Analysis of the low temperature fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra of p-difluorobenzene

The low temperature fluorescence spectra (4.2 K) of solid solutions of p-difluorobenzene-h₄ (pDFB-h₄) and -d₄ have been recorded and analyzed. The absence of fluorescence from vibrationally excited states at 4.2 K eliminates the sequence and “hot band” structure which complicate the analysis of the vapor fluorescence spectrum. On the basis of a comparison of our vibrational analysis with those published for the vapor phase fluorescence, several incorrect assignments in the latter have been identified. The high resolution and lack of spectral congestion obtained in the low temperature matrix isolated fluorescence spectra also allowed additional vibrational assignments to be made. These results are of added importance because of the extensive use which has been made of pDFB for radiationless relaxation studies in the vapor phase. The phosphorescence spectrum of crystalline pDFB-h₄ was observed with sufficient intensity to locate the electronic origin to make several vibrational assignments. Additionally, the zero-field splitting of the first triplet excited state was measured by optically detected magnetic resonance techniques.     

Photoinduced interaction between MPA capped CdTe QDs and certain anthraquinone dyes

Photoinduced interaction of mercapto propionic acid (MPA) capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with certain anthraquinone dyes namely alizarin, alizarin red S, acid blue 129 and uniblue has been studied by steady state and time resolved fluorescence measurements. Addition of anthraquinone dyes to CdTe QDs results in the reduction of electron hole recombination has been observed (i.e., fluorescence quenching). The Stern-Volmer constant (K_SV), quenching rate constant (k_q) and association constants (K) were obtained from fluorescence quenching data. The interaction of anthraquinone dyes with QDs occurs through static quenching was confirmed by unaltered fluorescence lifetime. The occurrence of electron transfer quenching mechanism has been proved by the negative free energy change (ΔG_et) obtained as per the Rehm-Weller equation.     

The binding of 3-(p-bromophenyl)-5-methyl-thiohydantoin with human serum albumin: Investigation by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular model

The binding of 3-(p-bromophenyl)-5-methyl-thiohydantoin (BPMT) with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with UV absorption spectrum under physiological conditions. The intrinsic fluorescence of HSA was quenched by BPMT through static quenching mechanism and the fluorescence emission spectrum of HSA exhibited appreciable hypsochromic shift with increasing concentration of BPMT. The binding constants (K) of HSA with BPMT and the number binding sites (n) at different temperatures, thermodynamic parameter enthalpy changes (ΔH) and entropy changes (ΔS) of HSA-BPMT have been calculated according to the relevant fluorescence data, indicating that the hydrophobic interaction played a major role, which was consistent with the result of molecular modeling study.     

Excitation-wavelength Dependent Fluorescence of Ethyl 5-(4-aminophenyl)-3-amino-2,4-dicyanobenzoate

The excitation wavelength dependence of the steady-state and time-resolved emission spectra of ethyl 5-(4-aminophenyl)-3-amino-2,4-dicyanobenzoate (EAADCy) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at room temperature has been examined. It is found that the ratio of the fluorescence intensity of the long-wavelength and short-wavelength fluorescence bands strongly depends on the excitation wavelength, whereas the wavelengths of the fluorescence excitation and fluorescence bands maxima are independent on the observation/excitation wavelengths. The dynamic Stokes shift of fluorophore in locally excited (LE) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) states has been studied with a time resolution about 30 ps. The difference between Stokes shift in the LE and ICT states was attributed to the solvent response to the large photoinduced dipole moment of EAADCy in the fluorescent charge transfer state. On this base we can state that, the relaxation of the polar solvent molecules around the fluorophore was observed.     

Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of 3-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1-o-carboxyphenyltriazene and its copper (II), nickel (II) and zinc (II) complexes: a novel fluorescence sensor

Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic properties of 3-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1-o-carboxyphenyltriazene (HT) are studied. The mechanism of photo-induced electron transfer (PET) followed by energy transfer process of the ligand and the Cu (II), Ni (II) and Zn (II) metal complexes have been investigated. The excited state photo induced intramolecular hydrogen transfer from N-OH to triazene 1-nitrogen atom is explained. The effect of pH, solvent and concentration on the absorption and fluorescence of the ligand is studied and it has been found that the absorption and fluorescence of HT is highly pH, solvent and concentration dependent. Participation of the N-OH proton of HT in the solvent assisted O to N-proton transfer has also been proposed. The fluorescence band shift and changes in intensity is modulated by protonation and complexation with metal ions. This fluorophore can thus be used as a pH dependent and M⁽ⁿ⁺¹⁾⁺/Mⁿ⁺ redox on/off switchable molecular sensor.     

Effect of structure and concentration of polymer, metal ion and pH of the medium on the fluorescence characteristics of hyperbranched polyamines

A series of hyperbranched polyamines have been prepared by the reported method. All these polyamines exhibit fluorescence at about 350-650 nm with maximum intensity at about 450 nm. The study shows that the fluorescence intensity and the range of wavelength of fluorescence are strongly influenced by the structure of the hyperbranched polyamines. The effect of concentration of the polymer, pH of the medium and metal ion has also been investigated on the fluorescence characteristics of sulfone containing hyperbranched polyamine (Ps), as it shows the best result among the studied polymers. The results show that the intensity of fluorescence increases with the decrease of concentration (5-0.1 g/L in N,N′-dimethyl sulfoxide) of polymer and with the increase of pH (3.1-11.6) of the medium. The quenching of fluorescence increases with the increase of concentration of Cu²⁺ ions (0.01-0.04%). The hyperbranched polyamine (Ps) has also been end capped with benzoyl chloride and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde to study the influence of end groups. The results showed that the structure of end capped compounds has prominent role to influence fluorescence characteristics of this hyperbranched polyamine.     

Investigation of proton pump inhibitors binding with bovine serum albumin and their relationship to molecular structure

The interactions of three proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), omeprazole, pantoprazole and ilaprazole with bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been investigated by fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and circular dichroism (CD). Various binding parameters have been calculated at various temperatures. The results indicated that omeprazole, pantoprazole and ilaprazole had a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA with static quenching mechanism, and the binding affinities were significantly affected by different substituents and polarities as the order ilaprazole>pantoprazole>omeprazole. The site marker competitive experiments indicated that the binding of omeprazole, pantoprazole and ilaprazole to BSA primarily took place in subdomain IIA. The results of thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH and ΔS indicated that electrostatic interaction played a major role for PPIs–BSA association. The distance r between PPIs and BSA was evaluated according to the theory of Förster's energy transfer. The quantitative analysis of synchronous fluorescence and CD spectra showed the change in secondary structure of the BSA upon interaction with PPIs by a reduction of α-helix. All the above results many have relevant insight into the PPIs' availability and distribution.     

Specificity and affinity of phenosafranine protein adduct: Insights from biophysical aspects

Phenosafranine is a toxic and recalcitrant compound, whose capacity to intercalate with double stranded DNA has been shown. In this contribution, a biophysical discuss on the conjugation of phenosafranine with two model proteins human serum albumin (HSA) and lysozyme (Lys) has been identified utilizing a combination of molecular modeling, steady state and time-resolved fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) approaches. The accurate binding domain of phenosafranine in protein has been characterized from molecular modeling, subdomain IIIA of HSA and Trp-62, Trp-63 and Trp-108 residues of Lys was designated to possess high-affinity for this compound, the dominant forces in the protein–phenosafranine adduct are hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions, but hydrophobic interactions between dye and Lys are also not exclude. The data of fluorescence displayed that the complex of phenosafranine with protein produces quenching through static property, this corroborates the time-resolved fluorescence results that the ground state complex formation with a moderate affinity of 10⁴ M^?1. Moreover, via synchronous fluorescence, CD and three-dimensional fluorescence we indicated some extent of polypeptide chain of protein partially unfolding upon conjugation with phenosafranine. Through this work, we anticipate it can supply salient clues on the toxicological action of phenosafranine and other azines, which have analogous configuration with phenosafranine.     

The fluorescence and electronic structure of phenyl-substituted tetraazachlorin molecules

The effect of the addition of phenyl groups to pyrrole rings of tetraazachlorins, a new class of tetrapyrroles, on the photophysical properties and electronic structure of the molecules has been investigated by a complex of experimental and theoretical methods. Characteristics of fluorescence at 293 and 77 K have been determined for phenyl-substituted tetraazachlorins. The objects of this study include unsubstituted tetraazaporphine. The introduction of phenyl groups affords a marked increase in the fluorescence quantum yield. For tetraazaporphine and phenyl-substituted tetraazachlorins, fluorescence buildup occurs as the temperature is decreased from 293 to 77 K, but to a lesser extent than for tetraazachlorins having no phenyl groups, which were earlier studied by the authors. The fluorescence buildup mechanism is discussed. The singlet oxygen generation quantum yield has been determined for the tetrapyrroles examined. This characteristic increases upon tetrapyrrole is phenylation. The electronic structure and absorption spectra of unsubstituted porphine and chlorin, tetraazaporphine, tetraazachlorin, octaphenyltetraazaporphine, and tetramethylhexaphenyltetraazachlorin have been calculated by the INDO/Sm method (original modification of the INDO/S method) with molecular geometry optimization using DFT. The results of the quantum-chemical calculation of the absorption spectra are in good agreement with experimental data for transitions to the lowest excited electronic states Q _x (S ₁) and Q _y (S ₂).     

Local variation of the dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) during the α- to β-phase transformation

The phase transformation from the non-polar α-phase to the polar electroactive β-phase of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has been investigated using the fluorescence from Nile red. Films of α-PVDF doped with Nile red were stretched at controlled rates at a temperature of 80 °C to produce the α- to β-phase transition. The thermo/mechanical dependent changes in the crystalline structure are related to the physical rotation of the polar (CH₂-CF₂) group, which can be monitored by steady state fluorescence techniques. The degree of phase transformation is related to variation in the fluorescence, which in turn is linked to local dielectric constant of the polymer. The variation of the refractive index is more associated to the alignment of the polymeric chains than to the phase transformation. Thus, fluorescence is a suitable technique to monitor phase transitions coupled to a variation in the polarity of the dielectric medium.     

Excited-state hydrogen bonding effect on dynamic fluorescence of coumarin 102 chromophore in solution: A time-resolved fluorescence and theoretical study

The steady-state absorption and emission as well as the time-resolved fluorescence spectra of coumarin 102 (C102) in both aprotic and alcoholic solvents have been used to study the effect of excited-state hydrogen bond on the dynamic fluorescence of C102 chromophore in various solutions. The dual fluorescence of C102 in alcohols, which is dependent on the hydrogen-bonded donation ability of the solvent, has been assigned to the distribution of free C102 and a hydrogen-bonded complex. Furthermore, a shift of the fluorescence spectra induced by excited-state hydrogen bond has been demonstrated to take place within hundreds of picoseconds by the performance of the time-resolved fluorescence spectra with the time-correlated single-photon-counting (TCSPC) technique. Moreover, the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) has been used to calculate the hydrogen-bonded equilibrium constant pK_HB in different electronic states. It has been demonstrated for the first time that the hydrogen bond strengthening in electronic excited states could decrease the free energy of the hydrogen-bonded complex due to its stronger binding energy. Therefore, the hydrogen-bonded equilibrium will become markedly in favor of the hydrogen-bonded forms in electronic excited states by comparison with the case in the ground state.     

Comparative analysis of intramolecular interactions in trans-stilbene and 1,4-distyrylbenzene

We have analyzed the intensity distributions in fine-structure fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectra of trans-stilbene in n-hexane at 4.2 K. Modeling the spectra by representing each of the vibronic transitions by a zero-phonon line and a phonon wing with certain parameters (widths, Debye-Waller factors) made it possible to determine relative intensities of vibronic transitions. The parameters of Franck-Condon and Herzberg-Teller interactions, which form the fine-structure spectra of stilbene, have been calculated and compared with previously obtained parameters of intramolecular interactions in 1,4-distyrylbenzene.     

Characterize the interaction between naringenin and bovine serum albumin using spectroscopic approach

Naringenin, a flavanone compound highly enriched in grapefruits, has been identified as a possible inhibitor of cell proliferation; and thus has the potential to act as an antitumorigenic agent. In this study, the binding of naringenin to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied at the physiological conditions (pH=7.40) by fluorescence and UV-vis spectroscopy. Naringenin strongly quenches the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA, and a decrease in the fluorescence quenching constant was observed together with an increase in temperature, which indicates that the fluorescence quenching of BSA by naringenin is a result of the formation of naringenin-BSA complex. Binding parameters calculating from Stern-Volmer method and Scatchard method showed that naringenin bind to BSA with the binding affinities of the order 10⁴ L mol⁻¹. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG, ΔH and ΔS, were calculated at different temperatures, showing that electrostatic interactions were mostly responsible for the binding of naringenin to BSA. Site marker competitive displacement experiments demonstrating that naringenin bind with high affinity to site I (subdomain IIA) of BSA. Furthermore, the effect of metal ions to naringenin-BSA system was studied, and the specific binding distance r (3.30 nm) between donor (Trp-212) and acceptor (naringenin) was obtained according to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).     

Fluorescence Spectroscopic Properties Analysed within the Extended Förster Theory with Application to Biomacromolecular Systems

The extended Förster theory (EFT) of electronic energy transport accounts for translational and rotational dynamics, which are neglected by the classical Förster theory (FT). EFT has been developed for electronic energy transfer within donor-acceptor pairs [Isaksson, et al, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 9, 1941(2007)] and donor-donor pairs [Johansson, et al, J. Chem. Phys., 105, 10896 (1996); Norlin, et al, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 10, 6962(2008)]. For donors that exhibit different or identical non-exponential fluorescence relaxation within a donor-donor pair, the process of reverberating energy migration is reversible to a higher or lower degree. Here the impact of the EFT has been studied with respect to its influence on fluorescence quantum yields, fluorescence lifetimes as well as depolarisation experiments. The FT predicts relative fluorescence quantum yields which usually agree with the EFT within experimental accuracy, however, substantial deviations occurs in the steady-state and in particular the time-resolved depolarisation data.     

Influence of solvent polarity and temperature on dual fluorescence of 10,10′-dibromo, 9,9′-bianthryl

Fluorescence of 10,10′-dibromo, 9,9′-bianthryl (DBrBA) in solvents of different polarities (n-hexane, dibutyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, and acetone) has been investigated as a function of temperature. Changing of the solvent and variation of temperature modifies the ratio of local (LE) and charge transfer (CT) fluorescence quantum yields. From the basic fluorescence data (quantum yields, lifetimes, ratio of CT to LE fluorescence quantum yields) the temperature-dependent equilibrium constants for the charge transfer process in the excited singlet state were calculated and discussed on the basis of the modern electron transfer theories. It has been found that the intersystem crossing in DBrBA in nonpolar n-hexane, leading to the population of the lowest triplet state, proceeds via the third triplet state. It has been confirmed by the fluorescence measurements and quantum mechanical calculations. Surprisingly, the experimentally obtained intersystem crossing rate constants are very weakly dependent on temperature. Thus, the electron transfer reaction leading to the population of the molecular triplet state is probably an adiabatic reaction with a rate constant controlled by the dielectric relaxation of the solvent.     

Investigation of the octaethylporphin cationic forms in a silicate gel matrix by methods of low-temperature site selective spectroscopy

The spectral-luminescent properties of an octaethylporphin-doped inorganic xerogel prepared from tetraethoxysilane by the sol-gel method have been investigated. With the help of selective excitation and selective monitoring of fluorescence, it has been established that the octaethylporphin molecules, on their embedment into the gel matrix, form two cationic forms, dicationic and monocationic; the longest wavelength absorption band of the latter is shifted to the red. The significant influence of the gel matrix on the energy of the excited electronic Q states (S₁ and S₂) is shown. By the fluorescence line narrowing method at 4.2 K, fine-structure fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectra of both forms have been obtained; the frequencies of the normal modes in the S₀ and S₁ states have been determined. The data on vibrational frequencies are interpreted on the basis of their juxtaposition with those from the fluorescence line narrowing spectrum of octaethylporphin and resonance Raman spectra of its complexes with copper and nickel. Cases of the appearance of out-of-plane vibrations in the fluorescence spectra have been revealed; their activation is explained by the nonplanarity of the porphyrin macrocycle for the cationic forms.     

Observation of sharp-line lanthanide fluorescence in high temperature superconductors

Lanthanide fluorescence has been observed for the first time in the high temperature superconductors that have been recently discovered. Laser excited fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectra of La_1.85-xRE_xSr_0.15CuO₄ for RE=Pr and Eu and x=0.02, 0.18, 0.36 and 1.85 are presented. There is substantial inhomogeneous broadening caused by the Sr²⁺ in the materials containing a single rare earth and additional broadening caused by the ionic size mismatch in the materials with two rare earths. The samples have 3 crystallographic sites for the lanthanide ion. No fluorescence was observed for the higher temperature superconductors, Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_9-δ, doped with 10 and 100% Eu³⁺.     

Argon-ion laser excitation of the fluorosulfate radical

Discrete visible fluorescence has been observed from excitation of the fluorosulfate radical with argon-ion laser excitation which falls within its visible electronic absorption spectrum. Ground-state fundamentals of the radical have been determined which are in agreement with those determined from the analysis of the hot bands in the electronic absorption spectrum. The analysis of the fluorescence spectrum is consistent with the molecule possessing C_3r symmetry in the ground electronic state.     

Investigation of the fluorescence quenching of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO) by certain substituted uracils

The fluorescence quenching of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO) by a series of uracils has been studied in water and acetonitrile solvents using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. The steady-state fluorescence quenching technique has been performed in three different pHs (i.e. 4, 8 and 12). The bimolecular quenching rate constant (k_q) increases with increase in pH of uracils. In acidic pH, a pure hydrogen atom abstraction is proposed as the quenching mechanism. This is supported by a pronounced solvent deuterium isotope effect. Electron transfer from the anionic form of uracil to the excited state of DBO is proposed as a mechanism for quenching in basic pH on the basis of highly exergonic thermodynamics obtained from the Rehm-Weller equation. The variation of k_q is explained on the basis of the electronic effect of substitution in uracils as well.     

Synthesis and two-photon optical characterization of D-π-D type Schiff bases

The title compounds, several Schiff bases with D-π-D type have been successfully synthesized from reaction of 4-(N-dialkylamino) benzaldehyde and hydrazine or p-phenylenediamine in ethanol. These compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, elemental analysis and electronspray mass spectrometry. One-photon fluorescence and two-photon fluorescence properties have been investigated. The two-photon absorption (TPA) cross section (σ) of these compounds was obtained by using the open-aperture Z-scan technique. Based on theoretical calculations and factual test, the influence that a series of substituted groups and the conjugated frame imposed on TPA cross section were systematically discussed.