Triplet excited state characters and photosensitization mechanisms of alpha-terthienyl: a theoretical study

The triplet excited (T(1)) state characters of alpha-terthienyl (alpha-T) have been investigated using density functional theory calculations, based on which, its photosensitization mechanisms were explored. Primarily, the direct oxidation to the DNA bases by the T(1) state alpha-T through the electron transfer is not thermodynamically feasible. Secondly, 1O2 can be photogenerated both in benzene and water through the direct energy transfer from the T(1) state alpha-T to 3O2, while O2(.-) can only be formed in water through the electron transfer from the T(1) state alpha-T or alpha-T(-) to 3O2.     

Formation of a hybrid compound composed of a saddle-distorted Tin(IV)-porphyrin and a Keggin-type heteropolyoxometalate to undergo intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer

Nonplanar Sn(IV)-porphyrin complexes, [Sn(TMPP(Ph)(8))-Cl(2)] (1) and [Sn(TMPP(Ph)(8))(OMe)(2)] (2) (TMPP(Ph)(8): 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaphenylporphyrinato), were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods together with X-ray crystallography. Variable-temperature (1)H NMR study revealed that the coordination of the methoxo ligand of 2 is weak enough in solution to enhance the axial ligand exchange with a Keggin-type phosphotungstate (α-[PW(12)O(40)](3-)) due to the steric stress between the axial methoxo ligand and the peripheral phenyl groups of the porphyrin ligand. The formation of a novel 1:1 donor-acceptor complex, [Sn(TMPP(Ph)(8))(OMe)(α-[PW(12)O(40)])](2-) (4) was confirmed by (1)H NMR and UV-vis spectral titrations, and also by MALDI-TOF-MS measurements. Electrochemical measurements for the donor-acceptor complex in PhCN revealed that the Sn(IV)-TMPP(Ph)(8) moiety acts as an electron donor and the α-[PW(12)O(40)](3-) moiety acts as an electron acceptor and that the energy level of the electron-transfer (ET) state of the 1:1 complex (1.17 eV) is lower than that of the triplet excited states of the SnTMPP(Ph)(8) complex (1.31 eV). Femtosecond and nanosecond laser flash photolysis measurements indicate that intersystem crossing from the singlet excited sate to the triplet excited state occurs followed by intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer from the triplet excited state of the Sn(IV)-TMPP(Ph)(8) moiety to the α-[PW(12)O(40)](3-) moiety in the 1:1 complex in benzonitrile.     

Aqueous coordination chemistry and photochemistry of uranyl(VI) oxalate revisited: a density functional theory study

Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we revisited a classical problem of uranyl(VI) oxalate photochemical decomposition. Photoreactivities of uranyl(VI) oxalate complexes are found to correlate largely with ligand-structural arrangements. Importantly, the intramolecular photochemical reaction is inhibited when oxalate is bound to uranium exclusively in chelate binding mode. Previously proposed mechanisms involving a UO(2)(C(2)O(4))(2)(2-) (1:2) complex as the main photoreactive species are thus unlikely to apply, because the two oxalic acids are bound to uranium in a chelating binding mode. Our DFT results suggest that the relevant photoreactive species are UO(2)(C(2)O(4))(3)(4-) (1:3) and (UO(2))(2)(C(2)O(4))(5)(6-) (2:5) complexes binding uranium in an unidentate fashion. These species go through decarboxylation upon excitation to the triplet state, which ensues the release of CO(2) and reduction of U(vi) to U(v). The calculations also suggest an alternative intermolecular pathway at low pH via an electron transfer between the excited state *UO(2)(2+) and hydrogen oxalate (HC(2)O(4)(-)) which eventually leads to the production of CO and OH(-) with no net reduction of U(VI). The calculated results are consistent with previous experimental findings that CO is only detected at low pH while U(IV) is detected only at high pH.     

Highly Luminescent and Thermally Stable Lanthanide Coordination Polymers Designed from 4-(Dipyridin-2-yl)aminobenzoate: Efficient Energy Transfer from Tb(3+) to Eu(3+) in a Mixed Lanthanide Coordination Compound

Herein, a new aromatic carboxylate ligand, namely, 4-(dipyridin-2-yl)aminobenzoic acid (HL), has been designed and employed for the construction of a series of lanthanide complexes (Eu(3+) = 1, Tb(3+) = 2, and Gd(3+) = 3). Complexes of 1 and 2 were structurally authenticated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and were found to exist as infinite 1D coordination polymers with the general formulas {[Eu(L)(3)(H(2)O)(2)]}(n) (1) and {[Tb(L)(3)(H(2)O)].(H(2)O)}(n) (2). Both compounds crystallize in monoclinic space group C2/c. The photophysical properties demonstrated that the developed 4-(dipyridin-2-yl)aminobenzoate ligand is well suited for the sensitization of Tb(3+) emission (Φ(overall) = 64%) thanks to the favorable position of the triplet state ((3)ππ*) of the ligand [the energy difference between the triplet state of the ligand and the excited state of Tb(3+) (ΔE) = (3)ππ* - (5)D(4) = 3197 cm(-1)], as investigated in the Gd(3+) complex. On the other hand, the corresponding Eu(3+) complex shows weak luminescence efficiency (Φ(overall) = 7%) due to poor matching of the triplet state of the ligand with that of the emissive excited states of the metal ion (ΔE = (3)ππ* - (5)D(0) = 6447 cm(-1)). Furthermore, in the present work, a mixed lanthanide system featuring Eu(3+) and Tb(3+) ions with the general formula {[Eu(0.5)Tb(0.5)(L)(3)(H(2)O)(2)]}(n) (4) was also synthesized, and the luminescent properties were evaluated and compared with those of the analogous single-lanthanide-ion systems (1 and 2). The lifetime measurements for 4 strongly support the premise that efficient energy transfer occurs between Tb(3+) and Eu(3+) in a mixed lanthanide system (η = 86%).     

Oxidation of 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate photoinduced by pterin: type I versus type II mechanism

UV-A radiation (320-400 nm) induces damage to the DNA molecule and its components through different photosensitized reactions. Among these processes, photosensitized oxidations may occur through electron transfer or hydrogen abstraction (type I) and/or the production of singlet molecular oxygen ((1)O2) (type II). Pterins, heterocyclic compounds widespread in biological systems, participate in relevant biological processes and are able to act as photosensitizers. We have investigated the photosensitized oxidation of 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate (dGMP) by pterin (PT) in aqueous solution under UV-A irrradiation. Kinetic analysis was employed to evaluate the participation of both types of mechanism under different pH conditions. The rate constant of (1)O2 total quenching (k(t)) by dGMP was determined by steady-state analysis of the (1)O2 NIR luminescence, whereas the rate constant of the chemical reaction between (1)O2 and dGMP (k(r)) was evaluated from kinetic analysis of concentration profiles obtained by HPLC. The results show that the oxidation of dGMP photosensitized by PT occurs through two competing mechanisms that contribute in different proportions depending on the pH. The dominant mechanism in alkaline media involves the reaction of dGMP with (1)O2 produced by energy transfer from the PT triplet state to molecular oxygen (type II). In contrast, under acidic pH conditions, where PT and the guanine moiety of dGMP are not ionized, the main pathway for dGMP oxidation involves an initial electron transfer between dGMP and the PT triplet state (type I mechanism). The biological implications of the results obtained are also discussed.     

Synthesis, characterizations and luminescent properties of three novel aryl amide type ligands and their lanthanide complexes

Three new aryl amide type ligands, N-(phenyl)-2-(quinolin-8-yloxy)acetamide (L(1)), N-(benzyl)-2-(quinolin-8-yloxy)acetamide (L(2)) and N-(naphthalene-1-yl)-2-(quinolin-8-yloxy)acetamide (L(3)) were synthesized. With these ligands, three series of lanthanide(III) complexes were prepared: [Ln(L(1))(2)(NO(3))(2)]NO(3), [Ln(L(2))(2)(NO(3))(2)(H(2)O)(2)]NO(3).H(2)O and [Ln(L(3))(2)(NO(3))(2)(H(2)O)(2)]NO(3).H(2)O (Ln=La, Sm, Eu, Gd). The complexes were characterized by the elemental analyses, molar conductivity, (1)H NMR spectra, IR spectra and TG-DTA. The fluorescence properties of complexes in the solid state and the triplet state energies of the ligands were studied in detail, respectively. It was found that the Eu(III) complexes have bright red fluorescence in solid state. The energies of excited triplet state for the three ligands are 20325 cm(-1) (L(3)), 21053 cm(-1) (L(2)) and 22831 cm(-1) (L(1)), respectively. All the three ligands sensitize Eu(III) strongly and the order of the emission intensity for the Eu(III) complexes with the three ligands is L(3)>L(2)>L(1). It can be explained by the relative energy gap between the lowest triplet energy level of the ligand (T) and (5)D(1) of Eu(III). This means that the triplet energy level of the ligand is the chief factor, which dominates Eu(III) complexes luminescence.     

Dissociative electron capture of halocarbon caused by the internal electron transfer from water trimer anion

Dissociative electron capture dynamics of halocarbon absorbed on water cluster anion, caused by internal electron transfer from the water trimer anion to the halocarbon, have been investigated by means of the direct density functional theory (DFT)-molecular dynamics (MD) method. The CF(2)Cl(2) molecule and a water trimer anion e(-)(H(2)O)(3) were used as a halocarbon and a trapped electron, respectively. First, the structure of trapped electron state, expressed by e(-)(H(2)O)(3)-CF(2)Cl(2), was fully optimized. The excess electron was trapped by a dipole moment of water trimer. Next, initial geometries were randomly generated around the equilibrium point of the trapped electron state, and then trajectories were run. The direct DFT-MD calculations showed that the spin density distribution of excess electron is gradually changed from the water cluster (trapped electron state) to CF(2)Cl(2) as a function of time. Immediately, the Cl(-) ion was dissociated from CF(2)Cl(2)(-) adsorbed on the water cluster. The reaction was schematically expressed by e(-)(H(2)O)(3)-CF(2)Cl(2)-->[(H(2)O)(3)-->-CF(2)CL(2)](-) --> (H(2O)(3) + CF(2)CL + CI(-) (I) where [(H(2)O)(3)-CF(2)Cl(2)](-) indicates a transient intermediate state in which the excess electron is widely distributed on both the water cluster and CF(2)Cl(2). The mechanism of the electron capture of halocarbon from the trapped electron in water ice was discussed on the basis of the theoretical results. Also, the dynamics feature was compared with those of the direct electron capture reactions of CF(2)Cl(2) and CF(2)Cl(2)-(H(2)O)(3), i.e. e(-) + CF(2)Cl(2), and e(-) + CF(2)Cl(2)-(H(2)O)(3), investigated in our previous paper [Tachikawa and Abe, J. Chem. Phys., 2007, 126, 194310].     

The effect of solvent polarity on the balance between charge transfer and non-charge transfer pathways in the sensitization of singlet oxygen by pipi triplet states

A large set of literature kinetic data on triplet (T(1)) sensitization of singlet oxygen by two series of biphenyl and naphthalene sensitizers in solvents of strongly different polarity has been analyzed. The rate constants and the efficiencies of singlet oxygen formation are quantitatively reproduced by a model that assumes the competition of a non-charge transfer (nCT) and a CT deactivation channel. nCT deactivation occurs from a fully established spin-statistical equilibrium of (1)(T(1)(3)Sigma) and (3)(T(1)(3)Sigma) encounter complexes by internal conversion (IC) to lower excited complexes that dissociate to yield O(2)((1)Sigma(g)(+)), O(2)((1)Delta(g)), and O(2)((3)Sigma(g)(-)). IC of (1,3)(T(1)(3)Sigma) encounter complexes is controlled by an energy gap law that is generally valid for the transfer of electronic energy to and from O(2). (1,3)(T(1)(3)Sigma) nCT complexes form in competition to IC (1)(T(1)(3)Sigma) and (3)(T(1)(3)Sigma) exciplexes if CT interactions between T(1) and O(2) are important. The rate constants of exciplex formation depend via a Marcus type parabolic model on the corresponding free energy change DeltaG(CT), which varies with sensitizer triplet energy, oxidation potential, and solvent polarity. O(2)((1)Sigma(g)(+)), O(2)((1)Delta(g)), and O(2)((3)Sigma(g)(-)) are formed in the product ratio (1/6):(1/12):(3/4) in the CT deactivation channel. The balance between nCT and CT deactivation is described by the relative contribution p(CT) of CT induced deactivation calculated for a sensitizer of known triplet energy from its quenching rate constant. It is shown how the change of p(CT) influences the quenching rate constant and the efficiency of singlet oxygen formation in both series of sensitizers. p(CT) is sensitive to differences of solvent polarity and varies for the biphenyls and the naphthalenes as sigmoidal with DeltaG(CT). This quantitative model represents a realistic and general mechanism for the quenching of pipi triplet states by O(2), surpassing previous advanced models.     

Triplet electronic states in d(2) and d(8) complexes probed by absorption spectroscopy: a CASSCF/CASPT2 analysis of [V(H2O)6]3+ and [Ni(H2O)6]2+

Octahedral complexes of transition metal ions with d(2) and d(8) electron configurations have triplet electronic states with identical T(2g), A(2g), T(1g)((3)F), and T(1g)((3)P) symmetry labels. CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations indicate the predominant electronic configurations for each triplet state. The two (3)T(1g) states show strong configuration mixing in the d(8) complex [Ni(H(2)O)(6)](2+), but much weaker mixing occurs between these states in the d(2) compound [V(H(2)O)(6)](3+). Calculated vibrational frequencies and equilibrium geometries for the triplet states are used to obtain theoretical absorption spectra that are in agreement with the experimental data.     

Non-localized ligand-to-metal charge transfer excited states in (Cp)2Ti(IV)(NCS)2

The bent d(0) titanium metallocene (Cp)(2)Ti(NCS)(2) exhibits an intense phosphorescence from a ligand-to-metal charge transfer triplet excited state at 77 K in an organic glass substrate and a poly(methyl methacrylate) plastic substrate. Quantum chemical calculations and spectroscopic studies show that the orbital parentage of this triplet state arises from the promotion of an electron from an essentially nonbonding symmetry adapted pi molecular orbital located on the NCS(-) ligands to a d(z)2-(y)2 orbital located on the Ti metal. Standard infrared spectroscopy of (Cp)(2)Ti(NCS)(2) in its ground electronic state at 77 K reveals a pair of closely spaced absorptions at (2072 cm(-1), 2038 cm(-1))(glass) and (2055 cm(-1), 2015 cm(-1))(plastic) that are assigned, respectively, to the symmetric and antisymmetric CN stretching modes of the two coordinated NCS(-) ligands. Low-temperature (77 K) time-resolved infrared spectroscopy that accesses the phosphorescing triplet excited state on the ns time scale shows an IR bleach that is coincident with the two ground state CN stretching bands and an associated grow-in of a pair of new IR bands at slightly lower energies (2059 cm(-1), 2013 cm(-1))(glass) and (2049 cm(-1), 1996 cm(-1))(plastic) that are assigned, respectively, to the symmetric and antisymmetric CN stretches in the emitting triplet state. These transient IR bands decay with virtually identical lifetimes to those observed for the phosphorescence decays when measured under identical experimental conditions. Singular value decomposition analysis of the time-resolved infrared data shows that the observed transient IR features arise from the same electronic manifold as measured through luminescence studies. The close similarity between the ground state and excited-state CN stretching bands in (Cp)(2)Ti(NCS)(2) indicates that symmetry breaking does not occur in forming the charge-transfer triplet excited-state manifold; i.e., electron density is withdrawn from a delocalized pi MO spread across both NCS(-) ligands. Calculations at several levels of theory reveal a delocalized ligand-to-metal charge transfer excited triplet manifold. These calculations closely reproduce the relative intensity ratios and frequencies of the symmetric and antisymmetric transient infrared vibrations in the CN region. This study is the first time-resolved infrared investigation of a ligand-to-metal charge-transfer excited state and the first to be performed at cryogenic temperatures in thin-film organic glass and plastic substrates.     

Photonucleophilic aromatic substitution of 6-fluoroquinolones in basic media: triplet quenching by hydroxide anion

Photoreaction of 1-ethyl-6-fluoro-7-(1-piperazinyl)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (norfloxacin, NFX) and other 6-fluoroquinolones in aqueous solution gives rise to the corresponding 6-hydroxy derivatives. Although two mechanisms have been proposed for this photonucleophilic aromatic substitution, direct evidence for any of them is still missing. Obtaining such evidence requires work in basic media, where intramolecular electron transfer from the piperazine ring to the quinolone system is the almost exclusive singlet deactivation pathway. To overcome this problem, the 4'-N-acetyl derivative of norfloxacin (ANFX) has been employed in the present paper due to the lower availability of the N lone pair. The photochemical and photophysical properties of ANFX have been studied in aqueous solutions at pH between 7.4 and 13. As expected, fluorescence of ANFX is not significantly quenched in basic media. Furthermore, the excited triplet state (lambda(max) = 620 nm) reacts with hydroxide anions with a rate constant of (0.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). This supports a direct attack by hydroxide anions to the excited triplet state with subsequent release of fluoride as the operating mechanism. The fact that the reaction is inhibited by the presence of naproxen (a water-soluble naphthalene derivative) as triplet quencher clearly confirms the mechanistic assignment.     

Intramolecular energy transfer involving heisenberg spin-coupled dinuclear iron-oxo complexes

The synthesis, structure, and physical properties of a series of oxo-bridged dinuclear Fe(III) complexes containing pendant naphthalene groups are described. The compounds [Fe(2)O(O(2)CCH(2)-C(10)H(7))(tren)(2)](BPh(4))(NO(3))(2) (8), [Fe(2)O(O(2)CCH(2)-C(10)H(7))(TPA)(2)](ClO(4))(3) (9), Fe(2)O(O(2)CCH(2)-C(10)H(7))(2)(Tp)(2) (10), and Fe(2)O((O(2)CCH(2)CH(2))(2)-C(10)H(6))(Tp)(2) (11) (where tren is tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, TPA is tris(2-pyridyl)amine, and Tp is hydrotrispyrazolylborate) have been characterized in terms of their structural, spectroscopic, magnetic, and photophysical properties. All four complexes exhibit moderately strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange between the high-spin ferric ions (ca. -130 cm(-)(1) for H = -2JS(1).S(2)). Room-temperature steady-state emission spectra for compounds 8-11 in deoxygenated CH(3)CN solution reveal spectral profiles similar to methyl-2-naphthyl acetate and [Zn(2)(OH)(O(2)CCH(2)-C(10)H(7))(2)(TACN-Me(3))(2)](ClO(4)) (13, where TACN-Me(3) is N,N,N-1,4,7-trimethyltriazacyclononane) but are significantly weaker in intensity relative to these latter two compounds. Time-resolved emission data for the iron complexes following excitation at 280 nm can be fit to simple exponential decay models with tau(obs)(S)()1 = 36 +/- 2, 32 +/- 4, 30 +/- 5, and 39 +/- 3 ns for compounds 8-11, respectively. The decays are assigned to the S(1) --> S(0) fluorescence of naphthalene; all of the lifetimes are less than that of the zinc model complex (tau(obs)(S)()1 = 45 +/- 2 ns), indicating quenching of the S(1) state by the iron-oxo core. Nanosecond time-resolved absorption data on [Zn(2)(OH)(O(2)CCH(2)-C(10)H(7))(2)(TACN-Me(3))(2)](ClO(4)) reveal a feature at lambda(max) = 420 nm that can be assigned as the T(1) --> T(n) absorption of the naphthalene triplet; the rise time of 50 +/- 10 ns corresponds to an intersystem crossing rate of 2 x 10(7) s(-1). A similar feature (though much weaker in intensity) is also observed for compound 8. The order-of-magnitude reduction in the T(1) lifetime of the pendant naphthalene for all of the iron-oxo complexes (tau(obs)(T)1 = 5 +/- 2 micros vs 90 +/- 10 micros for [Zn(2)(OH)(O(2)CCH(2)-C(10)H(7))(2)(TACN-Me(3))(2)](ClO(4))) indicates quenching of the naphthalene triplet with an efficiency of >90%. Neither the naphthalene radical cation nor the reduced Fe(II)Fe(III) species were observed by transient absorption spectroscopy, implying that energy transfer is the most likely origin for the quenching of both the S(1) and T(1) states. Spectral overlap considerations strongly support a F?rster (i.e., dipolar) mechanism for energy transfer from the S(1) state, whereas the lack of phosphorescence from either the free naphthyl ester or the Zn model complex suggests Dexter transfer to the diiron(III) core as the principal mechanism of triplet quenching. The notion of whether spin exchange within the diiron(III) core is in part responsible for the unusual ability of the iron-oxo core to engage in energy transfer from both the singlet and triplet manifolds of naphthalene is discussed.     

Ultrafast fluorescence detection in tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex in solution: relaxation dynamics involving higher excited states

The excited-state dynamics of a transition metal complex, tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II), [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+), has been investigated using femtosecond fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy. The relaxation dynamics in these molecules is of great importance in understanding the various ultrafast processes related to interfacial electron transfer, especially in semiconductor nanoparticles. Despite several experimental and theoretical efforts, direct observation of a Franck-Condon singlet excited state in this molecule was missing. In this study, emission from the Franck-Condon excited singlet state of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) has been observed for the first time, and its lifetime has been estimated to be 40 +/- 15 fs. Biexponential decays with a fast rise component observed at longer wavelengths indicated the existence of more than one emitting state in the system. From a detailed data analysis, it has been proposed that, on excitation at 410 nm, crossover from higher excited (1)(MLCT) states to the vibrationally hot triplet manifold occurs with an intersystem crossing time constant of 40 +/- 15 fs. Mixing of the higher levels in the triplet state with the singlet state due to strong spin-orbit coupling is proposed. This enhances the radiative rate constant, k(r), of the vibrationally hot states within the triplet manifold, facilitating the upconversion of the emitted photons. The vibrationally excited triplet, which is emissive, undergoes vibrational cooling with a decay time in the range of 0.56-1.3 ps and relaxes to the long-lived triplet state. The results on the relaxation dynamics of the higher excited states in [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) are valuable in explaining the role of nonequilibrated higher excited sensitizer states of transition metal complexes in the electron injection and other ultrafast processes.     

Dioxygen binding to deoxyhemocyanin: electronic structure and mechanism of the spin-forbidden two-electron reduction of o(2).

Spectroscopically calibrated DFT is used to investigate the reaction coordinate of O(2) binding to Hemocyanin (Hc). A reaction path is calculated in which O(2) approaches the binuclear copper site with increasing metal-ligand overlap, which switches the coordination mode from end-on eta(1)-eta(1), to mu-eta(1):eta(2), then to butterfly, and finally to the planar [Cu(2)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)O(2))] structure. Analysis of the electronic structures during O(2) binding reveals that simultaneous two-electron transfer (ET) takes place. At early stages of O(2) binding the energy difference between the triplet and the singlet state is reduced by charge transfer (CT), which delocalizes the unpaired electrons and thus lowers the exchange stabilization onto the separated copper centers. The electron spins on the copper(II) ions are initially ferromagnetically coupled due to close to orthogonal magnetic orbital pathways through the dioxygen bridging ligand, and a change in the structure of the Cu(2)O(2) core turns on the superexchange coupling between the coppers. This favors the singlet state over the triplet state enabling intersystem crossing. Comparison with mononuclear model complexes indicates that the protein matrix holds the two copper(I) centers in close proximity, which enthalpically and entropically favors O(2) binding due to destabilization of the reduced binuclear site. This also allows regulation of the enthalpy by the change of the Cu--Cu distance in deoxyHc, which provides an explanation for the O(2) binding cooperativity in Hc. These results are compared to our earlier studies of Hemerythrin (Hr) and a common theme emerges where the spin forbiddeness of O(2) binding is overcome through delocalization of unpaired electrons onto the metal centers and the superexchange coupling of the metal centers via a ligand bridge.     

Phosphorescent resonant energy transfer between iridium complexes

The mechanism for triplet energy transfer from the green-emitting fac-tris[2-(4'-tert-butylphenyl)pyridinato]iridium (Ir(tBu-ppy)3) complex to the red-emitting bis[2-(2'-benzothienyl)pyridinato-N,C3')(acetylacetonato)iridium (Ir(btp)2(acac)) phosphor has been investigated using steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. [2,2';5,'2' ']Terthiophene (3T) was also used as triplet energy acceptor to differentiate between the two common mechanisms for energy transfer, i.e., the direct exchange of electrons (Dexter transfer) or the coupling of transition dipoles (F?rster transfer). Unlike Ir(btp)2(acac), 3T can only be active in Dexter energy transfer because it has a negligible ground state absorption to the 3(pi-pi*) state. The experiments demonstrate that in semidilute solution, the 3MLCT state of Ir(tBu-ppy)3 can transfer its triplet energy to the lower-lying 3(pi-pi*) states of both Ir(btp)2(acac) and 3T. For both acceptors, this transfer occurs via a diffusion-controlled reaction with a common rate constant (ken = 3.8 x 10(9) L mol-1 s-1). In a solid-state polymer matrix, the two acceptors, however, show entirely different behavior. The 3MLCT phosphorescence of Ir(tBu-ppy)3 is strongly quenched by Ir(btp)2(acac) but not by 3T. This reveals that under conditions where molecular diffusion is inhibited, triplet energy transfer only occurs via the F?rster mechanism, provided that the transition dipole moments involved on energy donor and acceptor are not negligible. With the use of the F?rster radius for triplet energy transfer from Ir(tBu-ppy)3 to Ir(btp)2(acac) of R0 = 3.02 nm, the experimentally observed quenching is found to agree quantitatively with a model for F?rster energy transfer that assumes a random distribution of acceptors in a rigid matrix.     

The remarkable reactivity of high oxidation state ruthenium and osmium polypyridyl complexes

There is a remarkable redox chemistry of higher oxidation state M(IV)-M(VI) polypyridyl complexes of Ru and Os. They are accessible by proton loss and formation of oxo or nitrido ligands, examples being cis-[RuIV(bpy)2(py)(O)]2+ (RuIV=O2+, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, and py=pyridine) and trans-[OsVI(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ (tpy=2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine). Metal-oxo or metal-nitrido multiple bonding stabilizes the higher oxidation states and greatly influences reactivity. O-atom transfer, hydride transfer, epoxidation, C-H insertion, and proton-coupled electron-transfer mechanisms have been identified in the oxidation of organics by RuIV=O2+. The Ru-O multiple bond inhibits electron transfer and promotes complex mechanisms. Both O atoms can be used for O-atom transfer by trans-[RuVI(tpy)(O)2(S)]2+ (S=CH3CN or H2O). Four-electron, four-proton oxidation of cis,cis-[(bpy)2(H2O)RuIII-O-RuIII(H2O)(bpy)2]4+ occurs to give cis,cis-[(bpy)2(O)RuV-O-RuV(O)(bpy)2]4+ which rapidly evolves O2. Oxidation of NH3 in trans-[OsII(tpy)(Cl)2(NH3)] gives trans-[OsVI(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ through a series of one-electron intermediates. It and related nitrido complexes undergo formal N- transfer analogous to O-atom transfer by RuIV=O2+. With secondary amines, the products are the hydrazido complexes, cis- and trans-[OsV(L3)(Cl)2(NNR2)]+ (L3=tpy or tpm and NR2-=morpholide, piperidide, or diethylamide). Reactions with aryl thiols and secondary phosphines give the analogous adducts cis- and trans-[OsIV(tpy)(Cl)2(NS(H)(C6H4Me))]+ and fac-[OsIV(Tp)(Cl)2(NP(H)(Et2))]. In dry CH3CN, all have an extensive multiple oxidation state chemistry based on couples from Os(VI/V) to Os(III/II). In acidic solution, the OsIV adducts are protonated, e.g., trans-[OsIV(tpy)(Cl)2(N(H)N(CH2)4O)]+, and undergo proton-coupled electron transfer to quinone to give OsV, e.g., trans-[OsV(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)]+ and hydroquinone. These reactions occur with giant H/D kinetic isotope effects of up to 421 based on O-H, N-H, S-H, or P-H bonds. Reaction with azide ion has provided the first example of the terminal N4(2-) ligand in mer-[OsIV(bpy)(Cl)3(NalphaNbetaNgammaNdelta)]-. With CN-, the adduct mer-[OsIV(bpy)(Cl)3(NCN)]- has an extensive, reversible redox chemistry and undergoes NCN(2-) transfer to PPh3 and olefins. Coordination to Os also promotes ligand-based reactivity. The sulfoximido complex trans-[OsIV(tpy)(Cl)2(NS(O)-p-C6H4Me)] undergoes loss of O2 with added acid and O-atom transfer to trans-stilbene and PPh3. There is a reversible two-electron/two-proton, ligand-based acetonitrilo/imino couple in cis-[OsIV(tpy)(NCCH3)(Cl)(p-NSC6H4Me)]+. It undergoes reversible reactions with aldehydes and ketones to give the corresponding alcohols.     

Detection of the singlet and triplet MM δδ* states in quadruply bonded dimetal tetracarboxylates (M = Mo, W) by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy

The compounds M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(4) and M(2)(O(2)CC(6)H(5))(4), where M = Mo or W, have been examined by femtosecond time-resolved IR (fs-TRIR) spectroscopy in tetrahydrofuran with excitation into the singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((1)MLCT) band. In the region from 1500 to 1600 cm(-1), a long-lived excited state (>2 ns) has been detected for the compounds M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(4) and Mo(2)(O(2)C-C(6)H(5))(4) with an IR absorption at ~1540 cm(-1) assignable to the asymmetric CO(2) stretch, ν(as)(CO(2)), of the triplet metal-metal δ-δ star ((3)MM δδ*) state. The fs-TRIR spectra of W(2)(O(2)C-C(6)H(5))(4) are notably different and are assigned to decay of the MLCT states. In (3)MM δδ*, the removal of an electron from the δ orbital reduces MM δ to CO(2) π* back-bonding and causes a shift of ν(as)(CO(2)) to higher energy by ~30-60 cm(-1), depending on the metal. TRIR spectroscopy also provides evidence for M(2)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(4), where M = Mo or W, having MM δδ* S(1) states with ν(as)(CO(2)) distinct from those of the (3)MM δδ* states.     

How molecular oxygen binds to bis[trifluoroacetylacetonato(-1)]cobalt(II)--ab initio and density functional theory studies

Cobalt(II) diketonate complexes, such as bis[trifluoroacetylacetonato(-1)]cobalt(II) [Co(tfa)(2)], catalyze the aerobic oxidation of alkenols into functionalized tetrahydrofurans. To gain insight into activation of triplet dioxygen by Co(tfa)(2) in a protic solvent, as used in oxidation catalysis, the electronic structure of aquabis[trifluoroacetylacetonato(-1)]cobalt(II)--Co(tfa)(2)(H(2)O)--and the derived dioxygen adduct were characterized using ab initio (CASSCF, NEVPT2) and density functional theory (BP86, TPSSh, B3LYP) methods. The ground state of Co(tfa)(2)(H(2)O) is a high-spin, quartet state. As dioxygen approaches the cobalt atom, the quartet state couples with a triplet dioxygen molecule and forms a sextet, a quartet, and a doublet spin state with the high-spin state being the lowest in energy. At the equilibrium Co-O(2) distance of 1.9 ?, Co(tfa)(2)(H(2)O)(O(2)) has a doublet superoxo Co(III) ground state with the unpaired electron residing on the oxygen moiety, in a nearly unchanged O(2)π* orbital.     

Mimicking biological electron transport in sol-gel glass: photoinduced electron transfer from zinc cytochrome C to plastocyanin or cytochrome C mediated by mobile inorganic complexes

Biomimetic studies of electron-transport chains are important for establishing the molecular mechanisms of long-range communications between proteins. We mimic these biological assemblies by encapsulating metalloproteins in sol-gel silica glass and letting mobile inorganic complexes shuttle electrons between the immobilized proteins. We present two examples of such rudimentary electron-transport chains. In both of them the immobilized electron donor is the zinc-substituted cytochrome c, Zncyt; the immobilized electron acceptor is either cupriplastocyanin, pc(II), or ferricytochrome c, cyt(III); and the mobile charge carrier Q/Q(-) is the redox couple FeEDTA(-)(/2)(-) or Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+/2+). The redox processes are photoinduced: Zncyt is excited by the laser pulse and converted to the triplet state, (3)Zncyt, which is a strong reducing agent. Visible absorption, circular dichroism, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the metalloproteins show that encapsulation in sol-gel glass does not affect their intrinsic redox properties. The rigid silica glass spatially separates the proteins from each other. In this matrix, the electron-transfer reactions between (3)Zncyt and pc(II) and between (3)Zncyt and cyt(III), which occur fast in solution, are completely suppressed in the absence of a charge carrier Q/Q(-). The reactivity of FeEDTA(-) and Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+) (as quenchers Q of (3)Zncyt) is minimally affected by the interior of the sol-gel glass. In the glass, the second-order rate constants for the excited-state electron transfer, from (3)Zncyt to Q, are (8.9 +/- 0.6) x 10(6) and (8.0 +/- 2.4) x 10(6) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) for FeEDTA(-) and Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+), respectively. This reaction is followed by the ground-state back electron transfer, from Q(-) to Zncyt(+). In the "monoprotein" glasses Zncyt/Q, the respective second-order rate constants for this back electron-transfer reaction are (4.9 +/- 0.2) x 10(7) and (7.8 +/- 2.7) x 10(7) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). In the "diprotein" glasses Zncyt/Q/pc(II) and Zncyt/Q/cyt(III), containing also the acceptor protein pc(II) or cyt(III), Zncyt(+) decays on two time scales. The faster and major component of this decay is analogous to the only mode of the decay in the Zncyt/Q glasses and is a second-order process. Between 25 and 40% of the initially formed Zncyt(+), however, lives longer (k(slow) =1.1 +/- 0.2 s(-)(1)) and decays by a first-order process. We attribute the lengthening of the Zncyt(+) lifetime to a partial escape of the photogenerated Q(-) into the glass pores, where it reacts with the immobilized pc(II) or cyt(III). Indeed, the visible absorption spectra show the photoinduced reduction of pc(II) and cyt(III). Evidently, the small inorganic complexes, FeEDTA(-)(/2)(-) and Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+/2+), move through the glass pores, react with the encapsulated metalloproteins, and establish the interprotein electron transfer. Each interprotein reaction now occurs in two steps: a mobile charge carrier Q receives an electron from (3)Zncyt, and Q(-) then delivers an electron to pc(II) or cyt(III). Ultimately, the energy of visible light is converted to reducing equivalents for plastocyanin and cytochrome c. The sequential electron transfer described here resembles the events in a rudimentary electron-transport chain. Our findings demonstrate the promise of integrating proteins, with their optimally adjusted redox sites, in photocatalytic materials.     

Mechanistic borderline between one-step hydrogen transfer and sequential transfers of electron and proton in reactions of NADH analogues with triplet excited states of tetrazines and Ru(bpy)(3)2+

Efficient energy transfer from Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, denotes the excited state) to 3,6-disubstituted tetrazines [R(2)Tz: R = Ph (Ph(2)Tz), 2-chlorophenyl [(ClPh)(2)Tz], 2-pyridyl (Py(2)Tz)] occurs to yield the triplet excited states of tetrazines ((3)R(2)Tz(*)), which have longer lifetimes and higher oxidizing ability as compared with those of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+). The dynamics of hydrogen-transfer reactions from NADH (dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) analogues has been examined in detail using (3)R(2)Tz(*) by laser flash photolysis measurements. Whether formal hydrogen transfer from NADH analogues to (3)R(2)Tz(*) proceeds via a one-step process or sequential electron and proton transfer processes is changed by a subtle difference in the electron donor ability and the deprotonation reactivity of the radical cations of NADH analogues as well as the electron-acceptor ability of (3)R(2)Tz(*) and the protonation reactivity of R(2)Tz(*)(-). In the case of (3)Ph(2)Tz(*), which is a weaker electron acceptor than the other tetrazine derivatives [(ClPh)(2)Tz; Py(2)Tz], direct one-step hydrogen transfer occurs from 10-methyl-9,10-dihydroacridine (AcrH(2)) to (3)Ph(2)Tz(*) without formation of the radical cation (AcrH(2)(*)(+)). The rate constant of the direct hydrogen transfer from AcrH(2) to (3)Ph(2)Tz(*) is larger than that expected from the Gibbs energy relation for the rate constants of electron transfer from various electron donors to (3)Ph(2)Tz(*), exhibiting the primary deuterium kinetic isotope effect. On the other hand, hydrogen transfer from 9-isopropyl-10-methyl-9,10-dihydroacridine (AcrHPr(i)) and 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) to (3)R(2)Tz(*) occurs via sequential electron and proton transfer processes, when both the radical cations and deprotonated radicals of NADH analogues are detected by the laser flash photolysis measurements.