Solvent effects in the absorption spectra of the Ninhydrin chromophore

Visible spectra of the Ninhydrin chromophore, Ruhemann's purple, were studied in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), formamide, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and pyridine, as well as in mixed aqueous-nonaqueous solvent media. Large differences in both the position of absorption maxima and extinction coefficients for the two bands in the visible spectra in the various solvent media were observed. Both the absorption maxima and the extinction coefficients of the Ninhydrin chromophore were a linear function of the composition of dimethyl sulfoxide-H₂O solvent media. The experimental evidence allows predictions of values for the two absorption maxima of Ruhemann's purple as a function of the nature of the solvent medium. In nonaqueous aprotic solvents (i.e., DMSO and DMF), the maxima should be near 605 and 420 mμ; in nonaqueous aprotic solvents capable of undergoing charge-transfer interactions (i.e., pyridine), near 550 and 420 mμ; and in nonaqueous protic solvents (i.e., formamide), near 575 and 410 mμ. The maxima in aprotic media will be displaced to about 575 mμ (higher wavelength band) and 410 mμ (lower wavelength band) on dilution with protic solvents.     

Effects of solvents on the electron configurations of the low-spin dicyano[meso-tetrakis(2,4,6-triethylphenyl)porphyrinato]iron(III) complex: importance of the C-H...N weak hydrogen bonding

There are two types of electron configurations, (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) and (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1), in low-spin iron(III) porphyrin complexes. To reveal the solvent effects on the ground-state electron configurations, we have examined the (13)C- and (1)H-NMR spectra of low-spin dicyano[meso-tetrakis(2,4,6-triethylphenyl)porphyrinato]ferrate(III) in a variety of solvents, including protic, dipolar aprotic, and nonpolar solvents. On the basis of the NMR study, we have reached the following conclusions: (i) the complex adopts the ground state with the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) electron configuration, the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy)())(1) ground state, in methanol, because the d(pi) orbitals are stabilized due to the O-H...N hydrogen bonding between the coordinated cyanide and methanol; (ii) the complex also exhibits the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state in nonpolar solvents, such as chloroform and dichloromethane, which is ascribed to the stabilization of the d(pi) orbitals due to the C-H...N weak hydrogen bonding between the coordinated cyanide and the solvent molecules; (iii) the complex favors the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state in dipolar aprotic solvents, such as DMF, DMSO, and acetone, though the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) character is less than that in chloroform and dichloromethane; (iv) the complex adopts the (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state in nonpolar solvents, such as toluene, benzene, and tetrachloromethane, because of the lack of hydrogen bonding in these solvents; (v) acetonitrile behaves like nonpolar solvents, such as toluene, benzene, and tetrachloromethane, though it is classified as a dipolar aprotic solvent. Although the NMR results have been interpreted in terms of the solvent effects on the ordering of the d(xy) and d(pi) orbitals, they could also be interpreted in terms of the solvent effects on the population ratios of two isomers with different electron configurations. In fact, we have observed the unprecedented EPR spectra at 4.2 K which contain both the axial- and large g(max)-type signals in some solvents such as benzene, toluene, and acetonitrile. The observation of the two types of signals has been ascribed to the slow interconversion on the EPR time scale at 4.2 K between the ruffled complex with the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state and, possibly, the planar (or nearly planar) complex with the (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state.     

Spontaneous assembly of a polymeric helicate of sodium with LVO(2) units forming the strand: photoinduced transformation into a mixed-valence product

The anionic cis-dioxovanadium(V) complex species LVO(2)(-) of a tridentate ONS ligand (H(2)L) can bind sodium ion in a bis-monodentate fashion like a bridging carboxylate group. The product [LVO(2)Na(H(2)O)(2)](infinity) (1) is a water soluble polymeric compound in which the complementary units are held together by the simultaneous use of hydrogen bonding and Coulombic interactions. Crystallographic characterization reveals that 1 is a single stranded helicate with LVO(2)(-) units forming the strand which surrounds the labile sodium ions that occupy the positions on the axis. In solution of protic solvents, viz. water and methanol, 1 is quite stable as indicated by electrical conductivity and (1)H NMR measurements. In aprotic solvents, viz. CH(3)CN, DMF, or DMSO, however, the extended hydrogen bonded network in 1 breaks apart and the helical structure collapses when irradiated with visible light. The product is a mixed-oxidation vanadium(IV/V) species obtained by photoinduced reduction as confirmed by EPR, time dependent (1)H NMR, and electronic spectroscopy. Compound 1 is a rare example of a nonnatural helix where hydrogen bonding interactions play a crucial role in stabilizing the single stranded polymeric structure such as that frequently observed in the biological world.     

Novel fluorinated poly(aryl ether)s derived from 1,2-bis(4-(4-fluorobenzoyl)phenoxy)-hexafluorocyclobutane

Two novel poly(aryl ether)s were prepared from 1,2-bis(4-(4-fluorobenzoyl)-phenoxy)-hexafluorocyclobutane and aromatic bisphenols by the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction in a polar aprotic solvent. These polymers have good thermal stability up to 341 °C with 10% weight loss in inert atmosphere and good solubility in common organic solvents such as THF, DMAc, DMF and DMSO.     

Femtosecond fluorescence upconversion studies of excited-state proton-transfer dynamics in 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO) in liquid solution and DNA

A femtosecond fluorescence upconversion study is reported for HBO in solution, as well as for HBO incorporated in DNA. The typical time for the excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer reaction of the syn-enol tautomer in solution and in DNA has been determined to be 150 fs. In addition, the lifetimes of the keto, the anti-enol and the ‘solvated enol’ tautomer forms were determined in protic solvents, aprotic solvents and DNA. Picosecond rise and decay components in the fluorescence transients with characteristic times between 3 and 25 ps are also observed and attributed to the effects of vibrational cooling.     

Unusual role of solvents in the syntheses of {Fe-NO}6,7 nitrosyls derived from a ligand with carboxamido nitrogen and thiolato sulfur donors

Reaction of excess NO with the S = 3/2 Fe(III) complex (Et4N)2[Fe(PhPepS)(Cl)] (1) in protic solvents such as MeOH affords the {Fe-NO}(7) nitrosyl (Et(4)N)(2)[Fe(PhPepS)(NO)] (2). This distorted square-pyramidal S = 1/2 complex, a product of reductive nitrosylation, is the first example of an {Fe-NO}7 nitrosyl with carboxamido-N and thiolato-S coordination. When the same reaction is performed in aprotic solvents such as MeCN and DMF, the product is a dimeric diamagnetic {Fe-NO}6 complex, (Et4N)2-[{Fe(PhPepS)(NO)}2] (3). Both electrochemical and chemical oxidation of 2 leads to the formation of 3 via a transient five-coordinate {Fe-NO}6 intermediate. The oxidation is NO-centered. The ligand frame is not attacked by excess NO in these reactions.     

Solvent-dependent photophysics of 1-cyclohexyluracil: ultrafast branching in the initial bright state leads nonradiatively to the electronic ground state and a long-lived 1npi* state

The modified nucleic acid base, 1-cyclohexyluracil, was studied by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in protic and aprotic solvents of varying polarity. UV excitation at 267 nm populates the lowest-energy bright state, a (1)pipi* state, which has a lifetime of 120-270 fs, depending on the solvent. In all solvents, this initial bright state population bifurcates with approximately 60% undergoing subpicosecond nonradiative decay to the electronic ground state and the remaining population branching to a singlet dark state. The latter absorbs between 340 and 450 nm. The latter state is assigned to the lowest-energy (1)npi* state. It decays to the electronic ground state with a lifetime that varies from 26 ps in water to at least several nanoseconds in aprotic solvents. The results suggest that the two nonradiative decay pathways identified for photoexcited uracil in recent quantum chemical calculations (Matsika, S. J. Phys. Chem. A. 2004, 108, 7584) are simultaneously operative in a wide variety of solvent environments. The lowest-energy triplet state was also detected by transient absorption. The triplet population appears in a few picoseconds and is not formed from the thermalized (1)npi* state. It is suggested that high spin-orbit coupling is found only along initial segments of the nonradiative decay pathways. Efficient intersystem crossing prior to vibrational cooling offers a possible explanation for the wavelength-dependent triplet yields seen in single DNA bases.     

Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies on UO(2)(saloph)L (saloph = N,N'-disalicylidene-o-phenylenediaminate,L=dimethyl sulfoxide or N,N-dimethylformamide)

To examine properties of pentavalent uranium, U(V), we have carried out electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies on UO(2)(saloph)L [saloph = N,N'-disalicylidene-o-phenylenediaminate, L = dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)]. The electrochemical reactions of UO(2)(saloph)L complexes in L were found to occur quasireversibly. The reduction processes of UO(2)(saloph)L complexes were followed spectroelectrochemically by using an optical transparent thin layer electrode cell. It was found that the absorption spectra measured at the applied potentials from 0 to -1.650 V versus ferrocene/ferrocenium ion redox couple (Fc/Fc(+)) for UO(2)(saloph)DMSO in DMSO have clear isosbestic points and that the evaluated electron stoichiometry equals 1.08. These results indicate that the reduction product of UO(2)(saloph)DMSO is [U(V)O(2)(saloph)DMSO](-), which is considerably stable in DMSO. Furthermore, it was clarified that the absorption spectrum of the [U(V)O(2)(saloph)DMSO](-) complex has a very small molar absorptivity in the visible region and characteristic absorption bands due to the 5f(1) orbital at around 750 and 900 nm. For UO(2)(saloph)DMF in DMF, the clear isosbestic points were not observed in the similar spectral changes. It is proposed that the UO(2)(saloph)DMF complex is reduced to [U(V)O(2)(saloph)DMF](-) accompanied by the dissociation of DMF as a successive reaction. The formal redox potentials of UO(2)(saloph)L in L (E(0), vs Fc/Fc(+)) for U(VI)/U(V) couple were determined to be -1.550 V for L = DMSO and -1.626 V for L = DMF.     

Study of preferential solvation of 2,6-diaminoanthraquinone in binary mixtures by absorption and fluorescence studies

The role of solute-solvent and solvent-solvent interaction on the preferential solvation characteristics of 2,6-diaminoanthraquinone (DAAQ) has been analysed by monitoring the optical absorption and fluorescence emission spectra. Binary mixtures consist of dimethylformamide (DMF)-ethanol (EtOH), DMF-dimelthylsulfoxide (DMSO), benzene (BZ)-DMF and acetonitrile (ACN)-DMF. The optical absorption spectra maximum and emission spectra maximum of DAAQ show the changes with varying the solvents and change in the composition in the case of binary mixtures. Non-ideal solvation characteristics are observed in all binary mixtures. It is found that at certain concentrations two mixed solvents interact to form a common structure with a nu(12) (wave number in cm(-1)) value not always intermediate (nu(1) and nu(2)) between the values of the solvents mixed. Synergistic effect is observed in the case of DMF-EtOH mixtures. The preferential solvation parameters local mole fraction X(2)(L), solvation index delta(S2), exchange constant K(12) are calculated in all binary mixtures expect in the case of DMF-BZ mixture and DMF-EtOH mixture in the ground state. We have also monitored excitation wavelength effect on the probe molecule in aprotic polar and protic polar solvents.     

Rotational diffusion in aprotic and protic solvents

We present the orientational relaxation times in protic and aprotic solvents for rose bengal in its lowest excited singlet state. The method uses a mode locked dye laser for polarized excitation, and time correlated single photon counting for determination of the time resolved polarized fluorescence. The observed orientational decay for the dipolar aprotic solvents and the alcohols are in agreement with the values predicted by the Stokes-Einstein diffusion equation. In the latter solvents, volume and shape corrections must be made for attachment of the alcohol to the two anion sites of the dye molecule. The solvent N-methylformamide, however, shows rose bengal reorienting much faster than the alcohols. Our interpretation of this data suggests that agreement with the Stokes-Einstein equation (stick boundary conditions) is coincidental. We propose a solvent torque model in which the solvent interaction at each anion site of rose bengal controls the deviations from an expected slip boundary condition. This qualitative model is used to correlate our data as well as relevant data in the literature. The values in picoseconds for the observed orientational relaxation times are given in parenthesis; acetone (70), DMF (160), DMSO (420), MeOH (190), EtOH (450), isopropanol (840), NMF (500).     

Photophysics of representative ketocyanine dyes: dependence on molecular structure

Spectral properties of a new fluorescent ketocyanine dye have been discussed. The energy of maximum absorption/fluorescence of the dye exhibits bathochromic shift with increasing polarity of the medium. Both dipolarity-polarisability and hydrogen bond donation interaction contribute to solvation of the dye. Study of fluorescence parameters points to existence of different emitting states of the dye for aprotic and protic solvents. While the emitting state is the (1)(π, π*) state for aprotic solvents, fluorescence supposedly take place from a different emitting state involving H-bond formation in the excited state in protic solvents. Fluorescence parameters of the dye have been compared with those for a structurally similar symmetric ketocyanine dye. The faster decay of the dye relative to its symmetric counterpart has been explained as due to an increase of nonradiative decay.     

Catalytic reactions involving butadiene: III. Oligomerisation with cationic bis(triphenylphosphine)(η3-allyl) complexes

The bis(triphenylphosphine)(η³-crotyl)nickel cation is a catalyst precursor for the oligomerisation of butadiene to cyclic or linear dimers. Polymers and oligomers are also produced in variable amounts. The product distributions depend strongly on the type of solvent used and on the nature of co-catalysts. In the aprotic polar solvent DMF, the starting complex undergoes disproportionation, leading finally to a zerovalent nickel-phosphine catalyst. In protic solvents (alcohols) a cationic hydridonickel-phosphine catalyst is produced, but addition of sodium methoxide induces the formation of the zerovalent nickel-phosphine, therefore accounting for the changes in product selectivities.     

Photochemistry of 5-aminoquinoline in protic and aprotic solvents

Photophysical properties of 5-aminoquinoline (5AQ) have been investigated in various non-polar and polar (protic and aprotic) solvents using steady state and time resolved fluorescence. In aprotic solvents, the spectral maxima depend on the polarity. However, in protic solvents both the fluorescence intensity as well decay time show decrease depending on the hydrogen bonding ability of the solvent. The results suggest that photochemistry 5AQ is quite sensitive towards the polarity as well as protic character of the solvent.     

Competitive C-I versus C-CN reductive elimination from a Rh(III) complex. Selectivity is controlled by the solvent

The RhIII complex [(PNP)Rh(CN)(CH3)][I] 5, obtained by oxidative addition of methyl iodide to [(PNP)Rh(CN)] 2, reacts selectively in two pathways: In aprotic solvents C-I reductive elimination of methyl iodide followed by its electrophilic attack on the cyano ligand takes place, giving the methyl isonitrile RhI complex [(PNP)Rh(CNCH3)][I] 3, while in protic solvents C-C reductive elimination of acetonitrile takes place forming an iodo RhI complex [(PNP)RhI] 9. Reaction of 2 with ethyl iodide in aprotic solvents gave the corresponding isonitrile complex, while in protic solvents no reactivity was observed. The selectivity of this reaction is likely due to a hydrogen bond between the cyano ligand and the protic solvent, as observed by X-ray diffraction, which retards electrophilic attack on this ligand.     

Solute–Solvent Interactions of Methyl Violet in Different Solvents on Spectral Data

Spectroscopic studies of Methyl violet in protic (water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and n-butanol) and aprotic solvents (acetone, DMF) were carried out. UV-Visible absorption spectra of Methyl violet in protic solvents showed a hypsochromic shift, as the solvent polarity was changed from less polar to more polar, while a bathochromic shift was observed for aprotic solvents. Transition energy of Methyl violet in different solvents was correlated with solvatochromic parameters to study solute–solvents interactions. The Kamlet–Taft, Catalan and unified scale models were applied to investigate interactions between Methyl violet and solvents. The best agreement is found for the Catalan model.     

Photoisomerization of the green fluorescence protein chromophore and the meta- and para-amino analogues

The Z --> E photoisomerization and fluorescence quantum yields for the wild-type green fluorescence protein (GFP) chromophore (p-HBDI) and its meta- and para-amino analogues (m-ABDI and p-ABDI) in aprotic solvents (hexane, THF, and acetonitrile) and protic solvents (methanol and 10-20% H(2)O in THF) are reported. The dramatic decrease in the quantum yields on going from aprotic to protic solvents indicates the important role of solvent-solute hydrogen bonding in the nonradiative decay pathways. The enhanced fluorescence of m-ABDI is also discussed.     

Rotational reorientation dynamics of oxazine 750 in polar solvents

The rotational reorientation dynamics of oxazine 750 (OX750) in the first (with pump pulse at 660 nm) and a higher excited state (with pump pulse at 400 nm) in different polar solvents have been investigated using femtosecond time-resolved stimulated emission pumping fluorescence depletion (FS TR SEP FD) spectroscopy. In both excited states, three different anisotropy decay laws have been observed for OX750 in different solvents. Only in acetone and formamide could the anisotropy decays of OX750 be described by single-exponential functions, whereas the anisotropy decays have been found to exhibit biexponential behavior in other solvents. The slower anisotropy decay observed in all of the solvents has been assigned to the overall rotational relaxation of OX750 molecules, and a quantitative analysis of this time constant has been performed using the Stokes-Einstein-Debye hydrodynamic theory and the extended charge distribution model developed by Alavi and Waldeck. In both methanol and ethanol, a faster anisotropy decay on the order of picoseconds and a slower anisotropy decay on the hundreds of picoseconds time scale are observed. The most likely explanation for the faster anisotropy involves the rotation of the transition dipole moment in the excited state of OX750 resulting from the electron transfer (ET) reaction taking place from the alcoholic solvents to the OX750 chromophore. As a possible explanation, the wobbling-in-the-cone model has been used to analyze the biexponential anisotropy decays of OX750 in dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The observed faster anisotropy decays on the hundreds of femtoseconds time scale in DMF and DMSO are ascribed to the wobbling-in-the-cone motion of the ethyl group of OX750, which is sensitive to the strength of the hydrogen bond formed between the solvent and the protonation site of OX750.     

Solute-Solvent Interactions in Solutions of Solvatochromic Phenoxides: A Dynamics Simulation Study

Solute-solvent interactions in protic (water, methanol and 2-propanol) and aprotic (DMSO) solvents of four solvatochromic phenoxides, the 4- and 2-pyridiniophenoxides, Brooker’s merocyanine and the N-methyloxyquinolinium betaine, were investigated with the aid of molecular dynamics simulations. Although the size of the first solvation shell of the phenoxide oxygen of all betaines remains constant in the three protic solvents, it comprises increasingly fewer solvent molecules as the volume of the hydroxylic solvent increases. In DMSO, the donor phenoxide group of the 4-pyridiniophenoxide betaine is loosely solvated, leading to an internal charge-transfer with smaller transition energies than in protic media.     

Preferential Solvation of Ions in Mixed Solvents. 5. The Alkali Metal, Silver, and Thallium(I) Cations in Aqueous Organic Solvents According to the Inverse Kirkwood-Buff Integral (IKBI) Approach

The inverse Kirkwood-Buff integral (IKBI) approach is applied, as far as the relevant data exist in the literature, to the preferential solvation of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Ag⁺, and Tl⁺ in aqueous mixtures of methanol, ethanol, 1,2-ethanediol (EG), acetonitrile, formamide, N,N,-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N,N′,N′,N″,N″-hexamethyl phosphoric triamide (HMPT), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In aqueous EG and formamide the preferential solvation is very small. Water is the preferred solvent in the solvation shells in aqueous methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile (except for Ag⁺ in the latter solvent) but the co-solvent is preferred in aqueous mixtures of DMF, HMPT, and DMSO over most or all of the composition range. For the latter three mixtures the larger donicity of the co-solvents causes their preference, whereas where water is preferred over other protic solvents, it is the small size of the water molecules that appears to be the cause.     

Ultrafast intramolecular charge transfer of formyl perylene observed using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy

The excited-state photophysics of formylperylene (FPe) have been investigated in a series of nonpolar, polar aprotic, and polar protic solvents. A variety of experimental and theoretical methods were employed including femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) spectroscopy with 130 fs temporal resolution. We report that the ultrafast intramolecular charge transfer from the perylene unit to the formyl (CHO) group can be facilitated drastically by hydrogen-bonding interactions between the carbonyl group oxygen of FPe and hydrogen-donating solvents in the electronically excited state. The excited-state absorption of FPe in methanol (MeOH) is close to the reported perylene radical cation produced by bimolecular quenching by an electron acceptor. This is a strong indication for a substantial charge transfer in the S(1) state in protic solvents. The larger increase of the dipole moment change in the protic solvents than that in aprotic ones strongly supports this observation. Relaxation mechanisms including vibrational cooling and solvation coupled to the charge-transfer state are also discussed.