Charge transfer enhances two-photon absorption in transition metal porphyrins

Two-photon absorption processes were investigated in electropolymerized Fe(III), Mn(III), and Co(II) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-hydroxytetraphenyl)porphyrin films. Degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) spectroscopy with 100 fs pulses in the near-IR spectral region was used. Metalloporphyrins with strong charge transfer (CT) transitions in the linear absorption spectra also show enhanced two-photon absorption. (Metalloporphyrin two-photon absorption cross section, delta, increases >10 times over that for the metal free porphyrin.) This effect was attributed to a two-photon induced charge transfer between the metal ion's d orbitals and the pi-system of the porphyrin. Correlation of one- and two-photon absorption properties of transition metal porphyrins suggests a new and simple approach to improve organic materials for photonic applications.     

Synthesis,Photophysical Properties and Computational Studies of beta‐Substituted Porphyrin Dyads

Beta‐pyrrole‐substituted porphyrin dyads connected by ethynyl linkage to N‐butylcarbazole or triphenylamine donors are reported. Donor‐π‐acceptor type beta‐substituted porphyrin dyads and their Zn(II) and Pd(II) complexes were characterized by MALDI‐MS, NMR, UV‐vis absorption, fluorescence and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The S₁ emission dynamics were analyzed by time‐resolved spectroscopy (TCSPC); dyads exhibited efficient energy transfer up to 93% from beta‐donors (N‐butylcarbazole or triphenylamine group) to the porphyrin core. The efficiency of energy transfer for the beta‐substituted porphyrin dyads were much higher than those of the corresponding meso‐substituted porphyrin dyads, reflecting enhanced communications between the beta‐donors and the porphyrin core. The Pd(II) dyads, showed characteristic phosphorescence in the near IR region and very efficient singlet oxygen quantum yields (53–60%); these dyads are promising candidates for photocatalytic oxidations of organic compounds. The donor‐acceptor interaction between the porphyrin core and the beta‐donors was supported by the DFT studies in the porphyrin dyads.     

Singlet oxygen generation via two-photon excited FRET

A new approach to two-photon excited photodynamic therapy has been developed. A dendritic array of eight donor chromophores capable of two-photon absorption (TPA) was covalently attached to a central porphyrin acceptor. Steady-state fluorescence measurements demonstrated that the donor chromophores transfer excited-state energy to the porphyrin with 97% efficiency. Two-photon excitation of the donor chromophores at 780 nm resulted in a dramatic increase in porphyrin fluorescence relative to a porphyrin model compound. Enhanced singlet oxygen luminescence was observed from oxygen-saturated solutions of the target compound under two-photon excitation conditions.     

Porphyrins with four monodisperse oligofluorene arms as efficient red light-emitting materials

A family of red light-emitting star-shaped porphyrins with four monodisperse conjugated oligofluorene arms was prepared by using two key reactions: Lindsey condensation and Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reactions. All porphyrins exhibit high quantum yields (about 0.22) and good solubility in common organic solvents, and form high-quality solid films. Optical studies showed that the star-shaped oligomers could absorb blue light and emit saturated red light via efficient energy transfer from the fluorene segments to the porphyrin core.     

Two-photon absorption properties of self-assemblies of butadiyne-linked bis(imidazolylporphyrin)

Supramolecular porphyrin self-assemblies have been prepared from butadiyne-linked bis(imidazolylporphyrin) by complementary coordination of imidazole to zinc, and their two-photon absorption (2PA) and higher-order nonlinear absorption properties were investigated over femtosecond time scales using an open-aperture Z-scan method. The self-assembled porphyrin dimer of the conjugated monozinc bisporphyrin 7D was shown to have a large 2PA cross section (7.6 x 10(3) GM, where 1 GM = 10(-50) cm(4) s molecule(-1) photon(-1)) at 887 nm. By comparison of this result with that for a meso-meso-linked porphyrin array without the butadiyne connection (3.7 x 10(2) GM at 964 nm), it was demonstrated that the predominant factor in this significant enhancement of the cross section was the expansion of porphyrin-porphyrin pi-conjugation. Self-coordination and monozinc metalation were also found to be contributing factors. Furthermore, a novel self-assembled porphyrin polymer 8P consisting of a biszinc complex with a mean molecular weight of M(n) = 1.5 x 10(5) Da was shown to exhibit an extraordinarily large two-photon absorption cross section (4.4 x 10(5) GM at 873 nm). Nanosecond Z-scan experiments for 7D and 8P were also undertaken and resulted in the measurement of large effective 2PA cross sections, including the excited-state absorption (2.1 x 10(5) GM for 7D and 2.2 x 10(7) GM for 8P, respectively). Finally, three-photon absorption was observed by femtosecond Z-scan experiments at 1188 nm (7.1 x 10(-89) m(6) s(2)) and 1282 nm (1.8 x 10(-89) m(6) s(2)), an observation which is the first of its kind in porphyrin chemistry.     

Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Novel Multi-branched Oligomers

We investigate the fluorene-vinylene unit dependent photo-physical properties of multi-branched truxene based oligomers (Tr-OFV_n, n=1-4) employing steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, two-photon fluorescence, and z-scan technique. The results show that the increasing of fluorene-vinylene unit leads to a red-shift in the spectra of absorption and fluorescence, and shortens the excited state lifetime. Meanwhile, two-photon fluorescence efficiency and two-photon absorption cross section of truxene based oligomers gradually enhance in company with the extension of π-conjugated length. In addition, the values of two-photon absorption cross section modeled on the sum-over-state approach agree well with the experimental ones. The results indicate multi-branched truxene based oligomers bearing oligo(fluorene-vinylene) arms are promisingorganic materials for two-photon applications.     

Synthesis of star-shaped monodisperse oligo(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-2,7-vinylene)s functionalized truxenes with two-photon absorption properties

A series of new star-shaped monodisperse conjugated truxene derivatives bearing oligo(fluorene-vinylene) arms (Tr-OFVn, n = 1, 2, 3, 4) have been synthesized. It is found that the conjugation of the oligomers can be extended with prolonging the arms. Notably, the branched oligomers Tr-OFVn without strong donor and acceptor units exhibit two-photon absorption properties, and the two-photon absorption cross sections (δ(max)) increase with increasing the number of fluorene-vinylene units in the arms. The maximum value of δ(max) reaches 8073 GM for compound Tr-OFV4, which made it one of the most competitive compounds with enhanced TPA cross section. It provides a new platform for exploiting strong TPA compounds, in which the extended π-conjugated systems are involved in the absence of strong donor and acceptor units.     

Enhanced electron transfer ability <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> coordination in block copolymer/porphyrin/fullerene micelle

Inspired by structures of antenna-reaction centers in photosynthesis, the complex micelle was prepared from zinc tetra-phenyl porphyrin (ZnTPP), fullerene derivative (PyC₆₀) and poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL). The core-shell structure made the hydrophobic donor-acceptor system work in aqueous. In micellar core, coordination interaction occurred between ZnTPP and PyC₆₀ molecules which ensured the enhanced energy migration from the donor to the acceptor. The enhanced interaction between porphyrin and fullerene was confirmed by absorption, steady-state fluorescence and transient fluorescence. The generation of singlet oxygen and superoxide radical was detected by iodide method and reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium, respectively, which confirmed that electron transfer reaction in the complex micellar core occurred. Moreover, the complex micelle exhibited effective electron transfer performance in photodebromination of 2,3-dibromo-3-phenylpropionic acid. The complex micellar structure endowed the donor-acceptor system with improved stability under irradiation. This strategy could be helpful for designing new electron transfer platform and artificial photosynthetic system.     

Photon energy upconversion in porphyrins: one-photon hot-band absorption versus two-photon absorption

We study the porphyrin S₁→S₀ fluorescence and the photosensitized singlet oxygen ¹Δ_g→³Σ_g phosphorescence, both originating from absorption of photons with energy less than the porphyrin S₀→S₁ transition energy. By measuring the excitation intensity dependence of fluorescence at lowered sample temperatures, we are able to discriminate between two parallel processes of one-photon hot-band absorption (HBA) and simultaneous two-photon absorption (TPA). When the HBA and TPA contributions are comparable in magnitude, we use this new method to determine absolute TPA cross-section. We also demonstrate for the first time a singlet oxygen photosensitization via HBA in porphyrin.     

A p‐Quinodimethane‐Bridged Porphyrin Dimer

A p‐quinodimethane (p‐QDM)‐bridged porphyrin dimer 1 has been prepared for the first time. An unexpected Michael addition reaction took place when we attempted to synthesize compound 1 by reaction of the cross‐conjugated keto‐linked porphyrin dimers 8 a and 8 b with alkynyl/aryl Grignard reagents. Alternatively, compound 1 could be successfully prepared by intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation of the diol‐linked porphyrin dimer 14 with concomitant oxidation in air. Compound 1 shows intense one‐photon absorption (OPA, λ_max=955 nm, ε=45400 M ^?1 cm^?1) and a large two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section (σ⁽²⁾_max=2080 GM at 1800 nm) in the near‐infrared (NIR) region due to its extended π‐conjugation and quinoidal character. It also exhibits a short singlet excited‐state lifetime of 25 ps. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 displays multiple redox waves with a small electrochemical energy gap of 0.86 eV. The ground‐state geometry, electronic structure, and optical properties of 1 have been further studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and compared with those of the keto‐linked dimer 8 b . This research has revealed that incorporation of a p‐QDM unit into the porphyrin framework had a significant impact on its optical and electronic properties, leading to a novel NIR OPA and TPA chromophore.     

Theoretical investigation of one-photon and two-photon absorption properties for multiply N-confused porphyrins

We have theoretically investigated a series of multiply N-confused porphyrins and their Zn or Cu complexes for the first time by using DFT(B3LYP/6-31G*) and ZINDO/SOS methods. The electronic structure, one-photon absorption (OPA), and two-photon absorption (TPA) properties have been studied in detail. The calculated results indicate that the OPA spectra of multiply N-confused porphyrins are red-shifted and the OPA intensities decrease compared to normal porphyrin. The maximum two photon absorption wavelengths lambda(max) are blue-shifted and the TPA cross sections delta(max) are increased 22.7-112.1 GM when the N atoms one by one are inverted from core to beta position to form multiply N-confused porphyrins. Especially delta(max) of N3CP get to 164.7 GM. The electron donors -C6F5s at meso-position can make the TPA cross section delta(max) increase. After forming metal complexes with Cu or Zn, the TPA properties of multiply N-confused porphyrins are further increased except for N3CP, N4CP. Our theoretical findings demonstrate that the multiply N-confused prophyrins as well as their metal complexes and derivatives are promising molecules that can be assembled series of materials with large TPA cross section, and are sure to be the subject of further investigation.     

β‐Octamethoxy‐Substituted 22π and 26π Stretched Porphycenes: Synthesis,Characterization, Photodynamics,and Nonlinear Optical Studies

Three meso‐expanded tetrapyrrolic aromatic macrocycles, including 22π and 26π acetylene–cumulene bridged stretched octamethoxyporphycenes and octamethoxy[22]porphyrin‐(2.2.2.2), are reported, for the first time, by modification of previously reported synthetic methods. This strategy led to an enhancement in the overall yield of their corresponding octaethyl analogues. The methoxy‐substituted expanded porphycenes display slightly blueshifted absorption relative to their ethyl analogues, along with very weak fluorescence, probably due to efficient intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). Additionally, the two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross sections of these macrocycles were evaluated; these are strongly related to core expansion of the porphyrin aromaticity through increased meso‐bridging carbon atoms as well as conformational flexibility and substitution effects at the macrocyclic periphery. In particular, the octamethoxy stretched porphycenes display strong TPA compared with the octaethyl analogues due to the dominant ICT character of methoxy groups with a maximum TPA cross section of 830 GM at 1700 nm observed for 26π‐octamethoxyacetylene–cumuleneporphycene.     

Porphyrin/Platinum(II) C^N^N Acetylide Complexes: Synthesis,Photophysical Properties,and Singlet Oxygen Generation

A new class of substituted porphyrins has been developed in which a different number of cyclometalated Pt^II C^N^N acetylides and polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains are attached to the meso positions of the porphyrin core, which are meant for photophysical, electrochemical, and in vitro light‐induced singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generation studies. All of these Zn^II porphyrin–Pt^II C^N^N acetylide conjugates show moderate to high (Φ_Δ=0.55 to 0.63) singlet oxygen generation efficiency. The complexes are soluble in organic solvents but, despite the PEG substituents, slowly aggregate in aqueous solvent systems. These conjugates also exhibit interesting photophysical properties, including near‐complete photoinduced energy transfer (PEnT) through the rigid acetylenic bond(s) from the Pt^II C^N^N antenna units to the Zn^II porphyrin core, which shows sensitized luminescence, as shown by quenching of Pt^II C^N^N‐based luminescence. Electrochemical measurements show a set of redox processes that are approximately the sum of what is observed for the Pt^II C^N^N acetylide and Zn^II porphyrin units. UV/Vis spectroscopic properties are supported by DFT calculations.     

One- and two-photon photosensitized singlet oxygen production: characterization of aromatic ketones as sensitizer standards

Singlet molecular oxygen, O2(a1Deltag), can be efficiently produced in a photosensitized process using either one- or two-photon irradiation. The aromatic ketone 1-phenalenone (PN) is an established one-photon singlet oxygen sensitizer with many desirable attributes for use as a standard. In the present work, photophysical properties of two other aromatic ketones, pyrene-1,6-dione (PD) and benzo[cd]pyren-5-one (BP), are reported and compared to those of PN. Both PD and BP sensitize the production of singlet oxygen with near unit quantum efficiency in a nonpolar (toluene) and a polar (acetonitrile) solvent. With their more extensive pi networks, the one-photon absorption spectra for PD and BP extend out to longer wavelengths than that for PN, thus providing increased flexibility for sensitizer excitation over the range approximately 300-520 nm. Moreover, PD and BP have much larger two-photon absorption cross sections than PN over the range 655-840 nm which, in turn, results in amounts of singlet oxygen that are readily detected in optical experiments. One- and two-photon absorption spectra of PD and BP obtained using high-level calculations model the salient features of the experimental data well. In particular, the ramifications of molecular symmetry are clearly reflected in both the experimental and calculated spectra. The use of PD and BP as standards for both the one- and two-photon photosensitized production of singlet oxygen is expected to facilitate the development of new sensitizers for application in singlet-oxygen-based imaging experiments.     

Effects of conjugation length and resonance enhancement on two-photon absorption in phenylene-vinylene oligomers

Two-photon excitation spectra have been recorded over the large spectral range of 540-1000 nm for five phenylene-vinylene oligomers that differ in the length of the conjugated pi system. The significant changes observed in the two-photon excitation spectra and absorption cross sections as a function of this systematic change in the chromophore are discussed in light of (1) the corresponding one-photon absorption spectra and (2) high-level density functional response theory calculations performed on analogues of these systems. The results obtained illustrate one way to exploit parameters that influence nonlinear optical properties in large organic molecules. Specifically, data are provided to indicate that when the frequency of the laser used in the two-photon experiment is nearly-resonant with an allowed one-photon transition, significant increases in the two-photon absorption cross section can be realized. This phenomenon of the so-called resonance enhancement allows for greater control in obtaining an optimal response when using existing two-photon chromophores, and provides a much-needed guide for the systematic development and efficient use of two-photon singlet oxygen sensitizers.     

Two-photon photosensitized production of singlet oxygen in water

Singlet molecular oxygen (a(1)Delta(g)) has been produced and optically detected in time-resolved experiments upon nonlinear two-photon excitation of a photosensitizer dissolved in water. For a given sensitizer, specific functional groups that impart water solubility and that give rise to larger two-photon absorption cross sections are, in many cases, not conducive to the production of singlet oxygen in high yield. This issue involves the competing influence of intramolecular charge transfer that can be pronounced in aqueous systems; more charge transfer in the chromophore facilitates two-photon absorption but decreases the singlet oxygen yield. This phenomenon is examined in a series of porphyrins and vinyl benzenes.     

A fullerene core to probe dendritic shielding effects

Dendrimers with a C₆₀ core have been obtained by cyclization of dendritic bis-malonate derivatives at the carbon sphere. The resulting bis-methanofullerene derivatives have been characterised by electrospray (ES) and/or MALDI-TOF mass spectrometries. UV-VIS absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and fullerene singlet excited state lifetimes have been determined in solvents of different polarity (toluene, dichloromethane, acetonitrile). These data suggest a tighter core/periphery contact upon increase of solvent polarity and dendrimer size. In all the investigated solvents, the fullerene triplet lifetimes are steadily increased with the dendrimer volume, reflecting lower diffusion rates of O₂ inside the dendrimers along the series. Measurements of quantum yields of singlet oxygen sensitization indicate that longer lived triplet states generate lower amounts of singlet oxygen (¹O₂^∗) in dichloromethane but not in apolar toluene suggesting a tighter contact between the dendritic branches and the fullerene core in CH₂Cl₂. In acetonitrile, the trend in singlet oxygen production is peculiar. Effectively, enhanced singlet oxygen production is monitored for the largest dendrimer. This reflects specific interactions of excited ¹O₂^∗ molecules with the dendritic wedges, as probed by singlet oxygen lifetime measurements, possibly as a consequence of trapping effects.     

Extremely strong near-IR two-photon absorption in conjugated porphyrin dimers: quantitative description with three-essential-states model

Two-photon absorption spectra (2PA) of a series of conjugated dimers and the corresponding monomer were studied in the near-IR region. All of the dimers show very large peak cross section values, sigma(2) = (3-10) x 10(3) GM (1 GM = 1 x 10(-50) cm(4) s photon(-1)), which is several hundred times larger than that obtained for the corresponding monomer in the same region. We explain such dramatic cooperative enhancement by a combination of several factors, such as strong enhancement of the lowest one-photon Q-transition, better resonance conditions in the three-level system, dramatic enhancement of the excited-state singlet-singlet transition, and parallel arrangement of consecutive transitions in dimers, as compared to perpendicular arrangement in the monomer. We show that the absolute values of the 2PA cross section in these molecules are quantitatively described by a quantum-mechanical expression, derived for the three-level model. We also demonstrate the possibility of singlet oxygen generation upon one- and two-photon excitation of these dimers, which makes them particularly attractive for photodynamic therapy.     

Highly Pure Synthesis,Spectral Assignments,and Two‐Photon Properties of Cruciform Porphyrin Pentamers Fused with Benzene Units

Tetrameric porphyrin formation of 2‐hydroxymethylpyrrole fused with porphyrins through a bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene unit gave bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene‐fused porphyrin pentamers. Thermal conversion of the pentamers gave fully π‐conjugated cruciform porphyrin pentamers fused with benzene units in quantitative yields. UV/Vis spectra of fully π‐conjugated porphyrin pentamers showed one very strong Q absorption and were quite different from those of usual porphyrins. From TD‐DFT calculations, the HOMO level is 0.49 eV higher than the HOMO?1 level. The LUMO and LUMO+1 levels are very close and are lower by more than 0.27 eV than those of other unoccupied MOs. The strong Q absorption was interpreted as two mutually orthogonal single‐electron transitions (683 nm: 86 %, HOMO→LUMO; 680 nm: 86 %, HOMO→LUMO+1). The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross section value (σ⁽²⁾) of the benzene‐fused porphyrin pentamer was estimated to be 3900 GM at 1500 nm, which is strongly correlated with a cruciform molecular structure with multidirectional π‐conjugation pathways.