Ultrafast intramolecular charge transfer with N-(4-cyanophenyl)carbazole. Evidence for a LE precursor and dual LE + ICT fluorescence

The photophysics of N-(4-cyanophenyl)carbazole (NP4CN) was investigated by using absorption and fluorescence spectra, picosecond fluorescence decays, and femtosecond transient absorption. In the nonpolar n-hexane as well as in the polar solvent acetonitrile (MeCN), a locally excited (LE) state is detected, as a precursor for the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state. A LE → ICT reaction time τ(2) at 22 °C of 0.95 ps in ethyl cyanide (EtCN) and 0.32 ps in MeCN is determined from the decay of the LE excited state absorption (ESA) maximum around 620 nm. In the ESA spectrum of NP4CN in n-hexane at a pump-probe delay time of 100 ps, an important contribution of the LE band remains alongside the ICT band, in contrast to what is observed in EtCN and MeCN. This shows that a LE ? ICT equilibrium is established in this solvent and the ICT reaction time of 0.5 ps is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the forward and backward ICT rate constants 1/(k(a) + k(d)). In the photostationary S(0) → S(n) absorption spectrum of NP4CN in n-hexane and MeCN, an additional CT absorption band appears, absent in the sum of the spectra of its electron donor (D) and acceptor (A) subgroups carbazole and benzonitrile. This CT band is located at an energy of ～4000 cm(-1) lower than for N-phenylcarbazole (NPC), due to the larger electron affinity of the benzonitrile moiety of NP4CN than the phenyl subunit of NPC. The fluorescence spectrum of NP4CN in n-hexane at 25 °C mainly consists of a structured LE emission, with a small ICT admixture, indicating that a LE → ICT reaction just starts to occur under these conditions. In di-n-pentyl ether (DPeE) and di-n-butyl ether (DBE), a LE emission is found upon cooling at the high-energy edge of the ICT fluorescence band, caused by the onset of dielectric solvent relaxation. This is not the case in more polar solvents, such as diethyl ether (DEE) and MeCN, in which a structureless ICT emission band fully overlaps the strongly quenched LE fluorescence. For the series of D/A molecules NPC, N-(4-fluorophenyl)carbazole (NP4F), N-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbazole (NP4CF), and NP4CN, with increasing electron affinity of their phenyl subgroup, an ICT emission in n-hexane 25 °C only is present for NP4CN, whereas in MeCN an ICT fluorescence is observed with NP4CF and NP4CN. The ICT fluorescence appears when for the energies E(ICT) of the ICT state and E(S(1)) of the lowest excited singlet state the condition E(ICT) ≤ E(S(1)) holds. E(ICT) is calculated from the difference E(D/D(+)) - E(A(-)/A) of the redox potentials of the D and A subgroups of the N-phenylcarbazoles. From solvatochromic measurements with NP4CN an ICT dipole moment μ(e)(ICT) = 19 D is obtained, somewhat larger than the literature values of 10-16 D, because of a different Onsager radius ρ. The carbazole/phenyl twist angle θ = 45° of NP4CN in the S(0) ground state, determined from X-ray crystal analysis, has become smaller for its ICT state, in analogy with similar conclusions for related N-phenylcarbazoles and other D/A molecules in the literature.     

Combining high electron affinity and intramolecular charge transfer in 1,3-dithiole-nitrofluorene push-pull diads

Attaching electron-rich 1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene moieties to polynitrofluorene electron acceptors leads to the formation of highly conjugated compounds 6 to 11, which combine high electron affinity with a pronounced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) that is manifested as an intense absorption band in their visible spectra. Such a rare combination of optical and electronic properties is beneficial for several applications in optoelectronics. Thus, incorporation of fluorene-dithiole derivative 6a into photoconductive films affords photothermoplastic storage media with dramatically increased photosensitivity in the ICT region. A wide structural variation of the dithiole and fluorene parts of the molecules reveals excellent correlation between the ICT energy and the reduction potential with the Hammett's parameters for the substituents. Although only a small solvatochromism of the ICT band was observed, heating the solution led to a pronounced blueshift, which was probably as a result of increased twisting around the C9=C14 bond that links the fluorene and dithiole moieties. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 7a, 8a, 10a, 11a and 13a confirms an ICT interaction in the ground state of the molecules. The C9=C14 double bond between the donor and acceptor is substantially elongated and its length increases as the donor character of the dithiole moiety is enhanced.     

Presence and absence of excited state intramolecular charge transfer with the six isomers of dicyano-N,N-dimethylaniline and dicyano-(N-methyl-N-isopropyl)aniline

The excited state behavior of the six m,n-dicyano-N,N-dimethylanilines (mnDCDMA) and m,n-dicyano-(N-methyl-N-isopropyl)anilines (mnDCMIA) is discussed as a function of solvent polarity and temperature. The dicyano moiety in these electron donor (D)/acceptor (A) molecules has a considerably larger electron affinity than the benzonitrile subgroup in 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN). Nevertheless, the fluorescence spectra of the mnDCDMAs and mnDCMIAs in n-hexane all consist of a single emission originating from the locally excited (LE) state, indicating that a reaction from LE to an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state does not take place. The calculated energies E(ICT), obtained by employing the reduction potential of the dicyanobenzene subgroups and the oxidation potential of the amino substituents trimethylamine (N(Me)(3)) and isopropyldimethylamine (iPrNMe(2)), are lower than E(LE). The absence of an LE → ICT reaction therefore makes clear that the D and A units in the dicyanoanilines are not electronically decoupled. In the polar solvent acetonitrile (MeCN), dual (LE + ICT) fluorescence is found with 24DCDMA and 34DCDMA, as well as with 24DCMIA, 25DCMIA, and 34DCMIA. For all other mnDCDMAs and mnDCMIAs, only LE emission is observed in MeCN. The ICT/LE fluorescence quantum yield ratio Φ'(ICT)/Φ(LE) in MeCN at 25 °C is larger for 24DCDMA (1.2) than for 34DCDMA (0.35). The replacement of methyl by isopropyl in the amino substituent leads to a considerable increase of Φ'(ICT)/Φ(LE), 8.8 for 24DCMIA and 1.4 for 34DCMIA, showing that the LE ? ICT equilibrium has shifted further toward ICT. The appearance of an ICT reaction with the 2,4- and 3,4-dicyanoanilines is caused by a relatively small energy gap ΔE(S(1),S(2)) between the two lowest excited singlet states as compared with the other m,n-dicyanoanilines, in accordance with the PICT model. The observation that the ICT reaction is more efficient for 24DCMIA and 34DCMIA than for their mnDCDMA counterparts is mainly caused by the fact that iPrNMe(2) is a better electron donor than N(Me)(3): E(D/D(+)) = 0.84 against 1.05 V vs SCE. That ICT also occurs with 25DCMIA, notwithstanding its large ΔE(S(1),S(2)), is due to the substantial amino twist angle θ = 42.6°, which leads to partial electronic decoupling of the D and A subgroups. The dipole moments μ(e)(ICT) range between 18 D for 34DCMIA and 12 D for 25DCMIA, larger than the corresponding μ(e)(LE) of 16 and 11 D. The difference between μ(e)(ICT) and μ(e)(LE) is smaller than with DMABN (17 and 10 D) because of the noncollinear arrangement of the amino and cyano substituents (different dipole moment directions). The dicyanoanilines that do not undergo ICT, have LE dipole moments between 9 and 16 D. From plots of ln(Φ'(ICT)/Φ(LE)) vs 1000/T, the (rather small) ICT reaction enthalpies ΔH could be measured in MeCN: 5.4 kJ/mol (24DCDMA), 4.7 kJ/mol (24DCMIA), and 3.9 kJ/mol (34DCMIA). With the mnDCDMAs and mnDCMIAs only showing LE emission, the fluorescence decays are single exponential, whereas for those undergoing an LE → ICT reaction the LE and ICT picosecond fluorescence decays are double exponential. In MeCN at 25 °C, the decay times τ(2) have values between 1.8 ps for 24DCMIA and 4.6 ps for 34DCMIA at 25 °C. Longer times are observed at lower temperatures. Arrhenius plots of the forward and backward ICT rate constants k(a) and k(d) of 25DCMIA in tetrahydrofuran, obtained from the LE and ICT fluorescence decays, give the activation energies E(a) = 4.5 kJ/mol and E(d) = 11.9 kJ/mol, i.e., ΔH = -7.4 kJ/mol. From femtosecond transient absorption spectra of 24DCDMA and 34DCDMA at 22 °C, ICT reaction times τ(2) = 1/(k(a) + k(d)) of 1.8 and 3.1 ps are determined. By combining these results with the data for the fluorescence decays and Φ'(ICT)/Φ(LE), the values k(a) = 49 × 10(10) s(-1) (24DCDMA) and k(a) = 23 × 10(10) s(-1) (34DCDMA) are calculated. An LE and ICT excited state absorption is present even at a pump/probe delay time of 100 ps, showing that an LE ? ICT equilibrium is established.     

Intramolecular charge transfer with the planarized 4-aminobenzonitrile 1-tert-butyl-6-cyano-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (NTC6)

Fast and efficient intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and dual fluorescence is observed with the planarized aminobenzonitrile 1-tert-butyl-6-cyano-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (NTC6) in a series of solvents from n-hexane to acetonitrile and methanol. Such a reaction does not take place for the related molecules with 1-isopropyl (NIC6) and 1-methyl (NMC6) groups, nor with the 1-alkyl-5-cyanoindolines with methyl (NMC5), isopropyl (NIC5), or tert-butyl (NTC5) substituents. For these molecules, a single fluorescence band from a locally excited (LE) state is found. The charge transfer reaction of NTC6 is favored by its relatively small energy gap DeltaE(S(1),S(2)), in accordance with the PICT model for ICT in aminobenzonitriles. For the ICT state of NTC6, a dipole moment of around 19 D is obtained from solvatochromic measurements, similar to micro(e)(ICT) = 17 D of 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN). For NMC5, NIC5, NTC5, NMC6, and NIC6, a dipole moment of around 10 D is determined by solvatochromic analysis, the same as that of the LE state of DMABN. For NTC6 in diethyl ether at -70 degrees C, the forward ICT rate constant (1.3 x 10(11) s(-1)) is much smaller than that of the back reaction (5.9 x 10(9) s(-1)), showing that the equilibrium is on the ICT side. The results presented here make clear that ICT can very well take place with a planarized molecule such as NTC6, when DeltaE(S(1),S(2)) is sufficiently small, indicating that a perpendicular twist of the amino group relative to the rest of the molecule is not necessary for reaching an ICT state with a large dipole moment. The six-membered alicyclic ring in NMC6, for example, prevents ICT by increasing DeltaE(S(1),S(2)) relative to that of DMABN.     

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).     

Determination of the ground state,excited state and change in dipole moments of magnesium and zinc chlorin

High-resolution Stark effect measurements on the S1 <-- S0 (pi pi*) origin of magnesium chlorin (MgCh) and zinc chlorin (ZnCh) in single crystals of n-octane at 4.2 K are reported. The corresponding change in dipole moment (absolute value(delta mu(ge))) associated with each transition was estimated to be 0.23 +/- 0.04 and 0.27 +/- 0.05 debye, respectively. Each molecule's orientation in the n-octane crystal was also determined. The change in dipole moment of MgCh was also found using solvatochromic shift data (absolute value(delta mu(ge))) = 0.33 +/- 0.08 debye). The ground state dipole moment (mu(g)) of MgCh was determined by dielectric constant measurement of MgCh/benzene solutions (mu(g) = 2.26 +/- 0.08 debye). These were combined to calculate the average excited state dipole moment of MgCh (mu(e) = 2.51 +/- 0.08 debye). The ground state dipole moment of ZnCh was also determined using solvatochromic shift data (mu(g) = 3.17 +/- 0.08 debye). This was combined with its measured absolute value(delta mu(ge)) to calculate the excited state dipole moment of ZnCh (mu(e) = 3.44 +/- 0.08 debye); the S1 <-- S0 (pi pi*) origin band of both complexes was red-shifted at room temperature as the polarity of the solvents was increased, which implies that delta mu(ge) is positive.     

Experimental measurement of the induced dipole moment of an isolated molecule in its ground and electronically excited states: indole and indole-H2O

Reported here are measurements of the magnitude and orientation of the induced dipole moment that is produced when an indole molecule in its ground S(0) and electronically excited S(1) states is polarized by the attachment of a hydrogen bonded water molecule in the gas phase complex indole-H(2)O. For the complex, we find the permanent dipole moment values mu(IW)(S(0)) = 4.4 D and mu(IW)(S(1)) = 4.0 D, values that are substantially different from calculated values based on vector sums of the dipole moments of the component parts. From this result, we derive the induced dipole moment values mu(I) (*)(S(0)) = 0.7 D and mu(I) (*)(S(1)) = 0.5 D. The orientation of the induced moment also is significantly different in the two electronic states. These results are quantitatively reproduced by a purely electrostatic calculation based on ab initio values of multipole moments.     

On the dipole moments and first-order hyperpolarizability of N,N-bis(4-bromobutyl)-4-nitrobenzenamine

The nonlinear optical molecule N,N-bis(4-bromobutyl)-4-nitrobenzenamine was synthesized. The ground state dipole moment was determined by the Debye-Guggenheim method. A solvent mixture of acetonitrile and toluene was used for the solvatochromic determination of the excited state dipole moment. Excited state has a high value for the dipole moment which indicated a higher degree of charge transfer from the donor to the acceptor moiety on excitation by light. The first hyperpolarizability (beta(ijk)) of the molecule was evaluated assuming the two level model of the first hyperpolarizability.     

Effect of the π Bridge and Acceptor on Intramolecular Charge Transfer in Push–Pull Cationic Chromophores: An Ultrafast Spectroscopic and TD‐DFT Computational Study

Three (donor–π–acceptor)⁺ systems with a methyl pyridinium or quinolinium as the electron‐deficient group, a dimethyl amino as the electron‐donor group, and an ethylene or butadiene group as the spacer have been investigated in a joint spectroscopic and TD‐DFT computational study. A negative solvatochromism has been revealed in the absorption spectra, which implies a solution color change, and interpreted by considering the variation in the permanent dipole moment modulus and orientation upon photoexcitation. The fluorescence efficiency decreases upon increasing solvent polarity, in agreement with the excited‐state optimized geometries (planar in low‐polarity media and twisted in high‐polarity media). Femtosecond transient absorption has revealed the occurrence of a fast photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and the molecular factors that determine an efficient ICT. Considering the crucial role of the ICT in tuning the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, these compounds can be considered promising NLO materials.     

Tetrathiafulvalene?Benzothiadiazoles as Redox‐Tunable Donor–Acceptor Systems: Synthesis and Photophysical Study

Electrochemical and photophysical analysis of new donor–acceptor systems 2 and 3 , in which a benzothiadiazole (BTD) unit is covalently linked to a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) core, have verified that the lowest excited state can be ascribed to an intramolecular‐charge‐transfer (ICT) π(TTF)→π*(benzothiadiazole) transition. Owing to better overlap of the HOMO and LUMO in the fused scaffold of compound 3 , the intensity of the ¹ICT band is substantially higher compared to that in compound 2 . The corresponding CT fluorescence is also observed in both cases. The radical cation TTF^+. is easily observed through chemical and electrochemical oxidation by performing steady‐state absorption experiments. Interestingly, compound 2 is photo‐oxidized under aerobic conditions.     

Copolymers comprising 2,7-carbazole and bis-benzothiadiazole units for bulk-heterojunction solar cells

On the basis of theoretical considerations of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect, we have designed a series of donor (D)–acceptor (A) conjugated polymers based on bis‐benzothiadiazole (BBT). A PPP‐type copolymer of electron‐rich 2,7‐carbazole (CZ) and electron‐deficient BBT units poly[N‐(2‐decyltetradecyl)‐2,7‐carbazole‐co‐7,7′‐{4,4′‐bis‐(2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole)}] ( PCZ‐BBT ), a PPV‐type copolymer poly[N‐(2‐decyltetradecyl)‐2,7‐carbazolevinylene‐co‐7,7′‐{4,4′‐bis‐(2,1,3‐benzothiadiazolevinylene)}] ( PCZV‐BBTV ), and a tercopolymer based on carbazole, thiophene, and BBT poly[N‐(2‐decyltetradecyl)‐2,7‐(di‐2‐thienyl)carbazole‐co‐7,7′‐{4,4′‐bis‐(2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole)}] ( PDTCZ‐BBT ) have been synthesized to understand the influence of BBT acceptor structure and linkage on the photovoltaic characteristics of the resulting materials. Both the HOMO and LUMO of the resulting polymers are found to be deeper‐lying than those of benzothiadiazole‐based polymers. The measured electrochemical band gaps (eV) are in the following order: PDTCZ‐BBT (1.65 eV) < PCZV‐BBTV (1.69 eV) < PCZ‐BBT (1.75 eV). All the polymers provide a photovoltaic response when blended with a fullerene derivative as an electron acceptor. The best cell reaches a power conversion efficiency of 2.07 % estimated under standard solar light conditions (AM1.5G, 100 mW cm^?2). We demonstrate for the first time that BBT‐based polymers are promising materials for use in bulk‐heterojunction solar cells.     

A two-step ICT process for solvatochromic betaine pyridinium revealed by ultrafast spectroscopy, multivariate curve resolution, and TDDFT calculations

This work deals with the photophysics of a pyridinium betaine, 2-pyridin-1-yl-1H-benzimidazole (SBPa), based on a combination of steady-state, femtosecond photoionization (gas phase) and femtosecond transient absorption (solution) spectroscopic measurements, supported by (LR)-PCM-(TD)DFT calculations. Preliminary and new electrochemical results have revealed a strongly negative solvatochromic charge transfer (CT) absorption due to a S(0) → S(2) vertical transition and a weakly-solvatochromic emission due to S(1) → S(0) transition. Advanced TDDFT optimizations of the Franck-Condon states S(2)(FC) and S(1)(FC) led to two additional CT levels with planar geometry, S(2)(CT) and S(1)(CT), respectively, allowing prediction of a two-step photoinduced ICT process, i.e., S(0) → S(2)(FC) and S(2)(CT) → S(1)(CT), separated by a S(2)(FC) → S(2)(CT) back charge transfer relaxation. While the pyridinium ring is the acceptor group in both steps, two different donor groups, the benzene ring and the imidazole bridge, are involved in the excitation and internal conversion processes, respectively. Femtosecond transient absorption experiments supported by MCR-ALS decomposition confirmed indeed the contribution of two distinct CT states in the photophysics of SBPa: following excitation to the S(2)(CT) state, ultrafast production of the emissive S(1) state (the only channel observable in the gas phase) was observed to occur in competition with a further ICT process toward the S(1)(CT) state, with a time constant ranging from 300 fs to 20 ps depending on the solvent. While in aprotic media this ICT process was found to be purely solvent controlled (double polarity and viscosity dependency), in protic solvents, the influence of the hydrogen bond network has to be taken into account. Comparison with data obtained for a pre-twisted SBPa analogue led us to exclude the presence of any large-amplitude geometrical change during ICT. Analyzing the solvent dependency using the power law approach, we concluded that the S(1)(CT) state decays essentially through IC in the 3-40 ps time range whereas the emissive S(1) state decays within 130-260 ps via IC, ISC and fluorescence.     

吩噻嗪给体受体衍生物激发态的电荷转移

A series of N-bonded donor-acceptor derivatives of phenothiazine containing phenyl （PHPZ）, anisyl （ANPZ）, pyridyl （PYPZ）, naphthyl （NAPZ）, acetylphenyl （APPZ）, and cyanophenyl （CPPZ） as an electron acceptor have been synthesized. Their photophysical properties were investigated in solvents of different polarities by absorption and emission techniques. These studies clearly revealed 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 （or nearly full） electron transfer take place in the A-D systems. In the system of A-D phenothiazine derivatives, the transition dipole moments Mflu were determined mainly by direct interactions between the solvent-equilibrated fluorescence ^1CT state and ground state because of their lack of significant change with increase of the solvent polarity. The electron structure and molecular conformation of phenothiazine derivatives will be significantly changed with the increase of the electron affinity of the N-10 substituent.     

Effect of anisotropic and isotropic solvent on the dipole moment of coumarin dyes

The ground state (μ(g)) and the excited state (μ(e)) dipole moments of two coumarin laser dyes, coumarin 440 and 460, were studied at room temperature in various solvents, viz., general solvents, alcohols and liquid crystals at 298 K. In this work, we report dipole moment of laser dyes in different anisotropic (liquid crystal) and isotropic environments for understanding the effects of environments on the molecular dipole moment and comparing them. Ground and excited state dipole moments of coumarin dyes were evaluated by means of solvatochromic shift method. It was observed that dipole moment values of excited states (μ(e)) were higher than the corresponding ground state values (μ(g)) in all media.     

Dipole moments studies of fluorenone and 4-hydroxyfluorenone

Electronic absorption, excitation and fluorescence spectra of fluorenone and 4-hydroxyfluorenone were recorded at room temperature in several aprotic solvent of varying polarities. The ground (mu(g)) and excited (mu(e)) state dipole moments of both molecules were estimated from solvatochromic shifts of absorption and fluorescence spectra as a function of the dielectric constant (epsilon) and refractive index (n). These experimental results were completed with theoretical results of quantum chemical calculations (AM1). The experimental and theoretical dipole moments in the ground state were compared. It was determined that dipole moments of excited state were higher than those of the ground state for both molecules.     

An experimental and theoretical study of dipole moments of N-[4-(9-acridinylamino)-3-methoxyphenyl]methanesulfonamide

The excited state (S1) dipole moment of m-AMSA (1), an acridine derivative with antitumor activity, was determined from solvatochromic shifts of the lowest energy absorption band in several organic solvents. The effect of the solute shape and the values of polarizability on the determined change of dipole moment between ground and excited state was discussed. The dipole moments in S0 and S1 state were calculated in gas phase with semiempirical quantum-chemical and DFT and CIS methods and in solvents with SM5.4A solvation model and compared with values obtained experimentally. All the results show that the dipole moment of compound 1 in the excited state is higher than that in the ground state. These methods quite well predict the values of Deltamicro between two states of an investigated compound.     

The excited state dipole moments of betaine pyridinium investigated by an innovative solvatochromic analysis and TDDFT calculations

This work reports on the solvatochromic properties of a simple heterocyclic betaine pyridinium, 2-(1-pyridinio)benzimidazolate (SBPa), having promising potentialities in non-linear optics. From advanced PCM-TDDFT calculations, the solvatochromism of SBPa was found to be unusual, involving two different electronic states for absorption (S(0)→ S(2)) and emission (S(1)→S'(0)). To account for this behavior, we developed an innovative physical treatment which consists in a non-linear fit of the solvatochromic data using the Bilot-Kawski theoretical model and visualizing the least-square coefficient χ(2) on a 2D map as a function of the solute polarizability and gas phase absorption energy. In parallel, Kamlet-Taft correlations were undertaken to select a propitious set of electrostatic solvents usable in this treatment. Protic solvents that lead to specific interactions and nonpolar solvents that favor dimerization processes were excluded. From a choice of aprotic solvents with sufficiently high polarity, 4 dipole moments μ(g)(S(0)) = +9.1 D, μ(e)(S(2)) = -1.5 D, μ(e)(S(1)) = 0 D and μ(g)(S'(0)) = +3.31 D were determined, the 3 former values being in close agreement with TDDFT values, although the solute polarizability values seem underestimated. Anyhow, disregarding this discrepancy, we evaluated the static hyperpolarizability to β(0) = -64 × 10(-30) esu from the solvatochromic data in close agreement with DFT calculations.     

Solvatochromism of a novel betaine dye derived from purine

A novel solvatochromic betaine dye has been synthesized from xanthosine and characterized spectroscopically by UV-vis in a broad range of solvents. The dye 9-(2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-beta-d-ribofuranosyl)-2-(pyridinium-1-yl)-9H-purin-6-olate, 1a, exhibits solvent-induced spectral band shifts that are (2)/(3) as large as that of the betaine known as Reichardt's dye, which forms the basis of the E(T)(30) solvent polarity scale. Moreover, the dye 1a is a ribonucleoside and hence has the potential application as a polarity probe for application in RNA oligonucleotides. The isomeric dye 6-(pyridinium-1)-yl-9H-purin-2-olate, 2a, has also been synthesized and exhibits slightly smaller solvatochromic band shifts. The new betaine dyes have also been studied by comparing the experimental and calculated solvatochromic shifts based on the calculation of the UV/vis absorption spectra, using a combination of methods with density functional theory (DFT). The COSMO continuum dielectric method, an applied electric field term in the Hamiltonian, and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods were used to obtain absorption energies, ground-state dipole moments, and the difference dipole moment between the ground and excited states. The calculations predict a lower energy absorption band of charge-transfer character that is highly solvatochromic, and a higher energy absorption band that has pi-pi character which is not solvatochromic, in agreement with the experimental data. For Reichardt's dye the difference dipole moment between the ground and excited state (Deltamu = mu(e) - mu(g)) was also calculated and compared to experiment: Deltamu(calcd) = -6 D and Deltamu(exptl) = -9 +/- 1 D.(1) The ground-state dipole moment was found to be mu(g)(calcd) = 18 D and mu(g)(exptl) = 14.8 +/- 1.2 D.(1).     

Versatile Photophysical Properties of meso‐Aryl‐Substituted Subporphyrins: Dipolar and Octupolar Charge‐Transfer Interactions

Donor–acceptor systems based on subporphyrins with nitro and amino substituents at meta and para positions of the meso‐phenyl groups were synthesized and their photophysical properties have been systematically investigated. These molecules show two types of charge‐transfer interactions, that is, from center to periphery and periphery to center depending on the peripheral substitution, in which the subporphyrin moiety plays a dual role as both donor and acceptor. Based on the solvent‐polarity‐dependent photophysical properties, we have shown that the fluorescence emission of para isomers originates from the solvatochromic, dipolar, symmetry‐broken, and relaxed excited states, whereas the non‐solvatochromic fluorescence of meta isomers is of the octupolar type with false symmetry breaking. The restricted meso‐(4‐aminophenyl) rotation at low temperature prevents the intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT)‐forming process. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section values were determined by photoexcitation at 800 nm in nonpolar toluene and polar acetonitrile solvents to see the effect of ICT on the TPA processes. The large enhancement in the TPA cross‐section value of approximately 3200 GM (1 GM=10^?50 cm⁴ s photon^?1) with donor–acceptor substitution has been attributed to the octupolar effect and ICT interactions. A correlation was found between the electron‐donating/‐withdrawing abilities of the peripheral groups and the TPA cross‐section values, that is, p‐aminophenyl>m‐aminophenyl>nitrophenyl. The increased stability of octupolar ICT interactions in highly polar solvents enhances the TPA cross‐section value by a factor of approximately 2 and 4, respectively, for p‐amino‐ and m‐nitrophenyl‐substituted subporphyrins. On the other hand, the stabilization of the symmetry‐broken, dipolar ICT state gives rise to a negligible impact on the TPA processes.     

Photoinduced Intramolecular Charge Transfer in Donor-acceptor Dyad and Donor-bridge-acceptor Triad

The ground and excited state properties of the 60fullerene, diphenylbenzothiadiazole-triphenylamine (PBTDP-TPA) dyad and fullerene-diphenylbenzothiadiazole-triphenylamine (fullerene-PBTDP-TPA) triad were investigated theoretically using density functional theory with B3LYP functional and 3-21G basis et and time-dependent density functional theory with B3LYP functional and STO-3G basis set as well as 2D and 3D real space analysis methods. The 2D site representation reveals the electron-hole coherence on excitation. The 3D transition density shows the orientation and strength of the transition dipole moment, and the 3D charge difference density gives the orientation and result of the intramolecular charge transfer. Also, photoinduced intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) in PBTDP-TPA-fullerene triad are identified with 2D and 3D representations, which reveals the mechanisms of ICT in donor-bridge-acceptor triad on excitation. Besides that we also found that the direct superexchange ICT from donor to acceptor (tunneling through the bridge) strongly promotes the ICT in the donor-bridge-acceptor triad.