Theoretical Study of Structure,Energetic, Hydrogen Bonds Strength and Intramolecular Proton Transfer of 2‐(2‐R (ROH,NH2, SH) Phenyl (or Pyridyl)) Benzoxazoles (or Benzothiazoles)

The ground‐ and excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer processes of 2‐(2‐R (R?OH, NH₂, SH) phenyl (or pyridyl)) benzoxazoles (or benzothiazoles) are investigated by the DFT methods. The calculated results indicate that in the ground state there is a high correlation (R=0.9950) between the proton transfer barrier and the intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IMHB) strength. The increase of the strength of IMHB in the proton transfer processes leads to a larger barrier contributions. Intramolecular proton transfer process pathway is along with the minimal difference of change value in the IMHB angle. In the excited‐state, there is a similar relationship between the IMHB and the barrier.     

Structural and charge‐transfer properties of indolylfulgides

The structural and electronic properties of a photochromic molecule dictate their potential photochemical activity. To gain insight into these influences, the ground‐state structure and excited state properties of six indolylgulgides were calculated using several time dependent‐density functional theory (DFT) (TD‐DFT)//DFT methods, second‐order M?ller–Plesset (MP2), and CIS(D). These methods simulated the charge‐transfer properties and the conformation of the ground‐state structure for each molecule. Generally, TD‐DFT accurately simulated the expected charge‐transfer state. The degree of spatial overlap of the occupied and virtual molecular orbitals involved in the S₁ transition of indolylfulgides quantitatively assessed their charge‐transfer character and was qualitatively useful in assessing their photochromic activity. The M06, M06‐2X, and M11 structures were quite similar to those calculated by MP2. Structural differences, similarities, and functional trends are compared and discussed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ultrafast Twisting Dynamics of Thioflavin‐T: Spectroscopy of the Twisted Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer State

Understanding the excited‐state properties of thioflavin‐T (ThT) has been of immense importance, because of its efficient amyloid‐sensing ability related to neurodegenerative disorders. The excited‐state dynamics of ThT is studied by using sub‐pico‐ and nanosecond time‐resolved transient absorption techniques as well as density functional theory (DFT)/time‐dependent DFT calculations. Barrierless twisting around the central C?C bond between two aromatic moieties is the dominant process that contributes to the ultrafast dynamics of the S₁ state. The spectroscopic properties of the intramolecular charge‐transfer state are characterized for the first time. The energetics of the S₀ and S₁ states has also been correlated with the experimentally observed spectroscopic parameters and structural dynamics. A longer‐lived transient state populated with a very low yield has been characterized as the triplet state.     

TD‐DFT study on the sensing mechanism of a fluorescent chemosensor for fluoride: Excited‐state proton transfer

An excited‐state proton transfer (ESPT) process, induced by both intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions, is proposed to account for the fluorescence sensing mechanism of a fluoride chemosensor, phenyl‐1H‐anthra(1,2‐d)imidazole‐6,11‐dione. The time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) method has been applied to investigate the different electronic states. The present theoretical study of this chemosensor, as well as its anion and fluoride complex, has been conducted with a view to monitoring its structural and photophysical properties. The proton of the chemosensor can shift to fluoride in the ground state but transfers from the proton donor (NH group) to a proton acceptor (neighboring carbonyl group) in the first singlet excited state. This may explain the observed red shifts in the fluorescence spectra in the relevant fluorescent sensing mechanism. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Fluoride anion sensing mechanism of a BODIPY‐linked hydrogen‐bonding probe

The sensing mechanism of a fluoride‐anion probe BODIPY‐amidothiourea ( 1c ) has been elucidated through the density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. The theoretical study indicates that in the DMSO/water mixtures the fluorescent sensing has been regulated by the fluoride complex that formed between the probe 1c /two water molecules and the fluoride anion, and the excited‐state intermolecular hydrogen bond (H‐B) plays an important role in the fluoride sensing mechanism. In the first excited state, the H‐Bs of the fluoride complex 1cFH₂ are overall strengthened, which induces the weak fluorescence emission. In addition, molecular orbital analysis demonstrates that 1cFH₂ has more obvious intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character in the S₁ state than 1cH₂ formed between the probe 1c and two water molecules, which also gives reason to the weaker fluorescence intensity of 1cFH₂ . Further, our calculated UV‐vis absorbance and fluorescence spectra are in accordance with the experimental measurements. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Photophysics,Excited‐state Double‐Proton Transfer and Hydrogen‐bonding Properties of 5‐Deazaalloxazines

The photophysical properties of 5‐deazaalloxazine and 1,3‐dimethyl‐5‐deazaalloxazine were studied in different solvents. These compounds have higher values of fluorescence quantum yields and longer fluorescence lifetimes, compared to those obtained for their alloxazine analogs. Electronic structure and S₀–S_i transitions were investigated using the ab initio methods [MP2, CIS(D), EOM‐CCSD] with the correlation‐consistent basis sets. Also the time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) has been employed. The lowest singlet excited states of 5‐deazaalloxazine and 1,3‐dimethyl‐5‐deazaalloxazine are predicted to have the π, π* character, whereas similar alloxazines have two close‐lying π, π* and n, π* transitions. Experimental steady‐state and time‐resolved spectral studies indicate formation of an isoalloxazinic excited state via excited‐state double‐proton transfer (ESDPT) catalyzed by an acetic acid molecule that forms a hydrogen bond complex with the 5‐deazaalloxazine molecule. Solvatochromism of both 5‐deazaalloxazine and its 1,3‐dimethyl substituted derivative was analyzed using the Kamlet–Taft scale and four‐parameter Catalán solvent scale. The most significant result of our studies is that the both scales show a strong influence of solvent acidity (hydrogen bond donating ability) on the emission properties of these compounds, indicating the importance of intermolecular solute–solvent hydrogen‐bonding interactions in their excited state.     

Tetrathiafulvalene‐amido‐2‐pyridine‐N‐oxide as Efficient Charge‐Transfer Antenna Ligand for the Sensitization of YbIII Luminescence in a Series of Lanthanide Paramagnetic Coordination Complexes

The tetrathiafulvalene‐amido‐2‐pyridine‐N‐oxide ( L ) ligand has been employed to coordinate 4f elements. The architecture of the complexes mainly depends on the ionic radii of the lanthanides. Thus, the reaction of L in the same experimental protocol leads to three different molecular structure series. Binuclear [Ln₂(hfac)₅(O₂CPhCl)( L )₃] ? 2 H₂O (hfac^?=1,1,1,5,5,5‐hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion, O₂CPhCl^?=3‐chlorobenzoate anion) and mononuclear [Ln(hfac)₃( L )₂] complexes were obtained by using rare‐earth ions with either large (Ln^III=Pr, Gd) or small (Ln^III=Y, Yb) ionic radius, respectively, whereas the use of Tb^III that possesses an intermediate ionic radius led to the formation of a binuclear complex of formula [Tb₂(hfac)₄(O₂CPhCl)₂( L )₂]. Antiferromagnetic interactions have been observed in the three dinuclear compounds by using an extended empirical method. Photophysical properties of the coordination complexes have been studied by solid‐state absorption spectroscopy, whereas time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations have been carried out on the diamagnetic Y^III derivative to build a molecular orbital diagram and to reproduce the absorption spectrum. For the [Yb(hfac)₃( L )₂] complex, the excitation at 19 600 cm^?1 of the HOMO→LUMO+1/LUMO+2 charge‐transfer transition induces both line‐shape emissions in the near‐IR spectral range assigned to the ²F_5/2→²F_7/2 (9860 cm^?1) ytterbium‐centered transition and a residual charge‐transfer emission around 13 150 cm^?1. An efficient antenna effect that proceeds through energy transfer from the singlet excited state of the tetrathiafulvalene‐amido‐2‐pyridine‐N‐oxide chromophore is evidence of the Yb^III sensitization.     

A quantitative analysis of light‐driven charge transfer processes using voronoi partitioning of time dependent DFT‐derived electron densities

An analytical method is presented that provides quantitative insight into light‐driven electron density rearrangement using the output of standard time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) computations on molecular compounds. Using final and initial electron densities for photochemical processes, the subtraction of summed electron density in each atom‐centered Voronoi polyhedron yields the electronic charge difference, Q ^VECD. This subtractive method can also be used with Bader, Mulliken and Hirshfeld charges. A validation study shows Q ^VECD to have the most consistent performance across basis sets and good conservation of charge between electronic states. Besides vertical transitions, relaxation processes can be investigated as well. Significant electron transfer is computed for isomerization on the excited state energy surface of azobenzene. A number of linear anilinepyridinium donor‐bridge‐acceptor chromophores was examined using Q ^VECD to unravel the influence of its pi‐conjugated bridge on charge separation. Finally, the usefulness of the presented method as a tool in optimizing charge transfer is shown for a homologous series of organometallic pigments. The presented work allows facile calculation of a novel, relevant quantity describing charge transfer processes at the atomic level. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Computational Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Preparation and Acid‐Responsive Photophysical Properties of T‐Shaped π‐Conjugated Molecules Containing a Benzimidazole Junction

T‐shaped π‐conjugated molecules with an N‐methyl‐benzimidazole junction have been synthesized and their acid‐responsive photophysical properties owing to the change in the π‐conjugation system are discussed. T‐shaped π‐conjugated molecules consist of two orthogonal π‐conjugated systems including a phenyl thiophene extended from the 2‐position and alkyl phenylenes connected through various π‐spacers from the 4,7‐positions of the N‐methyl‐benzimidazole junction. The π‐spacers, such as thiophene, ethyne, and ethane, have an effect on the acid response of photophysical properties in terms of changes in conformation, excited‐state energy and charge‐transfer (CT) characteristics. In particular, the π‐conjugated molecule with ethynyl spacers exhibited a marked redshift in the fluorescence spectrum with a large Stokes shift upon the addition of acid, whereas the other molecules showed substantial quenching. The redshift in emission was studied in detail by temperature‐dependent fluorescence measurements, which indicated the transition to a CT state over the finite activation energy at the excited state. The change in the frontier molecular orbitals upon acid addition was further discussed by means of DFT calculations.     

Evidence for Two‐Photon Absorption‐Induced ESIPT of Chromophores Containing Hydroxyl and Imino Groups

This paper presents experimental and theoretical investigations into excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in new chromophores with hydroxyl and imino groups under one‐ and two‐photon excitation. The results show that internal hydrogen bonding exhibits a remarkable influence on the maximum absorption wavelength of 2‐[(4′‐N,N‐diethylaminodiphenylethylene‐4‐ylimino)methyl]phenol ( C1 ) and 2‐[(4′‐methoxyl‐diphenylethylene‐4‐ylimino)methyl]phenol ( C3 ). Compounds C1 and C3 exhibit well‐separated dual fluorescence emission bands under one‐ and two‐photon excitation. The second fluorescence peaks of C1 and C3 are characterized by much larger Stokes shift than the first normal peaks (ca. 140 vs. 30 nm). 4‐[(4′‐N,N‐Diethylaminodiphenylethylene‐4‐ylimino)methyl]phenol ( C2 ) and 4‐[(4′‐methoxyldiphenylethylene‐4‐ylimino)methyl]phenol ( C4 ) display single emission bands with small Stokes shifts (ca. 30 nm) in various solvents under one‐ and two‐photon excitation. Furthermore, the first emission maxima of C1 and C3 are almost identical to the maximum fluorescence emission wavelengths of C2 and C4 , respectively. These results show that C1 and C3 can undergo ESIPT via a reasonable six‐membered ring, while there is no ESIPT in C2 and C4 under one‐ and two‐photon excitation. Compounds C1 and C2 have larger two‐photon absorption cross‐sections under various near‐infrared laser frequencies tuned from 700 to 880 nm. Molecular geometry optimization of the phototautomers (enol and keto) was performed to analyze the experimental results. The possibility of using these chromophores for metal ions as chemosensors of was thoroughly investigated. In DMF C3 exhibits excellent sensing responses to Zn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions through a greatly increased greatly and a largely reduced emission, respectively. In methanol disappearance of ESIPT emission with added Zn²⁺ ions confirms its existence. The binding constants of C3 with Zn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions in DMF are also estimated.     

White Emitters by Tuning the Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton‐Transfer Fluorescence Emission in 2‐(2′‐Hydroxybenzofuran)benzoxazole Dyes

The synthesis, structural, and photophysical properties of a new series of original dyes based on 2‐(2′‐hydroxybenzofuran)benzoxazole (HBBO) is reported. Upon photoexcitation, these dyes exhibit intense dual fluorescence with contribution from the enol (E*) and the keto (K*) emission, with K* being formed through excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). We show that the ratio of emission intensity E*/K* can be fine‐tuned by judiciously decorating the molecular core with electron‐donating or ‐attracting substituents. Push–pull dyes 9 and 10 functionalized by a strong donor (nNBu₂) and a strong acceptor group (CF₃ and CN, respectively) exhibit intense dual emission, particularly in apolar solvents such as cyclohexane in which the maximum wavelength of the two bands is the more strongly separated. Moreover, all dyes exhibit strong solid‐state dual emission in a KBr matrix and polymer films with enhanced quantum yields reaching up to 54 %. A wise selection of substituents led to white emission both in solution and in the solid state. Finally, these experimental results were analyzed by time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations, which confirm that, on the one hand, only E* and K* emission are present (no rotamer) and, on the other hand, the relative free energies of the two tautomers in the excited state guide the ratio of the E*/K* emission intensities.     

The Role of Substituent Effects in Tuning Metallophilic Interactions and Emission Energy of Bis‐4‐(2‐pyridyl)‐1,2,3‐triazolatoplatinum(II) Complexes

The photoluminescence spectra of a series of 5‐substituted pyridyl‐1,2,3‐triazolato Pt^II homoleptic complexes show weak emission tunability (ranging from λ=397–408 nm) in dilute (10^?6 M ) ethanolic solutions at the monomer level and strong tunability in concentrated solutions (10^?4 M ) and thin films (ranging from λ=487–625 nm) from dimeric excited states (excimers). The results of density functional calculations (PBE0) attribute this “turn‐on” sensitivity and intensity in the excimer to strong Pt–Pt metallophilic interactions and a change in the excited‐state character from singlet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (¹MLCT) to singlet metal‐metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (¹MMLCT) emissions in agreement with lifetime measurements.     

Study of the Photochemical Properties and Conical Intersections of [2,2′‐Bipyridyl]‐3‐amine‐3′‐ol

The two isoelectronic bipyridyl derivatives [2,2′‐bipyridyl]‐3,3′‐diamine and [2,2′‐bipyridyl]‐3,3′‐diol are experimentally known to undergo very different excited‐state double‐proton‐transfer processes, which result in fluorescence quantum yields that differ by four orders of magnitude. In a previous study, these differences were explained from a theoretical point of view, because of topographical features in the potential energy surface and the presence of conical intersections (CIs). Here, we analyze the photochemical properties of a new molecule, [2,2′‐bipyridyl]‐3‐amine‐3′‐ol [BP(OH)(NH₂)], which is, in fact, a hybrid of the former two. Our density functional theory (DFT), time‐dependent DFT (TDDFT), and complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) calculations indicate that the double‐proton‐transfer process in the ground and first singlet π→π* excited state in BP(OH)(NH₂) presents features that are between those of their “parents”. The presence of two CIs and the role they may play in the actual photochemistry of BP(OH)(NH₂) and other bipyridyl derivatives are also discussed.     

Time‐dependent density functional theory study of electronic spectrum property for carbazolyl–pyridinyl alternating copolymers

Three A‐B‐type fluorescent copolymers comprised of alternating carbazolyl and pyridinyl units, poly[(2,7‐(N‐(2‐ethylhexyl)carbazolyl)‐alt‐(3,5‐pyridinyl))](PEHCP‐35), poly[(2,7‐(N‐(2‐ethylhexyl)carbazolyl)‐alt‐(2,6‐pyridinyl))] (PEHCP‐26) and poly[(2,7‐(N‐(2‐ethyl‐hexyl)carbazolyl)‐alt‐(2,5‐pyridinyl))] (PEHCP‐25), are studied by means of the density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP/6‐31G). Based on the optimized geometries, the optical properties are calculated by employing time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT). The bandgaps and optical properties are saturated quickly in PEHCP‐35 and PEHCP‐26. It is known from experiment that PEHCP‐25 is actually an oligomer with a polymerization degree of 4. So the tetramers of PEHCP‐35, PEHCP‐26, and PEHCP‐25 are adopted to study the electronic and optical properties, and the calculated results are in close agreement with experiment. The calculated bandgaps of copolymers obtained from two ways, i.e., HOMO–LUMO gaps and the lowest excitation energies, decrease in the following order PEHCP‐35 > PEHCP‐26 > PEHCP‐25, the same trend as the data obtained from the edge of the electric band but different from the electrochemically obtained data from experiment (PEHCP‐25 > PEHCP‐26 > PEHCP‐35). The outcomes showed that, when excited, a charge transfer from carbazolyl unit to pyridinyl unit occurs, and the lumophor is mainly carbazolyl units. The UV absorption and emission wavelengths both exhibit bathochromic shifts: PEHCP‐35 < PEHCP‐26 < PEHCP‐25. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Carborane Dyads for Photoinduced Electron Transfer: Photophysical Studies on Carbazole and Phenyl‐o‐carborane Molecular Assemblies

o‐Carborane‐based donor–acceptor dyads comprising an o‐carboranyl phenyl unit combined with N‐carbazole ( 1 ) or 4‐phenyl‐N‐carbazole ( 2 ) were prepared, and their dyad characters were confirmed by steady‐state photochemistry and photodynamic experiments as well as electrochemical studies. The absorption and electrochemical properties of the dyads were essentially the sum of those of the carbazole and o‐carboranyl phenyl units; this indicates negligible interaction between the carbazole and o‐carborane units in the ground state. However, the emission spectra of 1 and 2 indicated that carbazole fluorescence was effectively quenched and a new charge‐transfer (CT) emission was observed in solvents, varying from hexane to acetonitrile, which exhibited large Stoke shifts. The CT emission properties of o‐carborane‐based dyads were further analyzed by using Lippert–Mataga plots to show that unit charge separation occurred to form a charge‐separated species in the excited state, namely, 1?2 . This excited‐state species was confirmed by nanosecond transient absorption spectra and spectroelectrochemical measurements; the photoexcitation of carbazole generated the CT state in which a radical cation and anion were formed at the carbazole and o‐carborane units, respectively, within a few nanoseconds. DFT calculations corroborated the presence of this CT species and showed localized populations of the highest singly occupied molecular orbital on 2 in the reduced anionic state. As a result, molecular assemblies formed by linking the carbazole group with the o‐carborane cage through a phenylene or multi‐phenylene spacer revealed that the photoinduced electron‐transfer process occurred intramolecularly.     

Theoretical studies of ground and excited electronic states in a series of heteroleptic iridium complexes using density functional theory

A series of new heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes [Ir(C^?N)₂(N^?N)]PF₆ ( 1 ‐ 6 ) (each with two cyclometalating C^?N ligands and one neutral N^?N ancillary ligand, where C^?N = 2‐phenylpyridine (ppy), 5‐methyl‐2‐(4‐fluoro)phenylpyridine (F‐mppy), and N^?N = 2,2′‐dipyridyl (bpy), 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen), 4,4′‐diphenyl‐2,2′‐dipyridy (dphphen) were found to have rich photophysical properties. Theoretical calculations are employed for studying the photophysical and electrochemical properties. All complexes are investigated using density functional theory. Excited singlet and triplet states are examined using time‐dependent density functional theory. The low‐lying excited‐state geometries are optimized at the ab initio configuration interaction singles level. Then, the excited‐state properties are investigated in detail, including absorption and emission properties, photoactivation processes. The excited state of complexes is complicated and contains triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer, triplet ligand‐to‐ligand charge transfer simultaneously. Importantly, the absorption spectra and emission maxima can be tuned significantly by changing the N^?N ligands and C^?N ligands. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Chiral Bis(oxazoline) Ruthenium Complexes with Bipyridyl‐Type N‐Heteroaromatics: Comparative Stereochemical and Photochemical Characterization of their Λ‐ and Δ‐Diastereomeric Geminate Isomers

Diastereomeric geminate pairs of chiral bis(2‐oxazoline) ruthenium complexes with bipyridyl‐type N‐heteroaromatics, Λ‐ and Δ‐[Ru(L‐ L)₂(iPr‐biox)]²⁺ (iPr‐biox=(4S,4′S)‐4,4′‐diisopropyl‐2,2′‐bis(2‐oxazoline); L‐ L=2,2′‐bipyridyl (bpy) for 1 Λ and 1 Δ, 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyl (dmbpy) for 2 Λ and 2 Δ, and 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) for 3 Λ and 3 Δ), were separated as BF₄ and PF₆ salts and were subjected to the comparative studies of their stereochemical and photochemical characterization. DFT calculations of 1 Λ and 1 Δ electronic configurations for the lowest triplet excited state revealed that their MO‐149 (HOMO) and MO‐150 (lower SOMO) characters are interchanged between them and that the phosphorescence‐emissive states are an admixture of a Ru‐to‐biox charge‐transfer state and an intraligand excited state within the iPr‐biox. Furthermore, photoluminescence properties of the two Λ,Δ‐diastereomeric series are discussed with reference to [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺.     

Mechanistic Investigation of Molybdate‐Catalysed Transfer Hydrodeoxygenation

The molybdate‐catalysed transfer hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of benzyl alcohol to toluene driven by oxidation of the solvent isopropyl alcohol to acetone has been investigated by using a combination of experimental and computational methods. A Hammett study that compared the relative rates for the transfer HDO of five para‐substituted benzylic alcohols was carried out. Density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest a transition state with significant loss of aromaticity contributes to the lack of linearity observed in the Hammett study. The transfer HDO could also be carried out in neat PhCH₂OH at 175 °C. Under these conditions, PhCH₂OH underwent disproportionation to yield benzaldehyde, toluene, and significant amounts of bibenzyl. Isotopic‐labelling experiments (using PhCH₂OD and PhCD₂OH) showed that incorporation of deuterium into the resultant toluene originated from the α position of benzyl alcohol, which is in line with the mechanism suggested by the DFT study.