Catalytic-Type Excited-State N−H Proton-Transfer Reaction in 7-Aminoquinoline and Its Derivatives

7-Aminoquinoline ( 7AQ ) and various amino derivatives thereof (-NHR) have been strategically designed and synthesized to study their excited-state proton-transfer (ESPT) properties. Due to the large separation between the proton donor -NHR and the acceptor -N- site, ESPT in 7AQ derivatives, if available, should proceed under protic solvent catalysis. ESPT is found to be influenced by the acidity of -NHR and the basicity of the proton-acceptor -N- in the quinoline moiety. The latter is varied by the resonance effect at the quinoline -N- site induced by the -NHR substituent. For those 7AQ derivatives undergoing ESPT, increased quinoline basicity results in a faster rate of ESPT, implying that proton donation from methanol to the quinoline moiety may serve as a key step in the process. Our studies also indicate the existence of an equilibrium between cis and trans arrangements of -NHR in terms of its hydrogen-bond (H-bond) configuration with methanol, whereby only the cis-H-bonded form undergoes methanol-assisted ESPT. With one exception, the interconversion between cis and trans configurations is much faster than the rate of ESPT, yielding amino-type (normal form) and imine-type (proton-transfer tautomer) emissions with distinct relaxation dynamics.     

Structure‐Dependent cis/trans Isomerization of Tetraphenylethene Derivatives: Consequences for Aggregation‐Induced Emission

The isomerization and optical properties of the cis and trans isomers of tetraphenylethene (TPE) derivatives with aggregation‐induced emission (AIEgens) have been sparsely explored. We have now observed the tautomerization‐induced isomerization of a hydroxy‐substituted derivative, TPETH‐OH, under acidic but not under basic conditions. Replacing the proton of the hydroxy group in TPETH‐OH with an alkyl group leads to the formation of TPETH‐MAL, for which the pure cis and trans isomers were obtained and characterized by HPLC analysis and NMR spectroscopy. Importantly, cis‐TPETH‐MAL emits yellow fluorescence in DMSO at ?20 °C whereas trans‐TPETH‐MAL shows red fluorescence under the same conditions. Moreover, the geometry of cis‐ and trans‐TPETH‐MAL remains unchanged when they undergo thiol–ene reactions to form cis‐ and trans‐TPETH‐cRGD, respectively. Collectively, our findings improve our fundamental understanding of the cis/trans isomerization and photophysical properties of TPE derivatives, which will guide further AIEgen design for various applications.     

Unraveling Ultrafast Photoinduced Proton Transfer Dynamics in a Fluorescent Protein Biosensor for Ca2+ Imaging

Imaging Ca²⁺ dynamics in living systems holds great potential to advance neuroscience and cellular biology. G‐GECO1.1 is an intensiometric fluorescent protein Ca²⁺ biosensor with a Thr‐Tyr‐Gly chromophore. The protonated chromophore emits green upon photoexcitation via excited‐state proton transfer (ESPT). Upon Ca²⁺ binding, a significant population of the chromophores becomes deprotonated. It remains elusive how the chromophore structurally evolves prior to and during ESPT, and how it is affected by Ca²⁺. We use femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy to dissect ESPT in both the Ca²⁺‐free and bound states. The protein chromophores exhibit a sub‐200 fs vibrational frequency shift due to coherent small‐scale proton motions. After wavepackets move out of the Franck–Condon region, ESPT gets faster in the Ca²⁺‐bound protein, indicative of the formation of a more hydrophilic environment. These results reveal the governing structure–function relationship of Ca²⁺‐sensing protein biosensors.     

Probing structural evolution along multidimensional reaction coordinates with femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy

Mapping out multidimensional potential energy surfaces has been a goal of physical chemistry for decades in the quest to both predict and control chemical reactivity. Recently a new spectroscopic approach called Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy or FSRS was introduced that can structurally interrogate multiple dimensions of a reactive potential energy surface. FSRS is an ultrafast laser technique which provides complete time-resolved, background-free Raman spectra in a few laser shots. The FSRS technique provides simultaneous ultrafast time (~50 fs) and spectral (~8 cm(-1)) resolution, thus enabling one to follow reactive structural evolutions as they occur. In this perspective we summarize how FSRS has been used to follow structural dynamics and provide mechanistic detail on three classical chemical reactions: a structural isomerization, an electron transfer reaction, and a proton transfer reaction.     

Intramolecular Proton Transfer in 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)oxazolo[4,5‐b]pyridine: Evidence for Tautomer in the Ground State

The intramolecular proton transfer in a newly synthesized molecule, 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)oxazolo[4,5‐b]pyridine (HPOP) is studied using UV‐visible absorption, fluorescence emission, fluorescence excitation and time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. In the ground state, the molecule exists as cis‐ and trans‐enol in all the solvents. However, in dioxane, alcohols, acetonitrile, dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide the keto tautomer is also observed in the ground state. Dual fluorescence is observed in HPOP where the large Stoke shifted emission is due to emission from the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer product, whereas the other emission is the normal emission from enol form. The fluorescence (both normal and tautomer emission) of HPOP is less than those of corresponding benzoxazole and imidazopyridine derivatives. This reveals that the nonradiative decay becomes more efficient upon substitution of electronegative atom on the charge acceptor group. The pH studies substantiate the conclusion that (unlike in its imidazole analog) the third ground state species is the keto tautomer and not the monoanion. The effect of temperature on cis‐enol‐trans‐enol‐keto equilibrium and the nonradiative deactivation from the excited state are also investigated.     

Cis/trans stereochemical effects in the negative chemical ionization/OH− mass spectra of strained-ring azabicycloalkanes using MIKE and CA/MIKE spectrometry

Stereospecific decomposition reactions of isomeric (cis and trans) deprotonated molecules from azabicycloalkane derivatives as azetidinols generated under negative chemical ionization (NCI)/OH^? have been examined using mass-analysed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) and collisional activation (CA)/MIKE spectra. These measurements together with the ones obtained on specifically labelled compounds enabled us to determine the origin of the stereochemical effects. The results indicate that the hydroxylic proton constitutes the preferential (?90%) site for the deprotonation process. Subsequent fragmentations of the deprotonated species observed in the second field-free region of a reversed geometry instrument are affected by the stereochemistry of the hydroxylic group. The isomer with the hydroxyl group in the cis position relative to the hydrogen at the ring junction mainly loses H₂O, while the trans isomer eliminates CH₃˙, both processes occurring with high specificity. Labelling studies indicate that two major pathways exist for the elimination of H₂O from the cis isomer and the loss of CH₃˙ from the trans isomer. The course of the reaction is determined by the ability of the stereoisomers to transfer a proton during the first decomposition step. When the size of the lactam ring is increased from a five-membered ring to a six- or seven-membered ring, these stereochemical effects tend to become less pronounced.     

Controlling Light-Induced Proton Transfer from the GFP Chromophore

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) is known to undergo excited-state proton transfer (ESPT). Formation of a short H-bond favors ultrafast ESPT in GFP-like proteins, such as the GFP S65T/H148D mutant, but the detailed mechanism and its quantum nature remain to be resolved. Here we study in vacuo, light-induced proton transfer from the GFP chromophore in hydrogen-bonded complexes with two anionic proton acceptors, I⁻ and deprotonated trichloroacetic acid (TCA⁻). We address the role of the strong H-bond and the quantum mechanical proton-density distribution in the excited state, which determines the proton-transfer probability. Our study shows that chemical modifications to the molecular network drastically change the proton-transfer probability and it can become strongly wavelength dependent. The proton-transfer branching ratio is found to be 60 % for the TCA complex and 10 % for the iodide complex, being highly dependent on the photon energy in the latter case. Using high-level ab initio calculations, we show that light-induced proton transfer takes place in S₁, revealing intrinsic photoacid properties of the isolated GFP chromophore in strongly bound H-bonded complexes. ESPT is found to be very sensitive to the topography of the highly anharmonic potential in S₁, depending on the quantum-density distribution upon vibrational excitation. We also show that the S₁ potential-energy surface, and hence excited-state proton transfer, can be controlled by altering the chromophore microenvironment.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymers of 1,4-hexadienes

The homopolymerization of trans-1,4-hexadiene, cis-1,4-hexadiene, and 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene was investigated with a variety of catalysts. During polymerization, 1,4-hexadienes undergo concurrent isomerization reactions. The nature and extent of isomerization products are influenced by the monomer structure and polymerization conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) data show that poly(trans-1,4-hexadiene) and poly(cis-1,4-hexadiene) prepared with a Et₃Al/α-TiCl₃/hexamethylphosphoric triamide catalyst system consist mainly of 1,2-polymerization units arranged in a regular head-to-tail sequence. A 300-MHz proton NMR spectrum shows that the trans-hexadiene polymer is isotactic; it also may be the case for the cis-hexadiene polymer. These polymers are the first examples of uncrosslinked ozone-resistant rubbers containing pendant unsaturation on alternating carbon atoms of the saturated carbon-carbon backbone. Polymerization of the 1,4-hexadienes was also studied with VOCl₃- and β-TiCl₃-based catalysts. Microstructures of the resulting polymers are quite complicated due to significant loss of unsaturation, in contrast to those obtained with the α-TiCl₃-based catalyst. In agreement with the literature, there was no discernible monomer isomerization with the VOCl₃ catalyst system.     

A CASSCF study on the lowest π→π* excitation of urocanic acid

The photochemical cis/trans isomerization of urocanic acid (UCA, (E)‐3‐(1′H‐imidazol‐4′‐yl)propenoic acid) was investigated using complete active space SCF (CASSCF) ab initio calculations. The singlet ground state and the triplet and the singlet manifolds of the lowest‐lying π→π* (HOMO→LUMO) excitation of the neutral and the anionic UCA were calculated using the 6‐31G* and the 6‐31+G* basis sets, respectively. The torsional barrier of the double bond of the propenoic acid moiety in UCA is observed to be considerably lower in the T₁ and S₁ excited states of the neutral UCA and in the T₁ but not in the S₁ excited state of the anionic UCA, as compared to the S₀ state of the respective protonation form. The cis‐isomer of both the neutral and the anionic UCA is lower in energy than the trans‐isomer in the S₀, T₁, and S₁ states. This energy difference is larger in the excited states than in the ground state, probably due to strengthening of the intramolecular hydrogen bond of cis‐UCA as the molecule is excited. The results of the calculations, interpreted in terms of the idea that UCA is deprotonated upon electronic excitation, led to construction of a new model for the photoisomerization mechanisms of UCA. According to this model, the trans‐to‐cis isomerization proceeds via both the triplet and the singlet manifolds in the deprotonated form of UCA. This isomerization may occur in the S₀ state of the neutral UCA as well. The cis‐to‐trans isomerization is suggested to proceed only in the S₀ state of the neutral UCA. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 72: 25–37, 1999     

Electron-Transfer-Catalyzed cis → trans Isomerization of 1,1′-Azonorborane. Prototype of a reversible two-stage storage system

ESR and cyclic voltammetry investigations show that isomerization of the radical cation of cis-1,1′-azonorbornane (cis- 1 ) to the trans-radical ion proceeds too fast in solution for direct investigation of the cis-radical ion even at ?78°. The facile isomerization of the radical cation is in agreement with PM 3 calculations proposing an activation barrier of only 17 kJ/mol. As a consequence, quantitative cis → trans isomerization of 1,1′-azonorbornane can effectively be accomplished by addition of catalytic amounts of one-electron oxidants. This is the first evidence for a radical-cation-catalyzed cis → trans isomerization of azo compounds.     

Light-Responsive Oligothiophenes Incorporating Photochromic Torsional Switches

We present a quaterthiophene and sexithiophene that can reversibly change their effective π-conjugation length through photoexcitation. The reported compounds make use of light-responsive molecular actuators consisting of an azobenzene attached to a bithiophene unit by both direct and linker-assisted bonding. Upon exposure to 350 nm light, the azobenzene undergoes trans-to-cis isomerization, thus mechanically inducing the oligothiophene to assume a planar conformation (extended π-conjugation). Exposure to 254 nm wavelength promotes azobenzene cis-to-trans isomerization, forcing the thiophenic backbones to twist out of planarity (confined π-conjugation). Twisted conformations are also reached by cis-to-trans thermal relaxation at a rate that increases proportionally with the conjugation length of the oligothiophene moiety. The molecular conformations of quaterthiophene and sexithiophene were characterized by using steady-state UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and quantum-chemical modeling. Finally, we tested the proposed light-responsive oligothiophenes in field-effect transistors to probe the photo-induced tuning of their electronic properties.     

Azobenzene‐Bridged Porphyrin Nanorings: Syntheses,Structures, and Photophysical Properties

Azobenzene‐bridged β‐to‐β and meso‐to‐meso porphyrin nanorings were successfully synthesized by a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction in a logical synthesis. The dimeric structure was confirmed by XRD analysis. The azo linkages in di‐ and tetramers are in the all‐trans conformation, whereas in the trimers one azo linkage can be interconverted between cis and trans under external stimulation. When trimeric isomers are heated to 333 K or higher, the azo linkages will be in the all‐trans configurations: the pure all‐trans trimer can be kept in the dark for several months. Fluorescence anisotropy and pump‐power‐dependent decay results revealed excitation energy transfer for azobenzene‐bridged zinc–porphyrin nanorings. The distances between porphyrin units of these azobenzene‐bridged porphyrin arrays are almost the same, but the exciton energy hopping (EEH) times for each wheel are markedly different. The dimer and meso‐to‐meso tetramer possess relatively short excitation energy transfer (EET) times (1.28 and 2.48 ps, respectively) due to their good planarity and rigidity. In contrast, the EET time for the trimeric zinc(II)–porphyrin array (6.9 ps) is relatively long due to its nonradiative decay pathway (i.e., cis/trans isomerization of azobenzene). Both di‐ and tetramers exhibit relatively high fluorescence quantum yields, whereas the trimers show weak emission because of structural differences.     

Polymérisation anionique des diènes. VI. Microstructure des polybutadiène et polyisoprène par résonance magnétique protonique à 250 MHz et mécanismes de propagation

Analysis by 250-MHz proton magnetic resonance (PMR) allows more precise examination of the microstructure of anionic polyisoprenes and polybutadienes obtained in the presence of organo-alkali metals. Besides vinyl addition, the propagation of contact ion pairs in dioxane solvent gives a mixture of cis and trans products with isoprene, whereas only trans product is obtained with butadiene. The presence of 1,4-trans-polyisoprene appears to be inconsistent with the cis configuration of the polyisoprenyllithium living end in dioxane or tetrahydrofurane media. In taking into account the existence of complexation phenomena, it was suggested that propagation mechanisms should involve a transition state which should begin with the trans configuration before isomerization into the more stable cis configuration. For the free ions, the living end of the carbanion should be entirely trans.     

Reactions of Methyl Diazoacetate with (E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: Novel and Unanticipated Pathways

The cycloadditions of methyl diazoacetate to 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)fumaronitrile ((E)‐ BTE ) and 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)maleonitrile ((Z)‐ BTE ) furnish the 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazoles 13 . The retention of dipolarophile configuration proceeds for (E)‐ BTE with > 99.93% and for (Z)‐ BTE with > 99.8% (CDCl₃, 25°), suggesting concertedness. Base catalysis (1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), proton sponge) converts the cycloadducts, trans‐ 13 and cis‐ 13 , to a 94 : 6 equilibrium mixture (CDCl₃, r.t.); the first step is N‐deprotonation, since reaction with methyl fluorosulfonate affords the 4,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazoles. Competing with the cis/trans isomerization of 13 is the formation of a bis(dehydrofluoro) dimer (two diastereoisomers), the structure of which was elucidated by IR, ¹⁹F‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The reaction slows when DABCO is bound by HF, but F^? as base keeps the conversion to 22 going and binds HF. The diazo group in 22 suggests a common intermediate for cis/trans isomerization of 13 and conversion to 22 : reversible ring opening of N‐deprotonated 13 provides 18 , a derivative of methyl diazoacetate with a carbanionic substituent. Mechanistic comparison with the reaction of diazomethane and dimethyl 2,3‐dicyanofumarate, a related tetra‐acceptor‐ethylene, brings to light unanticipated divergencies.     

A Multicolor Large Stokes Shift Fluorogen-Activating RNA Aptamer with Cationic Chromophores

Large Stokes shift (LSS) fluorescent proteins (FPs) exploit excited state proton transfer pathways to enable fluorescence emission from the phenolate intermediate of their internal 4-hydroxybenzylidene imidazolone (HBI) chromophore. An RNA aptamer named Chili mimics LSS FPs by inducing highly Stokes-shifted emission from several new green and red HBI analogues that are non-fluorescent when free in solution. The ligands are bound by the RNA in their protonated phenol form and feature a cationic aromatic side chain for increased RNA affinity and reduced magnesium dependence. In combination with oxidative functionalization at the C2 position of the imidazolone, this strategy yielded DMHBO⁺, which binds to the Chili aptamer with a low-nanomolar K_D. Because of its highly red-shifted fluorescence emission at 592 nm, the Chili–DMHBO⁺ complex is an ideal fluorescence donor for Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to the rhodamine dye Atto 590 and will therefore find applications in FRET-based analytical RNA systems.     

RESONANCE RAMAN EVIDENCE FOR 15-cis TO MA,-trans PHOTOISOMERIZATION OF SPIRILLOXANTHIN BOUND TO A REDUCED FORM OF THE REACTION CENTER OF Rhodospirillum rubrum SI

The reaction center (RC) of Rhodospirillum rubrum SI, which was prepared by ultrafiltration, showed one peak in molecular-sieve HPLC, but it showed two peaks in diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) ion-exchange HPLC; they were named as RC-α and RC-β in the order of elution, Nonequilibrated isoelectric electrophoresis, together with DEAE ion-exchange HPLC, showed that RC-β is electronically more negative than RC-α. Oxidation of RC-β by addition of ferricyanide caused its transformation into RC-α, while reduction of RC-α by adding ascorbate and subsequent illumination caused its transformation into RC-β. Resonance Raman spectroscopy of the RC at liquid nitrogen temperature detected the all-trans and the 15-cis isomers in a ratio of 1:1, but HPLC analyses of the carotenoid extracted from the RC before and after the Raman measurements detected the pair of isomers in a ratio of 1:6. Thus, the 15-cis to all-trans isomerization takes place during irradiation at liquid nitrogen temperature, while the reverse isomerization takes place in the dark. The isolated RC-α and RC-β exhibited the bleaching of the 868 nm band, and contained the H, M and L subunits and 1.2-1.4 molecules of ubiquinone-10 per RC. Each RC slowly equilibrated in the dark toward a mixture of RC-α and RC-β. Generation of the all-trans isomer in the light was found not in RC-α but in RC-β.     

Supramolecular Tubule from Seesaw Shaped Amphiphile and Its Hierarchical Evolution into Sheet

Although supramolecular one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) structures with various unique properties have been extensively studied, the reversible switching between tubules and sheets via lateral association remains challenging. Here, we report the unique structures of a supramolecular tubular bamboo culm in which the hollow‐tubular interior is separated, at intervals, by nodes per 1.3 nm. Interestingly, the discrete tubules are able to hierarchically assemble into a flat sheet in response to an aromatic guest. The addition of trans‐azobenzene, as a guest, enables the tubules to form a hierarchical sheet assembly via the lateral interaction. The hierarchical sheet structures are disassembled into their constituent tubules upon UV irradiation due to trans‐cis isomerization. The recovery from cis‐azobenzene to trans‐form induces repeatedly the hierarchical sheet assembly, indicative of a reversible switching behavior between tubules and sheets triggered by an external stimulus.     

Molecular weight and configurational stability of poly[(fluorophenyl)acetylene]s prepared with metathesis and insertion catalysts

Series of high‐cis and cis/trans poly[(fluorophenyl)acetylene]s (PFPhA) have been prepared by polymerization of (2‐fluorophenyl)acetylene, (3‐fluorophenyl)acetylene, and (4‐fluorophenyl)acetylene with catalysts: [Rh(1,5‐cyclooctadiene) OCH₃]₂ (high‐cis PFPhAs) and tungsten(VI) oxychloride/tetraphenyltin (cis/trans PFPhAs). The molecular weight and configurational stability under various conditions at room temperature were studied for both PFPhAs series by means of size exclusion chromatography, ¹H‐NMR, and UV‐vis techniques. All samples exhibited slow degradation when exposed to the atmosphere in the solid state; the rate of degradation was independent on the F‐position on the Ph ring. The rate of degradation increased up to three orders of magnitude in the tetrahydrofuran solution where it was higher for high‐cis polymers compared with their cis/trans counterparts. The degradation of high‐cis PFPhAs was accompanied by significant cis‐to‐trans isomerization in aerated tetrahydrofuran solution. Rate of degradation and isomerization exhibited the same dependence on the F‐position on the Ph ring. The hypothesis was postulated that the degradation of high‐cis PFPhAs in solution was accelerated by cis‐to‐trans isomerization due to which the content of unpaired electrons on the main chains is enhanced. In both high‐cis and cis/trans series of polymers the ortho‐substituted isomers exhibited an enhanced stability compared with meta‐ and para‐substituted isomers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4296–4309, 2010     

Configurational inversion and hexachloroethane chlorination of α-sulfonylcarbanions

The cis fused bicyclic sulfones 1a, 1c and 3a are lithiated in benzene with n-butyllithium under concomitant cis/trans isomerization of the ring fusion, involving intramolecular proton transfer. H/D exchange of the three α-hydrogens in protic solvents proceeds with retention of configuration. The lithiated sulfones are chlorinated with hexachloroethane (HCE) and show a strong preference for introduction of halogen at an equatorial α-position.     

Unraveling the Mechanisms of the Excited-State Intermolecular Proton Transfer (ESPT) for a D-π-A Molecular Architecture

Precise revealing the mechanisms of excited-state intermolecular proton transfer (ESPT) and the corresponding geometrical relaxation upon photoexcitation and photoionization remains a formidable challenge. In this work, the compound (E)-4-(((4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)imino)methyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (TIMDP) adopting a D-π-A molecular architecture featuring a significant intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect has been designed. With the presence of perchloric acid (35 %), TIMDP can be dissolved through the formation of a HClO₄–H₂O–OH(TIMDP)–N(TIMDP) hydrogen-bonding bridge. At the ground state, the ICT effect is dominant, giving birth to crystals of TIMDP. Upon external stimuli (e.g., UV light irradiation, electro field), the excited state is achieved, which weakens the ICT effect, and significantly promotes the ESPT effect along the hydrogen-bonding bridge, resulting in crystals of [HTIMDP]⁺ ⋅ [H₂O] ⋅ [ClO₄]⁻. As a consequence, the mechanisms of the ESPT can be investigated, which distorted the D-π-A molecular architecture, tuned the emission color with the largest Stokes shift of 242 nm, and finally, high photoluminescence quantum yields (12 %) and long fluorescence lifetimes (8.6 μs) have achieved. These results not only provide new insight into ESPT mechanisms, but also open a new avenue for the design of efficient ESPT emitters.