Study of radical generated from coumarin dye-sensitized photo-initiator systems in high-speed photopolymer coating layers using laser flash photolysis

Radical generation from photoinitiation systems containing carbonylbiscoumarin dye with a radical-generating reagent, 3,3′-carbonylbis[7-(diethylamino)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one] (KCD-DA), with 2,2′-bis(2-chloro-phenyl)-4,4′5,5′-tetraphenyl-1, 1′-bi-1H-imidazole (BI) in a poly(methyl methacrylate) film has been investigated by laser flash photolysis using a total reflection cell. Imidazolyl radical (Im·) was predominantly generated from carbonylbiscoumarin triplet-sensi-­tized decomposition of BI, the quantum yield, Φ^o_Im· of Im· at an infinite concentration of BI was measured, Φ^o_Im· = 1.3. The high quantum yield, Φ^o_Im·, implies an efficient KCD-DA triplet-sensitized photoinitiation system containing BI. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photophysics of Halogenated Fluoresceins: Involvement of Both Intramolecular Electron Transfer and Heavy Atom Effect in the Deactivation of Excited States

The fluorescence quantum yield (Φ_f), fluorescence lifetime (τ_f), intersystem crossing quantum yield (Φ_isc) and redox potentials of seven halogenated fluoresceins in their dianion forms were measured and compared in methanol to get a deep insight into the effect of halogeno atoms on their photophysics. It is found that the heavy atom effect alone cannot explain the experimental results, as (1) Φ_f for chlorinated dyes exceeds that of fluorescein and close to unity, (2) the sum of Φ_f and Φ_isc for brominated and iodinated xanthene dyes is remarkably less than unity. The observations can be rationalized by the involvement of intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer, in which the benzoate acts as the electron donor while the xanthene moiety is the acceptor. The more negative reduction potential of excited singlet state for chlorinated fluoresceins results in their much smaller k_et, and hence higher Φ_f.     

Determination of the Quantum Yield of Intersystem Crossing of Rose Bengal

The quantum yield of intersystem crossing (Φ_isc) of a sensitizer is related to the quantum yield of singlet-oxygen production (Φ(¹O₂)) by the efficiency of the energy transfer (φ_et) and is an important parameter in the evaluation of potential applications of sensitized photo-oxidations. Using two different laser photolysis techniques, the energy-transfer method and the partial saturation method, Φ_isc of rose bengal has been determined in MeOH and in aqueous solutions. The results confirm that with Φ_isc(H₂O) = 1.05(± 0.06) and Φ_isc(MeOH)=0.90(±0.08), the generally assumed relation Φ_isc · φ_et = Φ(¹O₂), with φ_et = 1, cannot be maintained any longer (Φ(¹O₂, H₂O) = 0.75 and Φ(¹O₂, MeOH) = 0.76). During these experiments, a second intermediate has been observed which is produced from the triplet state of rose bengal and, stabilized in a anionic micellar solution, has been shown to be the radical cation of the sensitizer. The efficiency of the electron transfer has been evaluated from transient absorption and bleaching recordings, and it seems conclusive to attribute the results to the difference between Φ_isc and Φ(¹O₂).     

Preparation and formaldehyde sensitive properties of N-GQDs/SnO2 nanocomposite

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have both the properties of graphene and semiconductor quantum dots, and exhibit stronger quantum confinement effect and boundary effect than graphene. In addition, the band gap of GQDs will transform to non-zero from 0 eV of graphene by surface functionalization, which can be dispersed in common solvents and compounded with solid materials. In this work, the SnO₂ nanosheets were prepared by hydrothermal method. As the sensitizer, nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) were prepared and composited with SnO₂ nanosheets. Sensing performance of pristine SnO₂ and N-GQDs/SnO₂ were investigated with HCHO as the target gas. The response (R_a/R_g) of 0.1% N-GQDs/SnO₂ was 256 for 100 ppm HCHO at 60 °C, which was about 2.2 times higher than pristine SnO₂ nanosheet. In addition, the material also had excellent selectivity and low operation temperature. The high sensitivity of N-GQDs/SnO₂ was attributed to the increase of active sites on materials surface and the electrical regulation of N-GQDs. This research is helpful to develop new HCHO gas sensor and expand the application field of GQDs.     

Long-Lived Triplet Excited State Accessed with Spin–Orbit Charge Transfer Intersystem Crossing in Red Light-Absorbing Phenoxazine-Styryl BODIPY Electron Donor/Acceptor Dyads

Orthogonal phenoxazine-styryl BODIPY compact electron donor/acceptor dyads were prepared as heavy atom-free triplet photosensitizers (PSs) with strong red light absorption (ϵ=1.33×10⁵ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 630 nm), whereas the previously reported triplet photosensitizers based on the spin-orbit charge transfer intersystem crossing (SOCT-ISC) mechanism show absorption in a shorter wavelength range (<500 nm). More importantly, a long-lived triplet state (τ_T=333 μs) was observed for the new dyads. In comparison, the triplet state lifetime of the same chromophore accessed with the conventional heavy atom effect (HAE) is much shorter (τ_T=1.8 μs). Long triplet state lifetime is beneficial to enhance electron or energy transfer, the primary photophysical processes in the application of triplet PSs. Our approach is based on SOCT-ISC, without invoking of the HAE, which may shorten the triplet state lifetime. We used bisstyrylBodipy both as the electron acceptor and the visible light-harvesting chromophore, which shows red-light absorption. Femtosecond transient absorption spectra indicated the charge separation (109 ps) and SOCT-ISC (charge recombination, CR; 2.3 ns) for BDP-1 . ISC efficiency of BDP-1 was determined as Φ_T=25 % (in toluene). The dyad BDP-3 was used as triplet PS for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (upconversion quantum yield Φ_UC=1.5 %; anti-Stokes shift is 5900 cm⁻¹).     

The role of excited state molecular association in photoreactions of dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride with conjugated enones and en-esters: An anomalous excimer reaction

The singlet excited state of the title borofluoride, *DBMBF₂, reacted efficiently with acyclic enones and en-esters but only feebly with the corresponding excimer in analogy to simple acyclic olefins to give cycloaddition products, in spite of substantially different electronic character of the double bonds. Cyclic enones, on the contrary, reacted with both *DBMBF₂ and the excimer with increasing fluorescence quenching constants and adduct quantum yields as the rigidity of enone rings relaxes. They interacted with the excimer to cause the enone stimulated excimer dissociation which occurred most likely by the intermediary of the enone exciplexes. The interaction of 2-cyclopentenone (CP) by this process caused strong increases in *DBMBF₂ fluorescence intensity, that was interpreted to arise from a fast reverse step (k_x) from the exciplex as shown by increasing *DBMBF₂ fluorescence intensities upon addition of CP. Apparently the exciplexes from 2-cyclohexenone, 2-cyclootenone and 2-cyclododecenone had a decreasing degree of reversibility (i.e., relatively smaller reverse reaction rates): this trend caused Φ_a increases and, correspondingly, lesser enhancement of *DBMBF₂ fluorescence in the same order. The last enone, while mainly reacted with excimer, showed almost the same reactivity and Φ_a pattern of acyclic enones. In contrast to cyclic olefins, the last three enones reacted to show decreased Φ_a on increasing initial [DBMBF₂] (i.e., higher excimer concentrations); and hidden deactivation step was implicated in the excimer reaction with these enones. The anomalous reaction patterns were assumed to be caused by differences in the geometrical orientation of an enone within exciplexes and of enone attack on the excimer.     

Zum Mechanismus der photochemischen Umwandlung von 2-Alkyl-indazolen in 1-Alkyl-benzimidazole. II. Photophysikalische und photochemische Primärprozesse

Mechanistic studies on the photoisomerization of 2-alkyl-indazoles into 1-alkyl-benzimidazoles. II. Primary photochemical processes and photophysical deactivation. In the previous paper [1] the structure of the intermediate in the photochemical indazole-benzimidazole-isomerization was discussed ( 3 in Scheme 1). In this communication experiments concerning the photochemical primary processes and photophysical deactivation of 2-alkyl-indazoles ( 1 ) are described. The quantum yield of the rearrangement 1 → 2 (Φ_R) decreases with decreasing temperature while the fluorescence quantum yield (Φ_F) increases and finally reaches a constant value ( ≠ 1) (Fig.10). This behaviour is inconsistent with the mechanism shown in Scheme 2. Photoreaction and fluorescence are both quenched, but not to the same extent, by freon 113 (Fig. 2). In addition the Stern-Volmer-plots are not linear. These observations are best explained by assuming the existence of two excited states in equilibrium (Scheme 3). The mechanism in Scheme 3 correctly explains the quenching experiments and the temperature dependence of Φ_R and Φ_F if the Arrhenius law holds for the two rate constants k_sx and k_R. However, for a quantitative calculation of Φ_R, an additional branching of the reaction pathway must be postulated (Scheme 4). Two-dimensional drawings of hypothetical potential energy surfaces of the ground state and the first excited singlet state yielding a qualitative picture of the reaction and deactivation pathways of the discussed molecule are given in Fig. 15 a and b.     

Functionalization of Quinoxalines by Using TMP Bases: Preparation of Tetracyclic Heterocycles with High Photoluminescene Quantum Yields

Tetracyclic heterocycles that exhibit high photoluminescence quantum yields were synthesized by anellation reactions of mono‐, di‐, and trifunctionalized 2,3‐dichloroquinoxalines. Thus, treatment of 2,3‐dichloroquinoxaline with TMPLi (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidyl) allows a regioselective lithiation in position 5. Quenching with various electrophiles (iodine, (BrCl₂C)₂, allylic bromide, acid chloride, aryl iodide) leads to 5‐functionalized 2,3‐dichloroquinoxalines. Further functionalization in positions 6 and 8 can be achieved by using TMPLi or TMPMgCl ? LiCl furnishing a range of new di‐ and tri‐functionalized 2,3‐dichloroquinoxalines. The chlorine atoms are readily substituted by anellation with 1,2‐diphenols or 1,2‐dithiophenols leading to a series of new tetracyclic compounds. These materials exhibit strong, tunable optical absorption and emission in the blue and green spectral region. The substituted O‐heterocyclic compounds exhibit particularly high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 90 %, which renders them interesting candidates for fluorescence imaging applications.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade sp2 C−H Functionalization/Intramolecular Asymmetric Allylation: From Aryl Ureas and 1,3-Dienes to Chiral Indolines

A chiral Pd^II-catalyzed cascade sp² C−H functionalization/intramolecular asymmetric allylation reaction is reported. A new chiral sulfoxide–oxazoline (SOX) ligand bearing single chiral center on the sulfur was identified as the optimal ligand for the reaction, being efficient both in the C−H cleavage step and the stereocontrol of the allylation step. The broad scope of this method with respect to aryl ureas and 1,3-dienes enables the rapid construction of valuable chiral indoline derivatives with high yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield, up to 95:5 e.r.).     

Photochemical loss of dinitrogen from cyclopentadienylcobalt 1,4-diaryltetraazadienes

Irradiation of the thermally stable metallotetraazadiene complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Co(RN₄R)] (R = C₆H₅, C₆F₅) with visible or low-energy UV light, produces an unusual transformation to the diimine complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Co(HNC₆X₄NC₆X₅)] X = H (IVa), F (IVb). Disappearance quantum yields for both reactions are wavelength-dependent (IIIa → IVa: Φ₃₆₆ = 2.4 × 10^?4; Φ₃₁₃ = 26 × 10^?4; IIIb → IVb: Φ₃₆₆ = 9.8 × 10^?4; Φ₃₁₃ = 45 × 10^?4). Crossover experiments are consistent with an intramolecular rearrangement.     

Click assembly of dye-functionalized octasilsesquioxanes for highly efficient and photostable photonic systems

New hybrid organic–inorganic dyes based on an azide‐functionalized cubic octasilsesquioxane (POSS) as the inorganic part and a 4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene (BDP) chromophore as the organic component have been synthesized by copper(I)‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azides to alkynes. We have studied the effects of the linkage group of BDP to the POSS unit and the degree of functionalization of this inorganic core on the ensuing optical properties by comparison with model dyes. The high fluorescence of the BDP dye is preserved in spite of the linked chain at its meso position, even after attaching one BDP moiety to the POSS core. The laser action of the new dyes has been analyzed under transversal pumping at 532 nm in both the liquid phase and when incorporated into solid polymeric matrices. The monosubstituted new hybrid dye exhibits high lasing efficiency of up to 56 % with high photostability, with its laser output remaining at the initial value after 4×10⁵ pump pulses in the same position of the sample at a repetition rate of 30 Hz. However, functionalization of the POSS core with eight fluorophores leads to dye aggregation, as quantum mechanical simulation has revealed, worsening the optical properties and extinguishing the laser action. The new hybrid systems based on dye‐linked POSS nanoparticles open up the possibility of using these new photonic materials as alternative sources for optoelectronic devices, competing with dendronized or grafted polymers.     

Functionalization Conditions of PLGA-PEG-PLGA Copolymer with Itaconic Anhydride

Summary: Biodegradable thermosensitive triblock copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) prepared via ring opening polymerization were modified by itaconic anhydride (ITA), which gives copolymer both reactive double bonds and functional carboxylic acid groups essential for the reaction with biological active material. Functionalization conditions comprising ITA purification, temperature, time and presence of solvent were optimized with the respect to amount of end-capped ITA. Maximum of 76.6 mol. % of bonded ITA were reached via “one pot” reaction in a bulk at 110 °C after 1.5 h. ITA functionalization thermally stabilized the original copolymer by increasing the initial degradation temperature T_d from 284 °C to 294 °C and changing the negative glass transition temperature (T_g = -1.8 °C) to positive one up to 2.4 °C. The novel functionalized macromonomer can be cross-linked either chemically or physically in order to produce new functionalized hydrogel network applicable as biomedical material in tissue engineering.     

BF2‐Chelate Complexes of 6‐(4‐Iodophenyl)‐2,3,4,8,9,10‐hexamethyldipyrrin and 2‐(4‐Iodobenzoyl)‐3,4,5‐trimethylpyrrole: Fluorescent Dyes with a Chemical Anchor Group

The one‐pot condensation/coordination reaction of 4‐iodobenzoylchloride, 2,3,4‐trimethylpyrrole and BF₃ × Et₂O yields the BF₂ chelate complexes of the 1:1 condensation product 2‐(4‐iodobenzoyl)‐3,4,5‐trimethylpyrrole and of the 1:2 product 6‐(4‐iodophenyl)‐2,3,4,8,9,10‐hexamethyldipyrrin, as separable compounds in 6 and 38 % yield, respectively. Both new boron derivatives are fluorescent already upon exitation with ambient light. While the fluorescence quantum yield of the benzoyl derivative is very low, this value is significantly higher for the related boron dipyrrin (BODIPY) derivative. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies of both compounds reveal that the reason for these deviating physical properties are structural in nature. For the BODIPY an essentially flat structure of the fluorophor has been established, in addition to restricted rotation of the 4‐iodophenyl substituent, so that no conformational dynamic facilitates radiationless deactivations. The 1:1 condensation product on the other hand allows a fast equilibration of the photophysical exitation by dynamic processes and therefore exhibits a low fluorescence quantum yield. Both luminophores contain an iodoaryl moiety with potential uses for further functionalization and bioconjugation.     

Morphology controllable conjugated network polymers based on AIE-active building block for TNP detection

Luminescent conjugated network polymer is one of the most promising chemo-sensors owing to their good chemical/optical stability and multiple functionalization.Herein,three conjugated network polymers were prepared by using aggregation-induced emission active 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(4-formyl-(1,1'-biphenyl))-ethane(TFBE) unit as monomer and hydrazine as linker.Through regulating the synthetical condition,the polyme ric network can form either unifo rm two-dimensional azine-linked nanosheets(ANS),conjugated microporous polymers(A-CMP) or covalent organic frameworks(A-COF).All of these polymers exhibited good stability and high fluorescence quantum efficiency with the quantum yield of6.31% for A-NS,5.26% for A-CMP,and 5.80% for A-COF,as well as fast and selective fluorescence quenching response to 2,4,6-trinitrophenol(TNP).And the best TNP sensing performance with the Stern-Volmer constants(K_(sv)) values up to 8 × 10~5 L/mol and a detection limit of 0.09 μmol/L was obtained for A-NS.The study explores various strategies to construct conjugated polymers with different nanoarchitectures based on the same building block for sensitive detection of explosives.     

Chasing BODIPY: Enhancement of Luminescence in Homoleptic Bis(dipyrrinato) ZnII Complexes Utilizing Symmetric and Unsymmetrical Dipyrrins

Dipyrromethene metal complexes are fascinating molecules that have applications as light-harvesting systems, luminophores, and laser dyes. Recently, it has been shown that structurally rigid bis(dipyrrinato) zinc(II) complexes exhibit high fluorescence with comparable quantum yields to those of boron dipyrromethenes or BODIPYs. Herein, eight new bis(dipyrrinato) Zn^II complexes, obtained from symmetric and unsymmetrical functionalization of the dipyrromethene structure through a Knoevenagel reaction, are reported. It was possible not only to vary the maximum visible absorption from 490 to 630 nm, but also to enhance the emission quantum yield up to 66 %, which is extraordinarily high for homoleptic bis(dipyrrinato) zinc complexes. These results pave the way for designing highly luminescent bis(dipyrrinato) zinc complexes.     

The covalent functionalization of few-layered MoTe2 thin films with iodonium salts

Covalent functionalization of 2D materials provides a tailored approach towards tuning of their chemical, optical, and electronic properties making the search for new ways to graft small molecules important. Herein, the reaction with (3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)iodonium salt is revealed as an effective strategy for functionalization of MoTe₂ thin films. Upon decomposition of the salt, the generated radicals graft covalently as aryl-(CF₃)₂ groups at the surface of both metallic (1T’) and semiconducting (2H) polymorphs of MoTe₂. Remarkably, the reactivity of the salt is governed by the electronic structure of the given polymorph. While the functionalization of the metallic MoTe₂ occurs spontaneously, the semiconducting MoTe₂ requires activation by light. The reaction proceeds with the elimination of oxide from the original films yielding the functionalized products that remain protected in ambient conditions, presenting a viable solution to the ageing of MoTe₂ in air.     

1H-Phenalen-1-one: Photophysical Properties and Singlet-Oxygen Production

The efficiency of aromatic ketones as singlet-oxygen (¹O₂(¹Δ_g)) sensitizers can vary considerably with the electronic configuration of their lowest triplet state and the solvent used. Near-infrared measurements of tie luminescence of singlet oxygen have shown that the quantum yield of singlet-oxygen production (Φ_Δ) by 1H-phenalen-1-one ( 1 ) is close to unity in both polar (Φ_Δ = 0.97±0.03 in methanol) and non-polar solvents (Φ_Δ = 0.93±0.04 in benzene). Analysis of the absorption spectra of the ground state and phosphorescence measurements show that the lowest singlet and triplet states have dominant π, π* electronic configurations. The quantum yield of intersystem crossing (Φ_ISC) of 1 , determined by laser flash photolysis (partial-saturation method), is equal to unity. In comparison with other aromatic ketones, these parameters are important for the discussion of the surprisingly high Φ_ISC of 1 and the efficient energy transfer from its triplet state to molecular oxygen. The 1H-phenalen-1-one ( 1 ), being one of the most efficient singlet-oxygen sensitizers in both polar and non-polar media, could be used as a reference sensitizer, in particular in the area of relatively high energies of excitation.     

Site‐Selective Oxidation of Monolayered Liquid‐Exfoliated WS2 by Shielding the Basal Plane through Adsorption of a Facial Amphiphile

In recent years, various functionalization strategies for transition‐metal dichalcogenides have been explored to tailor the properties of materials and to provide anchor points for the fabrication of hybrid structures. Herein, new insights into the role of the surfactant in functionalization reactions are described. Using the spontaneous reaction of WS₂ with chloroauric acid as a model reaction, the regioselective formation of gold nanoparticles on WS₂ is shown to be heavily dependent on the surfactant employed. A simple model is developed to explain the role of the chosen surfactant in this heterogeneous functionalization reaction. The surfactant coverage is identified as the crucial element that governs the dominant reaction pathway and therefore can severely alter the reaction outcome. This study shows the general importance of the surfactant choice and how detrimental or beneficial a certain surfactant can be to the desired functionalization.     

Site-Selective Oxidation of Monolayered Liquid-Exfoliated WS2 by Shielding the Basal Plane through Adsorption of a Facial Amphiphile

In recent years, various functionalization strategies for transition-metal dichalcogenides have been explored to tailor the properties of materials and to provide anchor points for the fabrication of hybrid structures. Herein, new insights into the role of the surfactant in functionalization reactions are described. Using the spontaneous reaction of WS₂ with chloroauric acid as a model reaction, the regioselective formation of gold nanoparticles on WS₂ is shown to be heavily dependent on the surfactant employed. A simple model is developed to explain the role of the chosen surfactant in this heterogeneous functionalization reaction. The surfactant coverage is identified as the crucial element that governs the dominant reaction pathway and therefore can severely alter the reaction outcome. This study shows the general importance of the surfactant choice and how detrimental or beneficial a certain surfactant can be to the desired functionalization.     

Embedding Hydrogen Atom Transfer Moieties in Covalent Organic Frameworks for Efficient Photocatalytic C−H Functionalization

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as efficient heterogeneous photocatalysts for a wide range of relatively simple organic reactions, whereas their application in complex organic transformations, like site-selective functionalization of unactivated C−H bonds, is underexplored, which can be mainly attributed to the lack of highly active organophotocatalytic cores. Herein through bonding oxygen atoms at the N-terminus of quinolines in nonsubstituted quinoline-linked COFs (NQ−COFs), we successfully realized the embedding of active hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) moieties into the skeleton of COFs. This novel designed COF (NQ−COF_E5−O), serving as both an excellent photosensitizer and HAT catalyst, exhibited much higher efficiency in C−H functionalization than the corresponding NQ−COF_E5. Specially, we evaluated the photocatalytic performance of NQ−COF_E5−O on ten different substrates, including quinolines, benzothiazole, and benzoxazole, all of which were transferred to desired products in moderate to high yields (up to 93 %). Furthermore, the as-synthesized NQ−COF_E5−O displayed excellent photostability and could be reused with negligible loss of activity for five catalytic cycles.