Long-Lived Triplet Excited State Accessed with Spin–Orbit Charge Transfer Intersystem Crossing in Red Light-Absorbing Phenoxazine-Styryl BODIPY Electron Donor/Acceptor Dyads

Orthogonal phenoxazine-styryl BODIPY compact electron donor/acceptor dyads were prepared as heavy atom-free triplet photosensitizers (PSs) with strong red light absorption (ϵ=1.33×10⁵ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 630 nm), whereas the previously reported triplet photosensitizers based on the spin-orbit charge transfer intersystem crossing (SOCT-ISC) mechanism show absorption in a shorter wavelength range (<500 nm). More importantly, a long-lived triplet state (τ_T=333 μs) was observed for the new dyads. In comparison, the triplet state lifetime of the same chromophore accessed with the conventional heavy atom effect (HAE) is much shorter (τ_T=1.8 μs). Long triplet state lifetime is beneficial to enhance electron or energy transfer, the primary photophysical processes in the application of triplet PSs. Our approach is based on SOCT-ISC, without invoking of the HAE, which may shorten the triplet state lifetime. We used bisstyrylBodipy both as the electron acceptor and the visible light-harvesting chromophore, which shows red-light absorption. Femtosecond transient absorption spectra indicated the charge separation (109 ps) and SOCT-ISC (charge recombination, CR; 2.3 ns) for BDP-1 . ISC efficiency of BDP-1 was determined as Φ_T=25 % (in toluene). The dyad BDP-3 was used as triplet PS for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (upconversion quantum yield Φ_UC=1.5 %; anti-Stokes shift is 5900 cm⁻¹).     

Energy‐Funneling‐Based Broadband Visible‐Light‐Absorbing Bodipy–C60 Triads and Tetrads as Dual Functional Heavy‐Atom‐Free Organic Triplet Photosensitizers for Photocatalytic Organic Reactions

C₆₀–bodipy triads and tetrads based on the energy‐funneling effect that show broadband absorption in the visible region have been prepared as novel triplet photosensitizers. The new photosensitizers contain two or three different light‐harvesting antennae associated with different absorption wavelengths, resulting in a broad absorption band (450–650 nm). The panchromatic excitation energy harvested by the bodipy moieties is funneled into a spin converter (C₆₀), thus ensuring intersystem crossing and population of the triplet state. Nanosecond time‐resolved transient absorption and spin density analysis indicated that the T₁ state is localized on either C₆₀ or the antennae, depending on the T₁ energy levels of the two entities. The antenna‐localized T₁ state shows a longer lifetime (τ_T=132.9 μs) than the C₆₀‐localized T₁ state (ca. 27.4 μs). We found that the C₆₀ triads and tetrads can be used as dual functional photocatalysts, that is, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and superoxide radical anion (O₂ ^{. ?}) photosensitizers. In the photooxidation of naphthol to juglone, the ¹O₂ photosensitizing ability of the C₆₀ triad is a factor of 8.9 greater than the conventional triplet photosensitizers tetraphenylporphyrin and methylene blue. The C₆₀ dyads and triads were also used as photocatalysts for O₂ ^{. ?}‐mediated aerobic oxidation of aromatic boronic acids to produce phenols. The reaction times were greatly reduced compared with when [Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂] was used as photocatalyst. Our study of triplet photosensitizers has shown that broadband absorption in the visible spectral region and long‐lived triplet excited states can be useful for the design of new heavy‐atom‐free organic triplet photosensitizers and for the application of these triplet photosensitizers in photo‐organocatalysis.     

Long‐Lived Charge Separation in Novel Axial Donor–Porphyrin–Acceptor Triads Based on Tetrathiafulvalene,Aluminum(III) Porphyrin and Naphthalenediimide

Two self‐assembled supramolecular donor–acceptor triads consisting of Al^III porphyrin (AlPor) with axially bound naphthalenediimide (NDI) as an acceptor and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) as a secondary donor are reported. In the triads, the NDI and TTF units are attached to Al^III on opposite faces of the porphyrin, through covalent and coordination bonds, respectively. Fluorescence studies show that the lowest excited singlet state of the porphyrin is quenched through electron transfer to NDI and hole transfer to TTF. In dichloromethane hole transfer to TTF dominates, whereas in benzonitrile (BN) electron transfer to NDI is the main quenching pathway. In the nematic phase of the liquid crystalline solvent 4‐(n‐pentyl)‐4′‐cyanobiphenyl (5CB), a spin‐polarized transient EPR spectrum that is readily assigned to the weakly coupled radical pair TTF^.+NDI^.? is obtained. The initial polarization pattern indicates that the charge separation occurs through the singlet channel and that singlet–triplet mixing occurs in the primary radical pair. At later time the polarization pattern inverts as a result of depopulation of the states with singlet character by recombination to the ground state. The singlet lifetime of TTF^.+NDI^.? is estimated to be 200–300 ns, whereas the triplet lifetime in the approximately 350 mT magnetic field of the X‐band EPR spectrometer is about 10 μs. In contrast, in dichloromethane and BN the lifetime of the charge separation is <10 ns.     

Artificial photosynthetic reaction centers: mimicking sequential electron and triplet-energy transfer.

An artificial photosynthetic reaction center consisting of a carotenoid (C), a dimesitylporphyrin (P), and a bis(heptafluoropropyl)porphyrin (P(F)), C-P-P(F) , and the related triad in which the central porphyrin has been metalated to give C-P(Zn)-P(F) have been synthesized and characterized by transient spectroscopy. These triads are models for amphipathic triads having a carboxylate group attached to the P(F) moiety; they are designed to carry out redox processes across lipid bilayers. Triad C-P-P(F) undergoes rapid singlet-singlet energy transfer between the porphyrin moieties, so that their excited states are in equilibrium. In benzonitrile, photoinduced electron transfer from the first excited singlet state of P and hole transfer from the first excited singlet state of P(F) yield the initial charge-separated state C-P(.) (+)-P(F) (.) (-). Subsequent hole transfer to the carotenoid moiety generates the final charge-separated state C(.) (+)-P-P(F) (.) (-), which has a lifetime of 1.1 mus and is formed with a quantum yield of 0.24. In triad C-P(Zn)-P(F) energy transfer from the P(Zn) excited singlet to the P(F) moiety yields C-P(Zn)-(1)P(F) . A series of electron-transfer reactions analogous to those observed in C-P-P(F) generates C(.) (+)-P(Zn)-P(F) (.) (-), which has a lifetime of 750 ns and is formed with a quantum yield of 0.25. Flash photolysis experiments in liposomes containing an amphipathic version of C-P(Zn)-P(F) demonstrate that the added driving force for photoinduced electron transfer in the metalated triad is useful for promoting electron transfer in the low-dielectric environment of artificial biological membranes. In argon-saturated toluene solutions of C-P-P(F) and C-P(Zn)-P(F) , charge separation is not observed and a considerable yield of triplet species is generated upon excitation of the porphyrin moieties. In both triads triplet energy localized in the P(F) moiety is channeled to the carotenoid chromophore by a triplet energy-transfer relay mechanism. Certain photophysical characteristics of these triads, including the sequential electron transfer and the triplet energy-transfer relay mechanism, are reminiscent of those observed in natural reaction centers of photosynthetic bacteria.     

Quadrupolar Ultrafast Charge Transfer in Diaminoazobenzene-Bridged Perylenediimide Triads

Strong push-pull interactions between electron donor, diaminoazobenzene (azo), and an electron acceptor, perylenediimide (PDI), entities in the newly synthesized A−D−A type triads (A=electron acceptor and D=electron donor) and the corresponding A−D dyads are shown to reveal wide-band absorption covering the entire visible spectrum. Electrochemical studies revealed the facile reduction of PDI and relatively easier oxidation of diaminoazobenzene in the dyads and triads. Charge transfer reversal using fluorescence-spectroelectrochemistry wherein the PDI fluorescence recovery upon one-electron oxidation, deterring the charge-transfer interactions, was possible to accomplish. The charge transfer state density difference and the frontier orbitals from the DFT calculations established the electron-deficient PDI to be an electron acceptor and diaminoazobenzene to be an electron donor resulting in energetically closely positioned PDI ^δ− -Azo ^δ+ -PDI ^δ− quadrupolar charge-transfer states in the case of triads and Azo ^δ+ -PDI ^δ− dipolar charge-transfer states in the case of dyads. Subsequent femtosecond transient absorption spectral studies unequivocally proved the occurrence of excited-state charge transfer in these dyads and triads in benzonitrile wherein the calculated forward charge transfer rate constants, k_f, were limited to instrument response factor, meaning >10¹² s⁻¹ revealing the occurrence of ultrafast photo-events. The charge recombination rate constant, k_r, was found to depend on the type of donor-acceptor conjugates, that is, it was possible to establish faster k_r in the case of triads (∼10¹¹ s⁻¹) compared to dyads (∼10¹⁰ s⁻¹). Modulating both ground and excited-state properties of PDI with the help of strong quadrupolar and dipolar charge transfer and witnessing ultrafast charge transfer events in the studied triads and dyads is borne out from the present study.     

PHOTOSENSITIZATION BY DIPORPHYRINS JOINED VIA METHYLENE BRIDGES

Abstract— Photodynamic and biophysical properties of three porphyrin dimers joined by methylene bridges were examined. Fluorescence emission spectra and fluorescence lifetimes of the methylene-linked dimers were similar to values obtained with porphyrin monomers. Singlet oxygen quantum yields were not significantly different when the three diporphyrins were compared. The diporphyrins were short-acting tumor photosensitizers in vivo, and were rapidly cleared from plasma. Of the 3 diporphyrins examined, one was essentially ineffective as a sensitizer in vivo. This could not have been predicted from in vitro studies which indicated photodamage to membrane and mitochondrial loci. The methyiene-linked diporphyrins were hydrophilic dyes (water/octanol distribution ratio =120–200) and bound mainly to plasma high-density lipoprotein. In contrast, the more hydrophobic diporphyrin ester/ether fraction from HPD was a long-persisting photosensitizer in vivo. Compared with hematoporphyrin, this hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) fraction demonstrated a red-shift in fluorescence emission and a shortened fluorescence lifetime. These comparisons suggest that ring-ring interactions occur in the ester/ether-linked diporphyrins from HPD, but not in the methyiene-linked diporphyrins.     

Long-lived Triplet Excited State of Perylenemonoimide (PMI) in a Diimine Pt(II) Bis-acetylide Complex: Preparation and Study of the Photophysical Property with Transient Spectra

We prepared a N^N Pt(II) bisacetylide complex that has strong absorption of visible light (molar absorption coefficients ϵ=6.7×10⁴ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 570 nm), and the singlet oxygen quantum yield (Φ_Δ) is up to 78 %. Femtosecond transient absorption spectra show the intersystem crossing (ISC) of the complex takes 81.8 ps, nanosecond transient absorption spectra show the triplet excited state lifetime is 7.6 μs. Density functional theory (DFT) computation demonstrated that the S₁ and T₁ states are mainly localized on the perylenemonoimide (PMI) ligands, although the involvement of the Pt(II) centre is noticeable. The complex was used as triplet photosensitizer to generate delayed fluorescence with perylenebisimide (PBI) as the triplet state energy acceptor and emitter, via the intermolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) and triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA), the delayed fluorescence lifetime is up to 52.5 μs under the experimental conditions.     

Intersystem Crossing and Electron Spin Selectivity in Anthracene-Naphthalimide Compact Electron Donor-Acceptor Dyads Showing Different Geometry and Electronic Coupling Magnitudes

Anthracene-naphthalimide (An-NI) compact electron donor-acceptor dyads were prepared, in which the orientation and distance between the two subunits were varied by direct connection or with intervening phenyl linker. Efficient intersystem crossing (ISC) and long triplet state lifetime (Φ_Δ=92 %, τ_T=438 μs) were observed for the directly connected dyads showing a perpendicular geometry (81°). This efficient spin-orbit charge transfer ISC (SOCT-ISC) takes 376 fs, inhibits the direct charge recombination (CR) to ground state (¹CT→S₀, takes 3.04 ns). Interestingly, efficient SOCT-ISC for dyads with intervening phenyl linker (Φ_Δ=40 % in DCM) was also observed, although the electron donor and acceptor adopt almost coplanar geometry (dihedral angle: 15°). Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy shows that the electron spin polarization of the triplet state, i. e. the electron spin selectivity of ISC, is highly dependent on the dihedral angle and the linker. For the dyads showing weaker coupling between the donor and acceptors, the charge separation and the intramolecular triplet energy transfer are inhibited at 80 K (frozen solution), because both the ³An and ³NI states were observed and the ESP are same as compared to the native anthracene and naphthalimide, which unravel their origin. The dyads were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet−triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA UC). High UC quantum yield (Φ_UC=12.9 %) as well as a large anti-Stokes shift (0.72 eV) was attained by excitation into the CT absorption band.     

Tetrathiafulvalene‐Fused Porphyrins via Quinoxaline Linkers: Symmetric and Asymmetric Donor–Acceptor Systems

A tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) donor is annulated to porphyrins (P) via quinoxaline linkers to form novel symmetric P–TTF–P triads 1 a – c and asymmetric P–TTF dyads 2 a , b in good yields. These planar and extended π‐conjugated molecules absorb light over a wide region of the UV/Vis spectrum as a result of additional charge‐transfer excitations within the donor–acceptor assemblies. Quantum‐chemical calculations elucidate the nature of the electronically excited states. The compounds are electrochemically amphoteric and primarily exhibit low oxidation potentials. Cyclic voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical studies allow differentiation between the TTF and porphyrin sites with respect to the multiple redox processes occurring within these molecular assemblies. Transient absorption measurements give insight into the excited‐state events and deliver corresponding kinetic data. Femtosecond transient absorption spectra in benzonitrile may suggest the occurrence of fast charge separation from TTF to porphyrin in dyads 2 a , b but not in triads 1 a – c . Clear evidence for a photoinduced and relatively long lived charge‐separated state (385 ps lifetime) is obtained for a supramolecular coordination compound built from the ZnP–TTF dyad and a pyridine‐functionalized C₆₀ acceptor unit. This specific excited state results in a (ZnP–TTF)^?+ ??? (C₆₀py)^?? state. The binding constant of Zn^II ??? py is evaluated by constructing a Benesi–Hildebrand plot based on fluorescence data. This plot yields a binding constant K of 7.20×10⁴ M ^?1, which is remarkably high for bonding of pyridine to ZnP.     

A novel ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine)-zinc porphyrin-rhenium carbonyl triad: synthesis and optical properties

A novel ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine)-zinc porphyrin-rhenium carbonyl triads and its free base porphyrin derivative were synthesized and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, UV-vis, mass-spectrometry and elemental analysis. The redox potentials of the two compounds were measured and compared to their corresponding reference complexes. The fluorescence and transient absorption spectra of the two complexes revealed the features of two different pathways for possible photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer or energy transfer in the triads.     

Rational Design of Emissive NIR‐Absorbing Chromophores: RhIII Porphyrin‐Aza‐BODIPY Conjugates with Orthogonal Metal–Carbon Bonds

The facile synthesis of Group 9 Rh^III porphyrin‐aza‐BODIPY conjugates that are linked through an orthogonal Rh?C(aryl) bond is reported. The conjugates combine the advantages of the near‐IR (NIR) absorption and intense fluorescence of aza‐BODIPY dyes with the long‐lived triplet states of transition metal rhodium porphyrins. Only one emission peak centered at about 720 nm is observed, irrespective of the excitation wavelength, demonstrating that the conjugates act as unique molecules rather than as dyads. The generation of a locally excited (LE) state with intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) character has been demonstrated by solvatochromic effects in the photophysical properties, singlet oxygen quantum yields in polar solvents, and by the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In nonpolar solvents, the Rh^III conjugates exhibit strong aza‐BODIPY‐centered fluorescence at around 720 nm (Φ_F=17–34 %), and negligible singlet oxygen generation. In polar solvents, enhancements of the singlet‐oxygen quantum yield (Φ_Δ=19–27 %, λ_ex=690 nm) have been observed. Nanosecond pulsed time‐resolved absorption spectroscopy confirms that relatively long‐lived triplet excited states are formed. The synthetic methodology outlined herein provides a useful strategy for the assembly of functional materials that are highly desirable for a wide range of applications in material science and biomedical fields.     

Intersystem Crossing in Naphthalenediimide–Oxoverdazyl Dyads: Synthesis and Study of the Photophysical Properties

Oxoverdazyl (Vz) radical units were covalently linked to the naphthalenediimide (NDI) chromophore to study the effect of the radical on the photophysical properties, especially the radical enhanced intersystem crossing (REISC), which is a promising approach to develop heavy-atom-free triplet photosensitizers. Rigid phenyl or ethynylphenyl linkers between the two moieties were used, thus REISC and formation of doublet (D₁, total spin quantum number S=1/2) and quartet states (Q₁, S=3/2) are anticipated. The photophysical properties of the dyads were studied with steady-state and femtosecond/nanosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopies and DFT computations. Femtosecond transient absorption spectra show a fast electron transfer (<150 fs), and ISC (ca. 1.4–1.85 ps) is induced by charge recombination (CR, in toluene). Nanosecond transient absorption spectra demonstrated a biexponential decay of the triplet state of the NDI moiety. The fast component (lifetime: 50 ns; population ratio: 80 %) is assigned to the D₁→D₀ decay, and the slow decay component (2.0 μs; 20 %) to the Q₁→D₀ ISC. DFT computations indicated ferromagnetic interactions between the radical and chromophore (J=0.07–0.13 eV). Reversible formation of the radical anion of the NDI moiety by photoreduction of the radical-NDI dyads in the presence of sacrificial electron donor triethanolamine (TEOA) is achieved. This work is useful for design of new triplet photosensitizers based on the REISC effect.     

Photophysical Properties of Pyrazinopsoralen,A New Monofunctional Psoralen*

Abstract— Pyrazinopsoralen (PzPs), a new monofunctional psoralen, has a UV absorption spectrum similar to other psoralens except that it absorbs more strongly in the long-UVA than 8-methoxypsoralen. The solvent effects on the UV absorption and fluorescence emission spectra indicate that the lowest excited singlet state is the π,π* state like other psoralen derivatives. It shows a much lower fluorescence quantum yield (0.0008 in ethanol at room temperature) than the other psoralens as expected by the increased proximity effect (vibronic perturbation) due to close ¹(n,π*) to ¹(π,π*) states. The fluorescence lifetime was 1.05 ns in methylcyclohexane with a single exponential decay, while more than two components were observed in other solvents with the short-lived component being the major (>95%). The triplet state of PzPs could not be detected by phosphorescence, laser flash excitation (T-T absorption) and singlet oxygen formation probably due to very low φ_isc, or short lifetime of the triplet state (τ_T) caused by the fast T₁→ S₀ intersystem crossing.     

Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Tetrathiafulvalene−Porphyrin−Fullerene Molecular Triads

The two molecular triads 1a and 1b consisting of a porphyrin (P) covalently linked to a fullerene (C₆₀) electron acceptor and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) electron‐donor moiety were synthesized, and their photochemical properties were determined by transient absorption and emission techniques. Excitation of the free‐base‐porphyrin moiety of the TTF−P_{2 H}−C₆₀ triad 1a in tetrahydro‐2‐methylfuran solution yields the porphyrin first excited singlet state TTF−¹P_{2 H}−C₆₀, which undergoes photoinduced electron transfer with a time constant of 25 ps to give TTF−P_{2 H}^.+−C₆₀^.−. This intermediate charge‐separated state has a lifetime of 230 ps, decaying mainly by a charge‐shift reaction to yield a final state, TTF^.+−P_{2 H}−C₆₀^.−. The final state has a lifetime of 660 ns, is formed with an overall yield of 92%, and preserves ca. 1.0 eV of the 1.9 eV inherent in the porphyrin excited state. Similar behavior is observed for the zinc analog 1b . The TTF‐P_Zn^.+−C₆₀^.− state is formed by ultrafast electron transfer from the porphyrinatozinc excited singlet state with a time constant of 1.5 ps. The final TTF^.+−P_Zn−C₆₀^.− state is generated with a yield of 16%, and also has a lifetime of 660 ns. Although charge recombination to yield a triplet has been observed in related donor‐acceptor systems, the TTF^.+−P−C₆₀^.− states recombine to the ground state, because the molecule lacks low‐energy triplet states. This structural feature leads to a longer lifetime for the final charge‐separated state, during which the stored energy could be harvested for solar‐energy conversion or molecular optoelectronic applications.     

Azobenzene-linked porphyrin-fullerene dyads

A new group of porphyrin-fullerene dyads with an azobenzene linker was synthesized, and the photochemical and photophysical properties of these materials were investigated using steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic methods. The electrochemical properties of these compounds were also studied in detail. The synthesis involved oxidative heterocoupling of free base tris-aryl-p-aminophenyl porphyrins with a p-aminophenylacetal, followed by deprotection to give the aldehyde, and finally Prato 1,3-dipolar azomethineylide cycloaddition to C60. The corresponding Zn(II)-porphyrin (ZnP) dyads were made by treating the free base dyads with zinc acetate. The final dyads were characterized by their 1H NMR, mass, and UV-vis spectra. 3He NMR was used to determine if the products are a mixture of cis and trans stereoisomers, or a single isomer. The data are most consistent with the isolation of only a single configurational isomer, assigned to the trans (E) configuration. The ground-state UV-vis spectra are virtually a superimposition of the spectral features of the individual components, indicating there is no interaction of the fullerene (F) and porphyrin (H2P/ZnP) moieties in the ground state. This conclusion is supported by the electrochemical data. The steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectra indicate that the porphyrin fluorescence in the dyads is very strongly quenched at room temperature in the three solvents studied: toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and benzonitrile (BzCN). The fluorescence lifetimes of the dyads in all solvents are sharply reduced compared to those of H2P and ZnP standards. In toluene, the lifetimes of the free base dyads are 600-790 ps compared to 10.1 ns for the standard, while in THF and BzCN the dyad lifetimes are less than 100 ps. For the ZnP dyads, the fluorescence lifetimes were 10-170 ps vs 2.1-2.2 ns for the ZnP references. The mechanism of the fluorescence quenching was established using time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. In toluene, the quenching process is singlet-singlet energy transfer (k approximately 10(11) s-1) to give C60 singlet excited states which decay with a lifetime of 1.2 ns to give very long-lived C60 triplet states. In THF and BzCN, quenching of porphyrin singlet states occurs at a similar rate, but now by electron transfer, to give charge-separated radical pair (CSRP) states, which show transient absorption spectra very similar to those reported for other H2P-C60 and ZnP-C60 dyad systems. The lifetimes of the CSRP states are in the range 145-435 ns in THF, much shorter than for related systems with amide, alkyne, silyl, and hydrogen-bonded linkers. Thus, both forward and back electron transfer is facilitated by the azobenzene linker. Nonetheless, the charge recombination is 3-4 orders of magnitude slower than charge separation, demonstrating that for these types of donor-acceptor systems back electron transfer is occurring in the Marcus inverted region.     

Synthesis of functionalized core-modified sapphyrins and covalently linked porphyrin–sapphyrin dyads

We adopted simple synthetic strategy to synthesize mono-functionalized thiasapphyrins containing functionalized aryl group in the meso-position at thiophene side. The thiasapphyrin building block containing iodophenyl functional group was coupled with three different porphyrin building blocks with N₄, N₃S and N₂S₂ cores containing meso-ethynylphenyl functional group under mild Pd(0) coupling conditions to synthesize three covalently linked diphenyl ethyne bridged porphyrin–thiasapphyrin dyads. The porphyrin–thiasapphyrin dyads were characterized by mass, NMR, absorption, electrochemical and fluorescence techniques. The NMR, absorption and electrochemical studies indicated that the two components in dyads interact weakly and retain their individual identities. The steady state fluorescence studies indicated that the porphyrin fluorescence is reduced to a significant extent because of energy and/or electron transfer to the thiasapphyrin unit. The protonation studies indicated that N₄ porphyrin unit is more basic, whereas N₃S and N₂S₂ porphyrin units are less basic compared to thiasapphyrin unit in respective dyads. We explored the potential of dyads as fluorescent anion sensors and showed that two out of three dyads can be used as fluorescent anion sensors.     

N‐Annulated Perylene‐Substituted and Fused Porphyrin Dimers with Intense Near‐Infrared One‐Photon and Two‐Photon Absorption

Fusion of two N‐annulated perylene (NP) units with a fused porphyrin dimer along the S₀–S₁ electronic transition moment axis has resulted in new near‐infrared (NIR) dyes 1 a / 1 b with very intense absorption (ε>1.3×10⁵ M ^?1 cm^?1) beyond 1250 nm. Both compounds displayed moderate NIR fluorescence with fluorescence quantum yields of 4.4×10^?6 and 6.0×10^?6 for 1 a and 1 b , respectively. The NP‐substituted porphyrin dimers 2 a / 2 b have also been obtained by controlled oxidative coupling and cyclodehydrogenation, and they showed superimposed absorptions of the fused porphyrin dimer and the NP chromophore. The excited‐state dynamics of all of these compounds have been studied by femtosecond transient absorption measurements, which revealed porphyrin dimer‐like behaviour. These new chromophores also exhibited good nonlinear optical susceptibility with large two‐photon absorption cross‐sections in the NIR region due to extended π‐conjugation. Time‐dependent density functional theory calculations have been performed to aid our understanding of their electronic structures and absorption spectra.     

Dyads and triads containing perylenetetracarboxylic diimide and porphyrin: efficient photoinduced electron transfer elicited via both excited singlet states

Synthesis, characterizations, and photophysical properties of new photoactive dyads and triads containing perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PIm) and porphyrin (free-base porphyrin (H(2)P) and zinc porphyrin (ZnP)), in which both entities were connected with a short ether bond, were examined with the aim of using these systems for molecular photonics. The porphyrin(P)-PIm systems absorbed strongly across the visible region, which greatly matched the solar spectrum. The geometric and electronic structures of the dyads and triads were probed using density function theory method at the B3LYP/3-21G level. It was revealed that the majority of the highest-occupied molecular orbital was located on the porphyrin entity, while the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbitals were entirely on the PIm entity. The excited-state electron-transfer processes were monitored by both steady-state and time-resolved emission as well as transient-absorption techniques in polar solvent benzonitrile. Upon excitation of the P (H(2)P and ZnP) moieties, efficient fluorescence quenching of the P moiety was observed, suggesting that the main quenching paths involved charge separation from the excited singlet porphyrin ((1)P) to the PIm moiety. Upon excitation of the PIm moiety, fluorescence quenching of the (1)PIm moiety was also observed. The nanosecond transience of spectra in near-IR region revealed the charge separation process from the P moieties to the PIm moiety via their excited singlet states. The lifetimes of the charge-separated states were evaluated to be 7-14 ns, depending on the solvent polarity. Photosensitized electron mediation systems were also revealed in the presence of methyl viologen and sacrificial electron donor.     

meso- and β-Pyrrole-Linked Chlorin-Bacteriochlorin Dyads for Promoting Far-Red FRET and Singlet Oxygen Production

A series of chlorin-bacteriochlorin dyads (derived from naturally occurring chlorophyll-a and bacteriochlorophyll-a), covalently connected either through the meso-aryl or β-pyrrole position (position-3) via an ester linkage have been synthesized and characterized as a new class of far-red emitting fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging, and heavy atom-lacking singlet oxygen-producing agents. From systematic absorption, fluorescence, electrochemical, and computational studies, the role of chlorin as an energy donor and bacteriochlorin as an energy acceptor in these wide-band-capturing dyads was established. Efficiency of FRET evaluated from spectral overlap was found to be 95 and 98 % for the meso-linked and β-pyrrole-linked dyads, respectively. Furthermore, evidence for the occurrence of FRET from singlet-excited chlorin to bacteriochlorin was secured from studies involving femtosecond transient absorption studies in toluene. The measured FRET rate constants, k_FRET, were in the order of 10¹¹ s⁻¹, suggesting the occurrence of ultrafast energy transfer in these dyads. Nanosecond transient absorption studies confirmed relaxation of the energy transfer product, ¹BChl*, to its triplet state, ³Bchl*. The ³Bchl* thus generated was capable of producing singlet oxygen with quantum yields comparable to their monomeric entities. The occurrence of efficient FRET emitting in the far-red region and the ability to produce singlet oxygen make the present series of dyads useful for photonic, imaging and therapy applications.     

Red Light-Emitting Thermally-Activated Delayed Fluorescence of Naphthalimide-Phenoxazine Electron Donor-Acceptor Dyad: Time-Resolved Optical and Magnetic Spectroscopic Studies

We prepared an orthogonal compact electron-donor (phenoxazine, PXZ)-acceptor (naphthalimide, NI) dyad ( NI-PXZ ), to study the photophysics of the thermally-activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), which has a luminescence lifetime of 16.4 ns (99.2 %)/17.0 μs (0.80 %). A weak charge transfer (CT) absorption band was observed for the dyad, indicating non-negligible electronic coupling between the donor and acceptor at the ground state. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy shows a fast charge separation (CS) (ca. 2.02∼2.72 ps), the majority of the singlet CS state is short-lived, especially in polar solvents (τ_CR = 10.3 ps in acetonitrile, vs. 1.83 ns in toluene, 7.81 ns in n-hexane). Nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy detects a long-lived transient species in n-hexane, which is with a mixed triplet local excited state (³LE) and charge separated state (³CS), the lifetime is 15.4 μs. In polar solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile, a neat ³CS state was observed, whose lifetimes are 226 ns and 142 ns, respectively. Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectra indicate the existence of strongly spin exchanged ³LE/³CT states, with the effective zero field splitting (ZFS) |D| and |E| parameters of 1484 MHz and 109 MHz, respectively, much smaller than that of the native ³NI state (2475 and 135 MHz). It is rare but solid experimental evidence that a closely-lying ³LE state is crucial for occurrence of TADF and this ³LE state is an essential intermediate state to facilitate reverse intersystem crossing in TADF systems.