Time‐Resolved Interception of Multiple‐Charge Accumulation in a Sensitizer–Acceptor Dyad

Biomimetic models that contain elements of photosynthesis are fundamental in the development of synthetic systems that can use sunlight to produce fuel. The critical task consists of running several rounds of light‐induced charge separation, which is required to accumulate enough redox equivalents at the catalytic sites for the target chemistry to occur. Long‐lived first charge‐separated state and distinct electronic signatures for the sequential charge accumulated species are essential features to be able to track these events on a spectroscopic ground. Herein, we use a double‐excitation nanosecond pump–pump–probe experiment to interrogate two successive rounds of photo‐induced electron transfer on a molecular dyad containing a naphthalene diimide (NDI) linked to a [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy=bipyridine) chromophore by using a reversible electron donor. We report an unprecedented long‐lived two‐electron charge accumulation (t =200 μs).     

Chromophore Multiplication To Enable Exciton Delocalization and Triplet Diffusion Following Singlet Fission in Tetrameric Pentacene

A tetrameric pentacene, PT , has been used to explore the effects of exciton delocalization on singlet fission (SF). For the first time, triplet decorrelation through intramolecular triplet diffusion was observed following SF. Transient absorption spectroscopy was used to examine different decorrelation mechanisms (triplet diffusion versus structural changes) for PT and its dimeric equivalent PD on the basis of the rate and activation barrier of the decorrelation step. Charge‐separation experiments using tetracyano‐p‐quinodimethane ( TCNQ ) to quench triplet excitons formed through SF demonstrate that enhanced intersystem crossing, that is, spin catalysis, is a widely underestimated obstacle to quantitative harvesting of the SF products. The importance of spatial separation of the decorrelated triplet states is emphasized, and independent proof that the decorrelated triplet pair state consists of two (T₁) states per molecule is provided.     

A Reversible Electron Relay to Exclude Sacrificial Electron Donors in the Photocatalytic Oxygen Atom Transfer Reaction with O2 in Water

Using light energy and O₂ for the direct chemical oxidation of organic substrates is a major challenge. A limitation is the use of sacrificial electron donors to activate O₂ by reductive quenching of the photosensitizer, generating undesirable side products. A reversible electron acceptor, methyl viologen, can act as electron shuttle to oxidatively quench the photosensitizer, [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, generating the highly oxidized chromophore and the powerful reductant methyl‐viologen radical MV^+.. MV^+. can then reduce an iron(III) catalyst to the iron(II) form and concomitantly O₂ to O₂^.? in an aqueous medium to generate an active iron(III)‐(hydro)peroxo species. The oxidized photosensitizer is reset to its ground state by oxidizing an alkene substrate to an alkenyl radical cation. Closing the loop, the reaction of the iron reactive intermediate with the substrate or its radical cation leads to the formation of two oxygenated compounds, the diol and the aldehyde following two different pathways.