Computational investigation of the structures,properties, and host-guest chemistry of prism[n]arenes

The discovery of new and functional macrocyclic host compounds is an important part of supramolecular chemistry. Since the experimental synthesis, prism[n]arenes (Pr[n]As), a class of naphthol-based macrocyclic arenes, have attracted much attention. In this work, from the perspective of theoretical calculation and research, Pr[n]As (n = 4 ~ 7) were studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The prismatic configuration isomers, electronic structures, absorption spectra, and host-guest chemistry were discussed thoroughly. DFT calculation results showed that 1,5-, 3,7-, and “hybrid” 15,37-Pr[n]As were the most representative configurations with the rigid prismatic molecular skeleton. Based on time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), the absorption spectra of Pr[n]As were all in the range of ultraviolet light which were mainly attributed to π-π* transitions. The molecular cavities of Pr[n]As were electron-rich and capable of accommodating a variety of cations or electron-conjugated molecules. MD simulation results showed that a Pr[n]A molecule was able to capture the guest molecule into its molecular cavity and maintain in the state of equilibrium in solvents.     

Theoretical study of one- and two-photon absorption properties of pyrene derivatives

The geometrical structure, electronic structure, one-photon absorption (OPA) properties of pyrene and its derivatives have been theoretically studied by using density functional theory (DFT) method and Zerner’s intermediate neglect of differential overlap (ZINDO) methods, and their two-photon absorption (TPA) properties are calculated by the ZINDO/sum-over-states method. The results show that introducing donor groups to pyrene molecule, increasing the number of donor groups, extending the conjugated length, or forming circular conjugated dimer can increase the oscillator strength (f) in the TPA process and ultimately result in extremely large TPA cross-sections and strong OPA around 400 nm of pyrene derivatives. All these results give us some basic principles to design pyrene derivatives with large TPA cross-sections. This shed light into the significance of the pyrene derivatives as promising fluorescent probes in biochemistry when they were linked to some special recognizing groups.     

吡哆胺对1,4-二羰基化合物清除机理的密度泛函理论研究

吡哆胺（PM）能够清除生物体新陈代谢过程中产生的活性二羰基化合物,此类化合物能与体内的氨基酸作用生成有毒的吡咯类化合物。本文用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法在6-31G*基组水平上,研究了PM与OPA反应的机理。计算结果表明,该反应可通过两个连续的步骤完成。首先,通过竞争反应生成一个四氢吡咯类化合物;随后,该化合物经过平行反应脱水生成最终产物。理论上,反应过程中还有可能生成亚胺类化合物,但计算结果表明其为副反应。最后,本文讨论了空间位阻效应对反应性质的影响。所有计算结果与实验结果非常吻和。     

Synthesis of a New Class of Highly Functionalized Phosphorus Ylides Containing Heterocyclic Compounds

The zwitterionic intermediate generated from the reaction of triphenylphosphine with electron deficient acetylenic compounds was trapped by various NH acids. The synthesis resulted in a new class of highly functionalized heterocyclic compounds. Some of the reactions produced E and Z isomers. And the stability and transformation of them were studied by dynamic ¹H NMR and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.     

Theoretical investigation of one- and two-photon spectra of pyrazabole chromophores

Abstract  

An extensive series of pyrazabole chromophores containing pseudo-conjugated systems have been theoretically constructed and investigated on the one-photon absorption (OPA) and two-photon absorption (TPA) properties by using density functional theory and Zerner’s intermediate neglect of differential overlap methods. The results indicated that all the pyrazabole chromophores show strong OPA at around 400 nm and intense TPA properties in the range of 500–600 nm with TPA cross sections (δ _max) as large as 540–3,560 GM, which are excellent candidates for optical power limiting materials. It is noteworthy that the δ _max values of the two constructed pyrazaboles, PA3 and PAF2, are 308.8 GM at 772.0 nm and 157.8 GM at 834.4 nm, respectively, which may be particularly attractive as probes for two-photon fluorescence imaging. The influence of incorporating electron acceptors in the central core, π-conjugated bridge and terminal groups on OPA and TPA properties was analyzed in detail to derive structure–property relationships and to lay the guidelines for both spectral tuning and amplification of molecular TPA in the target region. Meanwhile, the solvent effects on these properties were taken into account within the PCM model. The solvent has a significant impact on the TPA properties for chromophore PA3 and leads to the two-photon absorption spectra (λ _max ^T ) red-shift and δ _max enhancing relative to those in gas phase. In addition, from the calculations of molecule AlA2, we can draw the conclusion that the compounds with the Al₂N₄ center behave similarly to pyrazabole chromophores in the linear optical and TPA properties and increase TPA cross sections to some extent.     

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on (<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-methoxyphenyl)thiosemicarbazide

The title compound, (p-methoxyphenyl)thiosemicarbazide, has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, electronic spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ab initio calculations of the structure, atomic charges, natural bond orbital, topological analysis, and thermodynamic functions of the title compound were performed at HF/6-311G^** and B3LYP/6-311G^** levels of theory. The calculated results show that the sulfur atom and nitrogen atoms have bigger negative charges, which result in that they are the potential sites to react with the metallic ions. Electronic absorption spectra were calculated by the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and configuration interaction single-excitation (CIS) methods and they are corresponding to the experimental values. The calculation of the second-order optical nonlinearity was carried out, and the molecular hyperpolarizability was 2.592×10⁻³⁰ esu, indicating it is a potential candidate as second-order nonlinear optical material.     

Two photon absorption of extended substituted phenylenevinylene oligomers: A TDDFT study

Time dependent density functional theory has been applied to analyze the effect of substituent groups on one-photon (OPA) and two-photon (TPA) absorption properties of extended amine-terminated phenylenevinylene oligomers. All investigated molecules are characterized by increased TPA activity. Calculated TPA cross-sections for these compounds do not show TPA enhancements observed in experimental measurements. Stabilization of the TPA active excited state in these chromophores leads to the small (0.2 eV) energy separation between the OPA and TPA allowed excited states, which agrees well with experimental data and may lead to the enhancement of the TPA response due to the strong vibronic couplings.     

Study of structure and spectral characteristics of the binuclear zinc complex with (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-2-({2-[3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl]phenylimino}methyl)phenol

A study of the structure and spectral properties of the compound (E)-2-({2-[3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl]phenylimino}methyl)phenol and its binuclear complex with zinc was carried out by the quantum-chemical calculations at a level of density functional theory. Within the framework of the time-dependent density functional theory were calculated electron spectra of both compounds, which gave good agreement with experiment, and was revealed the nature of the absorption bands in the visible and near UV region taking into account the solvent effect. Complete interpretation of the absorption bands in the infrared spectra of the complex and protonated ligand was given, and the frequency shift and changes in the intensities of IR bands of the ligand at the complex formation were analyzed.     

三芴及螺旋三芴等衍生物的吸收和发光性质的理论研究

The structures, ionization potentials （IP）, electron affinities （EA） and HOMO-LUMO gaps （AEH.L） of the terfluorene oligomers were studied by the density functional theory with B3LYP functional. The characters of the front orbitals were analyzed on the basis of the ground structure. The vertical excitation energies Ev and the maximal absorption wavelengths λabs of a series of ter（9,9-diarylfluorene） compounds were studied employing the time dependent density functional theory （TD-DFT） and ZINDO. The calculated maximal absorption wavelengths by both methods are in good agreement with the experimental data. The results show that the differences between terfluorene hh and ter（9,9-diarylfluorene） derivatives are slight in the structures and the electronic states except that there is the spiroconjugation in the latter. The spiroconjugation made these derivatives far from optimization in terms of stability. Excited structure of hh was calculated to be compared with the ground structure, which indicats that it has strong coplanar tendency of aromatic ring with the neighbour in the excited state. Consequently, they are good blue emitting materials with promising thermal stability.     

二吡唑铝化合物双光子吸收性质的理论研究

应用密度泛函理论(DFT)和半经验的ZINDO方法对二吡唑铝化合物的单、双光子吸收(OPA、TPA)性质进行了研究.结果表明,铝氮烷杂环化合物具有好的双光子吸收性质,其双光子最大吸收截面值(δmax)可达到2860.1 GM(1 GM=10-50 cm4·s·photon-1).在中心、共轭桥和末端引入强的吸电子基团可调谐单、双光子吸收光谱,实现在不同波长范围的双光子吸收;利用三态公式分析了分子的双光子吸收截面变化的内在原因;铝氮烷杂环化合物与其相应的硼化合物相比,表现出类似的单、双光子吸收性质,但一定程度上可增大双光子吸收截面.     

A p‐Quinodimethane‐Bridged Porphyrin Dimer

A p‐quinodimethane (p‐QDM)‐bridged porphyrin dimer 1 has been prepared for the first time. An unexpected Michael addition reaction took place when we attempted to synthesize compound 1 by reaction of the cross‐conjugated keto‐linked porphyrin dimers 8 a and 8 b with alkynyl/aryl Grignard reagents. Alternatively, compound 1 could be successfully prepared by intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation of the diol‐linked porphyrin dimer 14 with concomitant oxidation in air. Compound 1 shows intense one‐photon absorption (OPA, λ_max=955 nm, ε=45400 M ^?1 cm^?1) and a large two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section (σ⁽²⁾_max=2080 GM at 1800 nm) in the near‐infrared (NIR) region due to its extended π‐conjugation and quinoidal character. It also exhibits a short singlet excited‐state lifetime of 25 ps. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 displays multiple redox waves with a small electrochemical energy gap of 0.86 eV. The ground‐state geometry, electronic structure, and optical properties of 1 have been further studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and compared with those of the keto‐linked dimer 8 b . This research has revealed that incorporation of a p‐QDM unit into the porphyrin framework had a significant impact on its optical and electronic properties, leading to a novel NIR OPA and TPA chromophore.     

六聚吡咯大环与铀/超铀酰基离子相互作用:成键、热力学和光谱性质

采用全电子相对论密度泛函理论探索多种六聚吡咯大环锕酰基配合物(nAn;n=1~3;An=U,Np and Pu)的电子结构本质、成键规律和化学反应特性。结构优化发现大环配体空穴大小与锕酰离子尺寸相当时,配合物锕酰基采用性对规则的六角双锥结构,而当空穴尺寸相对大时,配合物则采取扭曲结构以降低体系能量。当配体相同时,随着铀、镎、钚变化,An=O伸缩振动频率逐渐变小,这与优化的键长和键级变化规律相一致。QTAIM(quantum theory of atoms in molecule)拓扑分析显示An-N为弱共价单键特征,具有较大离子性成分。依据不同铀源,得到与大环配体的反应自由能均小于146 kJ·mol~(-1),与实验合成配合物的反应能计算数值相当。对含铀配合物电子吸收光谱计算显示,低能(近红外和可见光区)的吸收带具有全部或较大的配体→金属电荷转移性质贡献。     

Carbocations Confined in a Thiatriazuliporphyrin Frame

In the search for tricarbaporphyrinoids, a three‐component acid‐catalyzed condensation of azulene, 2,5‐bis[(p‐tolyl)hydroxymethyl]thiophene, and an aryl aldehyde has been elaborated, affording the appropriate thiatriazuliporphyrinogens. The subsequent oxidation yielded a rare example of a macrocyclic organic tetracation, which can be readily and reversibly converted into macrocyclic tri‐ and dicarbocations by addition of one or two hydroxides bound at the meso position(s). Further insight into the influence of carbocation formation on the geometry, electronic structure, and magnetic manifestation in ¹H NMR spectroscopy has been obtained by using density functional theory calculations. The charge distribution was evaluated by mapping electron density surfaces with electrostatic potential (ESP).     

Ab initio vibrational transition dipole moments and intensities of formaldehyde

Vibrational transition dipole moments and absorption band intensities for the ground state of formaldehyde, including the deuterated isotopic forms, are calculated. The analysis is based on ab initio SCF and CI potential energy and dipole moment surfaces. The formalism derives from second-order perturbation theory and involves the expansion of the dipole moment in terms of normal coordinates, as well as the incorporation of point group symmetry in the selection of the dipole moment components for the allowed transitions. Dipole moment expansion coefficients for the three molecule-fixed Cartesian coordinates of formaldehyde are calculated for internal and normal coordinate representations. Transition dipole moments and absorption band intensities of the fundamental, first overtone, combination, and second overtone transitions are reported. The calculated intensities and dipole moment derivatives are compared to experiment and discussed in the context of molecular orbital and bond polarization theory.     

First Hyperpolarizability Evolutions of Some Extended Sesquifulvalene Compounds

Molecular orbital calculations of some extended sesquifulvalene compounds as O_n with olefins bridge and T_n with thiophenes bridge as well as their corresponding cyclopentadienyl‐iron(II) coordination compounds as IO_n and IT_n at the hybrid density functional theory level demonstrate that the dipole moment depends linearly on the molecular size (n), and the linear polarizability depends linearly on n² as well as the first hyperpolarizability also has a linear dependence on n³.     

Illuminating the origins of two-photon absorption properties in fluorescent protein chromophores

We provide here a structural impact on two-photon absorption cross-section (σ^TPA) for 22 distinct fluorescent protein (FP) chromophores. By employing time-dependent density functional theory, we gain insight into two-photon absorption (TPA) process by investigating relationship between σ^TPA and one-photon electronic transition dipole moment and permanent dipole moment change (Δμ) upon transition. Our results reveal that for the S₁ excited state, σ^TPA is proportional to (Δμ)² in agreement with two-state model of TPA process. On the contrary, the TPA spectroscopy of higher excited states (S _n, n > 1) is much more complex. We do not find a main driving force of large σ^TPA that would be common for investigated chromophores. Instead, it seems that channel interference between one-photon transition dipole moment vectors is responsible for enhancement or diminishment of σ^TPA. Our in vacuo results may serve as a benchmark to investigate a role of chromophore-protein interaction in shaping TPA spectra of FPs.     

Time-dependent density functional theory studies of the photoswitching of the two-photon absorption spectra in stilbene, metacyclophenadiene, and diarylethene chromophores

Photochromophores such as cis-stilbene (1a), metacyclophenadiene (2a), and the diarylethene 3a undergo photoinduced conrotatory opening and closing of a central bond and are currently being sought out as potential candidates for media within 3D optical information storage devices. Strong molecular two-photon absorption (inducing the reversible photoisomerization) is a necessary feature for this application due to the need for high 3D spatial resolution. Here, the one- and two-photon absorption (OPA and TPA) characteristics of the open- and closed-ring isomers of 1-3 have been investigated using time-dependent density functional theory. It was determined that the excited states populated by two-photon absorption were nearly 1 eV higher in energy than the lowest energy excited state populated by one-photon absorption. The electronic structures of the TPA and OPA accessed states were then compared utilizing natural transition orbital analysis. There, it was found that states excited by OPA had pipi* character about the C-C framework associated with the bond formation/scission of the central C-C bond. In contrast, the states populated by TPA have pipi* character along the C-C skeletal periphery, including phenyl excitations. It is postulated that these differences in excited state electronic structure may lead to reaction pathways alternative to photoisomerization about the central C-C bond, impacting the utility of these compounds as 3D information storage media.     

Visualizations of transition dipoles, charge transfer, and electron-hole coherence on electronic state transitions between excited states for two-photon absorption

The one-photon absorption (OPA) properties of donor-pi-bridge-acceptor-pi-bridge-donor (D-pi-A-pi-D)-type 2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles (BTD) were studied with two dimensional (2D) site and three dimensional (3D) cube representations. The 2D site representation reveals the electron-hole coherence on electronic state transitions from the ground state. The 3D representation shows the orientation of transition dipole moment with transition density, and the charge redistribution on the excited states with charge difference density. In this paper, we further developed the 2D site and 3D cube representations to investigate the two-photon absorption (TPA) properties of D-pi-A-pi-D-type BTD on electronic transitions between excited states. With the new developed 2D site and 3D cube representations, the orientation of transition dipole moment, the charge redistribution, and the electron-hole coherence for TPA of D-pi-A-pi-D-type BTD on electronic state transitions between excited states were visualized, which promote deeper understanding to the optical and electronic properties for OPA and TPA.     

Synthesis and Characterization of 1,8-bis(ferrocenylmethyl)-5,5,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, a Macrocyclic Ligand and its Complexes

A new diferrocenyl-substituted macrocyclic ligand (H₂L) and its complexes ML(M = Cu^II, Ni^II, Zn^II, Cd^II) were prepared and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, absorption spectra and FAB mass spectra. The ferrocenyl-substituted macrocyclic ligand was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The superconjugative effect of the cyclopentadienyl (CP) rings increase the activity of the hydrogen atoms in the tetra-azacyclotetradecane macrocyclic ligand. The imine nitrogen atoms lose two protons and coordinate to the metal. The electrochemical properties of these compounds are discussed.