New 1,3,4‐Oxadiazinoisoquinoline Methine Cyanine Dyes: Synthesis,Photosensitivity and Antibacterial Activity

New heterocyclic ring system including 1,3,4‐oxadiazino[6,5‐c]isoquinoline was prepared and employed as a precursor for preparation of monomethine and trimethine cyanine dyes. The structure of the new compounds was characterized via elemental analysis and mass, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The photosensitivity (electronic transitions inside the dye molecule due to photon absorption) of the new methine cyanine dyes was investigated by studying their visible spectra in absolute ethanol and showed its maxima in the visible range of the spectrum with relatively strong absorption bands. The antibacterial activity of the newly synthesized compounds was evaluated against some bacterial strains, resulting in a promising antibacterial efficacy that recommend the tested compounds as new candidates for further pharmaceutical evaluations.     

Synthesis and Visible Spectral Behaviour of Some New N‐Bridgehead Heterocyclic Cyanine Dyes Incorporating Pyrazolo (4,5‐b) Indolizine (Benzoindolizine)

The new unsymmetrical N‐bridgehead, apo (zeromethine), mono‐methine, dimethine, meso substituted tetramethine and styryl cyanine dyes incorporating pyrazolo (4,5‐b) indolizine (benzoindolizine) nuclei were prepared. Structural confirmation was carried out by elemental analyses, IR, H‐NMR, mass spectra and ¹³C‐NMR with the aid of carbon DEPT spectral data. The visible absorption spectra for the newly synthesized cyanines were examined in 95% ethanol.     

Preparation,Antibacterial Activity and Absorption Spectra of Pyrazolo‐Oxadiazine Cyanine Dyes

A new pyrazolo[4,3‐e]‐1,3,4‐oxadiazine heterocyclic ring system was prepared and employed to synthesize cyanine dyes of different methine types, including monomethine (simple cyanine) and trimethine (carbocyanine). The antibacterial activity of all the newly synthesized compounds was investigated against some bacterial strains. The electronic absorption spectra of the dyes were studied in absolute ethanol. The structure of all the synthesized compounds was identified via elemental and spectroscopic analysis.     

Synthesis and Spectral Behaviour of Some New Uninuclear Pyrimidine 2[2(4)]‐Mono(Tri)‐Methine Cyanine Dyes

New unsymmetrical 2[2(4)]‐mono‐and tri (substituted tri)‐methine cyanine dyes incorporating 1,2,5,6‐tetrahydro‐4,6‐diaryl pyrimidine (pyrimidinium‐1‐yl salt)‐2‐one were prepared. Structural determination was carried out by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectral data. The spectral behaviour of all the synthesized cyanines was examined in 95% ethanol.     

Synthesis,Characterization, Self‐Assembly,Gelation, Morphology and Computational Studies of Alkynylgold(III) Complexes of 2,6‐Bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine Derivatives

A novel class of alkynylgold(III) complexes of the dianionic ligands derived from 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine (H₂bzimpy) derivatives has been synthesized and characterized. The structure of one of the complexes has also been determined by X‐ray crystallography. Electronic absorption studies showed low‐energy absorption bands at 378–466 nm, which are tentatively assigned as metal‐perturbed π–π* intraligand transitions of the bzimpy^2? ligands. A computational study has been performed to provide further insights into the nature of the electronic transitions for this class of complexes. One of the complexes has been found to show gelation properties, driven by π–π and hydrophobic–hydrophobic interactions. This complex exhibited concentration‐ and temperature‐dependent ¹H NMR spectra. The morphology of the gel has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Bi‐anchoring Organic Dyes that Contain Benzimidazole Branches for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Effects of π Spacer and Peripheral Donor Groups

Benzimidazole‐branched bi‐anchoring organic dyes that contained triphenylamine/phenothiazine donors, 2‐cyanoacrylic acid acceptors, and various π linkers were synthesized and examined as sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells. The structure–activity relationships in these dyes were systematically investigated by using absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and density functional theory calculations. The wavelength of the absorption peak was more‐heavily influenced by the nature of the π linker than by the nature of the donor. For a given donor, the absorption maximum (λ_max) was red‐shifted on changing the π linker from phenyl to 2,2′‐bithiophene, whilst the dyes that contained triphenylamine units displayed higher molar extinction coefficients (?) than their analogous phenothiazine‐based triphenylamine dyes, which led to good light‐harvesting properties in the triphenylamine‐based dyes. Electrochemical data for the dyes indicated that the triphenylamine‐based dyes possessed relatively low‐lying HOMOs, which could be beneficial for suppressing back electron transfer from the conduction band of TiO₂ to the oxidized dyes, owing to facile regeneration of the oxidized dye by the electrolyte. The best performance in the DSSCs was observed for a dye that possessed a triphenylamine donor and 2,2′‐bithiophene π linkers. Electron impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies revealed that the use of triphenylamine as the donor and phenyl or 2,2′‐bithiophene as the π linkers was beneficial for disrupting the dark current and charge‐recombination kinetics, which led to a long electron lifetime of the injected electrons in the conduction band of TiO₂.     

Key Structural Elements of Unsymmetrical Cyanine Dyes for Highly Sensitive Fluorescence Turn‐On DNA Probes

Unsymmetrical cyanine dyes, such as thiazole orange, are useful for the detection of nucleic acids with fluorescence because they dramatically enhance the fluorescence upon binding to nucleic acids. Herein, we synthesized a series of unsymmetrical cyanine dyes and evaluated their fluorescence properties. A systematic structure–property relationship study has revealed that the dialkylamino group at the 2‐position of quinoline in a series of unsymmetrical cyanine dyes plays a critical role in the fluorescence enhancement. Four newly designed unsymmetrical cyanine dyes showed negligible intrinsic fluorescence in the free state and strong fluorescence upon binding to double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) with a quantum yield of 0.53 to 0.90, which is 2 to 3 times higher than previous unsymmetrical cyanine dyes. A detailed analysis of the fluorescence lifetime revealed that the dialkylamino group at the 2‐position of quinoline suppressed nonradiative decay in favor of increased fluorescence quantum yield. Moreover, these newly developed dyes were able to stain the nucleus specifically in fixed HeLa cells examined by using a confocal laser‐scanning microscope.     

Novel Cyanine Dyes: Synthesis,Characterization and Photosensitization‐Structure Correlation

Novel furo, thieno and pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyrazole cyanine dyes were synthesized. The structure‐photosensitization properties correlation of the dyes were examined in 95% ethanol solution by absorption spectroscopy. The chemical structure of the starting biheterocyclic compounds and their derived cyanine dyes were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Theoretical studies on triaryamine‐based p‐type D‐D‐π‐A sensitizer

Development of triaryamine‐based nonmetallic dye sensitizers is a hot topic in the solar cell research. A series of triaryamine‐based dyes WS1 – WS7 were designed with W1 as the prototype. Density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent‐DFT calculations were used to investigate the effects of the attached donor D on the absorption spectra and electronic properties of the dyes. The light‐harvesting efficiency (LHE), hole injection force (ΔG_inj), dye regeneration force (ΔG_reg), and charge recombination force (ΔG_CR) for all the dyes were predicted. The insertion of D not only results in a red shift in the absorption spectra for all dyes but also achieves a broader absorption for visible light. Compared with that of the prototype, the absorption peak of the dye WS7 has a red shift of 95 nm and an oscillator strength increase of 29%. The absorption peak of WS7 is wider and stronger, and the absorption range extends to 900 nm. The LHE and ΔG_reg values of WS7 are 0.991 and ?1.49 eV, respectively. On overall evaluation, WS7 is a promising candidate of a p‐type dye sensitizer with good light absorption and dye regeneration efficiency.     

Cyanine‐Like Dyes with Large Bond‐Length Alternation

Herein, the synthesis and properties of alkyne‐bridged carbocations, which are analogous in structure to cyanine dyes, are reported. An alkene‐bridged dye, linked at the third position of the indole, was also synthesized as a reference compound. These new carbocations are stable under ambient conditions, allowing characterization by UV/Vis and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopies. These techniques revealed a large degree of delocalization of the positive charge, similar to a previously reported porphyrin carbocation. The linear and nonlinear optical properties are compared with cyanine dyes and triarylmethyl cations, to investigate the effects of the bond‐length alternation and the overall molecular geometry. The value of Re(γ), the real part of the third‐order microscopic polarizability, of ?1.3×10^?33 esu for the alkyne‐linked cation is comparable to that of a cyanine dye of similar length. Nondegenerate two‐photon absorption spectra showed that the alkene‐bridged dye exhibited characteristics of cyanines, whereas the alkyne‐bridged dye is reminiscent of octupolar chromophores, such as the triarylmethyl carbocation brilliant green. Such attributes were confirmed and rationalized by quantum chemical calculations.     

1H NMR,IR and UV/VIS Spectroscopic Studies of Some Schiff Bases Derived from 2‐Aminobenzothiazole and 2‐Amino‐3‐Hydroxypyridine

By condensing 2‐aminobenzothiazole with 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde, 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4‐methoxybenzaldehyde, 4‐hydroxybenzal‐dehyde, benzaldehyde and 4‐dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, and five Schiff bases Ia‐Ie are prepared. Also, two Schiff bases IIa and IIb are prepared by condensation of 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine with 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde and 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde. The ¹H NMR, IR and UV/Vis spectra of these seven Schiff bases are investigated. The signals of the ¹H NMR spectra as well as the important bands in the IR spectra are considered and discussed in relation to molecular structure. The UV/Vis absorption bands in ethanol are assigned to the corresponding electronic transitions and the electronic absorption spectra of Schiff bases Ib and IIb are studied in organic solvents of different polarities. The UV/Vis absorption spectra of 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine Schiff bases IIa and IIb are investigated in buffer solutions of different pH values containing 5% (v/v) methanol, and the results are utilized for the determination of pK_a and ΔG^* of the ionization of the phenolic OH‐groups. The fluorescence spectra of IIa and IIb are studied in organic solvents of different polarities. The obtained spectral results are confirmed by some molecular calculations using the atom super position and electron delocalization molecular orbital theory for the Schiff base IIb.     

Synthesis,Structure and Photochemical Properties of 4, 4′, 7, 7′-Tetra-substituted 1,1′, 3,3′-Tetraethylbenzimidazolotriazatrimethine Cyanines

The synthesis of sterically hindered 1,1′, 3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolotriazatrimethine cyanine dyes, their electron absorption spectra and that of their photo-products (inverse photochromism) is described. Kinetic data of the thermally reversed reaction of the photo-bleached compounds are given. The differences of the electron absorption spectra in this series in this series of dyes are explained by the different degree of distortion of the π-systems which is confirmed by an X-ray investigation.     

Fine Tuning the Performance of DSSCs by Variation of the π‐Spacers in Organic Dyes that Contain a 2,7‐Diaminofluorene Donor

Organic dyes that contain a 2,7‐diaminofluorene‐based donor, a cyanoacrylic‐acid acceptor, and various aromatic conjugation segments, which are composed of benzene, fluorene, carbazole, and thiophene units, as a π‐bridge have been synthesized and characterized by optical, electrochemical, and theoretical investigations. The trends in the absorption and electrochemical properties of these dyes are in accordance with the electron‐donating ability of the conjugating segment. Consequently, the dyes that contained a 2,7‐carbazole unit in the π‐spacer exhibited red‐shifted absorption and lower oxidation potentials than their corresponding fluorene‐ and phenylene‐bridged dyes. However, the enhanced power‐conversion efficiency that was exhibited by the fluorene‐bridged dyes in the DSSCs was attributed to their broader and intense absorption. Despite the longer‐wavelength absorption and reasonable optical density, carbazole‐bridged dyes exhibited lower power‐conversion efficiencies, which were ascribed to the poor alignment of the LUMO level in these dyes, thereby leading to the inhibition of electron injection into the TiO₂ conduction band.     

Oxonium Salts in the Synthesis and Spectral Behavior of Pyrano(pyrylium)‐mono methine Cyanine Dyes

Pyrano‐ and pyrylium mono‐8[4(1)] and/or 5(6)‐[2(4)]methine cyanine dyes ( 6a–k , 7a–f ) were synthesized based on acyclic heterocyclic Schiff bases of pyrolo[3,2‐d]pyrazole[oxazole(imidazol‐6‐one)]‐1‐ium iodide salts, 5‐acetyl‐N‐aryl[pyrazolinyl(pyridinyl)]pyrolo‐[5,4‐d]pyrazolin‐iodide salts, and/or (anhydro bases) precursors ( 1a–i , 2a–I , 3a–i , 4a–i , and 5A,Ba–i ). The structure of pyrylium‐9‐chloride and/or iodide and their pyrano(pyrylium)‐mono‐8[4(1)] and 5(6)[2(4)]methine cyanine dyes was identified by elemental and spectral data. The absorption spectra of some selected dyes were investigated in 95% EtOH, polar (nonpolar) organic solvents and in universal buffer solutions to investigate the optimal conditions for the application of such dyes as photosensitizers.     

Pyrazole‐substituted Near‐infrared Cyanine Dyes Exhibit pH‐dependent Fluorescence Lifetime Properties

Near‐infrared heptamethine cyanine dye is functionalized with pyrazole derivatives at the meso‐position to induce pH‐dependent photophysical properties. The presence of pyrazole unsubstituted at ¹N‐position is essential to induce pH‐dependent fluorescence intensity and lifetime changes in these dyes. Replacement of meso‐chloro group of cyanine dye IR820 with ¹N‐unsubstituted pyrazole resulted in the pH‐dependent fluorescence lifetime changes from 0.93 ns in neutral media to 1.27 ns in acidic media in DMSO. Time‐resolved emission spectra (TRES) revealed that at lower pH, the pyrazole consists of fluorophores with two distinct lifetimes, which cor‐responds to pH‐sensitive and non‐pH‐sensitive species. In contrast, ¹N‐substituted pyrazoles do not exhibit pH response, suggesting excited state electron transfer as the mechanism of pH‐dependent fluorescence lifetime sensitivity for this class of compounds.     

Dipolar Compounds Containing Fluorene and a Heteroaromatic Ring as the Conjugating Bridge for High‐Performance Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A novel series of dipolar organic dyes containing diarylamine as the electron donor, 2‐cyanoacrylic acid as the electron acceptor, and fluorene and a heteroaromatic ring as the conjugating bridge have been developed and characterized. These metal‐free dyes exhibited very high molar extinction coefficients in the electronic absorption spectra and have been successfully fabricated as efficient nanocrystalline TiO₂ dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The solar‐energy‐to‐electricity conversion efficiencies of DSSCs ranged from 4.92 to 6.88 %, which reached 68–96 % of a standard device of N719 fabricated and measured under the same conditions. With a TiO₂ film thickness of 6 μm, DSSCs based on these dyes had photocurrents surpassing that of the N719‐based device. DFT computation results on these dyes also provide detailed structural information in connection with their high cell performance.     

Low‐Band Gap Polymeric Cyanine Dyes Absorbing in the NIR Region

Two new, fully conjugated polymeric cyanine dyes based on trimethine and heptamethine moieties have been synthesized. Both polymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, UV‐vis and IR spectroscopy, elementary analysis and cyclic voltammetry. The structure of one material could be confirmed with NMR spectroscopy. Upon head‐to‐tail coupling of the dye moieties distinct bathochromic shifts up to 159 nm were observed for the polymers which absorb solely in the near infrared (NIR) region with maxima up to 1 002 nm and very high molar absorption coefficients. This highly efficient absorption in the NIR spectral domain combined with the strong electron accepting properties makes these dyes interesting candidates for many optical applications; investigations on photovoltaic devices based on polymeric cyanine dye/C₆₀ heterojunctions identify one of these possibilities.

     

Synthesis and Characterization of γ‐Heteroaryl‐substituted Pentamethine Cyanine Dyes with Carboxy or Methoxycarbonyl Substituents at the Two Heterocyclic End Groups

Seven novel pentamethine cyanine dyes with 3,5‐dimethylpyridinium‐1‐yl, pyridinium‐1‐yl, and 1‐quinolinum‐1‐yl substituents in the γ position of the methine chain containing ester or carboxylic acid groups in the ring of the dyes were synthesized via a three‐step procedure. The visible spectral behavior of the pentamethine cyanine dyes was examined in DMSO. Elemental analysis, IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectral (MS) data confirmed the molecular structure of the newly synthesized compounds.     

Molecular design of corrole‐based D‐π‐A sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cell applications

First principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) have been performed to design a new set of donor‐corrole‐bridge‐acceptor type systems based on the gallium corroles for dye‐sensitized solar cell applications. The design strategy for these systems is based on the benchmark studies done on the experimentally tested aluminum, gallium, and tin metallocorroles. Unfortunately, corrole analogues display poor light to current conversion efficiencies in spite of their desirable photophysical properties. Thus, improving the efficiency of corrole analogues has become a major challenge and ways to identify solutions to this is of outstanding fundamental importance. This study shows the lack of charge directionality toward anchoring group as plausible reason for the poor efficiencies of reported corrole systems, which enabled us to fine‐tune the electronic and optical properties of new D‐π‐A type systems, COR1‐COR4. The molecular geometries, electronic structure, and binding orientation of these systems on TiO₂ surface were investigated using DFT, TD‐DFT, and PBC methods. When compared with the reported corroles, COR1‐COR4 have a smaller band gaps, red‐shifted absorption spectra with higher extinction coefficients (10⁵ M^?1 cm^?1) and improved nonlinear optical properties. Importantly, results revealed that these dyes bind with two‐arm mode to TiO₂ surface and the density of states of the dye@TiO₂ elucidate strong coupling between the dyes and TiO₂ surface. We anticipate that the unique photophysical properties of these sensitizers will trigger the experimental efforts to yield a new generation of sensitizers based on corrole macrocyle. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Homoleptic Zinc(II) Complexes Based on 4′‐(2‐Thienyl)‐terpyridine: Preparation,Structures, and Properties

The homoleptic complexes Zn^II(4′‐(2‐(5‐R‐thienyl))‐terpyridine)₂(ClO₄)₂ [R = hydrogen ( 1 ), bromo ( 2 ), methyl ( 3 ), and methoxy ( 4 )] were prepared. Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, and further characterized by high resolution mass, infrared spectra (IR), and elemental analyses. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that Zn^II ions in the complexes are both six‐coordinate with N₆ coordination sphere, displaying distorted octahedral arrangements. The absorption and emission spectra of the homoleptic Zn^II complexes were investigated and compared to those of the parent complex Zn^II(4′‐(2‐thienyl))‐terpyridine)₂(ClO₄)₂. The UV/Vis absorption spectra showed that the complexes all exhibit strong absorption component in UV region, moreover, complex 4 has an absorption component in the visible region. Thus, the photocatalytic activities of the complexes in degradation of organic dyes were investigated under UV and visible irradiation.