Excited state intramolecular proton transfer of 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy

1,2-Dihydroxyanthraquinone (alizarin) shows dual emission bands with a large Stokes shift from a “locally-excited (LE)” and “proton-transferred (PT)” tautomers in the excited state. Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction of alizarin is tunable by changing concentration, solvent polarity, excitation wavelength, and etc. ESIPT reaction of alizarin in the excited state was investigated by steady-state absorption/emission spectroscopy and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. In ethanol solution, the lifetime of PT tautomer of alizarin was measured as 87 ps, in addition to 0.35 and 8.3 ps vibrational cooling dynamics for the LE and PT tautomers of alizarin, respectively. In binary mixtures of ethanol and water, the excited state dynamics became more complicated; the LE and PT tautomers appeared to decay with 8.9 and 30.8 ps lifetimes, which is much shorter compared to the lifetime of the PT tautomer in ethanol. A long-lived nonradiative state in the excited states of alizarin was found as well, which was proposed as a “trapped” state with tightly hydrogen-bonded water molecules. The ESIPT reaction of alizarin was blocked in a 1:1 mixture of ethanol-water due to strong hydrogen bonding between water molecules and alizarin, which was further confirmed by the efficient coupling of alizarin to TiO₂ nanoparticles in the 1:1 binary mixture of ethanol-water.     

1-Hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde: A prospective excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) probe with multi-faceted applications

The present account aims at amassing and recounting on our series of spectroscopic studies with a potential excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) probe 1-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde (HN12). After a detailed investigation from experimental as well as theoretical viewpoints, a deeper insight into the photophysics of the selected molecular system is provided from thorough spectral deciphering of the effects of solvent, medium pH and temperature. In the following sections, the ESIPT emission of HN12 has been documented to be a potential avenue wherefrom characterization of a wide variety of biological, biomimetic and supramolecular assemblies has been executed to commendable fruition. Efforts are also invested to delineate the location, distribution and strength of interaction of the probe with various microheterogeneous environments.     

激发态质子转移分子2-(2'-羟基苯基)苯并噻唑在不同溶剂中的光谱特性

观测了2-(2’-羟基苯基)苯并噻唑(HBT)在不同极性溶剂中的吸收光谱和荧光光谱,详细研究了溶剂极性对HBT发生激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)影响的机制。吸收光谱表明在常态条件下,HBT在各种溶剂中都以烯醇式构型和酮式构型共同存在,但以烯醇式构型占绝大多数。荧光光谱表明在纯环己烷溶剂中,HBT被紫外光激发时,绝大多数烯醇式构型发生ESIPT转变为酮式构型,分子的ESIPT效率最大。在含有乙醇的极性溶剂中,HBT烯醇式会形成溶剂化的烯醇式构型,阻碍分子发生ESIPT反应。溶剂中乙醇含量愈多极性愈强,溶剂化烯醇式的成份就愈多,HBT的ESIPT效率就愈低。以400 nm光激发HBT溶液时,在510 nm处发现酮式构型荧光,从而确认了400 nm处的弱吸收是酮式构型的吸收;且在436和456nm处还有新的荧光峰,分析其可能来源于酮式构型去质子化阴离子的发射。     

Synthesis,Structure, Luminescent and Intramolecular Proton Transfer in Some Imidazole Derivatives

A group of novel 2-aryl imidazole derivatives were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectra, X-ray, mass and CHN analysis. An excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process in hydroxy imidazoles (dmip and dmtip) have been studied using emission spectroscopy and it was detected that the two distinct ground state rotamers of I and II are responsible for the normal and the tautomer emission respectively. In hydrocarbon solvent, the tautomer emission predominates over the normal emission for both dmip and dmtip. This reveal that rotamer II is responsible for the tautomer emission and it is stabler than rotamer I which causes the normal emission. In alcoholic solvent like ethanol, a dramatic enhancement of normal emission is observed which was due to increased solvation, the more polar rotamer I become stabler than rotamer II. In dioxane—water mixtures it is observed that the addition of water inhibits the ESIPT process due to the formation of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving water. DFT calculations on energy, dipole moment, charge distribution of the rotamers in the ground and excited states of the imidazole derivatives were performed and discussed. PES calculation indicates that the energy barrier for the interconversion of two rotamers is too high in the excited state than the ground state.     

激发态质子转移分子2-（2′-羟基苯基）苯并噻唑在不同溶剂中的光谱特性

观测了2-（2′-羟基苯基）苯并噻唑（HBT）在不同极性溶剂中的吸收光谱和荧光光谱,详细研究了溶剂极性对HBT发生激发态分子内质子转移（ESWT）影响的机制。吸收光谱表明在常态条件下,HBT在各种溶剂中都以烯醇式构型和酮式构型共同存在,但以烯醇式构型占绝大多数。荧光光谱表明在纯环己烷溶剂中,HBT被紫外光激发时,绝大多数烯醇式构型发生ESIPPT转变为酮式构型,分子的ESIPT效率最大。在含有乙醇的极性溶剂中,HBT烯醇式会形成溶剂化的烯醇式构型,阻碍分子发生ESIPT反应。溶剂中乙醇含量愈多极性愈强,溶剂化烯醇式的成份就愈多,HBT的ESIPT效率就愈低。以400nm光激发HBT溶液时,在510nm处发现酮式构型荧光,从而确认了400nm处的弱吸收是酮式构型的吸收;且在436和456nm处还有新的荧光峰,分析其可能来源于酮式构型去质子化阴离子的发射。     

Fluorescence Characteristics of some Flavones Probes in Different Micellar Media

The fluorescence characteristics of five hydroxiflavones (HFs) (some typical models of flavonols), (3 - HF, 6 - HF, 7-HF, 3, 6 - diHF and 3, 7-diHF) in the micellar media of non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100), anionic surfactant (SDS) and the block copolymer Pluronic F127, have been investigated by means of UV–Vis and steady-state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopies. Attention is paid to both excited-state intra-molecular proton transfer (ESIPT) as well as ground-state intermolecular proton transfer. The influence of the -OH groups as well as the effect of temperature on the dual fluorescence emission, the Normal and Tautomer emissions, are also investigated. The fluorescence quantum yield of the HFs in mentioned micellar media has been also determined. The results are discussed with relevance to the local environment of HFs as sensitive fluorescence probe in biological membrane systems.     

Coumarin-Pyrazole Hybrid with Red Shifted ESIPT Emission and AIE Characteristics - a Comprehensive Study

The newly synthesized three coumarin pyrazole hybrid excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) dyes show efficient charge transfer from the pyrazole ring and the coumarin towards the electron withdrawing dicyanovinylene group as revealed from the frontier molecular orbitals. Aggregation induced emission enhancement (AIEE) studies with 2-((3-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methylene) malononitrile showed 9 fold increase in the emission enhancement in 90% DMF-H₂O mixture. Lippert-Mataga theory explained the solvatochromic behavior of the dyes in various solvents. The charge transfer characteristics and non-linear optical (NLO) properties have been supported and correlated with bond length alternation, bond order alternation and vibrational spectrum. As values of bond order alternation (BOA) tend to be more towards negative and as the value of α increases β decreases while the values of γ depends on the values of α and β. The observed values of γ are positive which revealed that β contributes significantly. The dyes exhibit linear and NLO properties superior to urea. (E)-2-(3-(2-(3-(4-Hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)vinyl)-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene) malononitrile shows enhanced linear and non-linear properties among the three dyes.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Molecules Containing Thiazole and Oxazole Moieties and Study of ESIPT Phenomenon

Two novel ESIPT molecules, 2-[4-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)naphtho[1,2-d][1,3]oxazol-2-yl]phenol 9a and 4-[4-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)naphtho[1,2-d][1,3]oxazol-2-yl]benzene-1,3-diol 9b were synthesized by condensing 1-amino-3-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)naphthalen-2-ol with 2-hydroxybenzoic acid and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid respectively. The novel compounds were characterized by FT-IR, (1)H NMR, Mass spectral and elemental analysis. Effect of polarity on photo physical properties, absorption and emission were studied. Compounds showed single absorption and dual emission due to ESIPT phenomenon. The structural changes due to ESIPT phenomenon in terms of bond angle, bond distances and geometry were investigated by using Gaussian 03 software. These two novel ESIPT molecules are thermally stable up to 200?°C.     

All-optical switchings of 3-hydroxyflavone in different solvents

3-hydroxyflavone （3-HF） is an organic molecule with an excited-stated intramolecular proton transfer （ESIPT） effect. All-optical switchings and beam deflections of 3-HF in three kinds of solvents （cyclohexane, ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide） have been investigated by using the third-harmonic generation （355 nm） of a mode-locked Nd：YAG laser as a pump beam and a continuous-wave （cw） He-Ne laser （632.8 nm） as a probe beam. The nonlinear refractive indices of 3-HF in the three different solvents are determined by using the Z-scan technique under an ultraviolet （UV） pump beam at a wavelength of 355 nm. It has been found that the optical switching and beam deflection effects result from the change in refractive index of 3-HF under the irradiation of the pump beam. On the basis of the analyses of absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra, we conclude that the change in refractive index of 3-HF is due to not the thermal effect but the ESIPT effect of 3-HF under the pump beam. As the ESIPT is exceedingly fast, 3-HF might be an excellent candidate for high-speed optical switching.     

Excited state intramolecular proton transfer in amino 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzazole derivatives: Effects of the solvent and the amino group position

The excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism in six amino 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzazole derivatives were investigated in different solvents by means of UV-vis absorption and steady-state fluorescence. The amino benzazoles are fluorescent in the blue-orange region under UV radiation. Changes in the absorption, emission and excitation spectra were analyzed and correlated to the position of the amino group and the solvent polarity. The equilibrium between the conformers in solution in the ground state, confirmed by the solvatochromic effect, reflects the dual fluorescence emission presented by these dyes.     

Theoretical investigation on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer in Me_2N substituted flavonoid by the time-dependent density functional theory method

Time-dependent density functional theory(TDDFT) method is used to investigate the details of the excited state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) process and the mechanism for temperature effect on the Enol*/Keto*emission ratio for the Me_2N-substited flavonoid(MNF) compound. The geometric structures of the S_0 and S_1 states are denoted as the Enol, Enol*, and Keto*. In addition, the absorption and fluorescence peaks are also calculated. It is noted that the calculated large Stokes shift is in good agreement with the experimental result. Furthermore, our results confirm that the ESIPT process happens upon photoexcitation, which is distinctly monitored by the formation and disappearance of the characteristic peaks of infrared(IR) spectra involved in the proton transfer and in the potential energy curves. Besides, the calculations of highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO) reveal that the electronegativity change of proton acceptor due to the intramolecular charge redistribution in the S_1 state induces the ESIPT. Moreover, the thermodynamic calculation for the MNF shows that the Enol*/Keto*emission ratio decreasing with temperature increasing arises from the barrier lowering of ESIPT.     

Computational prediction on photophysical properties of two excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) fluorophores bearing the benzothiazole group

ABSTRACT

In this contribution, the photophysical properties of two excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) fluorophores of 2,6-dibenzothiazolyl-4-methylphenol (I) and 2-benzothiazolyl-6-(2-(benzothiazolyl)vinyl)-4-methylphenol (II) were studied by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods at the PBE0 theoretical level. To probe into the origin of the absorption and emission bands observed experimentally, the absorption and emission spectra of I and II were simulated by the TD-PBE0/6-311?+?G(d,p) calculations. In addition, the photo-induced proton enol–keto tautomerization of the two targeted molecules was also explored. The present studies indicate that a good agreement is found between theoretical predictions and experimental data. Moreover, both of these molecules can undergo an ultrafast ESIPT process, which should be responsible for the single proton-transfer tautomer emission.     

A DFT/TD-DFT study of effect of different substituent on ESIPT fluorescence features of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-4-chloro- methylthiazole derivatives

Based on density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), the effects of substituent on the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process and photophysical properties of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-4-chloromethylthiazole (HCT) are studied. The electron-donating group (CH₃, OH) and electron-withdrawing group (CF₃, CHO) are introduced to analyze the changes of intramolecular H-bond, the frontier molecular orbitals, the absorption/fluorescence spectra, and the energy barrier of ESIPT process. The calculation results indicate that electron-donating group strengthens the intramolecular H-bond in the S₁ state, and leads to an easier ESIPT process. The electron-withdrawing group weakens the corresponding H-bond and makes ESIPT process a little harder. Different substituents also affect the photophysical properties of HCT. The electron-withdrawing group (CF₃, CHO) has a little effect on electronic spectra. The electron-donating group (CH₃, OH) red-shifts both the absorption and fluorescence emission peaks of HCT, respectively, which causes the Stokes shift to increase.     

A Comprehensive Therotical Investigation of Intramolecular Proton Transfer in the Excited States for Some Newly-designed Diphenylethylene Derivatives Bearing 2-(2-Hydroxy-Phenyl)-Benzotriazole Part

This article presents a comprehensive therotical investigation of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) for some newly-designed diphenylethylene derivatives containing 2-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-benzotriazole moiety with various substituted groups. The calculation shows the structural parameters and Mulliken charges of phototautomers enol (E) and keto (K) of these compounds exhibit no or tiny changes from S₀ to S₁. The calculated results suggest that HOMO and LUMO + 1 of the compounds displays excellent overlapping nature, and thus the absorption and emission could be from the electron transition of HOMO→LUMO + 1. The electron density distribution in the frontier orbital of E and K are influenced remarkably by various substituted groups in S₀ and S₁ states. Electron density distribution deficiency in 2-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-benzotriazole part is observed in L + 1 for these derivatives. The calculation also suggests the potential energy curves of ESIPT are shown to be a strong relationship with electron donor-acceptor groups. The absorption spectra, normal emission spectra and ESIPT spectra of the derivatives were also calculated.     

Dual-Fluorescence Probe of Environment Basicity (Hydrogen Bond Accepting Ability) Displaying no Sensitivity to Polarity

3-Hydroxyquinolones (3HQs) are a new class of water soluble dual fluorescence probes that can monitor both polarity and basicity (H-bond accepting ability) parameters. Both parameters play an important role in proteins and lipid membranes. Nevertheless, no method exists actually to measure the basicity parameter separately from the polarity. To achieve this aim, we synthesized 2-benzofuryl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone (3HQ-Bf) and characterized its photophysical properties by UV, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Due to its extended conjugation and totally planar conformation, 3HQ-Bf is characterized by a high fluorescence quantum yield. In solution, this dye shows an excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction resulting in two tautomer bands in the emission spectra. The ESIPT reaction can be considered as irreversible and is governed by rate constants from 0.6 to 8 × 10⁹ s⁻¹, depending on the solvent. The analysis of the spectral properties of 3HQ-Bf in a series of organic solvents revealed a marginal sensitivity to the solvent polarity, but an exquisite sensitivity to solvent basicity, as shown by the linear dependence of the logarithm of the emission bands intensity ratio, log(I_N*/I_T*), as well as the absorption or emission maxima wavenumbers as a function of the solvent basicity parameter. This probe may find useful applications through coupling to a protein ligand, for characterizing the H-bond acceptor ability at the ligand binding site as well as for studying the basicity changes of lipid membranes during their chemo- and thermotropic conversions.     

Theoretical insight into the excited‐state behavior of a novel Compound 1: A TDDFT investigation

In the present work, using density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, we investigated and presented the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanisms of a novel Compound 1 theoretically. Analyses of electrostatic potential surfaces and reduced density gradient (RDG) versus sign(λ₂)ρ, we confirm the existence of intramolecular hydrogen bond O1‐H2···N3 for Compound 1 in the S₀ state. Comparing the primary structural variations of Compound 1 involved in the intramolecular hydrogen bond, we find that O1‐H2···N3 should be strengthened in the S₁ state, which may facilitate the ESIPT process. Concomitantly, infrared (IR) vibrational spectra analyses further verify the stability of hydrogen bond. In addition, the role of charge transfer interaction has been addressed under the frontier molecular orbitals, which depicts the nature of electronical excited state and supports the ESIPT reaction. The theoretically scanned and optimized potential energy curves according to variational O1‐H2 coordinate demonstrate that the proton transfer process should occur spontaneously in the S₁ state. It further explains why the emission peak of Compound 1‐enol was not reported in previous experiment. This work not only presents the ESIPT mechanism of Compound 1 but also promotes the understanding of this kind of molecules for further applications in future.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of PVP kinetic inhibitor in liquid water and hydrate/liquid water systems

The possible effects of PVP (poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)) on the properties of liquid and water in clathrate hydrate has been investigated using NVT molecular dynamics simulations. A model for a monomer of the PVP polymer is immersed in three systems, liquid water, a unit cell of a hydrate in liquid water with a hydrate former and a third system where some of the liquid water molecules of this last system are replaced by a PVP monomer. Both molecular dynamics simulation and integral equation theory predict hydrogen bonding between the double bonded oxygen in the PVP ring and hydrogens in water. For the composite system, the PVP monomer has a preference for hydrogen bonding to hydrogens from the water molecules at the surface of the hydrate lattice. The simulations indicate that the PVP monomer tends to orient perpendicular to the hydrate surface. For the model systems in this study PVP may form hydrogen bonds with liquid water through the double bonded oxygen in the ring. When a hydrate crystal is immersed in the liquid water phase this hydrogen bonding is shifted towards the hydrate due to a more favourable Coulomb interaction involving hydrogens from more than one water molecule at the hydrate surface. The PVP monomer has a preference for perpendicular orientation with respect to the hydrate surface. A scheme is suggested for the characterization of kinetic hydrate inhibitors based on molecular dynamics simulations and on three basic properties. In addition to the energy between the active groups of the inhibitor and hydrate water another point of focus is the free energy changes in the interactions between the inhibitor and water as the charges are changed from zero to the original model charges. In particular the difference between this integral for the (hydrate water)–(PVP monomer) interaction and the (liquid water)–(PVP inhibitor) interaction should reflect the driving forces in freezing the inhibitor out from the liquid water phase and onto the hydrate surface. The third property in the characterization scheme is the diffusivities of groups connecting to the hydrate crystal, relative to the diffusivities of the hydrate crystal. Results are presented from simulations where a small cavity with a methane model as a guest is immersed in liquid water with free methane molecules at a temperature of 150K. Changes in structure, diffusivities and energy indicate a tendency towards a more solid–like structurde around the cavity.     

Characterization of a fiberoptic radiotherapy dosimetry probe based on Mg2SiO4:Tb

In this work the feasibility of using Mg₂SiO₄:Tb as a fiberoptic radioluminescent (RL) dosimetry probe for real-time dosimetry has been investigated for the first time. In particular, the stability of the RL signal after repeated use, the spectrum of the RL emission and the dose-rate response curve of a Mg₂SiO₄:Tb-based fiberoptic probe have been determined. The probe has been also used to obtain a percentage dose depth curve in a water phantom and its performance has been compared to that of a standard ion chamber. Besides, its absolute RL yield has been compared to that of an RL probe based on the commercial Al₂O₃:C phosphor.     

Probing the Microscopic Aspects of 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Trifluoroacetate Ionic Liquid and Its Mixture with Water and Methanol: A Photophysical and Theoretical (DFT) Study

Considering the potential of mixed ionic liquid-cosolvent systems in wide range of applications, photophysical and theoretical studies on an industrially important ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate (BMIMTFA), and also its mixture with water and methanol have been investigated. Two organic dipolar solutes coumarin 153 (C153) and 2-aminonitrofluorene (ANF) have been used as the probe molecule for the present study. Steady-state absorption and emission spectral behavior of C153 has not been significantly influenced by both the cosolvents. However, excitation wavelength dependent measurements with ANF in the BMIMTFA-water and BMIMTFA-methanol show entirely different photophysical response. For BMIMTFA-methanol system the average solvation and rotational time is found to be less than that in BMIMTFA-water system. Quite interestingly, time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements reveal two different solute-solvent coupling constant (C _obs ) even if same mole fraction of water and methanol is used for the mixed solvent systems. Theoretical calculations also reveal stronger intermolecular interaction between IL and methanol than that between IL and water. The present combined photophysical and theoretical calculations seem to suggest different microscopic structural organization in the two binary systems.     

ESIPT reaction starting from S2 and S3 singlet states in 3-hydroxyflavone

Spectra fluorescence at excitation of emission within spectral intervals of S₃, S₂ and S₁ bands of absorption, and excitation at registration of fluorescence at maxima of blue and green bands of emission have been studied in 3-hydroxyflavone solution. A possibility of ESIPT reaction starting from S₃ and S₂ states of parent 3HF molecule was shown for the first time follows from observations of differences in excitation spectra of normal and tautomer forms of 3HF, and from different ratios of these forms intensities upon excitation in different ranges of UV spectra of absorption.