Two-dimensionally extended porphyrin tapes: synthesis and shape-dependent two-photon absorption properties

We report the synthesis and characterization of L- and T-shaped porphyrin tapes as extensible structural motifs of two-dimensionally extended porphyrin tapes. The two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-section values (sigma((2))) for L- and T-shaped porphyrin tapes as well as those for linear trimeric and tetrameric porphyrin tapes were measured by an open-aperture Z-scan method at 2300 nm, a wavelength at which the one-photon absorption contribution is either zero or almost negligible. Under these conditions, the sigma((2)) values for the linear porphyrin tape trimer and tetramer were determined to be 18 500 and 41 200 GM, respectively. The sigma((2)) value for the L-shaped trimer was determined to be 8700 GM, which is only half that of the linear trimer, whereas the sigma((2)) value for the T-shaped tetramer was measured to be 35 700 GM. These results clearly indicate the dependence of the TPA cross-section on the molecular shape, which underscores the importance of directionality in the pi-conjugation pathway for the enhancement of TPA cross- section.     

One- and two-photon photochemistry and photophysics of poly(arylenevinylene)s containing a biphenyl moiety.

Photochemical and photophysical properties were investigated for poly(arylenevinylene)s containing a flexible biphenyl "hinge" unit by applying one-photon (OP) and two-photon (TP) excitation to explore excited-state properties. The poly(arylenevinylene)s were poly[(2,5-dihexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(4,4'-dihexyloxy-3,3'-biphenylenevinylene)] (1), poly[(2,5-dihexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(2,2'-dihexyloxy-3,3'-biphenylenevinylene)] (2), and poly[(2,5-dihexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(2,2'-biphenylenevinylene)] (3). Effective emission quantum yields and related photonic properties were evaluated on a realistic per-chromophore basis using effective conjugation lengths based on the Strickler-Berg relationship. Intramolecular photocyclization was deduced to occur in the one case where the biphenyl molecular connectivity permitted the reaction, based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF), heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC)-NMR, and gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) results. The various photoprocesses could be induced by either OP or TP excitation, though the first excited singlet state is the photoactive state. The higher excitation energy of the TP excited state favors indirect population of the S, state by electronic coupling between the TP and OP excited states [lambda(max)TPE (nm): 726; delta (GM): 1=229, 2=215, 3= 109). Photochemical processes occurring from the lowest OP excited state (S1) could therefore also be indirectly induced by TP excitation.     

Novel 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-based red-fluorescent dyes with enhanced two-photon absorption cross-sections

This paper reports the two-photon absorbing and orange-red fluorescence emitting properties of a series of new 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD)-based D-pi-A-pi-D-type and star-burst-type fluorescent dyes. In the D-pi-A-pi-D-type dyes 1-6, a central BTD core was connected with two terminal N,N-disubstituted amino groups via various pi-conjugated spacers. The star-burst-type dyes 8 and 10 have a three-branched structure composed of a central core (benzene core in 8 and triphenylamine core in 10) and three triphenylamine-containing BTD branches. All the BTD-based dyes displayed intense orange-red color fluorescence in a region of 550-689 nm, which was obtained by single-photon excitation with good fluorescent quantum yield up to 0.98 as well as by two-photon excitation. Large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections (110-800 GM) of these BTD dyes were evaluated by open aperture Z-scan technique with a femtosecond Ti/sapphire laser. The TPA cross-sections of D-pi-A-pi-D-type dyes 2-6 with a benzene, thiophene, ethene, ethyne, and styrene moiety, respectively, as an additional pi-conjugated spacer are about 1.5-2.5 times larger than that of 1c with only a benzene spacer. The TPA cross-sections significantly increased in three-branched star-burst-type BTDs 8 (780 GM) with a benzene core and 10 (800 GM) with a triphenylamine core, which are about 3-5 times larger than those of the corresponding one-dimensional sub-units 9 (170 GM) and 11 (230 GM), respectively. The ratios of sigma/e(pi) between three-branched and one-dimensional dyes were 6.5:3.8 (for 8 and 9) and 6.0:4.0 (for 10 and 11), which are larger than those predicted simply on the basis of the chromophore number density (1:1), according to a cooperative enhancement of the two-photon absorbing nature in the three-branched system.     

Two-photon absorption properties of 2,6-bis(styryl)anthracene derivatives: effects of donor-acceptor substituents and the pi center

A series of 2,6- and 2,7-bis(styryl)anthracene derivatives with the donors at the styryl group and acceptors at the 9,10-positions have been synthesized, and their two-photon cross sections (Phidelta(max)) were determined. These compounds exhibit a peak two-photon absorptivity (delta(max)) in the range of 700-2500 GM at 780-1030 nm. Values of lambda(max) and Stokes shifts increase as the acceptor is changed to a stronger one. There is also a parallel increase in lambda(2)max and delta(max) with the same variation of the chromophore structure. Both lambda (2)(max)and Phidelta(max) have been optimized by introducing donor-substituted styryl groups at the 2,6-positions and p-cyanophenyl groups at the 9,10-positions, respectively. The effect of a pi center on the two-photon absorption properties has been assessed by comparing the existing data for a variety of D-pi-D derivatives.     

Synthesis, fluorescence, and two-photon absorption of bidentate phosphane oxide derivatives: complexation with pb(2+) and cd(2+) cations

A series of fluorescent phosphane oxide derivatives based on diphenylphosphanoethane (DPPE) and diphenylphosphanomethane (DPPM) skeletons has been prepared by means of Grignard reactions and Sonogashira cross-couplings. The photophysical properties and the linear and nonlinear spectra of these compounds have been investigated. An edge-to-face conformation resulting in the formation of an excimer was confirmed by fluorescence lifetime measurements of these multichromophoric derivatives. Upon complexation with heavy metal ions such as Pb2+ and Cd2+, a red shift of the one- and two-photon excitation spectra was observed in the absorption and emission spectra. Furthermore, enhancement of the electron-withdrawing character of the phosphane oxide resulted in a significant enhancement of the two-photon absorption cross-section, leading to the first biphotonic Cd2+ sensors combining high affinity for Cd2+, large two-photon absorption cross-sections, and significant enhancement of the two-photon excited fluorescence in the presence of the cation. Such derivatives are highly promising for incorporation into devices for the detection of heavy metal ions in water and effluents.     

Synthesis, fluorescence, and two-photon absorption of a series of elongated rodlike and banana-shaped quadrupolar fluorophores: a comprehensive study of structure-property relationships

An extensive series of push-push and pull-pull derivatives was prepared from the symmetrical functionalization of an ambivalent core with conjugated rods made from arylene-vinylene or arylene-ethynylene building blocks, bearing different acceptor or donor end-groups. Their absorption and photoluminescence, as well as their two-photon-absorption (TPA) properties in the near infrared (NIR) region, were systematically investigated to derive structure-property relationships and to lay the guidelines for both spectral tuning and amplification of molecular TPA in the target region. Whatever the nature of the core or of the connectors, push-push systems were found to be more efficient than pull-pull systems, and planarization of the core (fluorene versus biphenyl) always leads to an increase in the TPA cross sections. In contrast, increasing the conjugation length as well as replacement of a phenylene moiety by a thienylene moiety in the conjugated rods did not necessarily lead to increased TPA responses. The present study also demonstrated that the topology of the conjugated rods can dramatically influence the TPA properties. This is of particular interest in terms of molecular engineering for specific applications, as both TPA properties and photoluminescence characteristics can be considerably affected. Thus, it becomes possible to optimize the transparency/TPA and fluorescence/TPA efficiency trade-offs for optical limiting in the red-NIR region (700-900 nm) and for two-photon-excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy applications, respectively.     

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Doubly β‐to‐β Bridged Cyclic ZnII Porphyrin Arrays

A series of doubly β‐to‐β bridged cyclic Zn^II porphyrin arrays were prepared by a stepwise Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of borylated Zn^II porphyrin with different bridge groups. The coupling of the building block of β,β′‐diboryl Zn^II porphyrin 1 with different bridges provided the doubly β‐to‐β carbazole‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin array 3 , the fluorene‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin array 5 , the fluorenone‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin array 7 , and the three‐carbazole‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin ring 8 . The structural assignment of 3 was confirmed by the X‐ray diffraction analysis, which revealed a highly symmetrical and remarkably bent syn‐form structure. The incorporation of bridge units with different electronic effects results in different photophysical properties of the cyclic Zn^II porphyrin arrays. Comprehensive photophysical studies demonstrate that the electron‐withdrawing bridge fluorenone has the largest electronic interaction with the Zn^II porphyrin unit among the series, thus resulting in the highest two‐photon absorption cross‐section values (σ⁽²⁾) of 6570±60 GM for 7 . The present work provides a new strategy for developing porphyrin‐based optical materials.     

Attachment of different donor groups to a cryptand for modulation of two-photon absorption cross-section

Two-photon absorption (TPA) properties of a laterally nonsymmetric aza cryptand with attached side arms have been investigated. This series of Schiff base derivatives supports the mechanistic approach for enhancing the TPA process, which is usually dictated by molecular geometry, pi-bridging, delocalization length, and corresponding charge-transfer possibilities. The results described here suggest that on increasing the branching units, the TPA cross-section, sigma((2)), can be tuned to a larger value. The TPA activity is "switched on" when a metal atom enters the cavity and serves as a conduit of electronic delocalization. The sigma((2)) value increases as the donor strength increases. The maximum value is obtained on moving from the single-branched system to the nearly threefold symmetry. This serves as a useful synthetic strategy for designing novel octupolar molecules with high sigma((2)) values. Theoretical calculations at the B3LYP functional with the 6-31G* basis set under DFT formalism provide supporting evidence that the communication between the side arms through the metal d orbital and more ordered geometry of chromophores leads to a smaller HOMO-LUMO gap, which has a great influence upon the electronic properties of the molecules.     

Starburst triarylamine donor-acceptor-donor quadrupolar derivatives based on cyano-substituted diphenylaminestyrylbenzene: tunable aggregation-induced emission colors and large two-photon absorption cross sections

In this work, we have developed a new class of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) active compounds, in which three electron‐donating diphenylamine, phenothiazine, or carbazole groups are connected to the 1, 4‐positions of the benzene through bis(α‐cyano‐4‐diphenylaminostyryl) conjugation bridges to form three triarylamine quadrupolar derivatives ( 3 a – c ). Their one‐ and two‐photon absorption properties have been investigated. The two‐photon absorption (2PA) cross sections measured by the open‐aperture Z‐scan technique were determined to be 1016, 1484, and 814 GM for 3 a – c , respectively. From this result, the high 2PA properties of these molecules are attributed to the extended π system and enhanced intramolecular charge transfer from the starburst triarylamine to the cyano group. Moreover, cyano‐substituted diphenylamine styrylbenzene (CNDPASB)‐based compounds are very weakly fluorescent in THF, but their intensities increase by almost 230, 70, and 5 times, respectively, in water/THF (v/v 90 %) mixtures, in which they exhibit strongly enhanced red, orange, and deep yellow fluorescence emissions, respectively. This result indicates that the intramolecular vibration and rotation of these dyes is considerably restricted in nano‐aggregates formed in water, leading to significant increases in fluorescence. It was found that the color tuning of the CNDPASB‐based compounds could be conveniently accomplished by changing the starburst triarylamine donor moiety. Multilayer electroluminescence devices with TPBI (2,2′,2′′‐(benzene‐1,3,5‐triyl)‐tri(1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzimidazole)) electron‐transporting layers have been made, with 3 a and 3 c as a non‐doping red–yellow emitter. The preliminary results for these multilayer devices show a maximum efficiency of 0.25 %, and electroluminescence (EL) wavelengths around 568 nm. The excellent 2PA and AIE properties of these compounds make them potential materials for biophotonic applications.     

Effect of branching on two-photon absorption in triphenylbenzene derivatives.

The photophysical and linear and nonlinear spectral properties of octupolar compounds with a triphenylbenzene core are investigated and compared with properties of corresponding dipolar branches. A correlation is found between the solvatochromic behavior and the two-photon absorption cross section. Moreover, the nature of the core is found to be responsible for the nature of the coupling between branches; in the studied case only (weak) electrostatic interactions are effective, while other cores, like the triphenylamine moiety, are able to promote coherent coupling between the branches, leading to strongly nonadditive properties.     

Diaroyl(methanato)boron difluoride compounds as medium-sensitive two-photon fluorescent probes

This paper evaluates the use of diaroyl(methanato)boron difluoride compounds for designing efficient fluorescent probes through two-photon absorption. Three different pathways allowing for the syntheses of symmetrical and dissymmetrical molecules are reported. The stable diaroyl(methanato)boron difluoride derivatives can be easily obtained in good yields. They exhibit a large one-photon absorption that is easily tuned in the near-UV range. Their strong fluorescence emission covers the whole visible domain. In addition to these attractive linear properties, several diaroyl(methanato)boron difluoride derivatives possess significant cross sections for two-photon absorption. The derived structure-property relationships are promising for designing new generations of molecules relying on the diaroyl(methanato)boron difluoride backbone.     

One-photon photophysics and two-photon absorption of 4-[9,9-di(2-ethylhexyl)-7-diphenylaminofluoren-2-yl]-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine and their platinum chloride complexes

The synthesis, one-photon photophysics and two-photon absorption (2PA) of three dipolar D-π-A 4-[9,9-di(2-ethylhexyl)-7-diphenylaminofluoren-2-yl]-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine and their platinum chloride complexes with different linkers between the donor and acceptor are reported. All ligands exhibit (1)π,π* transition in the UV and (1)π,π*/(1)ICT (intramolecular charge transfer) transition in the visible regions, while the complexes display a lower-energy (1)π,π*/(1)CT (charge transfer) transition in the visible region in addition to the high-energy (1)π,π* transitions. All ligands and the complexes are emissive at room temperature and 77 K, with the emitting excited state assigned as the mixed (1)π,π* and (1)CT states at RT. Transient absorption from the ligands and the complexes were observed. 2PA was investigated for all ligands and complexes. The two-photon absorption cross-sections (σ(2)) of the complexes (600-2000 GM) measured by Z-scan experiment are much larger than those of their corresponding ligands measured by the two-photon induced fluorescence method. The ligand and the complex with the ethynylene linker show much stronger 2PA than those with the vinylene linker.     

A comparison of the fluorescence dynamics of single molecules of a green fluorescent protein: one- versus two-photon excitation.

We report on the dynamics of fluorescence from individual molecules of a mutant of the wild-type green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Aequorea victoria, super folder GFP (SFGFP). SFGFP is a novel and robust variant designed for in vivo high-throughput screening of protein expression levels. It shows increased thermal stability and is able to retain its fluorescence when fused to poorly folding proteins. We use a recently developed single-molecule technique which combines fluorescence-fluctuation spectroscopy and time-correlated single photon counting in order to characterize the photophysical properties of SFGFP under one- (OPE) and two- (TPE) photon excitation conditions. We use Rhodamine 110 as a model chromophore to validate the methodology and to explain the single-molecule results of SFGFP. Under OPE, single SFGFP molecules undergo fluorescence flickering on the time scale of micros and tens of micros due to triplet formation and ground-state protonation-deprotonation, respectively, as demonstrated by excitation intensity- and pH-dependent experiments. OPE single-molecule fluorescence lifetimes indicate heterogeneity in the population of SFGFP, indicating the presence of the deprotonated I and B forms of the SFGFP chromophore. TPE of single SFGFP molecules results in the photoconversion of the chromophore. TPE of single SFGFP molecules show fluorescence flickering on the time scale of micros due to triplet formation. A flicker connected with protonation-deprotonation of the SFGFP chromophore is detected only at low pH. Our results show that SFGFP is a promising fusion reporter for intracellular applications using OPE and TPE microscopy.     

Luminescent Quadrupolar Borazine Oligomers: Synthesis,Photophysics, and Two‐Photon Absorption Properties

A set of monodisperse bent donor–acceptor–donor‐type conjugated borazine oligomers, BnNn+1 (n=1–4), incorporating electron‐rich triarylamine donor and electron‐deficient triarylborane acceptor units has been prepared through an iterative synthetic approach that takes advantage of highly selective silicon–boron and tin–boron exchange reactions. The effect of chain elongation on the electrochemical, one‐ and two‐photon properties and excited‐state photodynamics has been investigated. Strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) from the arylamine donors to boryl‐centered acceptor sites results in emissions with high quantum yields (Φ_fl>0.5) in the range of 400–500 nm. Solvatochromic effects lead to solvent shifts as large as ～70 nm for the shortest member (n=1) and gradually decrease with chain elongation. The oligomers exhibit strong two‐photon absorption (2PA) in the visible spectral region with 2PA cross sections as large as 1410 GM (n=4), and broadband excited‐state absorption (ESA) attributed to long‐lived singlet–singlet and radical cation/anion absorption. The excited‐state dynamics also show sensitivity to the solvent environment. Electrochemical observations and DFT calculations (B3LYP/6‐31G*) reveal spatially separated HOMO and LUMO levels resulting in highly fluorescent oligomers with strong ICT character. The BnNn+1 oligomers have been used to demonstrate the detection of cyanide anions with association constants of log K>7.