Ultrafast Excited State Dynamics of t~rans-4-Aminoazobenzene Studied by Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

The ultrafast excited state dynamics of trans-4-aminoazobenzene （trans-4-AAB） in ethanol was investigated by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. After being excited to the S2 state by 400 nm, trans-4-AAB decays from the S2 state to the hot S1 state by internal conversion with time constant of -70 fs. The photoisomerization through inversion mechanism on the S1 potential energy surface and the internal conversion from the S1 state to the hot So state are observed, respectively. The average timescale of these two decay pathways is -0.7 ps. And the vibrational cooling of the hot So state of cis- and trans-4- AAB occur with time constants of -4 and N13 ps, respectively. Furthermore, the ultrafast intersystem crossing process are also observed. The timescale of intersystem crossing from the S2 state to the T4 state is about 480 ps while from the S1 state to the T2 state is -180 ps.     

Naphthobipyrrole‐Derived Sapphyrins: Rational Synthesis,Characterization, Nonlinear Optical Properties,and Excited‐State Dynamics

Two new free‐base β‐octa and hexaalkyl naphthobipyrrole‐derived sapphyrins are reported along with various salts thereof. One of them has substituents at all of its β positions, whereas the pyrrole unit opposite to the bipyrrolic moiety is unsubstituted in the other. The effect of bipyrrole fusion on the structure of sapphyrins was explored. Interestingly, an unprecedented sandwiched supramolecular aqua‐bridged free‐base sapphyrin dimer was also characterized in the solid state. Further, the effect of anions on the third‐order nonlinear optical properties of these sapphyrins were explored in the salt form, along with their detailed excited‐state dynamics by both degenerate and nondegenerate pump–probe studies.     

Mapping the Excited‐State Potential Energy Surface of a Photomolecular Motor

A detailed understanding of the operation and efficiency of unidirectional photomolecular rotary motors is essential for their effective exploitation in molecular nanomachines. Unidirectional motion relies on light‐driven conversion from a stable ( 1 a ) to a metastable ( 1 b ) conformation, which then relaxes through a thermally driven helix inversion in the ground state. The excited‐state surface has thus far only been experimentally characterised for 1 a . Here we probe the metastable, 1 b , excited state, utilising ultrafast transient absorption and femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy. These reveal that the “dark” excited‐state intermediate between 1 a and 1 b has a different lifetime and structure depending on the initial ground‐state conformation excited. This suggests that the reaction coordinate connecting 1 a to 1 b differs to that for the reverse photochemical process. The result is contrasted with earlier calculations.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Cyclic Voltammetric Property of Metal String Complex [Ni3(dpa)4(ClO4)(Cl)]·CH2Cl2

The metal string complex [Ni₃(dpa)₄(ClO₄)(Cl)] · CH₂Cl₂ ( 1 ) [dpa = bis(2‐pyridyl)amine] with different axial ligands was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV/Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy and TG analysis. The molecular structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis and its electrochemical properties were investigated. This metal string complex is the first example with different axial ligands, and in its structure a different structural packing relative to the metal string complex [Ni₃(dpa)₄(Cl)₂] ( 2 ) with two axial chloride ligands is generated. The intense C–H ··· π interactions observed for 1 provide additional stability. The axial mono‐substitution of Cl^– by ClO₄^– in 1 relative to 2 results in one obviously short Ni–Ni distance and a higher stability towards oxidation.     

电场对Ni3（dpa）4Cl2金属串配合物结构影响的理论研究

应用密度泛函UBP86方法对具有分子导线潜在应用性的金属串配合物Ni3(dpa)4Cl2进行研究,分析了外电场对配合物的几何构型和电子结构的影响.结果表明,零电场条件下存在沿着Ni63+轴及轴向配体Cl的Ni—Ni及Ni—Cl离域作用.沿金属轴Cl4→Cl5方向施加外电场,可使高电势端的Ni2—Cl4键长增大而Ni1—Ni2键长减小,低电势端的Ni3—Cl5键长减小而Ni1—Ni3键长增大;分子能量降低,偶极矩线性增大;HOMO与LUMO能隙减小,前线占据轨道分布向低电势方向移动且轨道能升高,空轨道分布则向高电势方向移动且轨道能降低,其中沿着金属轴方向离域的前线轨道分布及其轨道能随电场的变化尤为显著.在电场作用下,电荷分布发生改变,低电势端Cl5的负电荷向高电势端Cl4转移,但金属和桥联配体的电荷变化很小;同样,在电场作用下,配合物存在明显的结构变化和电子转移现象,呈现出类似导电过程中电子定向转移的变化规律.     

Folding‐Induced Modulation of Excited‐State Dynamics in an Oligophenylene–Ethynylene‐Tethered Spiral Perylene Bisimide Aggregate

The excited‐state photophysical behavior of a spiral perylene bisimide (PBI) folda‐octamer ( F8 ) tethered to an oligophenylene–ethynylene scaffold is comprehensively investigated. Solvent‐dependent UV/Vis and fluorescence studies reveal that the degree of folding in this foldamer is extremely sensitive to the solvent, thus giving rise to an extended conformation in CHCl₃ and a folded helical aggregate in methylcyclohexane (MCH). The exciton‐deactivation dynamics are largely governed by the supramolecular structure of F8 . Femtosecond transient absorption (TA) in the near‐infrared region indicates a photoinduced electron‐transfer process from the backbone to the PBI core in the extended conformation, whereas excitation power‐ and polarization‐dependent TA measurements combined with computational modeling showed that excitation energy transfer between the unit PBI chromophores is the major deactivation pathway in the folded counterpart.     

金属串配合物[MoMoCo(npo)4(NCS)2]的配位结构及其与电场的关系

应用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法研究了具有分子导线潜在应用的金属串配合物[MoMoCo(npo)4(NCS)2](npo=1,8-萘基-2-酮)的配位结构及其受电场作用的影响。配位方式记为(n,m),其中n、m分别表示4个赤道配体npo^-的O与Co和Mo配位的个数:n=0,1,2,3,4;m=4,3,2,1,0。结果表明:(1)零电场下,基态能量高低为(0,4)>(4,0)>(3,1)≈(1,3)>(2,2),5种配位方式均可稳定存在且互为竞争态。Z方向偶极矩μ(Z)值大小为(0,4)(+)>(1,3)(+)>(2,2)(-)>(3,1)(-)>(4,0)(-)(+、-表示μ(Z)值的正负,与Z方向相同即为正,相反即为负),4个npo^-趋向越一致能量越高极性越大。(2)Mo-Mo具有四重键,键长随μ(Z)值减小而减小,而Mo-Co键长则相反。随μ(Z)值减小前线轨道中πNCS(1)轨道能降低,π'NCS(2)轨道能升高。(3)Z方向电场作用下,除(0,4)外所有配位方式的Mo1-N8键显著增长,结构不稳定。(4)电场作用下前线轨道能级交错,μ(Z)为正值的(0,4)、(1,3)的能隙E_LUMO-HOMO在-Z方向电场中降低更显著,μ(Z)为负值的(2,2)、(3,1)和(4,0)的能隙在Z方向电场中降低更显著。分子极性越大,随电场强度增强能隙降低越显著,分子导电性可能越好。(0,4)、(3,1)和(4,0)可能具有整流效应,但(3,1)和(4,0)的稳定性较低。     

The Role of Hydrogen‐Bonding Interactions in the Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of the Excited States of 3‐ and 4‐Aminofluoren‐9‐ones

The dynamics of the excited states of 3‐ and 4‐aminofluoren‐9‐ones (3AF and 4AF, respectively) are investigated in different kinds of solvents by using a subpicosecond time‐resolved absorption spectroscopic technique. They undergo hydrogen‐bonding interaction with protic solvents in both the ground and excited states. However, this interaction is more significant in the lowest excited singlet (S₁) state because of its substantial intramolecular charge‐transfer character. Significant differences in the spectroscopic characteristics and temporal dynamics of the S₁ states of 3AF and 4AF in aprotic and protic solvents reveal that the intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the S₁ state and protic solvents plays an important role in its relaxation process. Perfect linear correlation between the relaxation times of the S₁ state and the longitudinal relaxation times (τ_L) of alcoholic solvents confirms the prediction regarding the solvation process via hydrogen‐bond reorganization. In the case of weakly interacting systems, the relaxation process can be well described by a dipolar solvation‐like process involving rotation of the OH groups of the alcoholic solvents, whereas in solvents having a strong hydrogen‐bond‐donating ability, for example, methanol and trifluoroethanol, it involves the conversion of the non‐hydrogen‐bonded form to the hydrogen‐bonded complex of the S₁ state. Efficient radiationless deactivation of the S₁ state of the aminofluorenones by protic solvents is successfully explained by the energy‐gap law, by using the energy of the fully solvated S₁ state determined from the time‐resolved spectroscopic data.     

Revisit of trinickel metal string complexes [Ni3L4X2] (L = dipyridylamido,diazaphenoxazine; X = NCS,CN) for quantum transport

Metal string complexes contain a linear metal‐atom chain in which the metal centers are coordinated by four equatorial and two axial ligands. With a variety of transition‐metal elements and ligands, the structural framework drives the flourishing of molecular design and properties. The one‐dimensional configuration makes the compounds suitable for the studies of quantum transport across molecular junctions. In this study, we report the conductance measurements and transmission spectra of three trinickel metal strings, [Ni₃(dpa)₄(NCS)₂] ( 1 ), [Ni₃(dzp)₄(NCS)₂] ( 2 ), and [Ni₃(dpa)₄(CN)₂] ( 3 ) (Hdpa = dipyridylamine, Hdzp, diazaphenoxazine) in which 1 is a prototypical compound, dzp of 2 represents an equatorial ligand more rigid than dpa of 1 , and ─CN is an axial ligand with a ligand‐field effect stronger than ─NCS of 1 . Measurement results of molecular junctions for 1 , 2 , and 3 are 2.69, 3.24, and 17.4 MΩ, respectively. The highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO) gaps calculated by density functional theory in the gas phase for 1 , 2 , and 3 are about 2.65, 2.34, and 3.85 eV, respectively. Zero‐bias transmission spectra of 1 – 3 show that transmission peaks lie just above E_Fermi (the Fermi energy of the gold electrode), suggesting LUMO‐dominant transport pathways. The transmission peaks at E_Fermi are associated with LUMO+2 found in the gas phase. LUMOs in the free space are located at nearly 1 eV below E_Fermi. The shift of molecular orbitals from their isolated form and the alignment of LUMO+2 with the electrode Fermi level manifest the importance and significant of the electrodes' self‐energy on electron transport.     

The Excited‐State Dynamics of Phycocyanobilin in Dependence on the Excitation Wavelength

The primary light‐induced processes of phycocyanobilin were studied by means of transient‐grating spectroscopy, whereby the excitation wavelength was varied over the spectral region of the ground‐state absorption. On the basis of the results obtained, both the rate of the photoreaction in phycocyanobilin and the ratio of the decay of different excited‐state species via two decay channels depend on the excitation wavelength. Furthermore, the formation of the photoreaction product is also dependent on the pump color. These data support a recently established model for the primary photoprocesses in phycocyanobilin. In addition, phycocyanobilin protonated at the basic pyrrolenine‐type nitrogen atom was included in the transient absorption study. The decay behavior was found to be almost unchanged when compared with the unprotonated form, and this suggests that protonation of the tetrapyrrole ring structure has no effect on the overall photochemistry.     

Excited‐State Double Proton Transfer in Model Base Pairs: The Stepwise Reaction on the Heterodimer of 7‐Azaindole Analogues

A four fused‐ring system 11‐propyl‐6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoline ( 6 HIQ ) is strategically designed and synthesized; it possesses a central moiety of 7‐azaindole ( 7AI ) and undergoes excited‐state double proton transfer (ESDPT). Despite a barrierless type of ESDPT in the 6 HIQ dimer, femtosecond dynamics and a kinetic isotope effect provide indications for a stepwise ESDPT process in the 6 HIQ/7AI heterodimer, in which 6 HIQ (deuterated 6 HIQ ) delivers the pyrrolyl proton (deuteron) to 7AI (deuterated 7AI ) in less than 150 fs, forming an intermediate with a charge‐transfer‐like ion pair, followed by the transfer of a pyrrolyl proton (deuteron) from cation‐like 7AI (deuterated 7AI ) to the pyridinyl nitrogen of the anion‐like 6 HIQ (deuterated 6 HIQ ) in ～1.5±0.3 ps (3.5±0.3 ps). The barrier of second proton transfer is estimated to be 2.86 kcal mol^?1 for the 6 HIQ/7AI heterodimer.     

电场对金属串配合物M3(dpa)4Cl2 (M=Co,Rh, Ir; dpa=dipyridylamide)结构的影响

应用密度泛函理论PBE0 方法研究具有分子导线潜在应用的金属串配合物M₃(dpa)₄Cl₂ (1: M=Co, 2: M=Rh, 3: M=Ir; dpa=dipyridylamide)在电场作用下的几何和电子结构. 结果表明: 配合物基态均是二重态. 1和2的M₃⁶⁺金属链形成三中心三电子σ键, 3 中M₃⁶⁺形成三中心四电子σ键且存在弱的δ键. 随金属原子周期数增大其M―M键增强、LUMO与HOMO能隙减小、金属原子的反铁磁耦合减弱以至消失且自旋密度向配体的离域增强. 在Cl4→Cl5 电场作用下, 低电势端的M3－Cl5 键缩短, 高电势端的M2―Cl4 键增长, M―M平均键长略为缩短, M―M键增强, 有利于分子线的电子传递; 分子能量降低, 偶极矩线性增大. 低电势端Cl5的负电荷向高电势端Cl4 转移, 且3 中金属原子的正电荷由高电势端向低电势端的转移较明显, 自旋电子由低电势端向高电势端金属原子移动, 但桥联配体dpa^-与M和Cl 所在的分子轴间没有电荷转移. 电场使LUMO与HOMO能隙减小, 有利于分子的电子输运. 随金属原子周期数增大, 电场作用下M―M平均键长变化减小, LUMO、HOMO的能级交错现象减少.     

Modulating the Ground‐ and Excited‐State Oxidation Potentials of Diaminonaphthalene by Sequential N‐Methylation

A series of 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene derivatives were synthesized and characterized to provide ground‐ and excited‐state electron donors of similar structure but varying potential. Electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of the series are reported and together illustrate two opposing consequences of alkyl substitution on the aryl amines. Inductive effects of methylation are evident from the decrease in ground‐state oxidation potential for derivatives containing monomethylamino substituents. In contrast, steric effects seem to dominate the increase in the ground‐state oxidation potential of derivatives containing dimethylamino substituents since the conformational constraints created by dimethylation suppress delocalization of the nonbonding electrons. Absorption and emission properties also respond to increasing levels of N‐methylation, and the excited‐state oxidation potentials of the parent 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene and its monomethylamine derivatives (ca. ?3.2 V) are approximately 200 mV lower than the corresponding dimethylamino derivatives (?3.0 V).     

Tetra(3‐methoxypropionato)diruthenium(II,III) Units: Supramolecular Organization in the Complex [Ru2(μ‐O2CCH2CH2OMe)4(H2O)2]BF4

The synthesis and characterization of Ru₂Cl(μ‐O₂CCH₂CH₂OMe)₄ ( 1 ), [Ru₂(μ‐O₂CCH₂CH₂OMe)₄(H₂O)₂]BF₄ ( 2 ), PPh₄[Ru₂Cl₂(μ‐O₂CCH₂CH₂OMe)₄] ( 3 ), (PPh₄)₂[Ru₂Br₂(μ‐O₂CCH₂CH₂OMe)₄]NO₃ ( 4 ), and (PPh₄)₂[Ru₂I₂(μ‐O₂CCH₂CH₂OMe)₄]I_0.5(NO₃)_0.5 ( 5 ), are described. The structure of complexes 2 – 5 was established by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. All complexes show a diruthenium(II, III) unit bridged by four 3‐methoxypropionate ligands. The cationic complex 2 have two axially coordinated water molecules, with a Ru–Ru bond distance of 2.2681(12) Å. This complex shows a supramolecular two‐dimensional organization across hydrogen bonded between the axial water molecules and two methoxy groups of adjacent diruthenium units. The metal‐metal bond lengths, in the anionic complexes 3 , 4 , and 5 , are 2.3039(5), 2.3077(6), and 2.3115(8) Å, respectively. These distances are longer than the observed in compound 2 . In the anionic complexes, the axial positions of the diruthenium units are occupied by two halide ligands. Complexes 3 – 5 have PPh₄⁺ cations as counterion, although 4 and 5 are double salts with PPh₄NO₃ and PPh₄I_0.5(NO₃)_0.5, respectively. All compounds have been also characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, and spectroscopic techniques.     

Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of the Excited States of 1‐Amino‐ and 1‐(N,N‐Dimethylamino)‐fluoren‐9‐ones

The dynamics of the excited states of 1‐aminofluoren‐9‐one (1AF) and 1‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)‐fluoren‐9‐one (1DMAF) are investigated by using steady‐state absorption and fluorescence as well as subpicosecond time‐resolved absorption spectroscopic techniques. Following photoexcitation of 1AF, which exists in the intramolecular hydrogen‐bonded form in aprotic solvents, the excited‐state intramolecular proton‐transfer reaction is the only relaxation process observed in the excited singlet (S₁) state. However, in protic solvents, the intramolecular hydrogen bond is disrupted in the excited state and an intermolecular hydrogen bond is formed with the solvent leading to reorganization of the hydrogen‐bond network structure of the solvent. The latter takes place in the timescale of the process of solvation dynamics. In the case of 1DMAF, the main relaxation pathway for the locally excited singlet, S₁(LE), or S₁(ICT) state is the configurational relaxation, via nearly barrierless twisting of the dimethylamino group to form the twisted intramolecular charge‐transfer, S₁(TICT), state. A crossing between the excited‐state and ground‐state potential energy curves is responsible for the fast, radiationless deactivation and nonemissive character of the S₁(TICT) state in polar solvents, both aprotic and protic. However, in viscous but strong hydrogen‐bond‐donating solvents, such as ethylene glycol and glycerol, crossing between the potential energy surfaces for the ground electronic state and the hydrogen‐bonded complex formed between the S₁(TICT) state and the solvent is possibly avoided and the hydrogen‐bonded complex is weakly emissive.     

Highly Selective “Turn‐On” Fluorescent and Colorimetric Sensing of Fluoride Ion Using 2‐(2‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydroquinolin‐4(1 H)‐one based on Excited‐State Proton Transfer

A simple, highly selective and sensitive colorimetric system for the detection of fluoride ion in an aqueous medium has been developed using 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydroquinolin‐4(1 H)‐one. This system allows selective “turn‐on” fluorescence detection of fluoride ion, which is found to be dependent upon guest basicity. An excited‐state proton transfer is proposed to be the signaling mechanism, which is rationalized by DFT and TD‐DFT calculations. The present sensor can also be applied to detect fluoride levels in real water samples.     

Time‐dependent density functional theory study on the electronic excited‐state hydrogen‐bonding dynamics of 4‐aminophthalimide (4AP) in aqueous solution: 4AP and 4AP–(H2O)1,2 clusters

The time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method has been carried out to investigate the excited‐state hydrogen‐bonding dynamics of 4‐aminophthalimide (4AP) in hydrogen‐donating water solvent. The infrared spectra of the hydrogen‐bonded solute?solvent complexes in electronically excited state have been calculated using the TDDFT method. We have demonstrated that the intermolecular hydrogen bond C? O···H? O and N? H···O? H in the hydrogen‐bonded 4AP?(H₂O)₂ trimer are significantly strengthened in the electronically excited state by theoretically monitoring the changes of the bond lengths of hydrogen bonds and hydrogen‐bonding groups in different electronic states. The hydrogen bonds strengthening in the electronically excited state are confirmed because the calculated stretching vibrational modes of the hydrogen bonding C?O, amino N? H, and H? O groups are markedly red‐shifted upon photoexcitation. The calculated results are consistent with the mechanism of the hydrogen bond strengthening in the electronically excited state, while contrast with mechanism of hydrogen bond cleavage. Furthermore, we believe that the transient hydrogen bond strengthening behavior in electroniclly excited state of chromophores in hydrogen‐donating solvents exists in many other systems in solution. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Excited‐State Dynamics of CS2 Studied by Photoelectron Imaging with a Time Resolution of 22 fs

The ultrafast dynamics of CS₂ in the ¹B₂(¹Σ_u⁺) state was studied by photoelectron imaging with a time resolution of 22 fs. The photoelectron signal intensity exhibited clear vibrational quantum beats due to wave packet motion. The signal intensity decayed with a lifetime of about 400 fs. This decay was preceded by a lag of around 30 fs, which was considered to correspond to the time for a vibrational wave packet to propagate from the Franck–Condon region to the region where predissociation occurred. The photoelectron angular distribution remained constant when the pump–probe delay time was varied. Consequently, variation of the electronic character caused by the vibrational wave packet motion was not identified within the accuracy of our measurements.     

Consequences of the One‐Electron Reduction and Photoexcitation of Unsymmetric Bis‐imidazolium Salts

Coupling of uronium salts with in situ generated N‐heterocyclic carbenes provides straightforward access to symmetrical [ 4 ]²⁺ and unsymmetrical bis‐imidazolium salts [ 6 ]²⁺ and [ 9 ]²⁺. As indicated by cyclic and square‐wave voltammetry, [ 6 ]²⁺ and [ 9 ]²⁺ can be (irreversibly) reduced by one electron. The initially formed radicals [ 6 ]^.+ and [ 9 ]^.+ undergo further reactions, which were probed by EPR spectroscopy and density functional calculations. The final products of the two‐electron reduction are the two carbenes. Upon irradiation with UV light both [ 6 ]²⁺ and [ 9 ]²⁺ emit at room temperature in solution but with dramatically different characteristics. The different fluorescence behavior is analyzed by emission spectroscopy and interpreted by using time‐dependent density functional calculations as largely due to different excited‐state dynamics of [ 6 ]²⁺ and [ 9 ]²⁺. The geometries of both radicals [ 6 ]^.+ and [ 9 ]^.+ and excited states {[ 6 ]²⁺} * and {[ 9 ]²⁺}* are substantially different from those of the parent ground‐state molecules.