Ultrafast excitation transfer and charge stabilization in a newly assembled photosynthetic antenna-reaction center mimic composed of boron dipyrrin, zinc porphyrin and fullerene

A self-assembled supramolecular triad as a model to mimic the light-induced events of the photosynthetic antenna-reaction center, that is, ultrafast excitation transfer followed by electron transfer ultimately generating a long-lived charge-separated state, has been accomplished. Boron dipyrrin (BDP), zinc porphyrin (ZnP) and fullerene (C(60)), respectively, constitute the energy donor, electron donor and electron acceptor segments of the antenna-reaction center imitation. Unlike in the previous models, the BDP entity was placed between the electron donor, ZnP and electron acceptor, C(60) entities. For the construction, benzo-18-crown-6 functionalized BDP was synthesized and subsequently reacted with 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl functionalized ZnP through the central boron atom to form the crown-BDP-ZnP dyad. Next, an alkyl ammonium functionalized fullerene was used to self-assemble the crown ether entity of the dyad via ion-dipole interactions. The newly formed supramolecular triad was fully characterized by spectroscopic, computational and electrochemical methods. Steady-state fluorescence and excitation studies revealed the occurrence of energy transfer upon selective excitation of the BDP in the dyad. Further studies involving the pump-probe technique revealed excitation transfer from the (1)BDP* to ZnP to occur in about 7 ps, much faster than that reported for other systems in this series of triads, as a consequence of shorter distance between the entities. Upon forming the supramolecular triad by self-assembling fullerene, the (1)ZnP(*) produced by direct excitation or by energy transfer mechanism resulted in an initial electron transfer to the BDP entity. The charge recombination resulted in the population of the triplet excited state of C(60), from where additional electron transfer occurred to produce C(60)(?-):crown-BDP-ZnP(?+) ion pair as the final charge-separated species. Nanosecond transient absorption studies revealed the lifetime of the charge-separated state to be ~100 μs, the longest ever reported for this type of antenna-reaction center mimics, indicating better charge stabilization as a result of the different disposition of the entities of the supramolecular triad.     

Cation complexation behavior of pyrene- and anthracene-appended new crown ether derivatives

Pyrene- and anthracene-appended new crown ether derivatives have been synthesized by Schiff's base reaction, and cation complexation behavior was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy measurements. Based on photo-induced electron transfer and intramolecular charge transfer mechanism, the host molecules emit stronger fluorescence in the presence of various cations Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+) and NH(4)(+) since the complexation between guest cations and crown ether compounds inhibit partial electron transfer from the nitrogen atom to the chromophores and subsequently fluorescence is enhanced. The binding constants were estimated from the plots of the fraction of binding sites filled for crown ether compound as a function of free-ion concentration. Results show that 15-crown-5 derivatives exhibit higher binding ability with sodium cations while 18-crown-6 derivatives had higher affinity for potassium cations, which is consistent with the hole-size relationship of the crown ethers. Ammonium ion complexation caused largest fluorescence enhancement. It is understood that ammonium ion cannot only complex with crown ether, but also interact directly with the lone pair electrons of nitrogen atom in C=N bond so that electron transfer from the nitrogen atom to chromophores is further inhibited.     

Ion selectivity of crown ethers investigated by UV and IR spectroscopy in a cold ion trap

Electronic and vibrational spectra of benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) and benzo-18-crown-6 (B18C6) complexes with alkali metal ions, M(+)?B15C5 and M(+)?B18C6 (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs), are measured using UV photodissociation (UVPD) and IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy in a cold, 22-pole ion trap. We determine the structure of conformers with the aid of density functional theory calculations. In the Na(+)?B15C5 and K(+)?B18C6 complexes, the crown ethers open the most and hold the metal ions at the center of the ether ring, demonstrating an optimum matching in size between the cavity of the crown ethers and the metal ions. For smaller ions, the crown ethers deform the ether ring to decrease the distance and increase the interaction between the metal ions and oxygen atoms; the metal ions are completely surrounded by the ether ring. In the case of larger ions, the metal ions are too large to enter the crown cavity and are positioned on it, leaving one of its sides open for further solvation. Thermochemistry data calculated on the basis of the stable conformers of the complexes suggest that the ion selectivity of crown ethers is controlled primarily by the enthalpy change for the complex formation in solution, which depends strongly on the complex structure.     

An ionically driven molecular IMPLICATION gate operating in fluorescence mode

An asymmetrically core-extended boron-dipyrromethene (BDP) dye was equipped with two electron-donating macrocyclic binding units with different metal ion preferences to operate as an ionically driven molecular IMPLICATION gate. A Na(+)-responsive tetraoxa-aza crown ether (R(2)) was integrated into the extended pi system of the BDP chromophore to trigger strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT(2)) fluorescence and guarantee cation-induced spectral shifts in absorption. A dithia-oxa-aza crown (R(1)) that responds to Ag(+) was attached to the meso position of BDP in an electronically decoupled fashion to independently control a second ICT(1) process of a quenching nature. The bifunctional molecule is designed in such a way that in the absence of both inputs, ICT(1) does not compete with ICT(2) and a high fluorescence output is obtained (In(A)=In(B)=0-->Out=1). Accordingly, binding of only Ag(+) at R(1) (In(A)=1, In(B)=0) as well as complexation of both receptors (In(A)=In(B)=1) also yields Out=1. Only for the case in which Na(+) is bound at R(2) and R(1) is in its free state does quenching occur, which is the distinguishing characteristic for the In(A)=0 and In(B)=1-->Out=0 state that is required for a logic IMPLICATION gate and Boolean operations such as IF-THEN or NOT.     

Stabilities and Transfer Activity Coefficients from Water to Polar Nonaqueous Solvents of Benzo-15-Crown-5- and 15-Crown-5-Alkali Metal Ion Complexes

Stability constants (K_ML) of 1 : 1 benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) complexes with alkali metal ions were conductometrically measured in water at 25°C. Transfer activity coefficients of B15C5 and 15-crown-5 (15C5) from water to polar nonaqueous solvents were determined at 25°C. By using these data and the literature values, transfer activity coefficients of the B15C5 and 15C5 complexes with alkali metal ions from water to the polar nonaqueous solvents were calculated to study the solute-solvent interaction of the crown ether complexes. The stability of the B15C5 complex is lower in water than in any other nonaqueous solvent. The K_ML value for B15C5 is always smaller than the corresponding K ML value for 15C5. The interaction of the B15C5 or the 15C5 complex with the solvents depends on the alkali metal ion in the crown cavity. All the B15C5 and 15C5 complexes undergo hydrophobic hydration, which is particularly stronger for the B15C5 complexes with Na⁺ and K⁺. The unexpectedly lowest stability of the B15C5- or the 15C5-alkali metal ion complex in water among all the solvents is caused by the hydrogen bonding between ether oxygen atoms of uncomplexed B15C5 or 15C5 and water.     

Side arm participation in lariat ether carboxylate-alkali metal cation complexes in solution

Lariat ether carboxylic acids of structure CECH₂OCH₂C₆H₄-2-CO₂H with crown ether (CE) ring sizes of 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5 and 18-crown-6 are prepared and converted into alkali metal-lariat ether carboxylate complexes. Absorptions for the diastereotopic benzylic protons in the ¹H NMR spectra of the complexes in CDCl₃ are utilized to probe the extent of side arm interaction with the crown ether-complexed metal ion as a function of the crown ether ring size and identity of the alkali metal cation.     

Potassium ion controlled switching of intra- to intermolecular electron transfer in crown ether appended free-base porphyrin-fullerene donor-acceptor systems

Photoinduced electron transfer in intramolecularly interacting free-base porphyrin bearing one or four 18-crown-6 ether units at different positions of the porphyrin macrocycle periphery and pristine fullerene was investigated in polar benzonitrile and nonpolar o-dichlorobenzene and toluene solvents. Owing to the presence of two modes of binding, stable dyads were obtained in which the binding constants, K, were found to range between 4.2 x 10(3) and 10.4 x 10(3) M(-1) from fluorescence quenching data depending upon the location and number of crown ether entities on the porphyrin macrocycle and the solvent. Computational studies using the B3LYP/3-21G() method were employed to arrive at the geometry and electronic structure of the intramolecular dyads. The energetics of the redox states of the dyads were established from cyclic voltammetric studies. Under the intramolecular conditions, both the steady-state and time-resolved emission studies revealed efficient quenching of the singlet excited free-base porphyrin in these dyads, and the measured rates of charge separation, k(CS), were found to be in the 10(8)-10(9) s(-1) range. Nanosecond transient absorption studies were performed to characterize the electron-transfer products and to evaluate the charge-recombination rates. Shifting of the electron-transfer pathway from the intra- to intermolecular route was achieved by complexing potassium ions to the crown ether cavity(ies) in benzonitrile. This cation complexation weakened the intramolecular interactions between fullerene and the crown ether appended free-base porphyrin supramolecules, and under these conditions, intermolecular type interactions were mainly observed. Reversible inter- to intramolecular electron transfer was also accomplished by extracting the potassium ions of the complex with the addition of 18-crown-6. The present study nicely demonstrates the application of supramolecular methodology to control the excited-state electron-transfer path in donor-acceptor dyads.     

Ultrafast Photoinduced Energy and Electron Transfer in Multi‐Modular Donor–Acceptor Conjugates

New multi‐modular donor–acceptor conjugates featuring zinc porphyrin (ZnP), catechol‐chelated boron dipyrrin (BDP), triphenylamine (TPA) and fullerene (C₆₀), or naphthalenediimide (NDI) have been newly designed and synthesized as photosynthetic antenna and reaction‐center mimics. The X‐ray structure of triphenylamine‐BDP is also reported. The wide‐band capturing polyad revealed ultrafast energy‐transfer (k_ENT=1.0×10¹² s^?1) from the singlet excited BDP to the covalently linked ZnP owing to close proximity and favorable orientation of the entities. Introducing either fullerene or naphthalenediimide electron acceptors to the TPA‐BDP‐ZnP triad through metal–ligand axial coordination resulted in electron donor–acceptor polyads whose structures were revealed by spectroscopic, electrochemical and computational studies. Excitation of the electron donor, zinc porphyrin resulted in rapid electron‐transfer to coordinated fullerene or naphthalenediimide yielding charge separated ion‐pair species. The measured electron transfer rate constants from femtosecond transient spectral technique in non‐polar toluene were in the range of 5.0×10⁹–3.5×10¹⁰ s^?1. Stabilization of the charge‐separated state in these multi‐modular donor–acceptor polyads is also observed to certain level.     

Synthesis of chromogenic crown ethers and liquid—liquid extraction of alkaline earth metal ions

New crown ether dyes carrying two pendent anionic side-arms were synthesized for the extraction-spectrophotometry of alkaline earth metal ions. In the extraction of alkaline earth metal ions by these dianionic reagents, size recognition by the crown ether ring was more remarkable than in the case of alkali metal ion extraction by a similar type of monoanionic reagents. Dramatic changes in metal selectivity were observed when the nature of the anionic side-arm was changed while the crown ether skeleton was kept the same. The structure/selectivity relationship is discussed in terms of “chelate” and “intramolecular ion-pair” formation. Typically, when the basicity of the pendent anions was relatively high and a six-membered chelate was structurally possible for the pendent anions and the crown-bound metal, the extraction of calcium was favored by up to a factor of 3000 in the ratio of the Ca/Ba extraction constants for reagents of the diaza-18-crown-6 type. In contrast, the reagents which had pendent anions with only poor coordination ability for metal ions seemed to form complexes of the ion-pair type, and calcium ion was 10⁵ times less extractable than barium ion for the same diaza-18-crown-6-skeleton. Strontium ion seemed to be extracted most effectively when the extracted complex assumed properties intermediate between the chelate and intramolecular ion-pair.     

基于密度泛函理论研究锂-冠醚复合物的结构和热力学参数

冠醚对碱金属离子具有高选择性,在锂元素的分离富集上有着广泛的应用。本文基于密度泛函理论（DFT）研究了冠醚环大小、取代基种类、配位原子种类和数量等因素对冠醚空间结构和热力学参数的影响。结果表明,苯并冠醚系列中的苯并-15-冠-5具有更好的配位能力,取代基、配位原子对冠醚的络合能力均有一定影响,因此可通过选择合适的冠醚环,引入供电子基团和含氮杂原子等方法来改善冠醚的分离富集能力。这对冠醚体系分离富集锂元素具有重要的指导意义。     

STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF POLYETHER COORDINATION TO MERCURY(II) HALIDES: CROWN ETHER VERSUS POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL COMPLEXATION

Abstract

The crystal structures of several crown ether and polyethylene glycol complexes of HgX₂ (X=Cl, Br, I) have been investigated. The crown ether complexes studied are [HgX₂(18-crown-6)] (X=Br, I) and [HgI₂(dibenzo-18-crown-6)]·CH₃CN. In each case Hg resides in the cavity of the ether resulting in hexagonal bipyramidal geometry with axial, terminal halides. The covalently bonded halides reside closer to Hg than the oxygen donor atoms. Five polyethylene glycol complexes have been structurally characterized: [(HgCl₂)₃(EO3)], [HgX₂(EO4)] (X=Br, I), [HgCl₂(EO5)], and [HgBr₂(EO5)HgBr₂]₂ (EO3=triethylene glycol, EO4=tetraethylene glycol, EO5=pentaethylene glycol). The EO4 and EO5 glycols mimic crown ethers by forming an equatorial girdle around Hg although in each case one alcoholic terminal end does not coordinate to the metal ion. Each complex also has two covalent, nearly linear, axial halides coordinated to Hg. In [(HgCl₂)₃(EO3)], the glycol is linear and coordinates to three Hg atoms all on the same side of the glycol ligand. This structure is polymeric via chloride bridging.     

Bifunctional charge transfer operated fluorescent probes with acceptor and donor receptors. 2. Bifunctional cation coordination behavior of biphenyl-type sensor molecules incorporating 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine acceptors

Based on donor (D)-acceptor (A) biphenyl (b) type molecules, a family of fluorescent reporters with integrated acceptor receptors and noncoordinating and coordinating donor substituents of varying strength has been designed for ratiometric emission sensing and multimodal signaling of metal ions and protons. In part 2 of this series on such charge transfer (CT) operated mono- and bifunctional fluorescent devices, the cation coordination behavior of the sensor molecules bpb-R equipped with a proton- and cation-responsive 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine (bp) acceptor and either amino-type donor receptors (R = DMA, A15C5 = monoaza-15-crown-5) or nonbinding substituents (R = CF(3), H, OMe) is investigated employing the representative metal ions Na(I), Ca(II), Zn(II), Hg(II), and Cu(II) and steady-state and time-resolved fluorometry. The bpb-R molecules, the spectroscopic behavior and protonation behavior of which have been detailed in part 1 of this series, present rare examples for CT-operated bifunctional fluorescent probes that can undergo consecutive and/or simultaneous analyte recognition. The analyte-mediated change of the probes' intramolecular CT processes yields complexation site- and analyte-specific outputs, i.e., absorption and fluorescence modulations in energy, intensity, and lifetime. As revealed by the photophysical studies of the cation complexes of these fluoroionophores and the comparison to other neutral and charged D-A biphenyls, the spectroscopic properties of the acceptor chelates of bpb-R and A- and D-coordinated bpb-R are governed by CT control of an excited-state barrier toward formation of a forbidden charge transfer state, by the switching between analytically favorable anti-energy and common energy gap law type behavior, and by the electronic nature of the ligated metal ion. This accounts for the astonishingly high fluorescence quantum yields of the acceptor chelates of bpb-R equipped with weak or medium-sized donors and the red emission of D- and A-coordinated bpb-R observed for nonquenching metal ions.     

Chiral NMR discrimination of piperidines and piperazines using (18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid

Enantiomeric discrimination is observed in the (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of piperidines and piperazines in the presence of (-)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid. The amines are protonated by the carboxylic acid groups of the crown ether to produce the corresponding ammonium and carboxylate ions. Association of the ammonium ion with the crown ether likely involves two hydrogen bonds with the crown ether oxygen atoms and an ion pair with the carboxylate anion. Methyl, hydroxymethyl, phenyl, carboxyl, pyridyl, and cyclohexyl substituent groups alpha to the nitrogen atom do not inhibit binding of the ammonium ion to the crown ether. The NMR spectra of piperidines with the stereogenic center alpha or beta to the nitrogen atom exhibit substantial enantiomeric discrimination. Dibasic substrates such as the piperizines are likely converted to their diprotonated form in the presence of the crown ether, and both nitrogen atoms appear to associate with the crown ether moiety.     

Intramolecular charge transfer dual fluorescent sensors from 4-(dialkylamino)benzanilides with metal binding site within electron acceptor

Three fluoroionophores (2a-c) were designed as the intramolecular charge transfer (CT) dual fluorescent sensors for metal cations with metal binding site within the electron acceptor. These sensors were derived from 4-dialkylaminobenzanilides (alkyl=methyl, ethyl, and n-butyl) with the amido phenyl ring being an arm of 15-crown-5 thus bearing binding site for alkaline and alkaline earth metal cations. Compounds 2a-c were expected to have two possible CT channels of opposite direction. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of 2a-c and their crown-ether free model molecules 3a-c in a variety of solvents were recorded. Dual fluorescence was observed with 2a-c and was assigned to the LE and the CT states, respectively. In nonpolar or less polar solvents the CT occurring with 2a-c was identified as that occurred with benzanilides (BA) with the amido anilines being the electron donor (the BA-like CT), while in polar solvents such as acetonitrile (ACN), the CT was still mainly the BA-like. In the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metal cations in ACN, the CT dual fluorescence underwent substantial changes so as increased total quantum yield, red-shifted LE band and enhanced CT to LE intensity ratio. Binding of the metal cations at the 15-crown-5 moiety of 2a-c was shown to turn the CT direction that the dialkylamino group in the binding complexes being the electron donor while the benzo-15-crown-5 moiety now being within the electron acceptor. The occurrence of this CT enhances metal cation binding to 15-crown-5 ether in 2a-c, which was confirmed by the observed higher metal binding constants. Compounds 2a-c as the CT dual fluorescent sensors were shown to operate under the mechanism of the metal cation binding induced switching of the CT character from the BA-like to that occurred with 4-(dimethylamino)benzamides (the DMABA-like). Compounds 2a-c therefore represent successful examples for the CT dual fluorescent sensors for cations with the metal binding site within the electron acceptor and can be employed as sensitive ratiometric fluorescent sensors for metal cations of improved sensing performance.     

Intramolecular triplet energy transfer in donor-acceptor molecules linked by a crown ether bridge

Bichromophoric compounds BP-C-NP and BP-C-NBD were synthesized with benzophenone chromophore (BP) as the donor, and 2-naphthyl (NP) and norbornadiene group (NBD) as the acceptor, respectively. Their intramolecular triplet energy transfer was examined. The bridges linking the donor and acceptors in these molecules involve a crown ether moiety complexing a sodium ion. Phosphorescence quenching, flash photolysis and photosensitized isomerization experiments indicate that intramolecular triplet energy transfer occurs with rate constants of about 3.3 x 10(5) and 4.8 x 10(5) s(-1) and efficiencies of about 33 and 42 % for BP-C-NP and BP-C-NBD, respectively. Theoretical calculations indicate that these molecules adopt conformations below room temperature which allow their two-end chromophores conducive to through-space energy transfer.     

Recoordination of a metal ion in the cavity of a crown compound: a theoretical study. 1. Conformers of arylazacrown ethers and their complexes with Ca2+ cation

Photoinduced recoordination of Ca²⁺ complexes of the photochromic azacrown ethers is studied by the density functional method. The study included model arylazacrown ethers containing various acceptor groups in the aromatic ring in the para position to the azacrown ether moiety and a real azacrown-containing styryl dye. It is found that both free azacrown ethers and their complexes can adopt two types of conformations: (1) axial conformations, in which the aromatic ring axis passing through the crown ether nitrogen N_cr and the opposite atom of the aromatic ring is perpendicular to the root-mean-square (RMS) plane of the crown ether (least-squares fitted plane for all the crown ether atoms), and (2) equatorial conformations, in which the aromatic ring axis only slightly deflects from the RMS plane of the crown ether. In the equatorial conformers, the metal cation is coordinated only to the O atoms of the azacrown ether cycle, the metal—nitrogen bond is broken, and N_cr is conjugated with the aromatic ring. In the axial conformers, the metal cation is additionally coordinated to N_cr. It is found that the presence of an acceptor group bearing a formal positive charge decreases the relative energy of the equatorial conformer and favors metal—nitrogen bond dissociation, which results in the recoordination of the metal cation. However, a long distance between the charged group and N_cr has the reverse effect. The photoinduced recoordination observed in the alkaline-earth metal complexes of the photochromic azacrown ethers is explained by the transitions between the axial and equatorial conformers facilitated by the charge transfer in the excited state of the complex.     

Host-guest hydrogen atom transfer induced by electron capture

1,n-Alkanediammonium cations in noncovalent complexes with two dibenzo-18-crown-6-ether (DBCE) ligands undergo an unusual intramolecular tandem hydrogen atom and proton transfer to the crown ether ligand upon charge reduction by electron capture. Deuterium labeling established that both migrating hydrogens originated from the ammonium groups. The double hydrogen transfer was found to depend on the length of the alkane chain connecting the ammonium groups. Ab initio calculations provided structures for select alkanediammonium·dibenzo-18-crown-6-ether complexes and dissociation products. This first observation of an intra-complex hydrogen transfer is explained by the unusual electronic properties of the complexes and the substantial hydrogen atom affinity of the aromatic rings in the crown ligand.     

Synthesis of poly(vinyl alcohol)-based poly(crown ether)s and permeability of their polymeric membranes

Polymers that contain crown ether moieties at the side chain and are capable of forming rather tough film were synthesized by the polymer reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) with formyl derivatives of aliphatic crown ethers such as 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, and 18-crown-6. In the passive transport of alkali metal picrates across the poly(crown ether) membranes the permeation, particularly of alkali metals which tend to form intramolecular sandwich-type complexes with the crown ether rings, was retarded, compared with a poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane. The cation selectivities in the permeation of poly(crown ether) membranes differed significantly from those of poly(vinyl alcohol).     

Regioselective Long‐Range Proton Transfer in New Rifamycin Antibiotics: A Process in which Crown Ethers Act as Stronger Brønsted Bases than Amines

Water‐mediated proton transfer in six new derivatives of 3‐formylrifamycin SV that contain crown, aza‐crown, and benzo‐crown ether rings were investigated by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. ¹H–¹H COSY couplings provide evidence for the formation of zwitterionic structures of the aza‐crown and crown ether derivatives of rifamycin, in which a proton from one of the phenolic groups is transferred to tertiary and secondary nitrogen atoms. The increased intensity of the continuous absorption in the mid‐infrared region together with the NMR data indicate proton transfer from the phenol group of the rifamycin core to the cavity of the benzo‐crown ether ring. This proton transfer is achieved by formation of hydronium (H₃O⁺) or Zundel ions (H₅O₂⁺), which form intermolecular hydrogen bonds with the oxygen atoms of the crown ether. DFT calculations are in agreement with the spectroscopic data and allow visualization of the structures of all new rifamycin derivatives, characterized by different intramolecular protonation sites.     

Control between TICT and PET using chemical modification of N-phenyl-9-anthracenecarboxamide and its application to a crown ether type chemosensor

Both twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) and photoinduced electron transfer (PET) relaxation processes of N-phenyl-9-anthrylcarboxamide derivatives can be characterized by modified substitution of the phenyl group. Introduction of a methoxy group to phenyl moiety quenched fluorescence of the anthracene using TICT or PET process, and was not retrieved even using highly viscous media. The introduction of a methylene unit induced fluorescence emissions using a solvent with both viscosity and polarity. This phenomenon demonstrates that the effects of both TICT and PET are involved in this system. Based on these data, we synthesized a novel crown ether derivative 7: its analytical usefulness as a fluorescent chemosensor for alkaline earth metal ions is reported herein.