Intramolecular exciplex and intermolecular excimer formation of 1,8-naphthalimide-linker-phenothiazine dyads

Steady-state fluorescence spectra were measured for 1,8-naphthahlimide-linker-phenothiazine dyads (NI-L-PTZ, where L = octamethylenyl ((CH2)8) and 3,6,9-trioxaundecyl ((CH2CH2O)3C2H4)), NI-C8-PTZ and NI-O-PTZ, as well as the NI derivatives substituted on the nitrogen atom with various linker groups without PTZ as the reference NI molecule in n-hexane. Normal fluorescence peaks were observed at 367-369 nm in all NI molecules together with a broader emission around 470 nm, which is assigned to the excimer emission between the NI in the singlet excited state (1NI*) and the NI moiety of another NI molecule (1[NI/NI]*). In addition, a broad peak around 600 nm was observed only for NI-L-PTZ, which is assigned to an intramolecular exciplex emission between donor (PTZ) and acceptor (NI) moieties in the excited singlet state, 1[NI-L-NI]*. The formation of an intramolecular exciplex corresponds to the existence of a conformer with a weak face-to-face interaction between the NI and PTZ moieties in the excited state because of the long and flexible linkers. The excited-state dynamics of the NI molecules in n-hexane were established by means of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Intramolecular excimer formation and photoinduced electron-transfer process in bis-1,8-naphthalimide dyads depending on the linker length

The photophysical properties of bis-1,8-naphthalimide (NI-L-NI) dyads with different linkers ( L = -C 3H 6-, -C 4H 8-, -C 6H 12-, -C 8H 16-, and -C 9H 18-) as well as the reference NI derivative (NI-C 7H 15) were investigated in CH 3CN and H 2O/CH 3CN (v/v = 1:9). The normal fluorescence peak of (1)NI*-L-NI was observed at 379 nm together with a broad emission at longer wavelength both in aprotic CH 3CN and in H 2O/CH 3CN, which is assigned to an excimer, (1)(NI-L-NI)*. The excimer emission maximum was blue-shifted with increasing length of the linker. The photoinduced electron-transfer process of NI-L-NI was also investigated in both solvents by using nanosecond-laser flash photolysis. The T 1-T n absorption band for (3)NI*-L-NI was observed around 470 nm in both solvents. In H 2O/CH 3CN, NI-L-NI is solvated with H 2O in the ground state to exist as solvated NI-L-NI. In the excited triplet state, the NI radical anion (NI (*-)) was generated via the intramolecular quenching of (3)NI*-L-NI by another NI moiety. The solvated NI (*-)-L-NI may undergo the proton abstraction process to give NI(H) (*)-L-NI, which can be confirmed by the transient absorption band at 410 nm. This band was not observed in pure aprotic CH 3CN.     

Intermolecular photoinduced electron-transfer of 1,8-naphthalimides in protic polar solvents

The intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) processes of 1,8-naphthalimide (NI) derivatives including NI-linker-phenothiazine dyads were investigated in a protic H(2)O/CH(3)CN (v/v=1:1) solvent using ns-laser flash photolysis with 355 nm-laser excitation. NI derivatives are surrounded by H(2)O in the ground state in H(2)O/CH(3)CN. The T(1)-T(n) absorption band of (3)NI* was observed at around 470 nm. The transient absorption band at around 410 nm increased concomitantly with the decay of (3)NI* in H(2)O/CH(3)CN. This implies that hydrated NI anion radical (NI*(-)) is primarily generated via the quenching of (3)NI* by NI at the diffusion control rate. This intermolecular PET did not occur in aprotic CH(3)CN. The formation and decay times of NI*(-) showed strong dependence on the concentration of NI. Then, we suggest that NI*(-) could undergo proton abstraction to give ketyl radical species of NI [NI(H)*] in H(2)O/CH(3)CN.     

Quinone methide generation via photoinduced electron transfer

Photochemical activation of water-soluble 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives (NIs) as alkylating agents has been achieved by irradiation at 310 and 355 nm in aqueous acetonitrile. Reactivity in aqueous and neat acetonitrile has been extensively investigated by laser flash photolysis (LFP) at 355 nm, as well as by steady-state preparative irradiation at 310 nm in the presence of water, amines, thiols, and ethyl vinyl ether. Product distribution analysis revealed fairly efficient benzylation of the amines, hydration reaction, and 2-ethoxychromane generation, in the presence of ethyl vinyl ether, resulting from a [4 + 2] cycloaddition onto a transient quinone methide. Remarkably, we found that the reactivity was dramatically suppressed under the presence of oxygen and radical scavengers, such as thiols, which was usually associated with side product formation. In order to unravel the mechanism responsible for the photoreactivity of these NI-based molecules, a detailed LFP study has been carried out with the aim to characterize the transient species involved. LFP data suggest a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) involving the NI triplet excited state (λ(max) 470 nm) of the NI core and the tethered quinone methide precursor (QMP) generating a radical ions pair NI(?-) (λ(max) 410 nm) and QMP(?+). The latter underwent fast deprotonation to generate a detectable phenoxyl radical (λ(max) 390 and 700 nm), which was efficiently reduced by the radical anion NI(?-), generating detectable QM. The mechanism proposed has been validated through a LFP investigation at 355 nm exploiting an intermolecular reaction between the photo-oxidant N-pentylnaphthalimide (NI-P) and a quaternary ammonium salt of a Mannich base as QMP (2a), in both neat and aqueous acetonitrile. Remarkably, these experiments revealed the generation of the model o-QM (λ(max) 400 nm) as a long living transient mediated by the same reactivity pathway. Negligible QM generation has been observed under the very same conditions by irradiation of the QMP in the absence of the NI. Owing to the NIs redox and recognition properties, these results represent the first step toward new molecular devices capable of both biological target recognition and photoreleasing of QMs as alkylating species, under physiological conditions.     

Rapid long-distance hole transfer through consecutive adenine sequence

Long-distance hole transfer via A-hopping over a long A sequence in DNA has been studied by time-resolved transient absorption measurements. DNA modified with naphthalimide (NI) and phenothiazine (PTZ), in which two molecules are separated by a consecutive A sequence, was synthesized to investigate the hole transfer process via A-hopping. After the laser-pulse excitation of NI, an NI radical anion and PTZ radical cation were produced within the laser pulse duration (8 ns) even in the case of an A30 sequence. Hole transfer efficiency from A adjacent to NI to PTZ was weakly distance dependent, showing that the hole transfer process through a consecutive A sequence proceeds via a multistep mechanism. These results clearly suggest that the hole transfer via A-hopping in DNA takes place efficiently and rapidly.     

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) based Zn2+ fluorescent probe: transformation of turn-on sensors into ratiometric ones with dual emission in acetonitrile

Ratiometric sensors for the detection of metal ions have gained increasing attention due to its self-calibration tendency for the environmental effects. In this context, we have synthesized and characterized a dual emitting ratiometric Zn(2+) probe (1) having acridinedione as a fluorophore and N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (BPA) as a receptor unit. Existence of two different conformation of the molecule with photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from amine moiety to the acridinedione fluorophore leads to dual emission, namely locally excited (425 nm) and anomalous charge transfer emission (560 nm) in aprotic solvents. In the presence of one equivalent of Zn(2+), a 15-fold fluorescence enhancement in the locally excited state together with the quenching of charge transfer emission is observed. The intensity changes at the two emission peaks allow a ratiometric detection of Zn(2+) under PET signaling mechanism. The utilization of PET process for the ratiometric fluorescence change will further signify the importance of PET mechanism in sensing action. Addition of Zn(2+) to 1 in acetonitrile/water mixtures shows a single emission peak with fluorescence enhancement.     

Contributions of the distance-dependent reorganization energy and proton-transfer to the hole-transfer process in DNA

A kinetic study of the single-step hole transfer in DNA was performed by measuring time-resolved transient absorption. DNA molecules with various sequences were designed and conjugated with naphthalimide (NI) and phenothiazine (PTZ) to investigate the sequence and distance dependence of the single-step hole transfer between guanines (Gs). Hole injection into DNA was accomplished by excitation of the NI site with a 355 nm laser pulse, and the kinetics of the hole-transfer process were investigated by monitoring the transient absorption of the PTZ radical cation (PTZ.+). Kinetic analysis of the time profile of PTZ.+ based on the kinetic model showed that the distance dependence of the hole-transfer process was significantly influenced by the DNA sequence. Results of temperature- and isotope-effect experiments demonstrated that the activation energy increased as the number of bridge bases separating the Gs increased. This is because of the distance-dependent reorganization energy and contribution of the proton-transfer process to the hole transfer in DNA.     

Negative kinetic temperature effect on the hydride transfer from NADH analogue BNAH to the radical cation of N-benzylphenothiazine in acetonitrile

The reaction rates of 1-(p-substituted benzyl)-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (G-BNAH) with N-benzylphenothiazine radical cation (PTZ(*+)) in acetonitrile were determined. The results show that the reaction rates (k(obs)) decreased from 2.80 x 10(7) to 2.16 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) for G = H as the reaction temperature increased from 298 to 318 K. The activation enthalpies of the reactions were estimated according to Eyring equation to give negative values (-3.4 to -2.9 kcal/mol). Investigation of the reaction intermediate shows that the charge-transfer complex (CT-complex) between G-BNAH and PTZ(*+) was formed in front of the hydride transfer from G-BNAH to PTZ(*+). The formation enthalpy of the CT-complex was estimated by using the Benesi-Hildebrand equation to give the values from -6.4 to -6.0 kcal/mol when the substituent G in G-BNAH changes from CH(3)O to Br. Detailed thermodynamic analyses on each elementary step in the possible reaction pathways suggest that the hydride transfer from G-BNAH to PTZ(*+) occurs by a concerted hydride transfer via a CT-complex. The effective charge distribution on the pyridine ring in G-BNAH at the various stages-the reactant G-BNAH, the charge-transfer complex, the transition-state, and the product G-BNA(+)-was estimated by using the method of Hammett-type linear free energy analysis, and the results show that the pyridine ring carries relative effective positive charges of 0.35 in the CT-complex and 0.45 in the transition state, respectively, which indicates that the concerted hydride transfer from G-BNAH to PTZ(*+) was practically performed by the initial charge (-0.35) transfer from G-BNAH to PTZ(*+) and then followed by the transfer of hydrogen atom with partial negative charge (-0.65). It is evident that the present work would be helpful in understanding the nature of the negative temperature effect, especially on the reaction of NADH coenzyme with the drug phenothiazine in vivo.     

Reactivity of aromatic amines with triplet 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone: a laser flash photolysis study

The property of the lowest excited triplet states of 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (DHAQ) was investigated by using time-resolved laser flash photolysis at 355nm in organic solvents, i.e. acetonitrile and cyclohexane. The transient absorption spectra of the excited triplet DHAQ were obtained in acetonitrile, which have an absorption maximum at 480nm and two broad absorption bands around 350 and 650nm. 3DHAQ(*) is efficiently quenched by triphenylamine (TPA) via photoinduced electron transfer pathway, which was testified by the finding of TPA radical cation. In addition, aniline derivatives such as N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA), 3,5,N,N-tetramethylaniline (TMA), 4-dimethylaminobenzoic acid (DMABA) and dimethyl-p-toluidine (DMT) could also quench 3DHAQ(*) rapidly. Evidence for electron transfer interaction with anilines in acetonitrile was obtained from transient spectral characterization of formed radicals. Experimental k(q) values approach the diffusion-controlled rate limit, and decrease significantly from DMT (1.85x10(10)M-1s-1) to DMABA (1.95x10(9)M-1s-1). These k(q) values depend on the charge density on the "N" atom of anilines, which could be quantified by Hammett sigma constant.     

Isolation and crystallographic characterization of a solid precipitate/intermediate in the preparation of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles from nitrile in water

The reactions of 2-, 3-, and 4-cyanopyridine with NaN(3) in the presence of H(2)O and Lewis acid (ZnCl(2)) afford discrete monomer, (2-PTZ)(2)Zn(H(2)O)(2) (1), 3D diamondoid-like network (3-PTZ)(2)Zn (2), and 2D layered network (4-PTZ)Zn(OH)(H(2)O) (3), respectively (PTZ = 5-(pyridyl)tetrazolato). Their solid state structures and natures give new insight into the Sharpless reaction of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazole. Interestingly, 2 crystallizes in a noncentrosymmetric space group and its powdered sample is second-harmonic generation active.     

Photoinduced electron transfer in multiporphyrinic interlocked structures: the effect of copper(I) coordination in the central site

Photoinduced processes have been determined in a [2]catenane containing a zinc(II) porphyrin, a gold(III) porphyrin, and two free phenanthroline binding sites, Zn-Au(+), and in the corresponding copper(I) phenanthroline complex, Zn-Cu(+)-Au(+). In acetonitrile solution Zn-Au(+) is present in two different conformations: an extended one, L, which accounts for 40 % of the total, and a compact one, S. In the L conformation, the electron transfer from the excited state of the Zn porphyrin to the gold-porphyrin unit (k = 1.3x10(9) s(-1)) is followed by a slow recombination (k = 8.3x10(7) s(-1)) to the ground state. The processes in the S conformation cannot be clearly resolved but a charge-separated (CS) state is rapidly formed and decays with a lifetime on the order of fifty picoseconds. In the catenate Zn-Cu(+)-Au(+), the zinc-porphyrin excited state initially transfers energy to the Cu(I)-phenantholine unit, producing a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited state localized on the copper complex with a rate k = 1.4x10(9) s(-1). From this excited state the transfer of an electron to the gold-porphyrin unit takes place, producing the CS state Zn-Cu(2+)-Au(.), which decays with a lifetime of 10 ns. The results are discussed in comparison with the closely related [2]rotaxane, in which a further charge shift from the copper center to the zinc-porphyrin unit leads to the fully CS state. Even in the absence of such full charge separation, it is shown that the lifetimes of the CS states are increased by a factor of about 2-2.5 over those of the corresponding rotaxanes.     

Photoinduced charge-separation and charge-recombination processes of fullerene[60] dyads covalently connected with phenothiazine and its trimer

Photoinduced charge-separation and charge-recombination processes of fullerene[60] dyads covalently connected with phenothiazine and its trimer (PTZ n -C 60, n = 1 and 3) with a short amide linkage were investigated. A time-resolved fluorescence study provided evidence of charge separation via the excited singlet state of a C 60 moiety ( (1)C 60*), which displayed high efficiencies in various solvents; Phi (S) CS (quantum yield of charge separation via (1)C 60*) = 0.59 (toluene) to 0.87 (DMF) for PTZ 1-C 60 and 0.78 (toluene) to 0.91 (DMF) for PTZ 3-C 60. The transient absorption measurement with a 6 ns time resolution in the visible and near-IR regions showed evidence of the generation of radical ion pairs in relatively polar solvents for both dyads. In nonpolar toluene, only PTZ 1- (3)C 60* was observed for PTZ 1-C 60, whereas PTZ 3- (3)C 60* as well as the radical ion pair state in equilibrium were observed for PTZ 3-C 60. The radical ion pairs had relatively long lifetimes: 60 (DMF) to 910 ns ( o-dichlorobenzene) for (PTZ) 1 (*+)-C 60 (*-) and 230 (PhCN) to 380 ns ( o-dichlorobenzene) for (PTZ) 3 (*+)-C 60 (*-). The small reorganization energy (lambda) and the electronic coupling element (| V|) were estimated by the temperature dependence of the charge-recombination rates, i.e., lambda = 0.53 eV and | V| = 1.6 cm (-1) for (PTZ) 3 (*+)-C 60 (*-).     

Dyads for photoinduced charge separation based on platinum diimine bis(acetylide) chromophores: synthesis,luminescence and transient absorption studies

The platinum diimine bis(acetylide) chromophore was utilized to explore photoinduced intramolecular reductive quenching with phenothiazine donors in chromophore-donor dyad complexes. Compounds of the general formula Pt(X(2)-bpy)(C triple bond C-p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)(D))(2) (where D = phenothiazine (PTZ) or trifluromethylphenothiazine (TPZ) and X = (t)Bu or CO(2)Et) were synthesized from the corresponding Pt(X(2)-bpy)Cl(2) and aryl acetylene by a CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction. Solvent dependence was explored for the system with X = (t)Bu in MeCN, CH(2)Cl(2), EtOAc, and toluene. Electron transfer quenching of the (3)MLCT excited state of the platinum diimine bis(acetylide) takes place in MeCN leaving no intrinsic emission from the excited state, but in toluene both the PTZ and TPZ dyad complexes exhibit no emission quenching. Picosecond pump-probe transient absorption (TA) experiments were used to monitor decay of the (3)MLCT excited state and electron transfer to form the charge-separated (CS) state. Electrochemical measurements were used to estimate the driving force for charge recombination (CR), with deltaE(CR) based on the reduction potential corresponding to Pt(X(2)-bpy)(C triple bond C-Ar)(2) --> Pt(X(2)-bpy(*)(-))(C triple bond C-Ar)(2) and the oxidation corresponding to donor --> donor(*)(+). Kinetic information from the TA measurements was used to correlate rate and driving force with the electron transfer reactions. Concomitant with the decay of the (3)MLCT excited state was the observation of a transient absorption at ca. 500 nm due to formation of the PTZ or TPZ radical cation in the CS state, with the rate of charge separation, k(CS), being 1.8 x 10(9) to 2 x 10(10) s(-1) for the three dyads explored in MeCN and 1:9 CH(2)Cl(2)/MeCN. The fastest rate of CR occurs for X = CO(2)Et and D = PTZ, the compound with smallest deltaE(CR) = 1.71 V. The rate of CR for dyads with X = (t)Bu and D = PTZ or TPZ was estimated to be 1.7-2.0 x 10(8) s(-1) in MeCN. The slower rate corresponds to a greater driving force for CR, deltaE(CR) = 2.18 and 2.36 V for D = PTZ and TPZ, respectively, suggesting that the driving force for charge recombination places it in the Marcus inverted region.     

Photo-induced electron transfer study of rhenium(I) bipyridyl complexes with covalently linked phenothiazine donor through different bridge

A novel rhenium(I) bipyridyl complex 1a, [(4,4’-di-COOEt-bpy)Re(CO)₃(py-NHCO-PTZ)PF₆] and a model 1b, [(4,4’-di-COOEt-bpy)Re(CO)₃(py-PTZ)PF₆] (bpy is 2, 2’-bipyridine, py-NHCO-PTZ is phenothiazine-(10-carbonyl amide) pyridine and py-PTZ is 10-(4-picolyl) phenothiazine) were synthesized. Their photo-induced electron transfer (ET) reaction with electron acceptor methyl viologen (MV²⁺) in acetonitrile was studied by nanosecond laser flash photolysis at room temperature. Photoexcitation of 1 in the presence of MV²⁺ led to ET from the Re moiety to MV²⁺ generating Re(II) and methyl viologen radical (MV^·+). Then Re(II) was reduced either by the charge recombination with MV^·+ or by intramolecular ET from the attached PTZ, regenerating the photosensitizer Re(I) and forming the PTZ radical at 510 nm. In the case of 1b, the absorption for PTZ radical can be observed distinctly accompanied intermolecular ET, whereas not much difference at 510 nm can be detected for 1a on the time scale of the experiments. This demonstrates that the linking bridge plays a key role on the intramolecular ET in complex 1.     

Imidazole functionalized magnesium phthalocyanine photosensitizer: modified photophysics, singlet oxygen generation and photooxidation mechanism

Magnesium phthalocyanine (MgPc) was covalently attached by four imidazole units to form a novel photosensitizer (PS). The photophysical processes within the dyad PS were explored by steady state and time-resolved fluorescence as well as laser flash photolysis. Although the imidazole units caused a 50% decrease in fluorescence quantum yield and a remarkable shortening of fluorescence lifetime of the MgPc moiety, the triplet yield (Φ(T)) is higher and the triplet lifetime becomes longer. The transient absorption bands for MgPc(?-) were observed, indicating the occurrence of intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from imidazole subunits to the lowest excited singlet state (S(1)) of the MgPc moiety. The kinetic and thermodynamic analysis also supports the involvement of PET in S(1) deactivation. The quantum efficiency of photosensitized oxidation of diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) by the PS is 0.52. This value is much higher than Φ(T) (0.26), since DPBF is photo-oxidized not only by singlet oxygen (type II reaction, 54%) but also by superoxide anion radical (type I reaction, 46%). The result suggests that the mechanism of photosensitized oxidation could be changed upon the conjugation of a PS to biological molecules, so that the importance of type I reaction is enhanced.     

Triazole bridges as versatile linkers in electron donor-acceptor conjugates

Aromatic triazoles have been frequently used as π-conjugated linkers in intramolecular electron transfer processes. To gain a deeper understanding of the electron-mediating function of triazoles, we have synthesized a family of new triazole-based electron donor-acceptor conjugates. We have connected zinc(II)porphyrins and fullerenes through a central triazole moiety--(ZnP-Tri-C(60))--each with a single change in their connection through the linker. An extensive photophysical and computational investigation reveals that the electron transfer dynamics--charge separation and charge recombination--in the different ZnP-Tri-C(60) conjugates reflect a significant influence of the connectivity at the triazole linker. Except for the m4m-ZnP-Tri-C(60)17, the conjugates exhibit through-bond photoinduced electron transfer with varying rate constants. Since the through-bond distance is nearly the same for all the synthesized ZnP-Tri-C(60) conjugates, the variation in charge separation and charge recombination dynamics is mainly associated with the electronic properties of the conjugates, including orbital energies, electron affinity, and the energies of the excited states. The changes of the electronic couplings are, in turn, a consequence of the different connectivity patterns at the triazole moieties.     

Unexpected photochemistry and charge-transfer complexes of [CB(11)H(12)](-) carborane

Although the [CB(11)H(12)](-) carborane does not exhibit an absorption band in UV, its triplet excited state can be generated upon 308 nm laser excitation; also unexpectedly carborane acts as electron donor forming a charge transfer complex with methylviologen that upon illumination gives rise to viologen radical cation.     

Singlet and triplet excited-state interactions and photochemical reactivity of phenyleneethynylene oligomers

The rigid rodlike character of phenyleneethynylenes and their ability to communicate charge/excitation energy over long distances have made them useful as molecular linkers in the light energy harvesting assemblies and molecular electronics devices. These linker molecules themselves possess rich photochemistry as evident from the relatively large yields of the excited singlet (0.5-0.66) and triplet (0.4-0.5) states of two model oligomers, 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)-2,5-bis(hexyloxy)benzene (OPE-1) and 1,4-bis((4-phenylethynyl)phenylethynyl)-2,5-bis(hexyloxy)benzene (OPE-2). In particular, the long-lived triplet excited state is capable of undergoing deactivation by self-quenching processes such as ground-state quenching and triplet-triplet (T-T) annihilation. The T-T annihilation occurs with a nearly diffusion-controlled rate (approximately 2 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)), and ground-state quenching occurs with a rate constant of approximately 6 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). The electron transfer from the excited OPE-1 and OPE-2 to benzoquinone as characterized from the transient absorption spectroscopy illustrates the ability of these molecules to shuttle the electrons to acceptor moieties. In addition, pulse radiolysis experiments confirm the spectroscopic fingerprint of the cation radical (or "trapped hole") with absorption bands in the 500-600 nm region.     

Photoinduced electron transfer in crystal violet (CV)–bovine serum albumin (BSA) system: evaluation of reaction paths and radical intermediates

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from excited probes attached to proteins is of considerable current interest. Photochemical processes following 532 nm excitation of triphenyl methane dye, crystal violet (CV⁺) bound to a protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), have been investigated in picosecond (ps) to microseconds (μs) time scales by flash photolysis technique. The excited singlet state lifetime of CV⁺ is found to be increased to 130 ps as compared to 1–5 ps for the unbound dye in low viscosity solvents. From flash photolysis studies in microsecond region, transient absorption in the region 650 nm is observed which is attributed to the dication radical CV√²⁺ formed by electron transfer from ³CV^+* to BSA, contrary to electron transfer from BSA to the excited dye as proposed in a recent report. Supporting spectral evidence for the electron transfer from ³CV^+* to BSA is obtained from pulse radiolysis studies.     

Combined experimental and computational study of intramolecular charge transfer in p-N,N-dimethylamino-p'-cyano-diphenylacetylene

A concerted experi-mental (time-resolved spectroscopies) and computational (TDDFT) study of p-N,N-dimethylamino-p'-cyano-diphenylacetylene (DACN-DPA) has been carried out to probe the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) reaction that occurs in polar solvents. The picosecond transient absorption, as well as fluorescence, in acetonitrile reveals the formation of a twisted ICT(σ*) state, which involves transfer of an electron from the 4-(dimethylamino)benzethyne moiety (DMAB) to the benzonitrile (BN) group. This ICT(σ*) state, with a large dipole moment (24.7 D) and a geometry in which the plane of electron-accepting BN group is perpendicular to the plane electron-donating DMAB moiety and the angles of C(DMAB)C≡C is 135.0°, is responsible for the greatly Stokes-shifted (～8000 cm(-1)) fluorescence and the transient absorption bands (with peaks at about 630 and 425 nm), which decays with the same lifetime (～780 ps). It is proposed that the 630 nm picosecond transient absorption of the ICT state represents the absorption spectrum of dimethylaminobenzethyne radical cation and the 425 nm transient represents the absorption spectrum of benzonitrile radical anion. In nonpolar n-hexane, most of the fluorescence as well as the major component of the transient absorption originate from the S(1) (ππ*) state.