Phenoxazine dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells: relationship between molecular structure and electron lifetime

A series of metal-free organic dyes with a core phenoxazine chromophore have been synthesized and tested as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. Overall conversion efficiencies of 6.03-7.40% were reached under standard AM 1.5G illumination at a light intensity of 100 mW cm(-2) . A clear trend in electron lifetime could be seen; a dye with a furan-conjugated linker showed a shorter lifetime relative to dyes with the acceptor group directly attached to the phenoxazine. The addition of an extra donor unit, which bore insulating alkoxyl chains, in the 7-position of the phenoxazine could increase the lifetime even further and, together with additives in the electrolyte to raise the conduction band, an open circuit voltage of 800 mV could be achieved. From photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the dyes adsorbed on TiO(2) particles, it can be concluded that the excitation is mainly of cyano character (i.e., on average, the dye molecules are standing on, and pointing out, from the surface of TiO(2) particles).     

Triphenylamine Groups Improve Blocking Behavior of Phenoxazine Dyes in Cobalt‐Electrolyte‐Based Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Novel phenoxazine dyes are successfully introduced as sensitizers into dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with cobalt‐based electrolyte. In sensitizers with triphenylamine (TPA) groups recombination from electrons in the TiO₂ conduction band to the cobalt(III) species is suppressed. The effect of the steric properties of the phenoxazine sensitizers on the overall device performance and on recombination and regeneration processes is compared. Optimized DSCs sensitized with IB2 having two TPA groups in combination with tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl) cobalt(II/III) yield efficiencies of 6.3 %, similar to that of IB3 , which is equipped with mutiple alkoxy groups. TH310 with only one TPA group gives lower efficiency and open circuit voltage, while IB1 without TPA groups performs even worse. These results demonstrate that both TPA groups on the IB2 are needed for an efficient blocking effect. These results reveal a possible new role for TPA units in DSC sensitizer design.     

New Red‐Emitting Tetrazine‐Phenoxazine Fluorogenic Labels for Live‐Cell Intracellular Bioorthogonal Labeling Schemes

The synthesis of a set of tetrazine‐bearing fluorogenic dyes suitable for intracellular labeling of proteins in live cells is presented. The red excitability and emission properties ensure minimal autofluorescence, while through‐bond energy‐transfer‐based fluorogenicity reduces nonspecific background fluorescence of unreacted dyes. The tetrazine motif efficiently quenches fluorescence of the phenoxazine core, which can be selectively turned on chemically upon bioorthogonal inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder reaction with proteins modified genetically with strained trans‐cyclooctenes.     

Laccase‐Mediated Synthesis of Novel Substituted Phenoxazine Chromophores Featuring Tuneable Water Solubility

Laccases are members of the blue copper oxidases family found in nature. They commonly oxidise a wide range of phenol and aniline derivatives, which in turn are involved in oxidative coupling reactions. Yet, laccases remain rarely described as biocatalysts in organic synthesis. This paper describes the chemical preparation of original sulfonated aminophenol substrates and their enzyme‐mediated dimerisation into phenoxazine chromophores that feature tuneable water solubility as a function of the sulfonyl substituent. The scope and limitations of the biocatalysed synthetic process are outlined. Kinetic data were collected to evaluate the influence of physicochemical parameters. The structure of the novel phenoxazine dyes (“head‐to‐head” or “head‐to‐tail” dimer) was assessed by NMR spectroscopic analysis. Two crystalline compounds were analysed by X‐ray diffraction. Such laccase‐mediated synthesis (a green chemistry process) was proven to be more efficient than the chemical oxidation of o‐aminophenols with silver oxide.     

Development of water-soluble far-red fluorogenic dyes for enzyme sensing

A series of Nile Blue analogs, 5-amino-9-dialkylamino benzo[a]phenoxazine dyes, 7-9, were prepared by condensation of N-alkyl or N-sulfo-propyl 4-arylazo-substituted 3-hydroxyaniline with 4-arylazo-substituted 1-naphthlamines or 8-amino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid in the presence of perchloric acid. These fluorochromes have excitation and emission maxima near 640 and 680 nm, respectively. The fluorescence intensity in aqueous solution increases as additional sulfonate groups are added to the benzo[a]phenoxazine core. Compound 7, which has two sulfonate groups, is ten-times brighter than Nile Blue. Fluorogenic substrates containing this hydrophilic far-red dye were synthesized and applied to detect enzymatic activities of two model proteases, trypsin and leucine aminopeptidase. Given their excellent fluorogenic property, these novel far-red dyes should be useful for enzyme sensing in biological assays.     

Aqueous photopolymerization with visible‐light photoinitiators: Acrylamide polymerization photoinitiated with a phenoxazine dye/amine system

We studied the photoinduced electron‐transfer polymerization of acrylamide with, as a visible‐light initiator, the heterocycle‐N‐oxide resazurin in the presence of triethanolamine. The irradiation of resazurin produces resorufin, which also absorbs in the visible region. Both phenoxazine dyes in the presence of the amine are efficient photoinitiators of acrylamide polymerization in an aqueous medium. The polymerization rates were measured at several amine concentrations. These values increase with the amine concentration, reaching a maximum value; further amine addition slightly decreases the polymerization rate. Time‐resolved photolysis studies of the dyes were carried out under the polymerization conditions. The quenching of the dye excited states by the amine was analyzed with static‐fluorescence and laser‐flash photolysis. These data were used for fitting curves of the polymerization rate versus the amine concentration, and it was concluded that the interaction of triplet excited dyes with the amine leads to acrylamide polymerization. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 4074–4082, 2001     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Pyrrolpigmente, 27. Mitt.

Pyrromethenones are isomerized into their diastereomers at the exocyclic double bond by light, whereas dipyrromethenes and methylenepyrrolylmethyllenepyrrolinones as well as integral bile pigments containing these two partial structures (biliviolines, biliverdines) are not. The reason for this dichotomy was shown by investigation of model compounds to be neither the thermodynamically and kinetically instable product nor the availability of low states of lone pair character. Instead the very efficient radiationless decay of the excited singlet proceeds via a desactivation process being a tunneling between excited and ground state potential surfaces. Calculations according to this theory ofFormosinho affords quantitative results which are in excellent agreement with experimental data. Another desactivation mode comes from the crossing of the potential surfaces of the ground state of one tautomeric form with those of the excited state of another, leading to a proton transfer process. The molecular basis of these processes is shown to be inter—as well as intramolecular hydrogen bonding.

H. Falk undF. Neufingerl, Mh. Chem.110, 987 (1979).     

Nile Red and Nile Blue: Applications and Syntheses of Structural Analogues

Nile red and Nile blue are highly fluorescent and photostable organic dyes from the benzo[a]phenoxazine family. They have been used as histological stains for imaging lysosomes and lipids in vitro. The dyes’ high quantum yields and solvent‐dependent optical properties make them ideal scaffolds for the development of pH probes and local polarity indicators. Reviews of the literature in this area are scarce with only one review ever published in 2006. It has been 10 years since and the field has evolved. This review aims to expand upon topics covered by the previous reviewers and to report on recent advances in the literature. As authors, we hope to convey a sense of scope and to spark renewed interest in this useful niche of dye chemistry.     

A Novel Nitrite Amperometric Sensor and Its Application in Food Analysis

Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB), one of the phenoxazine dyes, was electropolymerized on the glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The resulting electroactive polymer film could provide more active sites for anodic oxidation of nitrite, based on which a novel nitrite sensor was developed. The optimized fabrication and sensing conditions were investigated. This sensor exhibited high sensitivity, low detection limit and simple operation toward the electrochemical oxidation of nitrite. It was successfully applied to the determination of nitrite in some food samples and the results were consistent with those obtained with the standard spectrophotometric procedure.     

On the Road Toward More Efficient Biocompatible Two-Photon Excitable Fluorophores

Red-to-NIR absorption and emission wavelengths are key requirements for intravital bioimaging. One of the way to reach such excitation wavelengths is to use two-photon excitation. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of two-photon excitable fluorophores that are both efficient and biocompatible. Thus, we design a series of biocompatible quadrupolar dyes in order to study their ability to be used for live-cell imaging, and in particular for two-photon microscopy. Hence, we report the synthesis of 5 probes based on different donor cores (phenoxazine, acridane, phenazasiline and phenothiazine) and the study of their linear and non-linear photophysical properties. TD-DFT calculations were performed and were able to highlight the structure-property relationship of this series. All these studies highlight the great potential of three of these biocompatible dyes for two-photon microscopy, as they both exhibit high two-photon cross-sections (up to 3650 GM) and emit orange to red light. This potential was confirmed through live-cell two-photon microscopy experiments, leading to images with very high brightness and contrast.     

A study of the 220 MHz proton resonance spectra for a series of biologically important acridine-type heterocycles

The high resolution proton magnetic resonance spectra of acridine, phenazine, phenoxazine and phenothiazine have been measured at 220 MHz in various solvents and at several temperatures. Spectra for all four molecules were analyzed iteratively and good agreement was obtained between observed and calculated spectra. Significant differences are noted between the coupling constants and chemical shifts of acridine and phenazine on the one hand and phenoxazine and phenothiazine on the other. These differences are attributed to a nonplanar heterocyclic ring conformation for phenoxazine and phenothiazine in solution. Moreover, it is concluded from the temperature measurements that the heterocyclic rings of phenoxazine and phenothiazine are conformationally flexible in the range covered. Possible mechanisms are suggested for the chemical shift and coupling constant changes.     

Influence of the Electrode Material on the Electrochemical Behavior of Carbon Paste Electrodes Modified with Meldola Blue and Methylene Green Adsorbed on a Synthetic Zeolite

Carbon paste electrodes modified with a phenoxazine derivative, Meldola blue, and a phenothiazine derivative, methylene green, both strongly adsorbed on a synthetic zeolite were investigated using either glassy carbon powder (Sigradur K, SK) or single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) as conductive electrode material. In the case of SWCNT based electrodes, the formal potential of both mediators was pH dependent, as expected for a redox process involving proton transfer. In contrast, the formal potential of both mediators of SK based modified electrodes was practically insensitive to pH. This behavior is discussed in terms of interactions existing in the heterogeneous system mediator‐zeolite‐electrode material.     

Hydrophobic interactions of phenoxazine modulators with bovine serum albumin

The interaction of 10-(3′-N-morpholinopropyl)phenoxazine [MPP], 10-(4′-N-morpholinobutyl)phenoxazine [MBP], 10-(3′-N-morpholinopropyl)-2-chlorophenoxazine [MPCP], 10-(3′-N-piperidinopropyl)-2-chlorophenoxazine [PPCP] or 10-(3′-N-morpholinopropyl)-2-trifluoromethylphenoxazine [MPTP] with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been studied by gel filtration and equilibrium dialysis methods. The binding of these modulators, based on dialysis experiments, has been characterized using the following parameters: percentage of bound drug (Β), the association constant (K ₁), the apparent binding constant (k) and the free energy change (δF‡). The binding of phenoxazine derivatives to serum transporter protein, BSA, is correlated with their octanol-water partition coefficient, log₁₀ P. In addition, effect of the displacing activities of hydroxyzine and acetylsalicylic acid on the binding of phenoxazine derivatives to albumin has been studied. Results of the displacement experiments show that phenoxazine benzene rings and tertiary amines attached to the side chain of the phenoxazine moiety are bound to a hydrophobic area on the albumin molecule.     

Conformational effect on luminescence and polarization of some aniline derivatives. Intersystem crossing from higher singlet states

We present an analysis of emission spectra, obtained in polar and non-polar solvents and at different temperatures, for a series of aniline derivatives excited at different wavelengths. Important changes in the intensity and polarization of the emission are shown to be due to conformational effects of the amino group which strongly changes the molecular desactivation dynamics. This interpretation is shown to be consistent also with the absorption spectra.     

吩噻嗪和吩噁嗪氧化中间体的共振喇曼光谱研究

本文对吩噻嗪和吩噁嗪的单电子氧化产生的两种氧化态的亚稳态正离子进行了共振喇曼光谱研究。随着吩噻嗪的p电子逐步失去, 结构变形振动δ_(CNC)和δ_(CSC)的喇曼频移显著地增大, 环C=C伸缩振动区域的喇曼峰数目明显变多。由此推断, 随着吩噻嗪正离子氧化态的增高, 正离子转变成平面共轭结构。     

Theoretical study of metal‐free organic dyes based on different configurations for efficient dye‐sensitized solar cells

Considering different solar dyes configuration, four novel metal‐free organic dyes based on phenoxazine as electron donor, thiophene and cyanovinylene linkers as the ‐conjugation bridge and cyanoacrylic acid as electron acceptor were designed to optimize open circuit voltage and short circuit current parameters and theoretically inspected. Density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory calculations were used to study frontier molecular orbital energy states of the dyes and their optical absorption spectra. The results indicated that D2‐4 dyes can be suitable candidates as sensitizers for application in dye sensitized solar cells and among these three dyes, D3 showed a broader and more bathochromically shifted absorption band compared to the others. The dye also showed the highest molar extinction coefficient. This work suggests optimizing the configuration of metal‐free organic dyes based on simple D‐ ‐A configuration containing alkyl chain as substitution, starburst conformation, and symmetric double D‐ ‐A chains would produce good photovoltaic properties.     

Tricyanovinylation of phenoxazine and phenothiazine

In the reaction of tricyanoethylene (TCE) with phenoxazine in DMF at 100 ° C, in addition to the principal reaction product —viz., 3-(tricyanovinyl) phenoxazine — 3-dicyanomethylene-3H-phenoxazine and 3-phenoxazinyl-3-(3H-phenoxazinylene)-cyanomethane are formed in small amounts. The latter two compounds were also obtained from phenoxazine and dibromomalononitrile. Phenothiazine reacts similarly with tetracyanoethylene. A reaction scheme is proposed, and in this scheme the formation of side products is explained by significant electron transfer in the tetracyanoethylene-heterocycle system. For the first time, 1,6 cleavage of HCN was detected, in which (in contrast to the known 1,6 cleavage of HCN from carbon atoms) the hydrogen is split out from the nitrogen atom.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 326–330, March, 1985.     

Library of UV-Vis-NIR reflectance spectra of modern organic dyes from historic pattern-card coloured papers

An accurate characterisation of the organic dyes used in artworks, especially those made of paper, is an important factor in designing safe conservation treatments. In the case of synthetic organic dyes used in modern works of art, for example, one frequently encountered difficulty is that some of these dyes are not still commercially available. Recognizing this problem, the authors of this paper present the results of an analysis of UV-Vis-NIR fibre optic reflectance spectra of 82 samples of dyed paper prepared with 41 dyes. The samples come from a historic book, The Dyeing of Paper in the Pulp, which was published by Interessen-Gemeinschaft (I.G.) Farbenindustrie in 1925. The dyes used in the paper pulp belong to the azo compounds, acridine, anthraquinone, azine, diphenylmethane, indigoid, methine, nitro, quinoline, thiazine, triphenylmethane, sulphur and xanthene classes.     

Über die photochemische Desaktivierung von Chlortetracyclin durch Riboflavin und ihre Unterbindung durch Ascorbinsäure oder Natriumthiosulfat

In the microbiological determination of chlorotetracycline in solutions containing riboflavin, it has been observed that chlorotetracycline loses rapidly its activity if exposed to light. The photolytic decomposition of riboflavin has a desactivating effect on chlorotetracycline. This desactivation can be prevented by adding ascorbic acid or sodium thiosulphate. It is also recommanded to work at low pH and in subdued light. The study was carried out with pure solutions and one type of a composed feed.     

High-affinity peptide nucleic acid oligomers containing tricyclic cytosine analogues

[structure: see text] Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) monomers containing the tricyclic cytosine analogues phenoxazine, 9-(2-aminoethoxy)phenoxazine (G-clamp), and 9-(3-aminopropoxy)phenoxazine (propyl-G-clamp) have been synthesized. The modified nucleobases were incorporated into PNA oligomers using Boc-chemistry for solid-phase synthesis. PNAs containing single G-clamp modifications exhibit significantly enhanced affinity toward RNA and DNA targets relative to unmodified PNA while maintaining mismatch discrimination. These PNA G-clamp modifications exhibit the highest increase in affinity toward nucleic acid targets reported so far for PNA modifications.