Bimetallic Ruthenium Nitrosyl Complexes with Enhanced Two-Photon Absorption Properties for Nitric Oxide Delivery

One monometallic and three bimetallic ruthenium nitrosyl (RuNO) complexes are presented and fully characterized in reference to a parent monometallic complex of formula [FTRu(bpy)(NO)]³⁺, where FT is a fluorenyl-substituted terpyridine ligand, and bpy the 2,2’-bipyridine. These new complexes are built with the new ligands FFT, TFT, TFFT, and TF-CC-TF (where an alkyne C≡C group is inserted between two fluorenes). The crystal structures of the bis-RuNO₂ and bis-RuNO complexes built from the TFT ligand are presented. The evolution of the spectroscopic features (intensities and energies) along the series, at one-photon absorption (OPA) correlates well with the TD-DFT computations. A spectacular effect is observed at two-photon absorption (TPA) with a large enhancement of the molecular cross-section (σ_TPA), in the bimetallic species. In the best case, σ_TPA is equal to 1523±98 GM at 700 nm, in the therapeutic window of transparency of biological tissues. All compounds are capable of releasing NO⋅ under irradiation, which leads to promising applications in TPA-based drug delivery.     

C60-多吡啶Ru(II)配合物电子光谱的密度泛函理论研究

应用密度泛函理论(DFT)方法对两种C60-多吡啶Ru(II)衍生物进行理论研究. 在TZP全电子基组优化构型基础上, 通过分析前线轨道组成, 探讨金属及配体对C60母体影响; 以LB及SAOP校正局域密度近似, 用含时密度泛函(TDDFT)方法, 考虑溶剂化效应, 计算化合物1和2的电子吸收光谱. 结果表明, 化合物1和2在气相与丙酮溶液中所对应的光谱值差异较为明显, 溶剂化效应使吸收光谱蓝移. 计算得到化合物1和2在丙酮溶液中电子光谱与实验值吻合较好, 低能跃迁多为金属参与的混合跃迁, 高能跃迁主要由C60与配体部分贡献.     

The Photophysical Properties of Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes within a Sol-Gel Matrix

Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) sol-gel monoliths impregnated with three different luminescent [Ru(L)₃]²⁺ complexes (where L = 2,2-bipyridine (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), or 4,7-diphenyl,1,10-phenanthroline (dpp)) have been prepared. The photoluminescence properties of these complexes were followed as a function of time, as the sol-gel reactions proceeded. Clear differences were observed in the emission energies and the emission lifetimes of the complexes upon gel formation. These differences can be explained by the different extent of electrostatic interaction between the surface of the siloxane polymer and the immobilised complex.     

Ru(Ⅱ)和Ru(Ⅲ)配合物[Ru(bpy)(PH3)(-C≡CC6H4NO2-p)Cl]m(m=0,+1)的光谱性质的密度泛函-含时密度泛函理论研究

我们利用DFT中的B3LYP方法优化了Ru(Ⅱ)配合物和氧化的Ru(Ⅲ)配合物[Ru(bpy)(PH3)(-C≡CC6H4NO2-p)Cl]m[bpy=2,2′-bipyridine;m=0(1), 1(1 )]的基态几何结构,得到的几何参数与实验结果吻合的很好。采用TDDFT方法,得到了配合物1和1 的激发态电子结构和电子吸收光谱。研究结果表明,配合物1和1 随着氧化过程的发生,光谱性质也发生变化,Ru(Ⅱ)配合物的低能吸收被指认为MLCT/LLCT混合跃迁,而氧化的Ru(Ⅲ)配合物1 的低能吸收具有LMCT跃迁性质。     

Theoretical Study on One- and Two-Photon Absorption Properties of PPV Derivative with Electron-Donor Phenylanthracene as Pendent Group

Based on the equilibrium structures from quantum mechanics AM1 method, employing INDO/CI method and the sum-over-state （SOS） formula, the one-photon absorption （OPA） and two-photon absorption （TPA） properties as well as the second hyperpolarizabilities were discussed in detail for a kind of PPV derivative poly 2-（9-phenylanthracen-10-yl）-1,4-phenylenevinylene （P1）. The results indicate that the two-photon cross section （3） increases with the increasing of the number of repeating segment （n）, however only a slight increase corresponds to the increasing of molecular weight when the repeating unit number arrives at a certain number. From this point of view, the TPA cross section values of P1 were extrapolated through the linear fit of 3 value vs. 1/n. The δ value of P1 is as high as 181 GM （1 GM=10^-50 cm^4·s·photon^-1）. Concerning the influence of pendent group and extension of π-conjugation on 3 values, another four oligomers P2, PPV, P1-1, and P2-1 were investigated for comparison. The calculation results reveal that the position and property of pendent group have great influence on the OPA and TPA properties. A most crucial role for relatively larger 3 value was played by the extension of π-conjugation.     

Synthesis,Electrochemistry, and Photophysical Studies of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridine Complexes with D–π–A–π–D Type Ligands and Their Application Studies as Organic Memories

A new class of ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes with a series of D–π–A–π–D type (D=donor, A=acceptor) ligands was synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the complexes were also investigated. The newly synthesized ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes were found to exhibit two intense absorption bands at both high‐energy (λ=333–369 nm) and low‐energy (λ=520–535 nm) regions. They are assigned as intraligand (IL) π→π* transitions of the bipyridine (bpy) and π‐conjugated bpy ligands, and IL charge‐transfer (CT) transitions from the donor to the acceptor moiety with mixing of dπ(Ru^II)→π*(bpy) and dπ(Ru^II)→π*(L) MLCT characters, respectively. In addition, all complexes were demonstrated to exhibit intense red emissions at approximately λ=727–744 nm in degassed dichloromethane at 298 K or in n‐butyronitrile glass at 77 K. Nanosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy has also been carried out, establishing the presence of the charge‐separated state. In order to understand the electrochemical properties of the complexes, cyclic voltammetry has also been performed. Two quasi‐reversible oxidation couples and three quasi‐reversible reduction couples were observed. One of the ruthenium(II) complexes has been utilized in the fabrication of memory devices, in which an ON/OFF current ratio of over 10⁴ was obtained.     

Biotransformations of Anticancer Ruthenium(III) Complexes: An X‐Ray Absorption Spectroscopic Study

An anti‐metastatic drug, NAMI‐A ((ImH)[Ru^IIICl₄(Im)(dmso)]; Im=imidazole, dmso=S‐bound dimethylsulfoxide), and a cytotoxic drug, KP1019 ((IndH)[Ru^IIICl₄(Ind)₂]; Ind=indazole), are two Ru‐based anticancer drugs in human clinical trials. Their reactivities under biologically relevant conditions, including aqueous buffers, protein solutions or gels (e.g, albumin, transferrin and collagen), undiluted blood serum, cell‐culture medium and human liver (HepG2) cancer cells, were studied by Ru K‐edge X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). These XAS data were fitted from linear combinations of spectra of well‐characterised Ru compounds. The absence of XAS data from the parent drugs in these fits points to profound changes in the coordination environments of Ru^III. The fits point to the presence of Ru^IV/III clusters and binding of Ru^III to S‐donor groups, amine/imine and carboxylato groups of proteins. Cellular uptake of KP1019 is approximately 20‐fold higher than that of NAMI‐A under the same conditions, but it diminishes drastically after the decomposition of KP1019 in cell‐culture media, which indicate that the parent complex is taken in by cells through passive diffusion.     

DCM衍生物双光子吸收截面的溶剂效应

考察了以三苯胺基为给电子基团的4种不同DCM衍生物在有机溶剂中的单光子光物理性质(基态和激发态永久偶极矩差、光学跃迁偶极矩以及跃迁能量等), 并利用双光子诱导荧光法考察了溶剂对其双光子吸收截面(δtpa)的影响. 研究结果表明, DCM衍生物的光学跃迁具有显著的分子内电荷转移特性, 不同末端取代基主要影响其稳态光谱性质, 而分支结构数目主要影响其双光子吸收截面. 研究结果还发现, 双光子吸收截面随分子结构的变化趋势符合双能级模型, 拉电子基团为丙二腈和1,3-茚二酮的DCM衍生物的δtpa随溶剂介电常数的增加呈现不同的变化趋势.     

Design,Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Three Novel Dehydroabietyl Piperazine Dithiocarbamate Ruthenium (II) Polypyridyl Complexes as Potential Antitumor Agents: DNA Damage,Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis Induction

The use of cisplatin is severely limited by its toxic side-effects, which has spurred chemists to employ different strategies in the development of new metal-based anticancer agents. Here, three novel dehydroabietyl piperazine dithiocarbamate ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complexes (6a–6c) were synthesized as antitumor agents. Compounds 6a and 6c exhibited better in vitro antiproliferative activity against seven tumor cell lines than cisplatin, they displayed no evident resistance in the cisplatin-resistant cell line A549/DPP. Importantly, 6a effectively inhibited tumor growth in the T-24 xenograft mouse model in comparison with cisplatin. Gel electrophoresis assay indicated that DNA was the potential targets of 6a and 6c, and the upregulation of p-H2AX confirmed this result. Cell cycle arrest studies demonstrated that 6a and 6c arrested the cell cycle at G1 phase, accompanied by the upregulation of the expression levels of the antioncogene p27 and the down-regulation of the expression levels of cyclin E. In addition, 6a and 6c caused the apoptosis of tumor cells along with the upregulation of the expression of Bax, caspase-9, cytochrome c, intracellular Ca²⁺ release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the downregulation of Bcl-2. These mechanistic study results suggested that 6a and 6c exerted their antitumor activity by inducing DNA damage, and consequently causing G1 stage arrest and the induction of apoptosis.     

Metal-to-Metal Distance Modulated Au(I)/Ru(II) Cyclophanyl Complexes: Cooperative Effects in Photoredox Catalysis

The modular synthesis of Au(I)/Ru(II) decorated mono- and heterobimetallic complexes with π-conjugated [2.2]paracyclophane is described. [2.2]Paracyclophane serves as a rigid spacer which holds the metal centers in precise spatial orientations and allows metal-to-metal distance modulation. A broad set of architectural arrangements of pseudo -geminal, -ortho, -meta, and -para substitution patterns were employed. Metal-to-metal distance modulation of Au(I)/Ru(II) heterobimetallic complexes and the innate transannular π-communication of the cyclophanyl scaffold provides a promising platform for the investigations of structure-activity relationship and cooperative effects. The Au(I)/Ru(II) heterobimetallic cyclophanyl complexes are stable, easily accessible, and exhibit promising catalytic activity in the visible-light promoted arylative Meyer-Schuster rearrangement.     

Charge Transfer Complexes of Ketotifen with 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone and 7,7,8,8-Tetracyanoquodimethane: Spectroscopic Characterization Studies

The reactions of ketotifen fumarate (KT) with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) as π acceptors to form charge transfer (CT) complexes were evaluated in this study. Experimental and theoretical approaches, including density function theory (DFT), were used to obtain the comprehensive, reliable, and accurate structure elucidation of the developed CT complexes. The CT complexes (KT-DDQ and KT-TCNQ) were monitored at 485 and 843 nm, respectively, and the calibration curve ranged from 10 to 100 ppm for KT-DDQ and 2.5 to 40 ppm for KT-TCNQ. The spectrophotometric methods were validated for the determination of KT, and the stability of the CT complexes was assessed by studying the corresponding spectroscopic physical parameters. The molar ratio of KT:DDQ and KT:TCNQ was estimated at 1:1 using Job’s method, which was compatible with the results obtained using the Benesi–Hildebrand equation. Using these complexes, the quantitative determination of KT in its dosage form was successful.     

A Combined Experimental and Computational Study of Linear Ruthenium(II) Coordination Oligomers with End‐Capping Organic Redox Sites: Insight into the Light Absorption and Charge Delocalization

Two series of linear ruthenium coordination oligomers, [(Ntpy)Ru_n(tppz)_n?1(tpy)]²ⁿ⁺ (mono‐Ntpy series, n=1–3) and [(Ntpy)₂Ru_n(tppz)_n?1]²ⁿ⁺ (bis‐Ntpy series, n=1–3) have been prepared, where Ntpy is the capping ligand 4′‐di‐p‐anisylamino‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine, tppz is tetra‐2‐pyridylpyrazine, and tpy is 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine. The electrochemical measurements evidence oxidation events from both the amine segments and the metal centers and reduction waves from tppz and the capping ligands. Both series complexes display much enhanced light absorption with respect to model complexes without terminal amine units. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed on both series and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) calculations have been performed on the bis‐Ntpy‐series compounds (n=1–4) to characterize their electronic structures and excited states and predict the electronic properties of long‐chain polymers. Upon one‐electron oxidation, the mono‐Ntpy‐series monoruthenium and diruthenium complexes display N⁺‐localized transitions and metal‐to‐nitrogen charge‐transfer (MNCT) transitions in the near‐infrared (NIR) region. DFT and TD‐DFT computations on the one‐electron‐oxidized forms of the mono‐Ntpy‐series compounds (n=1–4) provide insight into the nature of the MNCT transitions and the degree of charge delocalization.     

Electronic Transitions in Different Redox States of Trinuclear 5,6,11,12,17,18-Hexaazatrinaphthylene-Bridged Titanium Complexes: Spectroelectrochemistry and Quantum Chemistry

Multinuclear transition metal complexes bridged by ligands with extended π-electronic systems show a variety of complex electronic transitions and electron transfer reactions. While a systematic understanding of the photochemistry and electrochemistry has been attained for binuclear complexes, much less is known about trinuclear complexes such as hexaphenyl-5,6,11,12,17,18-hexaazatrinaphthylene-tristitanocene [(Cp₂Ti)₃HATN(Ph)₆]. The voltammogram of [(Cp₂Ti)₃HATN(Ph)₆] shows six oxidation and three reduction waves. Solution spectra of [(Cp₂Ti)₃HATN(Ph)₆] and of the electrochemically formed oxidation products show electronic transitions in the UV, visible and the NIR ranges. Density functional theory (DFT) and linear response time-dependent DFT show that the three formally titanium(II) centers transfer an electron to the HATN ligand in the ground state. The optically excited transitions occur exclusively between ligand-centered orbitals. The charged titanium centers only provide an electrostatic frame to the extended π-electronic system. Complete active self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculation on a structurally simplified model compound, which considers the multi-reference character imposed by the three titanium centers, can provide an interpretation of the experimentally observed temperature-dependent magnetic behavior of the different redox states of the title compound in full consistency with the interpretation of the electronic spectra.     

Extending Metal‐to‐Polyoxometalate Charge Transfer Lifetimes: The Effect of Heterometal Location

In an effort to develop robust molecular sensitizers for solar fuel production, the electronic structure and photodynamics of transition‐metal‐substituted polyoxometalates (POMs), a novel class of compound in this context, was examined. Experimental and computational techniques including femtosecond (fs) transient absorption spectroscopy have been used to study the cobalt‐containing Keggin POMs, [Co^IIW₁₂O₄₀]^6? ( 1 a ), [Co^IIIW₁₂O₄₀]^5? ( 2 a ), [SiCo^II(H₂O)W₁₁O₃₉]^6? ( 3 a ), and [SiCo^III(H₂O)W₁₁O₃₉]^5? ( 4 a ), finding the longest lived charge transfer excited state so far observed in a POM and elucidating the electronic structures and excited‐state dynamics of these compounds at an unprecedented level. All species exhibit a bi‐exponential decay in which early dynamic processes with time constants in the fs domain yield longer lived excited states which decay with time constants in the ps to ns domain. The initially formed states of 1 a and 3 a are considered to result from metal‐to‐polyoxometalate charge transfer (MPCT) from Co^II to W, while the longer‐lived excited state of 1 a is tentatively assigned to a localized intermediate MPCT state. The excited state formed by the tetrahedral cobalt(II) centered heteropolyanion ( 1 a ) is far longer‐lived (τ=420 ps in H₂O; τ=1700 ps in MeCN) than that of 3 a (τ=1.3 ps), in which the single Co^II atom is located in a pseudo‐octahedral addendum site. Short‐lived states are observed for the two Co^III‐containing heteropolyanions 2 a (τ=4.4 ps) and 4 a (τ=6.3 ps) and assigned solely to O→Co^III charge transfer. The dramatically extended lifetime for 1 a versus 3 a is ascribed to a structural change permitted by the coordinatively flexible central site, weak orbital overlap of the central Co with the polytungstate framework, and putative transient valence trapping of the excited electron on a single W atom, a phenomenon not noted previously in POMs.     

Tuning the Triplet Excited State of Bis(dipyrrin) Zinc(II) Complexes: Symmetry Breaking Charge Transfer Architecture with Exceptionally Long Lived Triplet State for Upconversion

Zinc(II) bis(dipyrrin) complexes, which feature intense visible absorption and efficient symmetry breaking charge transfer (SBCT) are outstanding candidates for photovoltaics but their short lived triplet states limit applications in several areas. Herein we demonstrate that triplet excited state dynamics of bis(dipyrrin) complexes can be efficiently tuned by attaching electron donating aryl moieties at the 5,5′-position of the complexes. For the first time, a long lived triplet excited state (τ_T=296 μs) along with efficient ISC ability (Φ_Δ=71 %) was observed for zinc(II) bis(dipyrrin) complexes, formed via SBCT. The results revealed that molecular geometry and energy gap between the charge transfer (CT) state and triplet energy levels strongly control the triplet excited state properties of the complexes. An efficient triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion system was devised for the first time using a SBCT architecture as triplet photosensitizer, reaching a high upconversion quantum yield of 6.2 %. Our findings provide a blueprint for the development of triplet photosensitizers based on earth abundant metal complexes with long lived triplet state for revolutionary photochemical applications.     

The Influence of σ and π Acceptors on Two‐Photon Absorption and Solvatochromism of Dipolar and Quadrupolar Unsaturated Organic Compounds

Two‐photon absorption cross sections δ and solvatochromic properties were determined for a series of quadrupolar and dipolar compounds by using femtosecond excitation in the spectral range between 710 and 960 nm. The compounds investigated were distyrylbenzenes and polyenes bearing appropriate π or σ acceptors. The δ values for the centrosymmetric compounds trans,trans‐1,4‐bis[2‐(2′,5′‐dihexyloxy)phenylethenyl]‐2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorobenzene ( 6 ), trans,trans‐1,4‐bis[2‐(4′‐dibutylamino)phenylethenyl]‐2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorobenzene ( 2 ), trans,trans‐1,4‐bis[2‐(4′dimethylamino)phenylbutadienyl]‐2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorobenzene ( 7 ), trans,trans‐1,4‐bis[2‐(4′‐dimethylamino)phenylethenyl]‐2,5‐dicyanobenzene ( 4 ) and trans,trans‐1,4‐bis[2‐(4′‐dimethylamino)phenylethenyl]‐2‐propylsulfonyl‐5‐(2‐ethylhexyl)sulfonylbenzene ( 3 ) are on the order of 600, 1400, 1700, 3000, and 4100×10^?50 cm⁴ s photon^?1, respectively. The corresponding dipolar compounds trans‐2‐(4′‐dimethylaminophenyl)ethenyl‐2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzene ( 8 ), trans‐4‐(4′‐dimethylaminophenyl)butadienyl‐2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzene ( 9 ), trans‐6‐(4′‐dimethylaminophenyl)hexatrienyl‐2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzene ( 10 ) were additionally investigated. All centrosymmtric compounds are good fluorescent materials, while the dipolar chromophores 8 – 10 exhibit low fluorescence quantum yields. Solvatochromism was also observed for the fluorophores 2 – 10 as a result of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). Furthermore, a reasonable correlation was obtained between measured and calculated δ. Quantum chemical calculations were performed by using the INDO Hamiltonian with a MRDCI scheme. The results show that the sum over states (SOS) expression for the second hyperpolarizability γ is appropriate to describe the mechanism of two‐photon absorption. Mechanistic investigations of quadrupolar compounds showed that the energy of the two‐photon excited state is higher than S₁.     

The Effect of Heavy Atoms on Photoinduced Electron Injection from Nonthermalized and Thermalized Donor States of MII–Polypyridyl (M=Ru/Os) Complexes to Nanoparticulate TiO2 Surfaces: An Ultrafast Time‐Resolved Absorption Study

We have synthesized ruthenium(II)– and osmium(II)–polypyridyl complexes ([M(bpy)₂ L ]²⁺, in which M=Os^II or Ru^II, bpy=2,2′‐bipyridyl, and L =4‐(2,2′‐bipyridinyl‐4‐yl)benzene‐1,2‐diol) and studied the interfacial electron‐transfer process on a TiO₂ nanoparticle surface using femtosecond transient‐absorption spectroscopy. Ruthenium(II)‐ and osmium(II)‐based dyes have a similar molecular structure; nevertheless, we have observed quite different interfacial electron‐transfer dynamics (both forward and backward). In the case of the Ru^II/TiO₂ system, single‐exponential electron injection takes place from photoexcited nonthermalized metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states. However, in the case of the Os^II/TiO₂ system, electron injection takes place biexponentially from both nonthermalized and thermalized MLCT states (mainly ³MLCT states). Larger spin–orbit coupling for the heavier transition‐metal osmium, relative to that of ruthenium, accounts for the more efficient population of the ³MLCT states in the Os^II‐based dye during the electron‐injection process that yields biexponential dynamics. Our results tend to suggest that appropriately designed Os^II–polypyridyl dye can be a better sensitizer molecule relative to its Ru^II analogue not only due to much broader absorption in the visible region of the solar‐emission spectrum, but also on account of slower charge recombination.     

Ab Initio and DFT Studies on CO2 Interacting with Znq+–Imidazole (q=0, 1, 2) Complexes: Prediction of Charge Transfer through σ‐ or π‐Type Models

Using first‐principles methodologies, the equilibrium structures and the relative stability of CO₂@[Zn^q+Im] (where q=0, 1, 2; Im=imidazole) complexes are studied to understand the nature of the interactions between the CO₂ and Zn^q+–imidazole entities. These complexes are considered as prototype models mimicking the interactions of CO₂ with these subunits of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks or Zn enzymes. These computations are performed using both ab initio calculations and density functional theory. Dispersion effects accounting for long‐range interactions are considered. Solvent (water) effects were also considered using a polarizable continuum model approach. Natural bond orbital, charge, frontier orbital and vibrational analyses clearly reveal the occurrence of charge transfer through covalent and noncovalent interactions. Moreover, it is found that CO₂ can adsorb through more favorable π‐type stacking as well as σ‐type hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The inter‐monomer interaction potentials show a significant anisotropy that might induce CO₂ orientation and site‐selectivity effects in porous materials and in active sites of Zn enzymes. Hence, this study provides valuable information about how CO₂ adsorption takes place at the microscopic level within zeolitic imidazolate frameworks and biomolecules. These findings might help in understanding the role of such complexes in chemistry, biology and material science for further development of new materials and industrial applications.