Impact of substituents on the luminescent properties and thermostability of Zn(II) 8-hydroxyquinolinates: insight from experimental and theoretical approach

Four unique 2-arylethenyl-8-hydroxyquinoline ligands (B1–B4) and their corresponding Zn(II) complexes (C1–C4) were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ESI-MS, FTIR, and elemental analysis. The aggregation behavior of Zinc salt and ligands in solution was investigated by several techniques, including ¹H NMR, UV–vis, and photoluminescence (PL). The electronic nature of arylethenyl substituents affects the absorption wavelength, the emission color, fluorescence lifetime, fluorescence quantum yield, and thermostability of Zn(II) complexes. Luminescent properties of the Zn(II) complexes correspond to the electron-withdrawing/-donating character of the arylethenyl substituents. Photophysical analyses combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations established that the introduction of strong electron-withdrawing group (CN) decreased the HOMO–LUMO energy gap, and the introduction of electron-donating group (tert-butyl) enlarged the HOMO–LUMO energy gap.     

Cadmium–halide and mixed cadmium–halide–dicyanamide polymers mediated by ancillary 2-aminoalkyl-pyridine ligands: Synthesis,X-ray single crystal structures and luminescence property

A series of mixed halide–dicyanamide and halide complexes of cadmium(II) mediated by 2-aminoalkyl-pyridine ligands [2-aminomethylpyridine (ampy) and 2-aminoethylpyridine (aepy)] have been synthesized. Five of them, [CdCl(dca)(aepy)]_n (1), [CdBr(dca)(ampy)]_n (2), [CdCl(dca)(ampy)]_n (3) (dca = dicyanamide); [CdI₂(aepy)]_n (4), and [CdI₂(ampy)]_n (5), (dca = dicyanamide) have been characterized by X-ray single crystal structure analysis. The structural determination shows that the compounds are 1D coordination polymers, with the exception of 3 that gives origin to a 2D sheet-like network. The ampy and aepy ligands (also with the occurrence of dca anions in 1–3) reveal to be useful ancillary fragments for the construction of unprecedented Cd–halide polymeric species. The crystal packing shows that the dimensionality of all compounds is enlarged to 2D, and 3D in the case of complex 3, through π–π interactions occurring between the pyridine rings. All the species exhibit interesting luminescence property in solution as well in solid state which is originated from ligand-centered π–π^∗ transitions. The fluorescence band maxima and fluorescence efficiency (in methanol) are found to be dependent not only on the pyridine ligand but also on the type of halide, and the co-ligand. Solid state luminescent study implies that π–π interactions occurring between pyridine rings are also important in controlling the fluorescence intensity. Amongst the synthesized complexes reported, complex 5 exhibits the highest fluorescence efficiency in methanol.     

Fluorescence study of polyelectrolyte complex formation III: Mobility of probes in microdomains

The mobility of fluorescent probe molecules in the microdomains formed by polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) in aqueous solution was investigated by the fluorescence polarization method. The degree of fluorescence polarization (p) for the anthracene (Anth) chromophores attached to anionic polyelectrolytes increased with complexation, indicating the restricted mobility of probe molecules in the PEC microdomains. These p values depended on the properties of added polycations, which were not in parallel with the fluorescence intensities of the Anth chromophores.     

Interaction of Cu-dipeptide complexes with Calf Thymus DNA and antiproliferative activity of [Cu(ala-phe)] in osteosarcoma-derived cells

In this work the study of Calf Thymus DNA interaction with several Cu(l-dipeptide) complexes was reported. The binding stoichiometry (Cu(mmol)/DNAmol base) was determined and in an attempt to clarify the binding mode, EPR and CD experiments were performed. All the studied complexes interacted with DNA, in a more selective way than [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺, being the [Cu(ala-phe)] the complex with the highest interaction. The EPR experiments suggested that the monomeric species formed in solution were coordinated through a nitrogen atom of the DNA bases (inner-sphere binding) and the CD studies showed structural changes upon the DNA–complex interaction. Besides, the ratio Cu(mmol)/DNAmol base obtained by the binding stoichiometry experiments was close to that found by EPR and CD determinations. The effect on cell proliferation determined by the crystal violet bioassay on UMR106 rat osteosarcoma-derived cells showed that the [Cu(ala-phe)] complex exerted an antiproliferative action against this tumor line.     

Photoexcitation processes of CH3OH: Rydberg states and photofragment fluorescence

Photoabsorption and fluorescence cross sections of methanol vapor were mearured using synchrotron radiation. Weak structures observed in the 110–140 nm region are classified into three Rydberg series. Quasidiatomic repulsive potential curves for the states dissociating into CH₃ + OH(A²Σ⁺) are obtained from the measured fluorescence cross section. The photodissociation processes are discussed in accord with the fluorescence observed. The fluorescence quantum yield (< 0.8%) for photodissociation of CH₃OH is one order of magnitude smaller than that of H₂O, indicating a correlation that the fluorescence quantum yield decreases with increasing number of molecular orbitals.     

Unexpected Luminescence Behavior of Coinage Metal π‐Diborene Complexes

A number of unprecedented photophysical phenomena were observed in the study of luminescent π‐diborene complexes of Cu and Ag. These observations included unusually high fluorescence quantum yields (up to 100%) in solution for complexes of these metals. This result indicates that very little or no intersystem crossing between S₁ and T_n occurs in the complexes, despite the strong spin–orbit coupling of the metal atoms. The replacement of carbon with boron thus yields luminescent isolobal analogues of otherwise non‐emissive olefin complexes of Cu and Ag.     

New cyano-substituted organic dyes containing different electrophilic groups: aggregation-induced emission and large two-photon absorption cross section

Three aggregation-induced emission active dyes (3a–c) were synthesized and their one- and two-photon absorption properties have been investigated. They were all found to be weakly fluorescent in THF solution, while they exhibited dramatic fluorescence enhancement in water/THF mixtures. The solid fluorescence of 3a–c was recorded and their fluorescence quantum efficiency (Φ_F) values were determined to be 8.0%, 8.1%, and 16.4%, respectively. Moreover, the two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-sections (σ) of 3a–c were measured and 3a showed the highest value of 702 GM. The excellent aggregation-induced emission and 2PA properties provide a promising alternative for biophotonic materials.     

Synthesis,photophysical and photochemical properties of tetra- and octa-substituted gallium and indium phthalocyanines

The synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of the tetra- and octa-[4-(benzyloxyphenoxy)] substituted gallium(III) and indium(III) phthalocyanines are reported for the first time. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy and electronic spectroscopy. General trends are described for quantum yields of photodegredation, fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes, triplet lifetimes and triplet quantum yields as well as singlet oxygen quantum yields of these compounds in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Substituted indium phthalocyanine complexes (7b–9b) showed much higher quantum yields of triplet state and shorter triplet lifetimes, compared to the substituted GaPc derivatives due to enhanced intersystem crossing (ISC) in the former. The gallium and indium phthalocyanine complexes showed phototransformation during laser irradiation due to ring reduction. The singlet oxygen quantum yields (Φ_Δ), which give an indication of the potential of the complexes as photosensitizers in applications where singlet oxygen is required (Type II mechanism) ranged from 0.51 to 0.94. Thus, these complexes show potential as photodynamic therapy of cancer.     

Single stranded helical supramolecular architecture with a left handed helical water chain in ternary copper(II) tryptophan/diamine complexes

The ternary copper(II) complexes [Cu(l-trp)(bpy)](ClO₄) (1) and [Cu(l-trp)(phen)] (ClO₄) · 3H₂O (2) (where l-trp = l-tryptophan, bpy = bipridyl, phen = phenanthroline) have been synthesized. The single crystal X-ray structures for these complexes revealed that the monocationic Cu^II-units are interlinked through Cu–OCO–Cu connectivity and exist as helical coordination polymers. The two different helical strands composed with Cu1 and Cu2 independently, possess a similar pitch distance of 7.713 Å in complex 1. For complex 2, existing in the hydrated form, the Cu(II) polymeric strand and the hydrated water molecules have gained a supramolecular helical architecture with a similar pitch distance of 8.133 Å. The two helical strands in complex 1 are associated with right handed (PP) supramolecular chirality, while the helical water chain and the Cu^II-strand in 2 are self assembled into left handed (MM) helicity in the solid state. The solid state CD recorded for 1 and the dehydrated form of 2 exhibit a positive optical sign at their respective d–d band [λ_max = 667 nm, 1; λ_max = 630 nm, 2], the solution state CD for both these complexes are found to be inverted into a negative optical sign, which could be attributed to inversion of their associated supramolecular helicity. The TGA curve illustrates two distinct weight losses at 60 °C and 87 °C, equivalent to one and two water molecules, respectively. The PXRD pattern for the hydrated and dehydrated forms of 2 indicated a change, on comparison with the simulated diffractograph. The fluorescence properties of both these complexes, possessing tryptophan and bipy/phen, were investigated.     

Effect of the solvent composition in methanol-pentane and methanol-acetonitrile mixtures on the spectral and luminescent properties of 1,2-dihydroquinolines

The dependence of absorption and fluorescence spectra, quantum yields, and lifetimes of fluorescence on the solvent composition in the MeOH-C₅H₁₂ and MeOH-MeCN mixtures was studied for 2,2,4,6-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (TMDHQ). The variations in the parameters of deconvolution of the absorption and fluorescence spectra by the Gaussian functions in the MeOH-C₅H₁₂ mixtures of various compositions indicate the specificity of methanol clustering in saturated hydrocarbons and hydrogen bonding between TMDHQ and the methanol clusters of different compositions. At low MeOH concentrations (∼0.2 vol %), TMDHQ molecules are practically completely bound with the MeOH molecules by hydrogen bonds. In the MeOH-MeCN mixtures, the changes in the absorption and fluorescence spectra are observed at a substantially higher MeOH concentration (≥10 vol %) and monotonically change at the further increase in the MeOH concentration that is caused by the peculiarities of MeOH clustering in acetonitrile and the distribution of the TMDHQ molecules between the solvent components. At 50–95 vol % of MeOH in the mixture with MeCN, the fluorescence decay kinetics is described by the biexponential curve with the lifetime of the major component (τ₁) decreasing from 7.5 to 1.1 ns in pure MeCN and MeOH, respectively, and the lifetime of the minor component τ₂ ≈ 4 ns corresponding to the fluorescence lifetime in the solution containing 50 vol % MeOH. This indicates the existence of the free TMDHQ molecules, which are not bound with MeOH molecules or their clusters.     

The effect of heavy metals on the anthracene–Me-β-cyclodextrin host–guest inclusion complexes

Anthracene was used to form an inclusion complex with methylated-β-cyclodextrin (Me-β-CD) in water. In aqueous Me-β-CD solution, typical fluorescence emission of anthracene was observed. Benesi–Hildebrand's method was used to obtain the stoichiometry of the anthracene–Me-β-CD complex. The Stern–Volmer quenching constants, K_sv, and fluorescence quantum yields were calculated according to changes in the fluorescence emission intensity of anthracene–Me-β-CD inclusion complexes by adding various amounts of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ salts in water. The K_sv values and fluorescence quantum yields indicate that Pb²⁺ salts quench the anthracene–Me-β-CD inclusion complexes more efficiently than Cd²⁺ salts.     

Fluorescence,ion binding,and viscosity properties of poly[2‐ and 4‐vinylpyridine]s in methanol and in sulfuric acid

Fluorescence intensities of poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) in H₂SO₄/H₂O solutions were increased with increasing acid concentration. The intensities for P2VP were found to be six times stronger than that of P4VP. These differences were accounted for by the microenvironment of protonated pyridinium group. The ion binding properties of 4‐methylpyridine (4MP), P2VP, and P4VP were investigated in methanol using Tb³⁺ as a fluorescence probe. The increase of fluorescence intensity of Tb³⁺ in [P2VP–Tb³⁺] and [P4VP–Tb³⁺] complexes is due to both the replacement of the inner coordinated methanol molecules and ligand‐to‐metal energy transfer. The model compound 4MP was inefficient from this point of view, and the results were attributed to the polymer cooperative effect. Reduced viscosities of poly(vinylpyridine)s (PVP) in methanol were similar to nonionic polymers; however, when TbCl₃ was added into the solution, the viscosities increased upon dilution. These results also indicated that PVP form complexes with Tb³⁺ in methanol. When diluted, the counterions Cl⁻ are allowed to dissociate and the charged polymer expands. Consequently, the solution's viscosity increases. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1341–1345, 1999     

Perylene Bisimide-Cored Supramolecular Coordination Complexes: Interplay between Ensembles,Excited State Processes,and Aggregation Behaviors

Manipulating the optical properties of fluorescent species is challenging owing to complicated and tedious synthetic works. Herein, the photophysical properties of perylene bisimide (PBI) were effectively tuned by varying the geometrical arrangement of PBI moieties within supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs), where a PBI-based dicycle ( 2 ) and a trigonal prism ( 3 ) were generated via using a typical 90° Pt(II) reagent, cis-(PEt₃)₂Pt(OTf)₂-based coordination-driven self-assembly approach. The ligand, an ortho-tetrapyridiyl-PBI ( 1 ), exhibits a moderate fluorescence quantum yield (∼13 %) and efficient inter-system crossing (ISC). 2 , however, is much more emissive with a fluorescence quantum yield of ∼41 %, and the relevant ISC process is significantly hindered. The fluorescence quantum yield of 3 is merely ∼6 % due to the observed symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS), which turns to triplet state upon charge recombination. Interestingly, 3 could be fully transformed into 2 by simply adding a suitable amount of a 90° Pt(II)-based neutral triangle. Moreover, 2 tends to form discrete dimers both in crystal and solution states, but 3 does not show the property. Therefore, controlling geometrical arrangement of fluorophores through coordination-driven self-assembly could be taken as another effective way to tune their excited state relaxation pathways and construct high-performance optical molecular materials, which generally have to be prepared via organic synthesis.     

Synthesis,crystal, molecular and electronic structures of thiocyanate ruthenium(II) complexes with pyrazole,benzimidazole and triazole ligands

The [Ru(SCN)₂(PPh₃)₂(L)₂] complexes, where L = HPz, PhIm, HTz, have been prepared and studied by IR, NMR, UV–vis spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The complexes were prepared in the reactions of [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃] with pyrazole, benzimidazole and triazole in methanol solutions. The electronic structures of the obtained compounds have been calculated using the TD–DFT method.     

The effect of deuterium on the photophysical properties of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters

We investigated the effect of using D₂O versus H₂O as solvent on the spectroscopic properties of two NIR emissive DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA–AgNCs). The two DNA–AgNCs were chosen because they emit in the same energy range as the third overtone of the O–H stretch. Opposite effects on the ns-lived decay were observed for the two DNA–AgNCs. Surprisingly, for one DNA–AgNC, D₂O shortened the ns decay time and enhanced the amount of µs-lived emission. We hypothesize that the observed effects originate from the differences in the hydrogen bonding strength and vibrational frequencies in the two diverse solvents. For the other DNA–AgNC, D₂O lengthened the ns decay time and made the fluorescence quantum yield approach unity at 5 °C.

We investigated the effect of using D₂O versus H₂O as solvent on the spectroscopic properties of two NIR emissive DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA–AgNCs).     

Synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of aryloxy tetra-substituted gallium and indium phthalocyanine derivatives

The synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of the tetra-substituted aryloxy gallium(III) and indium(III) phthalocyanines are reported for the first time. General trends are described for photodegradation, singlet oxygen, fluorescence, and triplet quantum yields and triplet lifetimes of these compounds. The introduction of phenoxy and tert-butylphenoxy substituents on the ring resulted in lowering of fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes, and triplet quantum yields, and an increase of k_IC, k_ISC, and k_F. Photoreduction of the complexes was observed during laser flash photolysis. The singlet oxygen quantum yields (Φ_Δ), which give an indication of the potential of the complexes as photosensitizers in applications where singlet oxygen is required (Type II mechanism) ranged from 0.41 to 0.91. Thus, these complexes show potential as Type II photosensitizers.     

Electrochemical sensing of tumor suppressor protein p53–deoxyribonucleic acid complex stability at an electrified interface

Electrochemical biosensors have the unique ability to convert biological events directly into electrical signals suitable for parallel analysis. Here we utilize specific properties of constant current chronopotentiometric stripping (CPS) in the analysis of protein and DNA–protein complex nanolayers. Rapid potential changes at high negative current intensities (I_str) in CPS are utilized in the analysis of DNA–protein interactions at thiol-modified mercury electrodes. P53 core domain (p53CD) sequence-specific binding to DNA results in a striking decrease in the electrocatalytic signal of free p53. This decrease is related to changes in the accessibility of the electroactive amino acid residues in the p53CD–DNA complex. By adjusting I_str and temperature, weaker non-specific binding can be eliminated or distinguished from the sequence-specific binding. The method also reflects differences in the stabilities of different sequence-specific complexes, including those containing spacers between half-sites of the DNA consensus sequence. The high resolving power of this method is based on the disintegration of the p53CD–DNA complex by the electric field effects at a negatively charged surface and fine adjustment of the millisecond time intervals for which the complex is exposed to these effects. Picomole amounts of p53 proteins and DNA were used for the analysis at full electrode coverage but we show that even 10–20-fold smaller amounts can be analyzed. Our method cannot however take advantage of very low detection limits of the protein CPS detection because low I^_str intensities are deleterious to the p53CD–DNA complex stability at the electrode surface. These data highlight the utility of developing biosensors offering novel approaches for studying real-time macromolecular protein dynamics.     

Absorption and emission behaviour of trans-p-coumaric acid in aqueous solutions and some organic solvents

The absorption and fluorescence behaviour of trans-p-coumaric acid (trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) is investigated in buffered aqueous solution over a wide range from pH 1 to pH 12, in un-buffered water, and in some organic solvents. Absorption cross-section spectra, fluorescence quantum distributions, fluorescence quantum yields, and degrees of fluorescence polarisation are measured. p-Coumaric acid exists in different ionic forms in aqueous solution depending on the pH. There is an equilibrium between the neutral form (p-CAH₂) and the single anionic form (p-CAH⁻) at low pH (pK_na ≈ 4.9), and between the single anionic and the double anionic form (p-CA²⁻) at high pH (pK_aa ≈ 9.35). In the organic solvents studied trans-p-coumaric acid is dissolved in its neutral form. The fluorescence quantum yield of trans-p-coumaric acid in aqueous solution is ?_F ≈ 1.4 × 10⁻⁴ for the neutral and the single anionic form, while it is ?_F ≈ 1.3 × 10⁻³ for the double anionic form. For trans-p-coumaric acid in organic solvents fluorescence quantum yields in the range from 4.8 × 10⁻⁵ (acetonitrile) to 1.5 × 10⁻⁴ (glycerol) were measured. The fluorescence spectra are 7700–10,000 cm⁻¹ Stokes shifted in aqueous solution, and 5400–8200 cm⁻¹ Stokes shifted in the studied organic solvents. Decay paths responsible for the low fluorescence quantum yields are discussed (photo-isomerisation and internal conversion for p-CA²⁻, solvent-assisted intra-molecular charge-transfer or ππ^∗ to nπ^∗ transfer and internal conversion for p-CAH₂ and p-CAH⁻). The solvent dependence of the first ππ^∗ electronic transition frequency and of the fluorescence Stokes shift of p-CAH₂ is discussed in terms of polar solute–solvent interaction effects. Thereby the ground-state and excite-state molecular dipole moments are extracted.     

Spectroscopic studies of intermolecular hydrogen bonding and proton transfer complexes of chromotropic acid with some amines in methanol

The proton transfer reactions between chromotropic acid (CTA) and some amines including benzylamine (BA), triethylamine (TEA), pyrrolidine (PY) and 1,8-bis(dimethylamino) naphthalene (DMAN) have been investigated spectrophotometrically in methanol. A long wavelength band at 365 nm has been recorded due to the proton transfer (PT) complex formation. The proton transfer equilibrium constants K_PT were estimated utilizing the minimum–maximum absorbances method. It has been found that K_PT were not depend on the amine pKa values, but strongly depend on the formed structures of the PT complexes. Job^’s method of continuous variations and photometric titrations were applied to identify the compositions of the formed PT complexes where 1:1 complexes (proton donor: proton acceptor) were produced. Due to the rapidity and simplicity of the proton transfer reactions and the stability of the formed complexes, a rapid and accurate spectrophotometric method for the determination of CTA was proposed for the first time.