 K wide thermal hysteresis loop in the case of the pyridine diadduct 1 (T(1/2) upward arrow = 191 K and T(1/2) downward arrow = 189 K). The spin transition was additionally followed by different temperature-scanning calorimetry and M?ssbauer spectroscopy for 2, and a good agreement for the transition temperatures obtained with the different methods was found. Results from X-ray structure analysis indicate that the cooperative interactions are due to elastic interactions in both compounds. They are more pronounced in the case of 2 with very short intermolecular iron-iron distances of 7.2 A and several intense C-C contacts. The change of the spin state at the iron center is accompanied by a change of the O-Fe-O angle, the so-called bit of the equatorial ligand, from 108 degrees in the high-spin state to 90 degrees in the low-spin state. The reflectivity measurements of both compounds give at low temperature indication that at the sample surface the light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect occurs. In bulk condition using a SQUID magnetometer the complex 2 displays some photomagnetic properties with an photoexcitation level of 60% and a T(LIESST) value of 53 K.     

Octacyanidotungstate(IV) Coordination Chains Demonstrate a Light‐Induced Excited Spin State Trapping Behavior and Magnetic Exchange Photoswitching

A huge increase in the magnetization of two coordination chains based on tetravalent octacyanidometalates (W^IV and Mo^IV) is observed on irradiation with 436 nm light, while no such behavior is observed for the Nb^IV analogue. A photomagnetic response based solely on [W^IV(CN)₈]⁴⁻ is demonstrated for the first time. The observed behavior is attributed to the light‐induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect at the octacyanidometalate, and to the resulting magnetic exchange ON/OFF photoswitching between the Mn^II center and the photoinduced high‐spin (S =1) W^IV or Mo^IV centers.