Localized emitting state and energy transfer properties of quadrupolar chromophores and (multi)branched derivatives

In order to better understand the nature of intramolecular charge and energy transfer in multibranched molecules, we have synthesized and studied the photophysical properties of a monomer quadrupolar chromophore with donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) electronic push-pull structure, together with its V-shaped dimer and star-shaped trimers. The comparison of steady-state absorption spectra and fluorescence excitation anisotropy spectra of these chromophores show evidence of weak interaction (such as charge and energy transfer) among the branches. Moreover, similar fluorescence and solvation behavior of monomer and branched chromophores (dimer and trimer) implies that the interaction among the branches is not strong enough to make a significant distinction between these molecules, due to the weak interaction and intrinsic structural disorder in branched molecules. Furthermore, the interaction between the branches can be enhanced by inserting π bridge spacers (-C═C- or -C≡C-) between the core donor and the acceptor. This improvement leads to a remarkable enhancement of two-photon cross-sections, indicating that the interbranch interaction results in the amplification of transition dipole moments between ground states and excited states. The interpretations of the observed photophysical properties are further supported by theoretical investigation, which reveal that the changes of the transition dipole moments of the branched quadrupolar chromophores play a critical role in observed the two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-section for an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state interaction in the multibranched quadrupolar chromophores.     

A combined experimental and theoretical study on photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer in trans-ethyl p-(dimethylamino)cinamate

Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) behavior of trans-ethyl p-(dimethylamino)cinamate (EDAC) in various solvents has been studied by steady-state absorption and emission, picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and femtosecond transient absorption experiments as well as time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Large fluorescence spectral shift in more polar solvents indicates an efficient charge transfer from the donor site to the acceptor moiety in the excited state compared to the ground state. The energy for 0,0 transition (ν_0,0) for EDAC shows very good linear correlation with static solvent dielectric property. The relaxation dynamics of EDAC in the excited state can be effectively described by a “three state” model where, the locally excited (LE) state converts into the ICT state within 350 ± 100 fs. A combination of solvent reorganization and intramolecular vibrational relaxation within 0.5–6 ps populates the relaxed ICT state which undergoes fluorescence decay within few tens to hundreds of picoseconds.     

Photophysical properties of photoactive molecules with conjugated push-pull structures

The photophysical properties of two newly synthesized photoactive compounds with asymmetrical D-pi-A structure and symmetrical D-pi-A-pi-D structure are investigated in different aprotic solvents by steady-state and femtosecond fluorescence depletion measurements. It is found that the asymmetrical DA compound has larger dipole moment change than that of the symmetrical DAD compound upon excitation, where the dipole moments of the two compounds have been estimated using the Lippert-Mataga equation. Furthermore, the steady-state spectral results show that increasing solvent polarity results in small solvatochromic shift in the absorption maxima but a large red shift in the fluorescence maxima for them, indicating that the dipole moment changes mainly reflect the changes of dipole moment in excited-state rather than in ground state. The red-shifted fluorescence band is attributed to an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state upon photoexcitation, which could result in a strong interaction with the surrounding solvents to cause the fast solvent reorganization. The resulting ICT states of symmetrical compounds are less polar than the asymmetrical compounds, indicating the different extents of stabilization of solute-solvent interaction in the excited state. Femtosecond fluorescence depletion measurements are further employed to investigate the fast solvation effects and dynamics of the ICT state of these two novel compounds. The femtosecond fluorescence depletion results show that the DA compound has faster solvation time than that of DAD compound, which corresponds to the formation of relaxed ICT state (i.e., a final ICT state with rearranged solvent molecules after solvation) in polar solvents. It is therefore reasonably understood that the ICT compounds with asymmetrical (D-pi-A) structure have better performance for those photovoltaic devices, which strongly rely on the nature of the electron push-pull ability, compared to those symmetrical compounds (D-pi-A-pi-D).     

Folding of alternating dialkylsilylene-spaced donor-acceptor copolymers: the oligomer approach

A series of oligmers with donor-acceptor pairs separated by diisopropylsilylene (iPr(2)Si) spacers, composed of monomer 4b, dimer 5, trimer 6, and tetramer 7, were synthesized to scrutinize the folding behavior. Monomer 4a with a dimethylsilylene (Me(2)Si) spacer was also prepared for comparison. The 4-aminostyrene moiety was used as the donor and the stilbene moiety as the acceptor. Both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic measurement were made. Regardless of the substituents on the silicon atom, the emission spectra of 4a and 4b exhibit both local excited (LE) emission of the acceptor chromophore and emission from the charge-separated state (CT emission), which are similar to that of the corresponding Me(2)Si-spaced copolymer 2a with the same donor and acceptor chromophores, but different from that of the copolymer with the iPr(2)Si spacer 2b. Dimer 5 behaves like 4 and 2a. As the chain length of the oligomers increases, the emission properties of the higher homologues become prone to that of 2b. Thus, tetramer 7 exhibits emission from the charge-transfer complex, which is essentially same as that of 2b. Moreover, charge-transfer absorptions emerge in 6 and 7. These results suggest that the folding nature of oligomers approaches that of the corresponding polymer, as the degree of oligomerization increases, and the electronic interactions between adjacent donor-acceptor pairs are controlled by the steric effect of the substituents on the silicon atoms and concomitant amplification of the stabilizing energy by extending the distance of the folding structure.     

Evidence for excited state intramolecular charge transfer in benzazole-based pseudo-stilbenes

Two azo compounds were obtained through the diazotization reaction of aminobenzazole derivatives and N,N-dimethylaniline using clay montmorillonite KSF as catalyst. The synthesized dyes were characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and (13)C and (1)H NMR spectroscopy in solution. Their photophysical behavior was studied using UV-vis and steady-state fluorescence in solution. These dyes present intense absorption in the blue region. The spectral features of the azo compounds can be related to the pseudo-stilbene type as well as the E isomer of the dyes. Excitation at the absorption maxima does not produce emissive species in the excited state. However, excitation around 350 nm allowed dual emission of fluorescence, from both a locally excited (LE, short wavelength) and an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT, long wavelength) state, which was corroborated by a linear relation of the fluorescence maximum (ν(max)) versus the solvent polarity function (Δf) from the Lippert-Mataga correlation. Evidence of TICT in these dyes was discussed from the viscosity dependence of the fluorescence intensity in the ICT emission band. Theoretical calculations were also performed in order to study the geometry and charge distribution of the dyes in their ground and excited electronic states. Using DFT methods at the theoretical levels BLYP/Aug-cc-pVDZ, for geometry optimizations and frequency calculations, and B3LYP/6-311+G(2d), for single-point energy evaluations, the calculations revealed that the least energetic and most intense photon absorption leads to a very polar excited state that relaxes non-radioactively, which can be associated with photochemical isomerization.     

Effect of hydrogen bonding on the intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence of 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylaminonaphtalene

The effect of hydrogen bonding on the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) of 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylaminonaphtalene (laurdan) in neat and binary solvent mixtures has been investigated by using steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. The different features of ICT emission of laurdan in methylcyclohexane–tetrahydrofuran and methylcyclohexane–ethanol are explained by the absence and presence of hydrogen bonded ICT. The presence of isosbestic point in absorption spectra of laurdan in methylcyclohexane–ethanol confirms the formation of 1:1 complex between laurdan and ethanol. The obtained data were used to determine the stoichiometric equilibrium constants. In protic rigid (77 K) the fluorescence spectra of laurdan show excitation wavelength dependence (the red-edge effect). Moreover, we reported the decay characteristics of laurdan molecule in locally excited (LE) and ICT state in methylcyclohexane–ethanol.     

Effects of solvent, pH and beta-cyclodextrin on the photophysical properties of 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde: intramolecular charge transfer associated with hydrogen bonding effect

The photophysical properties of 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (HDMB) in various solvents, pH and in aqueous beta-cyclodextrin (CD) have been investigated. In non-polar solvents, HDMB gives only one emission maxima; whereas, in polar solvents it shows a dual luminescence. The increase in Stokes shift with increase in polarity is much more for longer wavelength (LW) than for a shorter wavelength (SW) band. This behaviour indicates the formation of an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state through relaxation from the normal excited state. Especially in water, the ICT emission is further red shifted to 430 nm with the normal emission band at 330 nm and the relative fluorescence intensities between 330 nm and 430 nm emission bands are affected by the excitation wavelength. However, this excitation wavelength dependence is not large in aqueous beta-CD solutions. These results suggest that the ICT state in polar solvents/water is stabilized through exciplex formation by the hydrogen-bonding interaction between the carbonyl group and polar solvents/water. The ground and excited state pK(a) values for the neutral-monoanion equilibrium have been measured and discussed. HDMB forms a 1:1 inclusion complex with beta-CD. A mechanism is proposed to explain the inclusion process.     

Excited-state intramolecular charge transfer in 9-aminoacridine derivative

A new fluorochromic dye was obtained from the reaction of 9-aminoacridine with ethyl-2-cyano-3-ethoxyacrylate. It displays complex fluorescence that is ascribed to normal emission from the acridine chromophore in addition to excited-state intramolecular charge transfer (ESICT) formed upon light excitation. The analysis of the fluorescence decays in different solvents reveals two short-lived components in the range of 80-450 ps and 0.7-3.2 ns, ascribed to the formation and decay of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state, in addition to a third component of about 9.0 ns, which is related to the normal emission from the acridine singlet excited state, probably in an enol-imine tautomeric form. The ICT emission is readily quenched by water addition to polar solvents, and this effect is ascribed to changes in the keto-amine/enol-imine equilibrium of this fluorochromic dye.     

Efficient emission from charge recombination during the pulse radiolysis of electrochemical luminescent donor-acceptor molecules with an ethynyl linkage

Efficient monomer and excimer emission from various donor-acceptor substituted phenylethynes (PE), which are known as efficient electrogenerated chemiluminescent molecules, was observed with time-resolved fluorescence measurement during the pulse radiolysis in benzene. On the basis of the transient absorption and emission measurements, and steady-state measurements, the formation of PE in the singlet excited state (1PE*) and the excimer (1PE2*) can be interpreted by the charge recombination between the PE radical cation (PE.+) and the PE radical anion (PE.-) which are generated initially from the radiolytic reaction in benzene. It is suggested that the positive and negative charges are localized on the donor and acceptor moieties in the radical cation and anion, respectively. This mechanism is reasonably explained by the relationship between the annihilation enthalpy changes (-DeltaH' degrees ) and singlet excitation energies of donor-substituted phenyl(9-acridinyl)ethynes (1(a-e)). In addition to the monomer emission, the compounds bearing weak donors (1(a-d)) show the excimer emission due to a very small twist angle between the donor and acceptor moieties. For the phenyl(9-cyano-10-anthracenyl)ethynes (2(c) and 2(f)), although they also show the monomer and excimer emissions, it cannot be explained by the relationship between -DeltaH' degrees values and their singlet excitation energies, suggesting the formation of the ICT state and H-type excimer in which two 9-cyano-10-anthracenyl moieties are stacked face-to-face with donor bearing a benzene ring projecting perpendicularly away from each other through the charge recombination between 2.+) and 2.-) and/or triplet-triplet annihilation.     

Experimental and theoretical study of three new benzothiazole-fused carbazole derivatives

Three new D-π-A type compounds, each containing one benzothiazole ring as an electron acceptor and one N-ethylcarbazole group as electron donor, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, NMR, MS and thermogravimetric analysis. The absorption and emission spectra of three compounds were experimentally determined in several solvents and were simultaneously computed using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The calculated reorganization energy for hole and electron indicates that three compounds are in favor of hole transport than electron transport. The calculated absorption and emission wavelengths are well coincident with the measured data. The calculated lowest-lying absorption spectra can be mainly attributed to intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). And the calculated fluorescence spectra can be mainly described as originating from an excited state with intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character. The results show that three compounds exhibited excellent thermal stability and high fluorescence quantum yields, indicating their potential applications as excellent optoelectronic material in optical field.     

Efficient Intramolecular Charge Transfer in Oligoyne‐Linked Donor–π–Acceptor Molecules

Studies are reported on a series of triphenylamine–(C?C)_n–2,5‐diphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole dyad molecules (n=1–4, 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 , respectively) and the related triphenylamine‐C₆H₄–(C?C)₃–oxadiazole dyad 5 . The oligoyne‐linked D–π–A (D=electron donor, A=electron acceptor) dyad systems have been synthesised by palladium‐catalysed cross‐coupling of terminal alkynyl and butadiynyl synthons with the corresponding bromoalkynyl moieties. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal a reduction in the HOMO–LUMO gap in the series of compounds 1 – 4 as the oligoyne chain length increases, which is consistent with extended conjugation through the elongated bridges. Photophysical studies provide new insights into conjugative effects in oligoyne molecular wires. In non‐polar solvents the emission from these dyad systems has two different origins: a locally excited (LE) state, which is responsible for a π*→π fluorescence, and an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state, which produces charge‐transfer emission. In polar solvents the LE state emission vanishes and only ICT emission is observed. This emission displays strong solvatochromism and analysis according to the Lippert–Mataga–Oshika formalism shows significant ICT for all the luminescent compounds with high efficiency even for the longer more conjugated systems. The excited‐state properties of the dyads in non‐polar solvents vary with the extent of conjugation. For more conjugated systems a fast non‐radiative route dominates the excited‐state decay and follows the Engelman–Jortner energy gap law. The data suggest that the non‐radiative decay is driven by the weak coupling limit.     

Dipolar stabilization of emissive singlet charge transfer excited states in polyfluorene copolymers

The singlet excited-state dynamics in poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorene)-(dibenzothiophene-S,S-dioxide)] (PFSx ) random copolymers with different contents of dibenzothiophene-S,S-dioxide (S) units have been studied by steady-state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopies. Emission from PFSx copolymers shows a pronounced solvatochromism in polar chloroform, relative to the less polar toluene. An excited intramolecular charge transfer state (ICT) is stabilized by dipole-dipole interactions with the polar solvent cage, and possibly accompanied by conformational rearrangement of the molecular structure, in complete analogy with their small oligomer counterparts. The spectral dynamics clearly show that the ICT stabilization is strongly affected by the surrounding medium. In the solid state, emission from PFSx copolymers depends on the content of S units, showing an increase of inhomogeneous broadening and a red shift of the optical transitions. This observation is consistent with stabilization of the emissive ICT state, by the local reorientation of the surrounding molecules at the location of the excited chromophore, which results in favorable dipole-dipole interactions driven by the increase in the dielectric constant of the bulk polymer matrix with increasing S content, in analogy to what happens in polar solvent studies. Furthermore, in clear agreement with the interpretation described above, a strong increase in the emission quantum efficiency is observed in the solid state by decreasing the temperature and freezing out the molecular torsions and dipole-dipole interactions necessary to stabilize the ICT state.     

Time-dependent density functional theory study of the spectroscopic properties related to aggregation in the platinum(II) biphenyl dicarbonyl complex

Singlet ground-state geometry optimization of the monomer, four dimers, and the trimer of [Pt(bph)(CO)(2)], where bph = biphenyl dianion, was performed at the B3LYP level of density functional theory (DFT) with a mixed basis set (6-311G** on C, O, and H atoms; the Stuttgart/Dresden (SDD) effective core potential (ECP) on the Pt core; [6s5p3d] on the Pt valence shell). The aggregation was based on Pt[bond]Pt binding as well as on pi[bond]pi and electrostatic interactions. The lowest-lying triplet-state geometries of the monomer, one dimer, and the trimer of the complex were also optimized using the above theory. Significant shortening of the Pt[bond]Pt bond was recorded in the triplet state compared to the singlet one. A number of low-energy singlet and triplet allowed excited states were calculated using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and analyzed with respect to absorption, excitation, and emission spectra collected under various conditions. Simulated spectra of the monomer and dimer based on the singlet excited states were correlated with the absorption spectrum. The emission in concentrated solution was due to the triplet dimer, and the emitting states were (3)MLCT and Pt-centered states.     

Unusual Solvatofluorochromism of the Asymmetrically Substituted Aromatic Acetylene Derivative CNAacDMA**

The photophysical properties of the newly synthesized unsymmetrically substituted aromatic acetylene derivative 9-(2-(4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl)ethynyl)anthracene-10-carbonitrile (CNAacDMA) were investigated with the steady-state and time-resolved fluorometry. In saturated hydrocarbon solvents, only fluorescence from a locally-excited state (LE) is recorded. In more polar solvents however, excitation of this dye leads to a charge transfer state (CT). In moderate polar solvents (ϵ=4–8) dual emission is observed as a result of competition between structural change and intramolecular charge transfer in the excited state. In polar solvents only one emission band, at shorter wavelength than CT emission, is observed, indicating a bidirectional solvatofluorochromism.     

Ground-state interactions of spermine-substituted naphthalimides with mononucleotides

Water soluble spermine, spermine-naphthalimide, and pyridinium-substituted 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives have been synthesized as nucleotide-specific binding agents. Both mono- and bifunctionalized spermine compounds were studied. The photophysical properties of each compound were studied by using time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence and absorption spectroscopies. The fluorescence decay of the mononaphthalimides was adequately fit to a single exponential decay, and in all cases, the lifetime (2.4 ns) was independent of the imide substitutent. In the case of the bisnaphthalimide, emission from both the monomer and ground-state dimer forms was observed. The fluorescence quantum yield of the monomer (0.03) was significantly smaller than that of the mononaphthalimides (0.27). The dimer emission was red-shifted relative to that of the monomer. The singlet-state lifetime of the dimer was found to be 20 ns. In all cases, only absorption from the triplet excited state was observed, indicating no evidence of a naphthalimide radical anion from dimer excitation. The ground-state interactions of the naphthalimides with four nucleotides were investigated. Nucleotide selectivity was evaluated by determining their individual binding constants (Keq). The association constants were measured by using absorption, time-resolved fluorescence, and combined time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence. The equilibrium binding constant was largest for association of the spermine-substituted mononaphthalimide with adenosine monophosphate (Keq=550 M-1) or guanosine monophosphate (Keq=440 M-1). The dimer form of the disubstituted spermine also showed binding constants in excess of 200 M-1 with the purine nucleotides. The association constant for binding of the pyridinium-substituted naphthalimide showed little dependence on the structure of the nucleotide.     

Computational characterization of low-lying states and intramolecular charge transfers in N-phenylpyrrole and the planar-rigidized fluorazene

Low-lying states and intramolecular charge transfers in N-phenylpyrrole (PP) and its planar-rigidized derivative fluorazene (FPP) have been investigated by ab initio methodologies. On the basis of calculations, properties of the excited states and plausible dual-fluorescence mechanisms have been elucidated. Present results show that S2 as a key state is involved in the consecutive photophysical processes. The S2 state is easily populated under excitation. In the polar MeCN solution, S2 can evolve to either a lower-energy locally excited state or a lower-energy solvated intramolecular charge-transfer state (S-ICT). The former emits a normal fluorescence back to the ground state, and the latter is exclusively responsible for the red-shifted fluorescence band. Calculations reveal that the emissive ICT states in both FPP and PP have similar geometric features, an elongated N-phenyl bond, a pyramidal carbon atom linking the pyrrole ring, and a quinonoid phenyl ring. The twisting of molecule around the N-phenyl bond is not necessary for the intramolecular charge transfer. Predicted absorption and emission spectra are in reasonable agreement with the experimental observations.     

Detection of the local structural changes in the dimer interface of BamHI initiated by DNA binding and dissociation using a solvatochromic fluorophore

To detect the local structural change in an interface between proteins induced by the substrate binding and dissociation, a solvatochromic fluorescent N(beta)-L-alanyl-5-(N,N-dimethylamino)-naphthalene-1-sulfonamide (DanAla) was introduced into 132 position of the dimer interface in BamHI. Before addition of the substrate, the fluorescence from the normal planer excited state of DanAla moiety was observed as a main emission, and thereby the DanAla in the dimer interface is located in the hydrophobic microenvironment. The incubation with the substrate for 20 min induced the gradual increase in fluorescence intensity around 430 nm. The fact reflects that the polarity is reduced by the slight structural change initiated by the formation of the complex with the substrate. Furthermore, the incubation for more than 20 min caused the slight decrease in fluorescence around 430 nm and an appearance of fluorescence (560 nm) due to twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) excited state. Therefore, the DanAla is exposed to comparative polar environment after the dissociation of the substrate. The fluorescence lifetime as a minor component, which is attributed to the TICT excited state, was reduced by addition of the substrate. The results provide that the hydrophobicity in the dimer interface is increased by the substrate binding. Interestingly, we found that the structure of an initial form is different from that of a refolded form after the dissociation of the substrate using a spectral subtraction technique. We have achieved detection of the changing structure induced by the substrate binding and dissociation using a steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence.     

吩噻嗪衍生物的分子内电荷转移激发态的特性

A series of N-bonded donor-acceptor derivatives of phenothiazine containing benzene (PHPZ), anisole (ANPZ), pyridine (PYPZ), naphthalene (NAPZ), acetophenone (PEPZ), and benzonitrile (BNPZ) as an electron acceptor was synthesized. Their photophysical properties were investigated in solvents of different polarities by absorption and emission techniques. These studies clearly reveals the existence of an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) excited state in the latter four compounds. The solvent dependent Stokes shift values were analyzed by the modified Lippert-Mataga equation to obtain the excited state dipole moment values. The large excited state dipole moment suggests that the full electron transfer takes place in the A-D systems. The obtained values of redox potentials indicate that both subunits of all the A-D molecules studied interact very weakly in the ground states. The results obtained from the analysis of the CT fluorescence spectra confirm that the small conformational changes accompanying excited state charge transfer, the twist angle between the donor and acceptor moieties in the excited 1CT state seems to be similar to that in the ground state.     

以芳香硫醚为桥链的三体化合物的荧光分子开关性能

将一些发色团分子组装成具有特定功能的分子器件,是近年来随超分子化学和分子信息科学兴起而十分活跃的领域［１］,其中具有逻辑功能的光控开关器件是下一代分子计算机的核心,它们可在分子水平实现信息的存储和数据的处理、传输［２］．国内外这方面的研究主要有顺反异...     

Spectral properties of intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence probe 1-keto-2-(p-dimethylaminobenzal)-tetrahydronaphthalene

The photophysical properties of a new compound 1-keto-2-(p-dimethylaminobenzal)-tetrahydronaphthalene in various solvents at room temperature were characterized by the absorption and steady-state fluorescence technique. The bathochromic shift on the emission spectra, the broad halfwidth of the fluorescence band and the increase in the excited state dipole moment occurred. These results gave the evidence about the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character in the emitting singlet state of the compound.