Nonradiative deactivation of the lowest triplet state of naphthalene and its hydroxy derivatives at 77 K

The validity of an inductive resonance theory of energy transfer from the T ₁→S ₀ transition dipole to overtone vibrations of molecular groups containing H and D atoms is experimentally tested for a series of compounds whose conjugation systems are similar in size. To this end, by using kinetic, spectral, and luminescent methods (measurements of the phosphorescence decay times, phosphorescence spectra, ratios between the quantum yields of phosphorescence and fluorescence at 77 K, total quantum yields of fluorescence at 293 K, and ratios between the quantum yields of fluorescence at 293 and 77 K), the deactivation processes of the lowest excited T ₁ and S ₁ states of seven emitting centers (naphthalene, its hydroxy and dihydroxy derivatives, and their monoanions) in solutions in ethanol-h ₆, ethanol-d ₆, and their 2: 1 mixtures with diethyl ether are studied. For all the compounds studied, the rate constants k _r of the radiative T ₁→S ₀ transition and the changes in the overlap integrals of the spectra of phosphorescence and absorption of overtones of CH stretching vibrations are determined. The rate constants of energy transfer k _dd(CH) from the T ₁→S ₀ transition dipole to the stretching vibrations of the CH bonds are calculated without regard for the changes in the localization and orientation of this transition dipole in the compounds under study. The contribution of an individual CH group k _nr(CH) to the total rate constant of nonradiative deactivation of the T ₁ state averaged over the CH groups of the naphthalene ring system is ascertained. A good correlation between the changes in the constants k _nr(CH) and k _dd(CH) in the series of the hydroxy derivatives of naphthalene is found, which is indicative of the inductive resonance mechanism of the energy degradation of the T ₁ state. The deviations from proportionality between the changes in these constants upon passing from naphthalene to its hydroxy derivatives, which correlate with a marked increase in the radiative constant k _nr of the hydroxy derivatives in comparison with naphthalene, indicate changes in the strength and localization of the T ₁→S ₀ transition dipole moment and in its orientation with respect to the plane of the molecule that occur due to introduction of a heteroatom, oxygen, whose lone pair of electrons enters into conjugation with the πelectrons of the naphthalene ring system.     

Polarization of phosphorescence transitions and probabilities of intramolecular nonradiative deactivation of the lowest triplet state of aromatic molecules

This study continues the experimental testing of the validity of the inductive resonance theory of dipole-dipole energy transfer from the T ₁→S ₀ transition dipole to stretching vibrations of intramolecular CH bonds of naphthalene and its hydroxy derivatives. To this end, in the series of compounds under study, the range of variation of the geometrical parameter [Φ(CH)]² of the Förster theory, which accounts for the mutual orientation of the energy donor and acceptor, is estimated. Preliminarily, the angles between the transition dipole moments of the radiative and absorptive electronic transitions (T ₁→S ₀ and S ₀→S ₁; T ₁→S ₀ and S ₀→S ₂; S ₁→S ₀ and S ₀ →S ₁; and S ₁→S ₀ and S ₀→S ₂) are measured at 77 K by the method of polarization photoselection. From the polarization measurements, the angles between the phosphorescence transition dipole moment and the plane of a molecule are determined. It was found that, upon passage from naphthalene to its β derivatives, the orientation of the dipole moment of the radiative T ₁→S ₀ transition relative to the plane of a molecule markedly changes, with the in-plane component of the dipole moment being increased by an order of magnitude. The experimentally determined rate constants of nonradiative deactivation of the T ₁ state averaged over the CH groups of the naphthalene ring system, k _nr(CH), are compared with the rate constants [Φ(CH)]² of the inductive resonance energy transfer from the dipole of the T ₁→S ₀ transition to the dipole of the CH vibrations polarized in the plane of a molecule, calculated with regard to the orientational factor [Φ(CH)]². This comparison showed that, in the series of compounds under study, a change in the orientation of the dipole moment of the radiative T ₁→S ₀ transition relative to the plane of a molecule does not affect the rate of the nonradiative T ₁?S ₀ transition. This inference is confirmed by the absence of a correlation between the rate constants k _dd(CH) calculated by us (with regard to [Φ(CH)]²) and the well-known rate constants k _nr(CH) of individual sublevels of the T ₁ state measured at T≤1.35 K for a number of organic molecules. The possible sources of discrepancy between the experimental data that k _nr(CH) is independent of [Φ(CH)]² and the predictions of the theory are considered. A conclusion is made that the electronic-vibrational energy transfer between electric dipoles is the most probable mechanism of the T ₁?S ₀ transitions, but the rate constant of the dipole-dipole energy transfer upon interaction of the electronic and vibrational dipoles in a molecule does not depend on their orientations.     

Nonradiative deactivation of the lowest triplet state of tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

In the nonadiabatic approximation, we have studied how the shape of promoting out-of-plane vibrational modes and vibronically induced spin-orbit interactions in structural elements of the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin molecule affect the energy degradation rate constants K _dg ^s of triplet T ₁ ^s sublevels.     

The role played by some factors of intramolecular interaction in nonradiative deactivation of the lowest triplet state of octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

We have studied how intramolecular interactions, such as vibronically induced spin-orbit (VISO) and nonadiabatic interactions, which are governed by different structural elements of the octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) molecule, affect the deactivation of its lowest triplet state. In the nonadiabatic approximation, taking into account out-of-plane vibrational modes as promoting ones, we have estimated the values of rate constant K _dg ^s of the nonradiative energy deactivation of in-plane triplet sublevels (s = z, y) of the triplet state of the OCDD molecule.     

Roles played by an oxygen atom and out-of-plane high-frequency vibrational modes of a dibenzofuran molecule in the nonradiative deactivation of the lowest triplet state

We have studied the deactivation of the triplet sublevels s = z, y, and x of the lowest triplet state T ₁ ^s of the dibenzofuran molecule, which is determined by radiative (dipole) and nonradiative (degradation) transitions with the rate constants K _rad ^s and K _dg ^s . The main attention is paid to the nonradiative transitions T ₁ ^s ? S ₀ from the in-plane spin states (s = z, y), which are determined by the intramolecular interaction along the coordinates of out-of-plane vibrational modes. The roles played by the many-electron atom (oxygen) and high-frequency out-of-plane vibrational modes in the intramolecular interaction have been evaluated theoretically. Estimates of K _dg ^s based on three known approaches (three models) that describe the nonradiative transition in the approximation of adiabatic and nonadiabatic interactions are presented.     

The effect of the heteroatom on the radiative deactivation of the lowest triplet state in heterocyclic analogues of fluorene

The vibronic transition strengths F _VSO ^s for the transitions from the spin sublevels s of the triplet state T₁ to the energy levels of the nontotally symmetric vibrations of dibenzothiophene (DB(S)) are calculated. For a series of heterocyclic analogues of fluorene (DB(S) and previously studied carbazole, dibenzofuran, and phenyldibenzophosphole), the regular features of the effect of the valence state of the heteroatom and of the spin-orbit interactions in individual atomic groups of the molecule are revealed. The factors affecting changes in the radiative deactivation rate constant of the T₁ state of the molecules studied are established. The intensity distribution of the vibronic lines in the Herzberg-Teller component of the fine structure phosphorescence spectrum of phenyldibenzophosphole is calculated taking into account different populations of the triplet sublevels.     

The lowest triplet state of Zn porphin

The dynamics of populating and depopulating the phosphorescent triplet state of Zn porphin in an n-octane matrix is investigated by microwave induced delayed phosphorescence experiments at 1·2K. Values for the absolute rates of decay of the three spin levels are given and also the relative steady-state populations, radiative decay rates and probabilities for entry through intersystem crossing. Further, it is established that the phosphorescence is inplane polarized. The results are compatible with the decay modes expected for a lowest vibronic state that deviates from D ₄ symmetry by combined action of the Jahn-Teller effect and crystal field anisotropy.     

The role of environment in the nonradiative relaxation of the triplet state of naphthalene derivatives in solid solutions at 77 K

The nonradiative relaxation of the triplet states of oxy-and amino-derivatives of naphthalene and conjugated ions is studied by luminescent and kinetic methods (measurements of the phosphorescence decay and of phosphorescence excitation and phosphorescence spectra) in solid solutions of ethanol-h ₆, ethanol-d ₆, and mixtures of toluene-h ₈ with piperidine-h ₁₁ at 77 K. It is found that, along with intramolecular factors, a microsolvate surrounding a molecule or an ion substantially affects the nonradiative relaxation. The contribution of this factor in ethanol increases in the series cation-polar molecule-anion and in mixtures of toluene with piperidine—with increasing piperidine concentration. The results are interpreted assuming the inductive-resonance dipole-dipole transfer of the triplet energy to the dipole acceptors of intramolecular bonds and bonds with molecules of the environment. The relative arrangement of hydrogen atoms of OH groups of ethanol molecules in microsolvates of cations and anions estimated using the inductive-resonance model agrees with the difference in the structure of solvates of oppositely charged ions, which is caused by the electrostatic charge-dipole interaction and the distribution of the electron density in the ground state of the corresponding emitting center. The inductive-resonance model was used for studying the features of solvation processes involving polar molecules. It is shown that the difference between the structures of microsolvates of 2-oxy-naphthalene molecules in solvents with close dipole moments (ethanol and piperidine) is mainly caused by the different ability of these solvent molecules to form associates. The structure of microsolvates of oxy-derivatives of naphthalene in the associated amphoteric solvent is found to depend on the number and position of substituents. In oxy-derivatives of naphthalene with spatially separated OH groups in ethano-d ₆, deuteroexchange occurs in both substituents, whereas in the naphthalene derivative with adjacent OH groups this occurs only in one of the groups. Comparison of the phosphorescence spectra of hydrogen-bond complexes and proton-transfer complexes in nonpolar solvents at 77 K revealed the existence of molecular naphthol entities in the triplet state that were formed from ionized entities in the singlet state.     

Conformational dynamics and spin-orbit interactions in a series of sterically hindered porphyrins in the lowest triplet state

We have studied the nature and unusual photophysical properties of triplet states of a series of sterically hindered porphyrins (meso-phenyl-substituted derivatives of octamethylporphyrin (PS-OMP)) using quantum-chemical calculations of the parameters that determine the probability of deactivation of the T ₁ state and modeling the T-T absorption spectra. We show that a decrease in the lifetime of the T ₁ state of PS-OMP is related with the enhancement of the channel of nonradiative deactivation (T ₁ → S ₀), which occurs (i) due to the conformational lability in the T ₁ state, as a result of which the energy gap T ₁-S ₀ considerably decreases, and (ii) because of an increase in the matrix element of the spin-orbit interaction due to a change in the hybridization of atoms of the macrocycle as a consequence of its nonplanar distortion. The value of the vibronically induced matrix element of the spin-orbit interaction between the S ₀ and T ₁ states of PS-OMP depends weakly on the type of the conformation and the value and the character of distortion of the porphyrin macrocycle. The conformational lability of PS-OMP clearly manifests itself in the spectra and kinetics of the T-T absorption of these compounds at room temperature and determines the nonmonoexponential character of the phosphorescence decay kinetics in frozen matrices. Using porphin as an example, we have shown that nonplanar distortions of the macrocycle facilitate a decrease in the phosphorescence rate constant at 77 K, which is caused, on the one hand, by an increase in the energy gaps T ₁-S _n and S ₀-T _n and, on the other hand, by an increase in the wavelength of the transition T ₁ → S ₀.     

Fine-structure phosphorescence and radiative deactivation of the lowest triplet states in the most toxic dioxins

The transition dipole moments for the transition T₁(ππ*) → S₀ to vibrational energy levels of the nontotally symmetric vibrational modes of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-and 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins are calculated. The interpretation of the fine-structure phosphorescence spectrum of the first of these compounds is refined, and the radiative deactivation rate constants for the s sublevels of the lowest triplet state T₁ are estimated. For a number of polychlorinated compounds, the effect of chlorine atoms occupying the α and β positions in a molecule on the T^s → S₀ transition dipole moments is discussed.     

The lowest triplet state of the biexciton may be bound

Using Haken's hamiltonian and a simple variational wavefunction, the (1_σg, 1_σu)³Σ_u state of the biexciton in a polar crystal is found to be stable with respect to dissociation into two ground-state excitons, for ceratain range of (realistec) material parameters, unlike the corresponding state in the H₂ molecule.     

Radiative deactivation of the lowest triplet state of dibenzo-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-dioxine

A theoretical evaluation of the dipole moments of vibronic transitions (which are governed by vibronic spin-orbit interactions) was carried out for dibenzo-p-dioxin molecules. On the basis of the comparison of the obtained results with the data on the distribution of line intensities in a fine-structure phosphorescence spectrum of dibenzo-p-dioxin at 4.2 K, it is inferred that radiative deactivation of the lowest triplet state T ₁ (ππ*) occurs from one of the triplet sublevels. For the molecules of dibenzo-p-dioxin and one of the isomers of tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, the effect of the form of vibrational modes and individual constants of the spin-orbit coupling in O and Cl atoms on vibronic spin-orbit interactions is discussed.     

Heavy atom effect on photophysical deactivation of molecular triplet states

The decrease in the spin-orbit (SO) interaction with increasing number of chlorine atoms in molecules of dibenzo-p-dioxine derivatives is found and explained. The heavy atom effect on components of the rate constant of phosphorescence k _ph=_{k SO}+_{k VSO} related to SO and vibronic-spin-orbit (VSO) interactions is quantitatively estimated.     

Nonradiative deactivation of the lowest excited triplet state of the dibenzo-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-dioxin molecule

In the nonadiabatic approximation, we study how intramolecular interactions affect the nonradiative energy degradation T ₁ ^s ↝ S ₀ of triplet sublevels s of the lowest triplet state of the dibenzo-p-dioxin molecule. We consider the role played in the degradation by the shape of promoting high- and low-frequency vibrational modes and by spin-orbit interactions separately in the carbon backbone of the molecule and in heteroatoms (oxygen). We find that σ-electrons of oxygen that correspond to the lone pair and to valence electrons play different roles in the nonadiabatic interaction.     

Photoinduced energy transfer from the triplet state of naphthalene moiety in the Tb/Eu complexes of a specially designed naphthalene cryptand

The paper reports time-resolved emission and energy transfer (ET) studies of metal ion complexes of a specially designed rigid macrocyclic naphthalene cryptand (L) under different conditions. Complex formation of L with Li⁺ and H⁺ causes an appreciable increase in singlet state quantum yield and lifetime of L implying photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from the cryptand moiety to naphthalene unit in the free L. The system exhibits photoinduced ET at 77 K in its Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ complexes with either NO₃⁻¹ or Cl⁻¹ as counter-anion. The extent of ET is higher for the Tb³⁺ complex as compared to that for the Eu³⁺ complex. In both Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ complex, the NO₃⁻¹ ions influence the relative orientation of donor (L) and acceptor (Ln³⁺) more in favour of ET than the Cl⁻¹ ions. The rate constants for the ET from the naphthalene moiety of L to the acceptor (Ln³⁺) have been evaluated at 77 K. The results suggest ET from the triplet state of naphthalene using an exchange mechanism. The ground state geometries of the system L and its complexes with Li⁺, Cs⁺ and Tb³⁺ have been determined using DFT methods to interpret our results.     

The lowest singlet and triplet excited states of pyrazine

The phosphoresence, fluorescence and absorption spectra of pyrazine-h₄ and -d₄ have been obtained at 4°K in a benzene matrix. For comparison, those of the isotopically mixed crystal pyrazine-h₄ in d₄ were also taken. All these spectra show extremely sharp and well-resolved lines and reveal detailed vibronic structure.The coincidence of origins of absorption and emission shows that the lowest singlet state is an allowed transition, properly designated as ${}^1\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{3u}}\text{←}{}^1\text{A}{}_{\mathrm{1g}}$. The forbidden component ¹B_2g, predicted by both “exciton” and MO theories to be below the allowed component, must lie higher. Its exact location still remains uncertain.The phosphorescence spectrum, when compared with the singlet-triplet excitation spectrum, indicates that the lowest triplet state is also symmetry allowed, showing a strong 0-0 band and the coincidence of origins of absorption and emission. In accordance with previous work, the triplet state is designated as ³B_3u.The vibronic structure of the phosphorescence spectrum is very complicated. The first work on the analysis of this spectrum concluded that a simple progression of ν_6a exists. Under the high resolution attainable in the present experiments, the supposed ν_6a progression proves to have a composite structure, starting from the second member of the progression. Not only is the ν_9a hydrogen-bending mode present as shown by the appearance of the CD bending mode in the d₄ spectrum, but a band assigned as 2ν_6b was also identified. The latter's anomalous intensity in the phosphorescence spectrum is interpreted as due to the Fermi resonance with 2ν_6a and ν_9a bands. To help resolve the present controversy over the origin of the phosphoresence spectrum observed in crystalline pyrazine, detailed vibrational analyses of the emission spectra were made. The fluorescence spectrum has essentially the same vibronic structure as the phosphorescence spectrum.     

Investigation of the behavior of the probability of a nonradiative transition in benzene with deuteration

The behavior of the T₁ S₀ nonradiative transition in benzene with deuteration was investigated within the limits of the theory of multiphonon transitions. A calculation of the relative changes in the probability of a T₁ S₀ nonradiative transition for C₆H₆, C₆D₆ and C₆H₃D₃ was performed together with a qualitative treatment in the harmonic approximation. The cause of the peculiar effect of anharmonicity in the results of the calculation for benzene and its deuteroanalogs, which can only be removed by a substantial reduction in the symmetry, is indicated.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, Vol. 16, No. 9, pp. 94–98, September, 1973.