Photochemical properties of meso-substituted thiacarbocyanine dyes in solutions and in complexes with DNA

The processes of cis-trans photoisomerization and thermal back isomerization as well as the effect of DNA on the spectral and kinetic characteristics of the triplet state of a number of meso-substituted thiacarbocyanine dyes: 3,3’-diethyl-9-methoxythiacarbocyanine iodide (K1), 3,3’,9-triethylthiacarbocyanine iodide (K2), 3,3’-diethyl-9-methylthiacarbocyanine iodide (K3), and 3,3’-diethyl-9-chlorothiacarbocyanine perchlorate (K4), were studied by the flash photolysis method. Upon flash photoexcitation, the processes of trans-cis and cis-trans photoisomerization were observed for dye K1; the data on the structure of the absorption bands of the photoisomers were obtained. Complexation with DNA leads to an increase in the quantum yield of the triplet state of the dyes, which is explained by growing rigidity of the bound molecules. In the presence of DNA, triplet state deactivation follows the two-exponential law, thus showing that the dyes form complexes of two different types. The processes of quenching of the dye triplet state by oxygen were studied in solutions and in complexes with DNA. The rate constants for oxygen quenching of the triplet state of the dyes in complexes with DNA were found to be much lower than the values expected for the diffusion-controlled reactions (with allowance for the spin statistical factor, $k_{qO_2 } < 1/9k_{dif} $ ), which is explained by the steric factor of the complexation.     

Photochemical investigation of the triplet state of 3,3"-diethylthiacarbocyanine iodide in the presence of DNA

The spectral kinetic parameters of the triplet state of 3,3"-diethylthiacarbocyanine iodide (DTCI) in the presence of DNA were studied by pulse photolysis. The formation of DTCI complexes with DNA increases the quantum yield of the triplet state of the dye. Analysis of the absorption spectra of the ground and triplet states of DTCI at different DNA concentrations in a solution indicates the existence of two types of complexes. Complex formation decreases substantially the quenching rate constant of the triplet state of the dye by dioxygen.     

DNA Effect on Cis–Trans Equilibrium and Fluorescent Properties of 3,3′-Diethyl-9-thiomethylthiacarbocyanine Iodide in Aqueous Solution

The influence of DNA on the cis–trans equilibrium and fluorescent properties of 3,3-diethyl-9-thiomethylthiacarbocyanine iodide (DTTC) in a phosphate buffer (pH 7) was studied by various photochemical techniques. The interaction of dye molecules with DNA leads to the formation of stable noncovalently bonded complexes. Data obtained from DTTC absorption and fluorescence spectra suggest that complexation proceeds primarily through the cis-form of the dye. Complexation with DNA leads to a substantial increase in the quantum yield of the triplet state of DTTC molecules. The rate constant for quenching the dye triplet state by oxygen turned out to be significantly lower than the diffusion-controlled value.     

Specificity of photonics of 3,3′-diethyl-5,5′-dichloro-9-ethylthiacarbocyanine dimers in the presence of cucurbit[7]uril

Molecules of 3,3′-diethyl-5,5′-dichloro-9-ethylthiacarbocyanine form dimers in aqueous solutions, which are capable of fluorescence and intersystem crossing to the triplet state. In the presence of cucurbit[7]uril and alkali metals or ammonium cations, dye dimer complexes are formed, which exhibit phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed (E-type) fluorescence in air-saturated solutions at room temperature. With the use of quantum-chemical calculations, the structure of dimeric dye complexes with cucurbit[7]uril is suggested.     

The Study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis-trans</Emphasis> Equilibrium and Complexation with DNA of <Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-Substituted Carbocyanine Dyes

The effect of DNA was studied on cis-trans equilibrium and spectral and fluorescent properties of a number of meso-substituted carbocyanine dyes: 3,3′-diethyl-9-thiomethylthiacarbocyanine iodide (K1), 3,3′-diethyl-9-methoxythiacarbocyanine iodide (K2), 3,3′-9-triethylthiacarbocyanine iodide (K3), 3,3′-dimethyl-9-ethyloxacarbocyanine iodide (K4), 3,3′-9-triethyl-5,5′-dimethyloxacarbocyanine iodide (K5), and 3,3′,9-triethyl-6,6′-dimethoxyoxacarbocyanine iodide (K6). Equilibrium between the cis and trans isomeric forms was detected for the thiacarbocyanine dyes in a number of organic solvents, with a shift of the equilibrium toward the cis-isomer caused by an increase in the solvent polarity. The oxacarbocyanines are present only in the form of trans-isomers in both polar and nonpolar solvents. Interaction of the dyes with DNA leads to the formation of stable noncovalent complexes. The complexation of the thiacarbocyanine dyes results in a shift of the isomeric equilibrium and occurs predominantly via the cis-form of the dye. The oxacarbocyanine dyes produce complexes with DNA in the initial trans-form.__________Translated from Khimiya Vysokikh Energii, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2005, pp. 280–286.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Pronkin, Tatikolov, Anikovskii, Kuz’min.     

Mechanisms of photoinitiated cleavage of DNA by 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives.

Using water-soluble 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives, the mechanisms of photosensitized DNA damage have been elucidated. Specifically, a comparison of rate constants for the photoinduced relaxation of supercoiled to circular DNA, as a function of dissolved halide, oxygen and naphthalimide concentration, has been carried out. The singlet excited states of the naphthalimide derivatives were quenched by chloride, bromide and iodide. In all cases the quenching products were naphthalimide triplet states, produced by induced intersystem crossing within the collision complex. Similarly, the halides were found to quench the triplet excited state of the 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives by an electron transfer mechanism. Bimolecular rate constants were < 10(5) M-1 s-1 for quenching by bromide and chloride. As expected from thermodynamic considerations quenching by iodide was 6.7 x 10(9) and 8.8 x 10(9) M-1 s-1 for the two 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives employed. At sufficiently high ground-state concentration self-quenching of the naphthalimide triplet excited state also occurs. The photosensitized conversion of supercoiled to circular DNA is fastest when self-quenching reactions are favored. The results suggest that, in the case of 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives, radicals derived from quenching of the triplet state by ground-state chromophores are more effective in cleaving DNA than reactive oxygen species or radicals derived from halogen atoms.     

Study of electronic excitation energy transfer between cyanine dye molecules noncovalently bound to DNA

Electronic excitation energy transfer between molecules of carbocyanine dyes noncovalently bound to DNA was studied. 3,3′,9-Triethyl-5,5′-dimethyloxacarbocyanine iodide and 3,3′-dimethyl-9-ethyloxacarbocyanine iodide were used as energy donors, and 3,3′-diethylthiacarbocyanine iodide served as an acceptor dye. The fluorescence decay kinetics of the donors and its quenching by the acceptor in the presence of DNA were measured. The microphase model was used for interpretation of the experimental data, with allowance for concentrating dye molecules in the vicinity of DNA molecules.     

Spectral and kinetic investigation of interaction of 3,3′-diethyl-9-chlorothiacarbocyanine perchlorate with DNA

Interaction of the meso-substituted carbocyanine dye 3,3′-diethyl-9-chlorothiacarbocyanine (DCTC) perchlorate with DNA in phosphate buffer solutions (pH 7) was studied by spectral and kinetic methods. It was shown that the dye mainly exists in the cis-isomer form in water and aqueous-alcoholic solutions. The interaction with DNA leads to the formation of a trans-DCTC complex, which gradually (over a few tens of minutes) converts into the complex of the dye cis-isomer. It was revealed that the reactant concentration and ionic strength of solution have a considerable effect on the kinetic characteristics of trans-cis-reorganization of DCTC complexes, thus indicating a complex character of the process.     

The excited states interaction of safranine-O with PAMAM and DAB dendrimers in methanol

The quenching of the excited singlet and triplet states of the synthetic dye safranine-O by low generation PAMAM and DAB dendrimers was investigated in methanol. The rate constants for the quenching of the excited singlet state depend on the number of primary amino groups in the dendrimer. The first-order rate constant for the decay of the triplet state presents a downward curvature as a function of the quencher concentration. This behavior was interpreted in terms of the reversible formation of an intermediate complex in the excited state. From a kinetic analysis of the quenching mechanism the equilibrium constant K_exc could be extracted. The values of K_exc may be related to the proton affinity of the quencher. The results were interpreted in terms of a reversible proton transfer quenching. This was further confirmed by the transient absorption spectra obtained by laser flash photolysis. The transient absorption immediately after the triplet state quenching could be assigned to the unprotonated form of the dye. At later times the spectrum matches the semireduced form of the dye. The overall process corresponds to a one-electron reduction of the dye mediated by the deprotonated triplet state.     

Excited state kinetics in crystalline solids: self-quenching in nanocrystals of 4,4'-disubstituted benzophenone triplets occurs by a reductive quenching mechanism

We report an efficient triplet state self-quenching mechanism in crystals of eight benzophenones, which included the parent structure (1), six 4,4'-disubstituted compounds with NH(2) (2), NMe(2) (3), OH (4), OMe (5), COOH (6), and COOMe (7), and benzophenone-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (8). Self-quenching effects were determined by measuring their triplet-triplet lifetimes and spectra using femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption measurements with nanocrystalline suspensions. When possible, triplet lifetimes were confirmed by measuring the phosphorescence lifetimes and with the help of diffusion-limited quenching with iodide ions. We were surprised to discover that the triplet lifetimes of substituted benzophenones in crystals vary over 9 orders of magnitude from ca. 62 ps to 1 ms. In contrast to nanocrystalline suspensions, the lifetimes in solution only vary over 3 orders of magnitude (1-1000 μs). Analysis of the rate constants of quenching show that the more electron-rich benzophenones are the most efficiently deactivated such that there is an excellent correlation, ρ = -2.85, between the triplet quenching rate constants and the Hammet σ(+) values for the 4,4' substituents. Several crystal structures indicate the existence of near-neighbor arrangements that deviate from the proposed ideal for "n-type" quenching, suggesting that charge transfer quenching is mediated by a relatively loose arrangement.     

The specific feature of photochemical processes in molecules of 3,3′-dialkylthiacarbocyanines in binary solvent mixtures

The effect of the composition of the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-toluene mixture on the photochemical processes of 3,3′-diethylthiacarbocyanine (DETCC) iodide and 3,3′-dimethylthiacarbocyanine (DMTCC) chloride was studied. In the mixtures with the DMSO content more than 20 vol %, DETCC iodide and DMTCC chloride molecules are characterized by a high efficiency of both trans → cis photoisomerization and fluorescence, in contrast to intersystem crossing to the triplet state. With decreasing the DMSO content to 3 vol %, the relative quantum yield of DETCC iodide intersystem crossing increases by two orders of magnitude, which is accompanied by a decrease in the lifetime of DETCC iodide triplet molecules from 1.1 × 10^?4 to 2.4 × 10^?7 s and a decrease in the yield of the cis-isomers. To explain the results, the concepts of “external heavy atom (iodide) effect” and hyperfine coupling (HFC mechanism) in radical pairs that could be formed via electron transfer between the iodide and an excited dye molecule were used.     

Study of cis-trans equilibrium of oxacarbocyanine dyes in solution and in a complex with DNA

Cis-trans equilibrium for a number of meso-substituted oxacarbocyanine dyes, 3,3′-diethyloxacarbocyanine iodide (K1), 3,3′-diethyl-9-methyloxacarbocyanine iodide (K2), 3,3′-dimethyl-9-ethyloxacarbocyanine iodide (K3), 3,3′,9-triethyl-6,6′-dimethoxyoxacarbocyanine iodide (K4), and 3,3′,9-triethyl-5,5′-dimethyloxacarbocyanine iodide (K5), has been studied in solutions and in a complex with DNA by spectral and fluorescent methods. A shift of the cis-trans isomer equilibrium toward the formation of the trans-isomer was observed in the presence of DNA, which determined in many respects the spectral effects observed upon the complexation of the oxacarbocyanine dyes. A steep rise of fluorescence (due to binding of the trans-isomer) in a complex with DNA is favorable for using oxacarbocyanine dyes to determine DNA.     

Effect of polyelectrolytes on aggregation of a cyanine dye

The effect of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid) on the molecular state of a cationic cyanine dye (3,3′-diethyl-2,2′-thiacarbocyanine iodide) was studied. Gels based on the above polymers were shown to efficiently absorb an oppositely charged dye. The absorption of dye ions by a gel induced their aggregation. It was shown that, in the acrylic acid-based gels, H-aggregates, dimers, and single ions of the dye coexist. In gels containing methacrylic acid units, dye ions mainly formed H-aggregates. A comparison of aggregation of dye ions in the gels with that in aqueous solutions of corresponding polyelectrolytes was performed. When dye ions were immobilized in a gel network, the proportion of the ions forming the H-aggregates was considerably larger than that in solutions. The effect of the gel network charge density on the aggregation of dye ions was investigated. It was shown that an increase in the fraction of charged units in network chains facilitates aggregation.     

Quenching of triplet states by molecular oxygen and the role of charge-transfer interactions

The rate constants for oxygen quenching in benzene solution of the triplet states of several organic compounds with relatively high triplet energies have been measured in laser photolysis and pulse radiolysis experiments. The previously observed trend for aromatic hydrocarbons where the quenching rate constants decrease from a limiting value of about one ninth of that expected for a diffusion controlled reaction to lower values for triplet states with increasing triplet energy was not observed for the triplet states of certain aromatic ketones and amines. The higher rate constants observed, e.g. oxygen quenching of triplet N-methyl indole has k_Q = 1.4 × 10¹⁰ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1, are interpreted as being due to the presence of low lying triplet charge-transfer states which enhance the efficiency of quenching.     

Electronic excitation energy transfer between molecules of carbocyanine dyes in complexes with DNA

Electronic excitation energy transfer has been carried out between molecules of carbocyanine dyes bound noncovalently to DNA. 3,3′,9-Triethyl-5,5′-dimethyloxacarbocyanine iodide was used as an energy donor and 3,3′-diethylthiacarbocyanine iodide as an acceptor dye. In this process, the band belonging to the donor is observed in the fluorescence excitation spectrum of the acceptor. Donor fluorescence quenching by the acceptor in the presence of DNA was studied. The results of the experiments are discussed in terms of the Dye-DNA stoichiometric complex formation and with respect to concentrating the dyes in the microphase (pseudophase) of the biopolymer.     

THE FLAVIN-SENSITIZED PHOTOOXIDATION OF NUCLEOTIDES—II. THE PARTICIPATION OF THE FLAVIN TRIPLET STATE

Abstract— –A study has been made of the effects of a series of nucleotides upon the electronic excited states of lumiflavin in order to determine the mechanism of their flavin-sensitized oxidation. A hydrogen-abstraction mechanism is ruled out, because if the nucleotide acts as a reducing agent for the excited dye molecules, it should increase the rate of reduction of the dye when the irradiation is carried out in the absence of oxygen. However, each of the nucleotides studied was found to reduce the rate of anaerobic photoreduction. While oxidation by an intermediate species such as the dye 'moloxide' or singlet oxygen is not entirely ruled out, our evidence suggests that the initial reaction is between the nucleotide and the flavin triplet. This results in a loss of the triplet excitation energy and is a very efficient reaction, guanosine monophosphate shewing 36 per cent of the triplet quenching efficiency of potassium iodide. The relative rates of reaction of the nucleotides with the flavin triplet exactly parallels their quantum yields of sensitized photo-oxidation. The formation of ground-state complexes between flavin and nucleotide and the participation of the singlet excited state of the flavin are not considered to be important.     

Influence of quenchers on excited complexes upon triplet-triplet annihilation of tetrapyrrole molecules in liquid solutions

The influence of triplet quenchers on the kinetics of triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) for chlorophylla and tetraphenylporphine was investigated. It was found that the rate constants for the quenching of triplet states by TTA increase with increasing the quencher concentration [Q]. The greatest values for the triplet deactivation parameter are proportional to [Q]. Experimental results are consistent with the rationalization of the triplet annihilation through the formation of complexes from the triplet molecules. The linear dependence of the degradation rate constant of the triplet-triplet complexes to the ground-state molecules on [Q]² suggests that two quencher molecules are necessary for the quenching of one complex molecule. This means that two locally excited triplet states exist in the complex. It is likely the spin correlation time of the triplet states is longer than the lifetime of the complexes.     

MECHANISMS OF QUENCHING OF THE FLUORESCENCE OF A BENZO[a]PYRENE TETRAOL METABOLITE MODEL COMPOUND BY 2'-DEOXYNUCLEOSIDES

Abstract— The hydrophobic interactions of bulky polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with nucleic acid bases and the formation of noncovalent complexes with DNA are important in the expressions of the mutagenic and carcinogenic potentials of this class of compounds. The fluorescence of the polycyclic aromatic residues can be employed as a probe of these interactions. In this work, the interactions of the (+)-trans stereoisomer of the tetraol 7,8,9,10-tetrahydroxytetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPT), a hydrolysis product of a highly mutagenic and carcinogenic diol epoxide derivative of benzo[a]pyrene, were studied with 2′-deoxynucleosides in aqueous solution by fluorescence and UV spectroscopic techniques. Ground-state complexes between BPT and the purine derivatives 2′-deoxyguanosine (dG), 2′-deoxyadenosine (dA), and 2′-deoxyinosine (dI) are formed with association constants in the range of ～40–130 M^?1 Complex formation with the pyrimidine derivatives 2′-deoxythymidine (dT), 2′-deoxycytidine (dC), and 2′-deoxyuridine (dU) is significantly weaker. Whereas dG is a strong quencher of the fluorescence of BPT by both static and dynamic mechanisms (dynamic quenching rate constant k_dyn= [2.5 ± 0.41 × 10⁹M¹ s ¹, which is close to the estimated diffusion-controlled value of ～ 5 × 10⁹M^{? 1} s^?1), both dA and dI are weak quenchers and form fluorescenceemitting complexes with BPT. The pyrimidine derivatives dC, dU, and dT are efficient dynamic fluorescence quenchers (K_dyn～ [1.5–3.0] × 10⁹M^?1 s^?1), with a small static quenching component due to complex formation evident only in the case of dT. None of the four nucleosidcs dG, dA, dC and dT are dynamic quenchers of BPT in the triplet excited state; the observed lower yields of triplets are attributed to the quenching of single excited states of BPT by 2′-deoxynucleosides without passing through the triplet manifold of BPT. Possible fluorescence quenching mechanisms involving photoinduced electron transfer are discussed. The strong quenching of the fluorescence of BPT by dG, dC and dT accounts for the low fluorescence yields of BPT-native DNA and of pyrene-DNA complexes.     

Triplet states of 3,3′-alkylsubstituted thiacarbocyanine dimers and dimeric complexes with cucurbit[8]uril in water

Alkylsubstituted thiacarbocyanines (3,3′-diethylthiacarbocyanine, D1, and 3,3′-disulfopropylthiacarbocyanine, D2), existing in water as monomers and dimers, manifest the ability to transition to the triplet state. The spectrum of triplet-triplet (T–T) absorption of the D2 dimers is shifted in the range higher than 590 nm by 20 nm to the red in comparison with the T–T spectrum of monomers. The D1 dimers in the presence of cucurbit[8]uril form a dimeric complex with two bands in the differential absorption spectrum. The band at 550 nm belongs to the triplet-triplet absorption of the dimeric complexes, and the band in the range of 620–700 nm is the result of charge transfer in the triplet state. The rate constants of deactivation for these triplet states coincide.     

pH DEPENDENCE OF SINGLET OXYGEN PRODUCTION IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING THIAZINE DYES AS PHOTOSENSITIZERS

Abstract— The production of singlet oxygen by thiazine dye photosensitization, as measured by the rate of photooxidation of tryptophan, was found to be very sensitive to changes of pH in the range 5–9. For methylene blue in aerated solutions, the production of ¹O₂* is approximately five times more efficient in basic than in acidic medium. This was shown to be related to the p K 's of the triplet dyes, by evaluating the yields of ¹O₂* from the lifetimes and the quenching rate constants for the two ionic species of sensitizer triplets measured by laser flash photolysis. Changes in the quenching rate constants of the thiazine triplet states can be correlated with the triplet energies.