Spectroscopy and femtosecond dynamics of 7-N,N-diethylamino-3-hydroxyflavone. The correlation of dipole moments among various states to rationalize the excited-state proton transfer reaction

Comprehensive excitation behaviors of 7-N,N-diethylamino-3-hydroxyflavone (I) have been investigated via steady state, temperature-dependent emission, and fluorescence upconversion to probe the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (PT) reaction. Upon excitation, I undergoes ultrafast (<120 fs), adiabatic type of charge transfer (CT), so that the dipolar vector in the Franck-Condon excited state is much different from that in the ground state. In polar solvents such as CH2Cl2 and CH3CN, early relaxation dynamics clearly reveals the competitive rates between solvent relaxation and PT dynamics. After reaching thermal equilibrium, a relatively slow, solvent-polarity-dependent rate (a few tens of picoseconds(-1)) of PT takes places. Firm support of the early relaxation dynamics is rendered by the spectral temporal evolution, which resolves two distinct bands ascribed to CT and PT emission. The results, in combination with ab initio calculations on the dipolar vectors for various corresponding states, led us to conclude that excited-state normal (N*) and excited proton-transfer tautomer (T*) possesses very different dipole orientation, whereas the dipole orientation of the normal ground state (N) is between that of N* and T*. PT is thus energetically favorable at the Franck-Condon excited N*, and its rate is competitive with respect to the solvent relaxation dynamics induced by CT. Unlike the well-known PT system, 4'-N,N-diethylamino-3-hydroxyflavone, in which equilibrium exists between solvent-equilibrated N(eq)* and T(eq)*, N(eq)* --> T(eq)* PT for I is a highly exergonic, irreversible process in all solvents studied. Further temperature-dependent studies deduce a solvent-polarity-perturbed energy barrier of 3.6 kcal/mol for the N(eq)* --> T(eq)* PT in CH3CN. The proposed dipole-moment-tuning PT mechanism with the associated relaxation dynamics is believed to apply to many PT molecules in polar, aprotic solvents.     

Femtosecond dynamics on 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-diethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole: solvent polarity in the excited-state proton transfer.

Detailed insights into the excited-state enol(N*)-keto(T*) intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction in 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-diethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole (HABT) have been investigated via steady-state and femtosecond fluorescence upconversion approaches. In cyclohexane, in contrast to the ultrafast rate of ESIPT for the parent 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (>2.9+/-0.3 x 10(13) s(-1)), HABT undergoes a relatively slow rate (approximately 5.4+/-0.5 x 10(11) s(-1)) of ESIPT. In polar aprotic solvents competitive rate of proton transfer and rate of solvent relaxation were resolved in the early dynamics. After reaching the solvation equilibrium in the normal excited state (N(eq)*), ESIPT takes place with an appreciable barrier. The results also show N(eq)*(enol)<-->T(eq)*(keto) equilibrium, which shifts toward N(eq)* as the solvent polarity increases. Temperature-dependent relaxation dynamics further resolved a solvent-induced barrier of 2.12 kcal mol(-1) for the forward reaction in CH(2)Cl(2). The observed spectroscopy and dynamics are rationalized by a significant difference in dipole moment between N(eq)* and T(eq)*, while the dipolar vector for the enol form in the ground state (N) is in between that of N(eq)* and T(eq)*. Upon N-->N* Franck-Condon excitation, ESIPT is energetically favorable, and its rate is competitive with the solvation relaxation process. Upon reaching equilibrium configurations N(eq)* and T(eq)*, forward and/or backward ESIPT takes place with an appreciable solvent polarity induced barrier due to differences in polarization equilibrium between N(eq)* and T(eq)*.     

Excited state proton transfer and solvent relaxation of a 3-hydroxyflavone probe in lipid bilayers

The photophysics of a ratiometric fluorescent probe, N-[[4'- N, N-diethylamino-3-hydroxy-6-flavonyl]methyl]- N-methyl- N-(3-sulfopropyl)-1-dodecanaminium, inner salt (F2N12S), incorporated into phospholipid unilamellar vesicles is presented. The reconstructed time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) unravels a unique feature in the photophysics of this probe. TRES exhibit signatures of both an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and a dynamic Stokes shift associated with solvent relaxation in the lipid bilayer. The ESIPT is fast, being characterized by a risetime of approximately 30-40 ps that provides an equilibrium to be established between the excited normal (N*) and the ESIPT tautomer (T*) on a time scale of 100 ps. On the other hand, the solvent relaxation displays a bimodal decay kinetics with an average relaxation time of approximately 1 ns. The observed slow solvent relaxation dynamics likely embodies a response of nonspecific dipolar solvation coupled with formation of probe-water H-bonds as well as the relocation of the fluorophore in the lipid bilayer. Taking into account that ESIPT and solvent relaxation are governed by different physicochemical properties of the probe microenvironment, the present study provides a physical background for the multiparametric sensing of lipid bilayers using ESIPT based probes.     

Two competitive routes in the lactim-lactam phototautomerization of a hydroxypyridine derivative cation in water: dissociative mechanism versus water-assisted proton transfer

Ground-state tautomerism and excited-state proton-transfer processes of 2-(6'-hydroxy-2'-pyridyl)benzimidazolium in H2O and D2O have been studied by means of UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in both steady-state and time-resolved modes. In the ground state, this compound shows a tautomeric equilibrium between the lactim cation, protonated at the benzimidazole N3, and its lactam tautomer, obtained by proton translocation from the hydroxyl group to the pyridine nitrogen. Direct excitation of the lactam tautomer leads to its own fluorescence emission, while as a result of the increase of acidity of the OH group and basicity at the pyridine N upon excitation, the lactim species undergoes a proton translocation from the hydroxyl group to the nitrogen, favoring the lactam structure in the excited state. No fluorescence emission from the initially excited lactim species was detected due to the ultrafast rate of the excited-state proton-transfer processes. The lactim-lactam phototaumerization process takes place via two competitive excited-state proton-transfer routes: a one-step water-assisted proton translocation (probably a double proton transfer) and a two-step pathway which involves first the dissociation of the lactim cation to form an emissive intermediate zwitterionic species and then the acid-catalyzed protonation at the pyridine nitrogen to give rise to the lactam tautomer.     

Excited-state charge coupled proton transfer reaction via the dipolar functionality of salicylideneaniline

Based on design and synthesis of salicylideneaniline derivatives(1a-1d),we demonstrate a prototypical system to investigate the excited-state intramolecular charge transfer(ESICT) coupled excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) reaction via the dipolar functionality of the molecular framework. In solid and aprotic solvents 1a-1d exist mainly as E conformers that possess an intramolecular sixmembered -ring hydrogen bond.Compounds 1a-1c exhibit a unique proton-transfer tautomer emission, while compound 1d exhibits remarkable dual emission due to the different solvent-polarity environment between ESICT and ESIPT states.Time-dependent density functional theory(TDDFT) calculations are reported on these Schiff bases in order to rationalize their electronic structure and absorption spectra.     

Fine tuning the energetics of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT): white light generation in a single ESIPT system

Using 7-hydroxy-1-indanone as a prototype (I), which exhibits excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), chemical modification has been performed at C(2)-C(3) positions by fusing benzene (molecule II) and naphthalene rings, (molecule III). I undergoes an ultrafast rate of ESIPT, resulting in a unique tautomer emission (λ(max) ～530 nm), whereas excited-state equilibrium is established for both II and III, as supported by the dual emission and the associated relaxation dynamics. The forward ESIPT (normal to proton-transfer tautomer species) rates for II and III are deduced to be (30 ps)(-1) and (22 ps)(-1), respectively, while the backward ESIPT rates are (11 ps)(-1) and (48 ps)(-1). The ESIPT equilibrium constants are thus calculated to be 0.37 and 2.2 for II and III, respectively, giving a corresponding free energy change of 0.59 and -0.47 kcal/mol between normal and tautomer species. For III, normal and tautomer emissions in solid are maximized at 435 and 580 nm, respectively, achieving a white light generation with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) (0.30, 0.27). An organic light-emitting diode based on III is also successfully fabricated with maximum brightness of 665 cd m(-2) at 20 V (885 mA cm(-2)) and the CIE coordinates of (0.26, 0.35). The results provide the proof of concept that the white light generation can be achieved in a single ESIPT system.     

Comprehensive studies on an overall proton transfer cycle of the ortho-green fluorescent protein chromophore

Initiated by excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction, an overall reaction cycle of 4-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-1,2-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-5(4H)-one (o-HBDI), an analogue of the core chromophore of the green fluorescent protein (GFP), has been investigated. In contrast to the native GFP core, 4-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-1,2-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-5(4H)-one (p-HBDI), which requires hydrogen-bonding relay to accomplish proton transfer in vivo, o-HBDI possesses a seven-membered-ring intramolecular hydrogen bond and thus provides an ideal system for mimicking an intrinsic proton-transfer reaction. Upon excitation, ESIPT takes place in o-HBDI, resulting in a ～600 nm proton-transfer tautomer emission. The o-HBDI tautomer emission, resolved by fluorescence upconversion, is comprised of an instantaneous rise to a few hundred femtosecond oscillation in the early relaxation stage. Frequency analysis derived from ultrashort pulse gives two low-frequency vibrations at 115 and 236 cm(-1), corresponding to skeletal deformation motions associated with the hydrogen bond. The results further conclude that ESIPT in o-HBDI is essentially triggered by low-frequency motions and may be barrierless along the reaction coordinate. Femtosecond UV/vis transient absorption spectra also provide supplementary evidence for the structural evolution during the reaction. In CH(3)CN, an instant rise of a 530 nm transient is resolved, which then undergoes 7.8 ps decay, accompanied by the growth of a rather long-lived 580 nm transient species. It is thus concluded that following ESIPT the cis-proton transfer isomer undergoes cis-trans-isomerization. The results of viscosity-dependent dynamics are in favor of the one-bond-flip mechanism, which is in contrast to the volume-conserving isomerization behavior for cis-stilbene and p-HBDI. Further confirmation is given by the picosecond-femtosecond transient IR absorption spectra, where several new and long-lived IR bands in the range of 1400-1500 cm(-1) are assigned to the phenyl in-plane breathing motions of the trans-proton transfer tautomer. Monitored by the nanosecond transient absorption, the 580 nm transient undergoes a ～7.7 μs decay constant, accompanied by the growth of a new ～500 nm band. The latter is assigned to a deprotonated tautomer species, which then undergoes the ground-state reverse proton recombination to the original o-HBDI in ～50 μs, achieving an overall, reversible proton transfer cycle. This assignment is unambiguously supported by pump-probe laser induced fluorescence studies. On these standpoints, a comparison of photophysical properties among o-HBDI, p-HBDI, and wild-type GFP is discussed in detail.     

Femtosecond dynamics of piroxicam structures in solutions

We report on studies of femtosecond dynamics of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, piroxicam (1), in water at three different pHs and for comparison in two aprotic solvents. An ultrafast excited-state proton-transfer (ESIPT) process takes place in neutral and cationic enol-type structures. Femtosecond emission and transient absorption experiments show that this reaction is barrierless, and the proton-transferred keto tautomer is formed in less than 100 fs in both organic solvents and acidic water. In neutral and alkaline water, the ESIPT is not present because of the prevalence of the anion structures at the ground state. For the excited anions (pH = 7, 11) and formed keto cations (pH approximately 3), an intramolecular charge-transfer process takes place in times shorter than 0.3 ps. The formed structures have a fluorescence lifetime of approximately 2-5 ps, depending on pH. In contrast, the internal twisting motion in organic solvents is slower (approximately 0.5-1 ps) and gives rotamers with lifetimes of tens of picoseconds. These results clearly show strong interactions of 1 with water, significantly distinct from those present in organic aprotic solvents. We believe that the results are important for a better understanding on short time interactions of drugs with their environment.     

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer molecules bearing o-hydroxy analogues of green fluorescent protein chromophore

o-Hydroxy analogues, 1a-g, of the green fluorescent protein chromophore have been synthesized. Their structures and electronic properties were investigated by X-ray single-crystal analyses, electrochemistry, and luminescence properties. In solid and nonpolar solvents 1a-g exist mainly as Z conformers that possess a seven-membered-ring hydrogen bond and undergo excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reactions, resulting in a proton-transfer tautomer emission. Fluorescence upconversion dynamics have revealed a coherent type of ESIPT, followed by a fast vibrational/solvent relaxation (<1 ps) to a twisted (regarding exo-C(5)-C(4)-C(3) bonds) conformation, from which a fast population decay of a few to several tens of picoseconds was resolved in cyclohexane. Accordingly, the proton-transfer tautomer emission intensity is moderate (0.08 in 1e) to weak (～10(-4) in 1a) in cyclohexane. The stronger intramolecular hydrogen bonding in 1g suppresses the rotation of the aryl-alkene bond, resulting in a high yield of tautomer emission (Φ(f) ≈ 0.2). In the solid state, due to the inhibition of exo-C(5)-C(4)-C(3) rotation, intense tautomer emission with a quantum yield of 0.1-0.9 was obtained for 1a-g. Depending on the electronic donor or acceptor strength of the substituent in either the HOMO or LUMO site, a broad tuning range of the emission from 560 (1g) to 670 nm (1a) has been achieved.     

REINVESTIGATION OF THE PHOTOPHYSICS OF 2-(2'-HYDROXY-4'-DIETHYLAMINOPHENYL)BENZOTHIAZOLE

Abstract— The photophysical properties of 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-diethylaminophenyl) benzothiazole (HABT) have been investigated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies. In n-heptane HABT exhibits both normal and tautomer emissions with ∼equal fluorescence intensity at room temperature, in contrast to a previous report in which negligible tautomer emission was observed. The normal/tautomer (400/500 nm) ratio of emission intensity increases as the temperature decreases. Two possible excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanisms are proposed, which cannot be resolved at the present stage. One proposed mechanism incorporates state mixing between -OH and -N(C₂H₅)₂ charge transfer states, resulting in a significant energy barrier for ESIPT. An alternative mechanism is also proposed in which fast proton tunneling may take place between enol and keto forms, which are in equilibrium in the excited singlet state.     

Characterization of the singlet and triplet excited states of 3-chloro-4-methylumbelliferone

An extensive photophysical characterization of 3-chloro-4-methylumbelliferone (3Cl4MU) in the ground-state, S(0), first excited singlet state, S(1), and lowest triplet state, T(1), was undertaken in water, neutral ethanol, acidified ethanol, and basified ethanol. Quantitative measurements of quantum yields (fluorescence, phosphorescence, intersystem crossing, internal conversion, and singlet oxygen formation) together with lifetimes were obtained at room and low temperature in water, dioxane/water mixtures, and alcohols. The different transient species were assigned and a general kinetic scheme is presented, summarizing the excited-state multiequilibria of 3Cl4MU. In water, the equilibrium is restricted to neutral (N*) and anionic (A*) species, both in the ground (pK(a) = 7.2) and first excited singlet states (pK(a)* = 0.5). In dioxane/water mixtures (pH ca. 6), substantial changes of the kinetics of the S(1) state were observed with the appearance of an additional tautomeric T* species. In low water content mixtures (mixture 9:1 v:v), only the neutral (N*) and tautomeric (T*) forms of 3Cl4MU are observed, whereas at higher water content mixtures (water mole fraction superior to 0.45), all three species N*, T*, and A* coexist in the excited state. In the triplet state, in the nonprotic and nonpolar solvent dioxane, the observed transient signals were assigned as the triplet-triplet transition of the neutral form, N*(T(1)) → N*(T(n)). In water, two transient species were observed and are assigned as the triplets of the neutral N*(T(1)) and the anionic form, A*(T(1)) (also obtained in basified ethanol). The phosphorescence spectra and decays of 3Cl4MU, in neutral, acidified, and basified solutions, demonstrate that only these two species N*(T(1)) and A*(T(1)) exist in the lowest lying triplet state, T(1). The radiative channel was found dominant for the deactivation of the anionic species, whereas with the neutral the S(1) ? S(0) internal conversion competes with fluorescence. For both N* and A* the intersystem crossing yield represents a minor deactivation channel for S(1).     

Extensive spectral tuning of the proton transfer emission from green to red via a rational derivatization of salicylideneaniline

A series of salicylideneaniline derivatives la-1f were synthesized under mild condition in high yields,and characterized by ~1H NMR,HRMS,UV-vis and emission spectra.In solid and aprotic solvents 1a-lf exist mainly as E conformers that possess a sixmembered -ring hydrogen bond and undergo excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) reactions,resulting in a protontransfer tautomer emission.Depending on the electronic donor or acceptor strength of the substituent in either the HOMO or LUMO site,a broad tuning range of the emission from green(1c) to red(1a) has been achieved.     

Rotamerism, tautomerism, and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer in 2-(4'-N,N-diethylamino-2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazoles: novel benzimidazoles undergoing excited-state intramolecular coupled proton and charge transfer

The solvent and temperature dependence of the phototautomerization of 1-methyl-2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (4) and the novel compounds 2-(4'-amino-2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (1), 2-(4'-N,N-diethylamino-2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (2), and 1-methyl-2-(4'-N,N-diethylamino-2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (3), together with the ground-state rotamerism and tautomerism of these new compounds, have been studied by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. A solvent-modulated rotameric and tautomeric equilibrium is observed in the ground state for 1, 2, and 3. In cyclohexane, these compounds mainly exist as a planar syn normal form, with the hydroxyl group hydrogen-bonded to the benzimidazole N3. In ethanol, the syn form is in equilibrium with its planar anti rotamer (for 1 and 2), with the phenyl ring rotated 180 degrees about the C2-C1' bond and with a nonplanar rotamer for compound 3. In aqueous solution, a tautomeric equilibrium is established between the anti normal form (or the nonplanar rotamer for 3) and the tautomer (with the hydroxyl proton transferred to the benzimidazole N3). The syn normal form of these compounds undergoes in all the solvents an excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer process from the hydroxyl group to the benzimidazole N3 to yield the excited tautomer. The tautomer fluorescence quantum yield of 2, 3, and 4 shows a temperature-, polarity-, and viscosity-dependent radiationless deactivation, connected with a large-amplitude conformational motion. We conclude that this excited-state conformational change experienced by the tautomer is associated with an intramolecular charge transfer from the deprotonated dialkylaminophenol or phenol (donor) to the protonated benzimidazole (acceptor), affording a nonfluorescent charge-transfer tautomer. Therefore, these compounds undergo an excited-state intramolecular coupled proton- and charge-transfer process.     

Zinc(II)-selective ratiometric fluorescent sensors based on inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer

To develop a zinc(II)-selective emission ratiometric probe suitable for biological applications, we explored the cation-induced inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) with a series of 2-(2'-benzenesulfonamidophenyl)benzimidazole derivatives. In the absence of Zn(II) at neutral pH, the fluorophores undergo ESIPT to yield a highly Stokes' shifted emission from the proton-transfer tautomer. Coordination of Zn(II) inhibits the ESIPT process and yields a significant hypsochromic shift of the fluorescence emission maximum. Whereas the paramagnetic metal cations Cu(II), Fe(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) result in fluorescence quenching, the emission response is not altered by millimolar concentrations of Ca(II) or Mg(II), rendering the sensors selective for Zn(II) among all biologically important metal cations. Due to the modular architecture of the fluorophore, the Zn(II) binding affinity can be readily tuned by implementing simple structural modifications. The synthesized probes are suitable to gauge free Zn(II) concentrations in the micromolar to picomolar range under physiological conditions.     

Dynamics of photoinduced processes in adenine and thymine base pairs

The excited-state dynamics of adenine and thymine dimers and the adenine-thymine base pair were investigated by femtosecond pump-probe ionization spectroscopy with excitation wavelengths of 250-272 nm. The base pairs showed a characteristic ultrafast decay of the initially excited pi pi* state to an n pi* state (lifetime tau(pi pi*) approximately 100 fs) followed by a slower decay of the latter with tau(n pi*) approximately 0.9 ps for (adenine)2, tau(n pi*) = 6-9 ps for (thymine)2, and tau(n pi*) approximately 2.4 ps for the adenine-thymine base pair. In the adenine dimer, a competing decay of the pi pi* state via the pi sigma* state greatly suppressed the n pi* state signals. Similarities of the excited-state decay parameters in the isolated bases and the base pairs suggest an intramonomer relaxation mechanism in the base pairs.     

Enol-keto tautomerism of aromatic photochromic Schiff base N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-p-phenylenediamine: ground state equilibrium and excited state deactivation studied by solvatochromic measurements on ultrafast time scale

A photochromic symmetric Schiff base, N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-p-phenylenediamine, is proposed as a probe for the study of solvent dependent enol-keto tautomerism in the ground and excited states. The ground state equilibrium between the enol-keto tautomers is found to depend mainly not on polarity but on the proton donating ability of the solvent. Upon selective excitation of each of these tautomers, the same excited state of a keto tautomer is created: in enol, after the ultrafast excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), reaction, and in keto tautomer, directly. Then some part (<30%) of excited molecules are transferred to the photochromic form in its ground state. The evidence of another ultrafast deactivation channel in the excited enol tautomer competing with ESIPT has been found. The solvent does not influence the ESIPT dynamics nor the efficiency of the creation of the photochrome.     

White Emitters by Tuning the Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton‐Transfer Fluorescence Emission in 2‐(2′‐Hydroxybenzofuran)benzoxazole Dyes

The synthesis, structural, and photophysical properties of a new series of original dyes based on 2‐(2′‐hydroxybenzofuran)benzoxazole (HBBO) is reported. Upon photoexcitation, these dyes exhibit intense dual fluorescence with contribution from the enol (E*) and the keto (K*) emission, with K* being formed through excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). We show that the ratio of emission intensity E*/K* can be fine‐tuned by judiciously decorating the molecular core with electron‐donating or ‐attracting substituents. Push–pull dyes 9 and 10 functionalized by a strong donor (nNBu₂) and a strong acceptor group (CF₃ and CN, respectively) exhibit intense dual emission, particularly in apolar solvents such as cyclohexane in which the maximum wavelength of the two bands is the more strongly separated. Moreover, all dyes exhibit strong solid‐state dual emission in a KBr matrix and polymer films with enhanced quantum yields reaching up to 54 %. A wise selection of substituents led to white emission both in solution and in the solid state. Finally, these experimental results were analyzed by time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations, which confirm that, on the one hand, only E* and K* emission are present (no rotamer) and, on the other hand, the relative free energies of the two tautomers in the excited state guide the ratio of the E*/K* emission intensities.     

Structural tuning intra- versus inter-molecular proton transfer reaction in the excited state

A series of 2-pyridyl-pyrazole derivatives 1-4 possessing five-membered ring hydrogen bonding configuration are synthesized, the structural flexibility of which is strategically tuned to be in the order of 1 > 2 > 3 > 4. This system then serves as an ideal chemical model to investigate the correlation between excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction and molecular skeleton motion associated with hydrogen bonds. The resulting luminescence data reveal that the rate of ESIPT decreases upon increasing the structural constraint. At sufficiently low concentration where negligible dimerization is observed, ESIPT takes place in 1 and 2 but is prohibited in 3 and 4, for which high geometry constraint is imposed. The results imply that certain structural bending motions associated with hydrogen bonding angle/distance play a key role in ESIPT. This trend is also well supported by the DFT computational approach, in which the barrier associated with ESIPT is in the order of 1 < 2 < 3 < 4. Upon increasing the concentration in cyclohexane, except for 2, the rest of the title compounds undergo ground-state dimerization, from which the double proton transfer takes place in the excited state, resulting in a relatively blue shifted dimeric tautomer emission (cf. the monomer tautomer emission). The lack of dimerization in 2 is rationalized by substantial energy required to adjust the angle of hydrogen bond via twisting the propylene bridge prior to dimerization.     

Ab initio study of the solvent H-bonding effect on ESIPT reaction and electronic transitions of 3-hydroxychromone derivatives

The electronic transitions occurring in 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3-hydroxyflavone (DMAF) and 2-furanyl-3-hydroxychromone (FHC) were investigated using the TDDFT method in aprotic and protic solvents. The solvent effect was incorporated into the calculations via the PCM formalism. The H-bonding between solute and protic solvent was taken into account by considering a molecular complex between these molecules. To examine the effect of the H-bond on the ESIPT reaction, the absorption and emission wavelengths as well as the energies of the different states that intervene during these electronic transitions were calculated in acetonitrile, ethanol and methanol. The calculated positions of the absorption and emission wavelengths in various solvents were in excellent agreement with the experimental spectra, validating our approach. We found that in DMAF, the hydrogen bonding with protic solvents makes the ESIPT reaction energetically unfavourable, which explains the absence of the ESIPT tautomer emission in protic solvents. In contrast, the excited tautomer state of FHC remains energetically favourable in both aprotic and protic solvents. Comparing our calculations with the previously reported time-resolved fluorescence data, the ESIPT reaction of DMAF in aprotic solvents is reversible because the emitting states are energetically close, whereas in FHC, ESIPT is irreversible because the tautomer state is below the corresponding normal state. Therefore, the ESIPT reaction in DMAF is controlled by the relative energies of the excited states (thermodynamic control), while in FHC the ESIPT is controlled probably by the energetic barrier (kinetic control).     

Fluorescent hydroxyflavone-zeolite nanoparticles: ship-in-a-bottle synthesis and photophysical properties.

3-Hydroxyflavone (3-OHF) was incorporated in zeolite micropores by ship-in-a-bottle synthesis. This strategy consists of constructing the molecule by reaction of small precursors within the cavity. 3-OHF molecules exhibit excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and a tautomeric equilibrium between the 3-OHF-excited structures N* and T*exists. This equilibrium is strongly affected by the protic nature and polarity of the surrounding medium. The textural and spectroscopic characterization of the dye-loaded zeolite colloids enabled the study of the correlation between the optical properties of the dye and the zeolite micropore environment.