Electronic emission and absorption spectra and the effect of hydrogen bonding on the ground and excited electronic states of some anilines

From electronic absorption and emission spectra in solutions it appears that intramolecular hydrogen bonding, strong enough to resist rupture by dioxane, exists in o-chloroaniline in the excited state only. Fluorescence quenching behaviour in the presence of dioxane indicates that intermolecular hydrogen bonding significantly increases intersystem crossing rate in m-chloroaniline only. This and other emission spectral characteristics in this hydrogen bonding solvent at 77 K show that the first excited singlet electronic state S₁ of m-chloroaniline is ππ*, whereas the states S₁ of aniline, toluidines and p-chloroanilines have some nπ* character. On formation of intermolecular hydrogen bond in dioxane, the corresponding triplet states of the molecules acquire pronounced nπ* character. An examination of phosphorescence decay curves reveals triplet complex formation in m- and p-chloroaniline but there is no evidence of triplet complex in the other aromatic amines studied.     

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.     

Triplet excited states of nitronaphthalenes. II. b-Nitronaphthalene

Nanosecond flash photolysis of b-nitronaphthalene (b-NO₂C₁₀H₇) in nonpolar and polar solvents shows a transient species with maximum absorption and lifetime dependent on solvent polarity. In deaerated n-hexane the absorption maximum and lifetime (1/k) are 425 nm and 530 nsec, while in deaerated ethanol the corresponding values are 470 nm and 1.7 ·sec. This transient absorption is attributed to the triplet excited state of b-NO₂C₁₀H₇, and the observed red shift as well as its longer lifetime in polar solvents are indicative of the intramolecular charge transfer character of this state. The change of dipole moment accompanying the transition T₁ → T_n, as well as rate constants for electron and proton transfer reactions involving the T₁ state of b-NO₂C₁₀H₇, were determined. The spectroscopic and kinetic data obtained in this work indicate that the triplet state of b-NO₂C₁₀H₇ behaves like a n-π* state in nonpolar media, while in polar solvents the n-π* character of the state is reduced with a simultaneous increase in the charge transfer character.     

The triplet state of 4-nitro-N,N-dimethynaphthylamine

Nanosecond laser photolytic studies of 4-nitro-N,N-dimethylnaphthylamine (4-NDMNA) in nonpolar and polar solvents at room temperature show a transient species with an absorption maximum in the 500-510-nm range. This species is assigned to the lowest triplet excited state of 4-NDMNA. The absorption maximum of this state is independent of solvent polarity, and its lifetime is a function of the hydrogen donor efficiency of the solvent. In n-hexane the lifetime 1/k of the triplet state is 9.1 × 10^?6 sec, while in acetonitrile 1/k is 2.0 × 10^?7 sec. The hydrogen abstraction rate constant k_H of the triplet state with tributyl tin hydride (Bu₃SnH) in n-hexane is 1.7 × 10⁷M^?1·sec^?1, while in the case of isopropyl alcohol as hydrogen donor, k_H is 4.0 × 10⁷M^?1·sec^?1. The activation energy for the hydrogen abstraction by the triplet state from Bu₃SnH in deaerated n-hexane is 0.6 kcal/mol. The lack of spectral shift with increasing solvent polarity, and the appreciable hydrogen abstraction reactivity of the triplet state, also independent of solvent polarity, seem to indicate that this excited state is an n-π* state which retains its n-π* character even in polar media.     

Photophysical Properties of Pyrazinopsoralen,A New Monofunctional Psoralen*

Abstract— Pyrazinopsoralen (PzPs), a new monofunctional psoralen, has a UV absorption spectrum similar to other psoralens except that it absorbs more strongly in the long-UVA than 8-methoxypsoralen. The solvent effects on the UV absorption and fluorescence emission spectra indicate that the lowest excited singlet state is the π,π* state like other psoralen derivatives. It shows a much lower fluorescence quantum yield (0.0008 in ethanol at room temperature) than the other psoralens as expected by the increased proximity effect (vibronic perturbation) due to close ¹(n,π*) to ¹(π,π*) states. The fluorescence lifetime was 1.05 ns in methylcyclohexane with a single exponential decay, while more than two components were observed in other solvents with the short-lived component being the major (>95%). The triplet state of PzPs could not be detected by phosphorescence, laser flash excitation (T-T absorption) and singlet oxygen formation probably due to very low φ_isc, or short lifetime of the triplet state (τ_T) caused by the fast T₁→ S₀ intersystem crossing.     

Triplet excited states of nitronaphthalenes. III. 1,4-dinitronaphthalene

Nanosecond flash photolysis of 1,4-dinitronaphthalene (1,4-DNO₂N) in aerated and deaerated solvents shows a transient species with absorption maximum at 545 nm. The maximum of the transient absorption is independent of solvent polarity and its lifetime seems to be a function of the hydrogen donor efficiency of the solvent. The transient absorption is attributed to the lowest excited triplet state of 1,4-DNO₂N. The reactivity of this state for hydrogen abstraction from tributyl tin hydride (Bu₃SnH), K_q = 3.8 × 10⁸M^?1 sec, is almost equal to that of nitrobezene triplet state which has been characterized as an n → π* state. Based on spectroscopic and kinetic evidence obtained in the present work, the triplet state of 1,4-DNO₂N behaves as an n → π* state in nonpolar solvents, while in polar solvents the state is predominantly n → π* with a small amount of intramolecular charge transfer character.     

Picosecond time-resolved spectroscopy and the intersystem crossing rates of anthrone and fluorenone

The rise time of the T_n ← T₁ absorption of anthrone in benzene is determined to be 70 ps. The mechanism of efficient intersystem crossing of anthrone has been discussed and is compared with that of benzophenene. The rise time of fluorenone has been found to be sensitive to solvent, changing from 140 ps in cyclohexane to 12 ns in acetone. This tendency is explained in terms of the change in the character of the lowest excited singlet state of fluorenone from ππ^* in acetone to nπ^* in cyclohexane.     

Photophysical Properties of Some Methyl-Substituted Angelicins: Fluorometric and Flash Photolytic Studies

This paper describes the results of a study of the photophysical properties of various methyl-angelicins (MA) in solvents of different polarity and proticity. The behavior of their excited singlet and triplet states was investigated by fluorometry and nanosecond laser flash photolysis. On the basis of semiempirical (ZINDO/S-CI) calculations and the solvent effect on the absorption and fluorescence properties, the lowest excited singlet state (S₁) is assigned to a partially allowed π, π* state. The close lying S₂ state is n,π* in nature. The efficiency of the decay pathways of S₁ (fluorescence, intersystem crossing and internal conversion) strongly depends on the energy gap between the S₁ and S₂ states consistent with the manifestation of “proximity effect.” Thus, MA in cyclohexane decay only through S₁→ S₀ internal conversion, while in acetonitrile and ethanol, where the n, π* state is located at higher energy, their fluorescence and intersystem crossing increase significantly. The lowest excited triplet states (T₁) were characterized in terms of their absorption spectra, decay kinetics, molar absorption coefficients and formation quantum yields. The interaction of T₁ MA with molecular oxygen leads to an efficient formation of singlet oxygen, as evidenced by the appearance of characteristic IR phosphorescence centered at 1269 nm.     

Spezifisch π→π*-induzierte Reaktionen von γ-Dimethoxymethylcyclohexen-2-onen: 1,3-Umlagerung und Wasserstoffabstraktion durch das α-Kohlenstoffatom

When α,β-unsaturated γ-dimethoxymethyl cyclohexenones are excited to the S₂(π,π*) state, certain unimolecular reactions can be observed to compete with S₂ → S₁ internal conversion. These reactions do not occur from the S₁(n,π*) or the lowest T(π,π* and n,π*) states. They comprise the radical elimination of the formylacetal substituent (cf. 8 , 9 → 32 + 33 ), γ → α formylacetal migration (cf. 6 → 27 , 8 → 30 , 9 → 34 , 12 → 37 ), and a cyclization process involving the transfer of a methoxyl hydrogen to the α carbon and ring closure at the β position (cf. 6 → 28 , 8 → 31 , 12 → 38 , 20 → 40 + 41 ). The quantum yield of the ring closure 20a → 40a + 41a is 0.016 at ≤ 0.05M concentration. It is independent of the excitation wavelength within the π→π* absorption band (238–254 nm), but Φ ( 40a + 41a ) decreases at higher concentrations. According to the experimental data the reactive species of these specifically π→π*-induced transformations is placed energetically higher than the S₁(n,π*) state, and it is either identical with the thermally equilibrated S₂(n,π*) state, or reached via this latter state. The linear dienone 14 undergoes a similar π→π*-induced cyclization (→ 42 ) whereas the benzohomologue 26 proved unreactive, and the dienone 22 at both n → π and π→π* excitation only gives rise to rearrangements generally characteristic of cross-conjugated cyclohexadienones.     

Spektroskopische Untersuchung einiger α,β-ungesättigter cyclischer Ketone

The results of the spectroscopic investigation of the steroidal enones 1–6 can be summarized as follows:

• 1. Direct absorption and phosphorescence excitation techniques have been used to locate the ³(n,π*) states, and in each case it has been found to be the second triplet state.
• 2. The lowest excited state in each case is assigned as ³(π,π*) state.
• 3. The diffuseness in the phosphorescence emission from the ³(π,π*) states is attributed to a large change in the molecular geometry upon excitation (probably to a non-planar configuration).
• 4. The diffuseness in the S→ T_n,π* absorption is correspondingly attributed to interaction between the ³(n,π*) and ³(π,π*) states. A summary of the energy levels for these compounds is given in Fig. 4.

     

Computational Photochemistry of the Azobenzene Scaffold of Sudan I and Orange II Dyes: Excited‐State Proton Transfer and Deactivation via Conical Intersections

We employed the complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and its multistate second‐order perturbation (MS‐CASPT2) methods to explore the photochemical mechanism of 2‐hydroxyazobenzene, the molecular scaffold of Sudan I and Orange II dyes. It was found that the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) along the bright diabatic ¹ππ* state is barrierless and ultrafast. Along this diabatic ¹ππ* relaxation path, the system can jump to the dark ¹nπ* state via the ¹ππ*/¹nπ* crossing point. However, ESIPT in this dark state is largely inhibited owing to a sizeable barrier. We also found two deactivation channels that decay ¹ππ* keto and ¹nπ* enol species to the ground state via two energetically accessible S₁/S₀ conical intersections. Finally, we encountered an interesting phenomenon in the excited‐state hydrogen‐bonding strength: it is reinforced in the ¹ππ* state, whereas it is reduced in the ¹nπ* state. The present work sets the stage for understanding the photophysics and photochemistry of Sudan I–IV, Orange II, Ponceau 2R, Ponceau 4R, and azo violet.     

Photochemische Reaktionen 49. Mitteilung [1] Spezifisch π → π*-induzierte Keton-Photoreaktionen: Die Doppelbindungsverschiebung von O-Acetyl-10α-testosteron Protonisierung der Doppelbindung seines δ5-Isomeren

The α,β-unsatured ketone 10α-testosterone has been reported previously [6] to photoisomerize in t-butanol solution to the β,γ-unsaturated ketone. The irradiation had been carried out using a high-pressure mercury lamp in a quartz vessel. For structural reasons this double bond shift cannot proceed through a photoenolization mechanism involving an intramolecular hydrogen transfer from the γ-position to the enone oxygen as has been suggested to operate in several formally analogous cases of aliphatic enone isomerizations. In the present reinvestigation, O-acetyl 10α-testosterone ( 1 ) was used, employing selectively either excitation of its n → π* (with wavelengths > 300 nm) or its π → π* absorption band (with 253,7 nm). In t-butanol solution the doublebond shift 1 → 2 could be effected with π→* excitation only. Experiments in deuterated solvent (t-BuOD) resulted in deuterium in corporation in both the δ5-ketone in the C(4)-position, cf.( 3 ) and in the conjugated ketone. These results indicate that the reactions is initiated either in the, S_π,π* state or in a high vibrational mode of the S₀ or t_ππ*state. n→ π* Excitation of 1 in t-butanol gave essentially no over-all chemical change, while in benzene solution it resulted again in a double bond isomerization ( 1 → 2 ). In analogy to results with similar enones [28] under identical conditions the deconjugation in benzene may be the consequence of an intermolecular hydrogen abstraction of the T_n,π* excited state of the enone. Another specifically π →π* induced photoreaction was observed on irradiation of the β, γ-unsaturated ketone 2 in t-BuOD with 253,7 nm. The olefinic hydrogen at C-6 of 2 was exchanged with deuterium and, to a small extent, isomerization to the conjugated ketone 1 with concomitant deuterium incorporation occurred. It is concluded that from the higher excited state of the β, γ-unsaturated ketone, but not from its S_n,π* state, an activation mode of the double bond is accessible to effect D+ addition at C-6 followed by deprotonation to 4 and to deuterated 1 , respectively.     

Excited state dynamics of Michler's ketone: a laser flash photolysis study

Steady state absorption and fluorescence as well as the time resolved absorption studies in the pico and subpicosecond time domain have been performed to characterize the excited singlet and triplet states of Michler's ketone (MK). The nature of the lowest excited singlet (S₁) and triplet (T₁) states depends on the polarity of the solvent - in nonpolar solvents they have either pure nπ * character or mixed character of nπ * and ππ * states but in more polar solvents the states have CT character. Concentration dependence of the shapes of the fluorescence as well the excited singlet and triplet absorption spectra provide the evidence for the association of the MK molecules in the ground state.     

Photophysics of Push–Pull Distyrylfurans,Thiophenes and Pyridines by Fast and Ultrafast Techniques

Time‐resolved transient absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy with nano‐ and femtosecond time resolution were used to investigate the deactivation pathways of the excited states of distyrylfuran, thiophene and pyridine derivatives in several organic solvents of different polarity in detail. The rate constant of the main decay processes (fluorescence, singlet–triplet intersystem crossing, isomerisation and internal conversion) are strongly affected by the nature [locally excited (LE) or charge transfer (CT)] and selective position of the lowest excited singlet states. In particular, the heteroaromatic central ring significantly enhances the intramolecular charge‐transfer process, which is operative even in a non‐polar solvent. Both the thiophene and pyridine moieties enhance the S₁→T₁ rate with respect to the furan one. This is due to the heavy‐atom effect (thiophene compounds) and to the ¹(π,π)*→³(n,π)* transition (pyridine compounds), which enhance the spin‐orbit coupling. Moreover, the solvent polarity also plays a significant role in the photophysical properties of these push–pull compounds: in fact, a particularly fast ¹LE*→¹CT* process was found for dimethylamino derivatives in the most polar solvents (time constant, τ≤400 fs), while it takes place in tens of picoseconds in non‐polar solvents. It was also shown that the CT character of the lowest excited singlet state decreased by replacing the dimethylamino side group with a methoxy one. The latter causes a decrease in the emissive decay and an enhancement of triplet‐state formation. The photoisomerisation mechanism (singlet/triplet) is also discussed.     

Electronic properties and ultraviolet absorption and fluorescence spectra of 2-pyridinamine

The u.v. absorption and fluorescence spectra of 2-pyridinamine, its methyl derivatives and its carboxylate salts were measured in various solvents (isooctane, methylcyclohexane and isopentane mixed solvent, ethanol and isooctane mixed solvent, acetic acid and isooctane mixed solvent, and pH adjusted solvent) at room temperature and 77 K. These spectral data were interpretated by the molecular orbital method. From these results it was found that the formation of 2(1H)-pyridinimine with the accompanying 2-pyridinium amine occurs only in the π,π* excited singlet state in the acetic acid and isooctane mixed solvent. On the other hand, the fluorescence spectrum of 2-pyridinamine in the pH ⪢ 11 controlled solution was assigned to the monoanion species, that is, the 2-pyridylamide ion which was formed in the first π,π* excited singlet state.     

Electronic structure of benzaldehyde: A comparative study of the lowest excited singlet π* ← π and π* ← n states

VE-PPP, CNDO/2, and CNDO/s-CI methods have been used to investigate the electronic spectrum and structure of benzaldehyde. Electronic charge distributions and bond orders in the ground and lowest excited singlet π* ← π and π* ← n states of the molecule have been studied. The molecule has been shown to be nonplanar in the lowest π* ← n excited singlet state, in agreement with the conclusions drawn from the study of vibrational spectra. Dipole moments in both excited states have been shown to be larger than the ground-state value. Thus, the ambiguity in the experimental result for the π* ← π n excited singlet state dipole moment has been resolved. It has been shown that the n orbital is mainly localized on the CHO group. Furthermore, charge distributions, dipole moments, and molecular geometries are shown to be very different in the excited singlet π* ← π and π* ← n states.     

Photophysical Behavior of Angelicins and Thioangelicins: Semiempirical Calculations and Experimental Study

The decay processes of the lowest excited singlet and triplet states of five methylated angelicins (4,6,4′-trimethyl-angelicin, MA, and four methylated thioangelicins, MTA; see Scheme 1) were investigated in live solvents by stationary and pulsed fluorometric and flash photolytic techniques. In particular, the solvent effects on absorption, fluorescence, quantum yields of fluorescence (φ_F) and triplet formation (φ_T), lifetimes of fluorescence (τ_F) and the triplet state (τ_T) and the quantum yields of singlet oxygen production (φ_Δ) were investigated. Semiempirical (ZINDO/S-CI) calculations were carried out to obtain information (transition probabilities and nature) on the lowest excited singlet and triplet states. The quantum mechanical calculations and the solvent effect on the photophysical properties showed that the lowest excited singlet state (S¹) is a partially allowed π,π* state, while the close-lying S₂ state is n,π* in nature. The efficiencies of fluorescence, S₁→T₁ intersystem crossing (ISC) and S₁→ S₀ internal conversion (IC) strongly depend on the energy gap between S₁, and S₂ and are explained in terms of the so-called proximity effect. In fact, for MA in cyclohexane, only the S₁→ S₀ internal conversion is operative, while in acetonitrile and ethanol, where the n.π* state is shifted to higher energy, the efficiencies of fluorescence and ISC increase significantly. The energy gap between S₁ and S₂ increases in MTA, where the furanic oxygen is replaced by a sulfur atom. Consequently, the solvent effect on the photophysical parameters of MTA is less marked than for MA; e.g. fluorescence and triplet-triplet absorption are also detectable in the nonpolar cyclohexane. The lowest excited singlet state of molecular oxygen O₂(¹D_g) was produced efficiently in polar solvents by energy transfer from the T₁ state of MA and MTA.     

Specifically (π → π*)-Induced Cyclohexenone Reactions 6-Benzylbicyclo [4.4.0]dec-1-en-3-ones

6-Benzylbicyclo [4.4.0]dec-1-en-3-one ( 9 ) and the 2-methyl homologue ( 10 ) underwent a (γ → α )-1, 3-benzyl shift to the β,γ-unsaturated ketones 21 and 22 , respectively, when excited in the π π* absorption band. The quantum yield was ca. 0.1 at 254 nm for the formation of both products in alkane solvents. These reactions occur specifically from the S₂(π, π*) state in competition with its decay to the S₁(n, π*) and T states. The triplet reaction of 9 , initiated by n → π* irradiation and by sensitization, was a double-bond shift to 20 , whereas no identifiable product was observed from 10 under these conditions. Direct and acetone-sensitized irradiations of 21 and 22 resulted in oxadi-π-methane rearrangements to mixtures of syn- and anti- 30 and syn- and anti- 31 , respectively.     

The electronic absorption spectrum and excited state dipole moment of 3-fluoropyridine

The electronic absorption spectrum of 3-fluoropyridine in the vapour state and in solutions in different solvents in the region 3000-1900 Å has been measured and analysed. Three systems of absorption bands; n→π* transition I, π→π* transition II and π→π* transition III are identified. The oscillator strength of the absorption band systems due to the π→π* transition II and π→π* transition III and the excited state dipole moments associated with these transitions have been determined by the solvent-shift method.