Optical homogeneous linewidths in organic glasses below 1 K: a hole-burning study of free-base porphin in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran

Photochemical hole-burning has been used to determine the temperature dependence of the homogeneous linewidth Γ_hom of the 0-0 S₁ - S₀ transition of free-base porphin (H₂P) in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) from T ≈ 5 K down to 0.4 K. A _T^1.30±0.05 dependence for Γ_hom is observed which extrapolates to the lifetime-limited value (≈ 10 MHz) at T ≈ 0.05K.     

Optical homogeneous linewidths of resorufin in ethanol glass: An apparent contradiction between hole-burning and photon-echo results?

Spectral holes have been burnt in the S₁ ← S₀ 0-0 transition of resorufin in two phases of ethanol glass between 0.3 and 4.2 K. The holewidths differ by a factor of 8 and follow a T^1.3 dependence. The homogeneous linewidths (Γ_hom) in one of the phases are about halfthose derived from a photon-echo experiment by Fayer and co-workers. Holes burnt between ≈600 and 573 nm yield the same holewidth. It is concluded that hole-burning measures Γ_hom in this amorphous system.     

Wavelength-dependent triplet state populating mechanisms of naphthalene in heavy-atom hosts

We have made zero-field optically-detected magnetic resonance measurements on the triplet state of naphthalene-d₈ incorporated in the heavy-atom host crystals p-dichlorobenzene, p-dibromobenzene, and s-tetrachlorobenzene. The dependence of the relative triplet sublevel populating rates on the exciting wavelength is interpreted in terms of the electronic excitation transfer mechanisms. We find that upon excitation of the host S₁ ← S₀ transition in p-dichlorobenzene, energy transfer to the guest T₁ takes place via the guest S₁, whereas in the other host crystals the intermediate is mainly the host T₁ band. Upon host T₁ ← S₀ excitaton, trapping takes place from a spin-aligned excitor band in s-tetrachlorobenzene, whereas the initial alignment is lost prior to trapping in the dihalobenzene hosts.     

Excited States of Weak Interacting Complexes of Formaldehyde and Alkali Metal Ions

The electronically excited states of formaldehyde and its complexes with alkali metal ions are investigated with the time-dependent density functional theory (TD DFT) method. Vertical transition energies for several singlet and triplet excited states, adiabatic transition energies for the first singlet and triplet excited states S₁ and T₁, the adiabatic geometries and vibrational frequencies of the ground state S₀ and the first singlet and triplet excited states S₁ and T₁ for formaldehyde and its complexes are calculated. Better agreement with the experiment than that of the CIS method is obtained for CH₂O at the TD DFT level. The nonlinear C=O?M⁺ interaction in the excited states S₁ and T₁ is weaker than the linear interaction in the ground state. In the S₀ and S₁ states, the C=O bond is elongated by cation complexation and its stretching frequency is red-shifted, but in the T₁ state the C=O bond is shortened and its frequency is blue-shifted.     

Delayed fluorescence from the lowest 1B+3u state of anthracene,due to hetero-triplet—triplet annihilation of 3anthracene* and 3xanthone*

The P-type delayed fluorescence (DF) S_i→S_o of aromatic compounds results from the population of excited singlet states S_i by triplet—triplet annihillation (TTA) of molecules in their lowest and metastable triplet state T₁ : T₁ + T₁

S_i + S_o; S_i may be any excited singlet state whose excitation energy E(S_i ? 2 E(T₁). TTA of unlike molecules A and B (hetero-TTA) may lead to excited singlet states either of A or of B. In particular, if E(T_A¹) < E(T₁^B), hetero-TTA may lead to excited singlet states S_k^A which are not accessible by TTA of 2 T₁^A. In the present paper we report the first example of the detection of the DF from a very short-lived upper excited singlet state S_k^A which has been populated by hetero-TTA. The systems investigated are liquid solutions of A = anthracene-h₁₀ or anthracene-d₁₀ or 9,10-dimethylanthracene and B = xanthone in 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane at 243 K. S_k^A is the lowest ¹B_3U⁺ state (B_b state) of anthracene.     

Fluorescence spectra of the mixed crystal system anthracene-perdeuteroanthracene. Mixed exciton band

The fluorescence spectra of the mixed crystal system anthracene (A-h₁₀)-perdeuteroanthracene (Ad₁₀) have been studied over the full concentration range at temperatures between 1.6 and 77°K. There exists a collective (mixed) A-h₁₀-A-d₁₀ S₁ exciton band at all concentrations, the lower edge of which represents the emitting level for the intrinsic fluorescence at low temperatures. This edge shifts from 25097 cm^?1 in the neat A-h₁₀ crystal to 25156 cm^?1 in the neat A-d₁₀ crystal. The edge position is a non-linear function of the mixed crystal concentration. From that one gets the “critical” distances U_cr⁺ = 92 cm^?1 and U_cr^? = 131 cm^?1 between the molecular S₁ levels of a guest and the host anthracene (non-deuterated or deuterated), using a formula given by Lifshitz. For the critical distance U_cr⁺ one finds just a bound guest state above the host band, and for U_cr^?1 a bound guest state below the host band.The transition from the S₁ band edge to the S₀ ground state is always forbidden, in the same way as in the neat A-h₁₀ crystal. Only transitions to levels of intramolecular and lattice vibrations of the ground state have been observed. At all concentrations the fluorescence transitions from the lower S₁ band edge of the mixed crystal take place to the vibronic levels of both A-h₁₀ and A-d₁₀. The difference in the frequencies of equivalent intramolecular vibrations of A-h₁₀ and A-d₁₀ results in the appearance of vibronic doublets in the intrinsic fluorescence. The relative intensities of the two doublet components depend strongly on both concentration and temperature. This is due to the influence of quasi-resonance and exciton-superexchange upon the guest states inside the mixed exciton band.For all concentrations one observes two transitions originating from levels inside the S₁ exciton band.     

Helix-mediated over 1 nm-range chirality recognition by ligand-to-ligand interactions of dinuclear helicates

Long-range chirality recognition between the two chiral guest ligands can be tuned based on the helix distances (d_Ln–Ln = 11.5 and 14.0 Å) of bis-diketonate bridged dinuclear lanthanide complexes (2Th and 3Th, respectively) used as mediators. Both 2Th and 3Th form one-dimensional (1D) helical structures upon terminal binding of two chiral guest co-ligands (L^R or L^S). Long-range chiral self-recognition is achieved in self-assembly of 2Th with L^R and L^S to preferentially form homochiral assemblies, 2Th-L^R·L^R and 2Th-L^S·L^S, whereas there is no direct molecular interaction between the two guest ligands at the terminal edges. X-ray crystal structure analysis and density functional theory studies reveal that long-range chiral recognition is achieved by terminal ligand-to-ligand interactions between the bis-diketonate ligands and chiral guest co-ligands. Conversely, in self-assembly of 3Th with a longer helix length, statistical binding of L^R and L^S occurs, forming heterochiral (3Th-L^R·L^S) and homochiral (3Th-L^R·L^R and 3Th-L^S·L^S) assemblies in an almost 1 : 1 ratio. When phenyl side arms of the chiral guest co-ligands are replaced by isopropyl groups (L′^R and L′^S), chiral self-recognition is also achieved in the self-assembly process of 3Th with the longer helix length to generate homochiral (3Th-L′^R·L′^R and 3Th-L′^S·L′^S) assemblies as the favored products. Thus, subtle modification of the chiral guests is capable of achieving over 1.4 nm-range chirality recognition.

Long-range chirality recognition between the two chiral guest ligands can be tuned based on the helix distances (d_Ln–Ln = 11.5 and 14.0 Å) of bis-diketonate bridged dinuclear lanthanide complexes (2Th and 3Th, respectively).     

The unattainability of a unified E.M.F. series for molten salts the relation between the temperature coefficient of isothermal cells and the thermoelectric coefficients of thermocells

It is shown that the e.m.f. of a cell (T₁) A¦AX¦BX¦B (T₂) can not be split unambiguously into a combination of an isothermal cell A¦AX¦BX¦B either at T₁ or at T₂ and a thermocell either B¦BX¦B or A¦BX¦A between T₂ and T₁. The difference Δ in e.m.f. of both possible combinations is equal to FΔ/(T₂ - T₁) = ^*S(X^? in AX) - ^*S(X^? in BX).In examples given for molten silver and cuprous halides this difference in transported entropies is 1–2 cal mol^?1 K^?1 or Δ equal to 17.5–35 mV for T₂ - T₁ = 400 K. It is impossible to obtain unambiguously a unified e.m.f. series. The same qualitative conclusion is reached on the basis of the second law of thermodynamics from a discussion of an irreversible cyclic process involving the four cells mentioned.     

Sn ← S1 and Tn ← T1 absorption spectra of highly purified chrysene in solution

Time-resolved S_n ← S₁ and T_n ← T₁ absorption spectra were observed for highly purified chrysene in THF solution. Formerly assigned to the S₄ ← S₁ band located in the 17200–17600 cm⁻¹ (581-568 nm) region. S_n ← S₁ was reassigned to S₆ ← S₁. The S₄ ← S¹, S₅ ← S₁, S₇ ← S¹ and S₈ ← S₁ bands were also observed at 13500 cm⁻¹ (740 nm). 15700 cm⁻¹ (635 nm). 19000 cm⁻¹ (525 nm), and 20400 cm⁻¹ (490 nm), respectively. The relevant molar extinction coefficients were 7100 (S₄ ← S₁), 15000 (S₅ ← S¹), 14000 (S₆ ← S₁), 19000 (S₇ ← S₁), and 14000 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ (S₈← S₁).     

Triplet states in isotopically mixed anthracene crystals: High resolution optical spectroscopy

The triplet O,O transitions of guest and host in isotopically mixed anthracene crystals of various compositions (A-h₁₀, ¹³C-monosubstituted A-h₁₀, A-d₁h₉, A-d₂h_g in A-d₁₀ and A-d₁₀ in A-h₁₀) have been investigated using high resolution laser excitation spectroscopy. The guest aggregate spectra have been studied in polarized light as a function of guest concentration up to 15%. The analyses allow us to identify the monomer, dimer and trimer lines. From the dimer splittings the dominant resonance pair interactions are dedu The comparison of different mixed crystal systems with guest levels below and above the host exciton band reveals that quasiresonance and superexchange corrections are of minor importance. The experimental resonance pair interactions are used to calculate the triplet exciton band structure of anthracen and the observed guest polarization behaviour is interpreted quantitatively by the Rashba effect. Finally, the lower Davydov component of the host is s and broadened with increasing guest concentration. The shift is discussed using a theoretical model of Lifshitz.     

Magnetic interactions in ternary cobalt oxides with cubic perovskite structure

Magnetic properties were measured on the cubic perovskite systems SrCoO_3?δ, (La_1?xSr_x)CoO₃ (0.5 ≦ x ≦ 1.0), and Sr(Co_1?xMn_x)O₃ (0 ≦ x ≦ 1.0). It is found that S²⁺ and La³⁺ ions strongly affect the spin state of the Co²⁺ ion and that the Mn⁴⁺ ion located at the octahedral site affects the spin state of Co⁴⁺ ion. The magnetic properties (T_c, T_θ, and σ) are explained by the magnetic interaction Co³⁺OCo³⁺, Co³⁺OCo⁴⁺, Co⁴⁺OCo⁴⁺, Mn⁴⁺OMn⁴⁺, and Mn⁴⁺OCo⁴⁺ in these systems.     

Structural changes in low temperature water

Previous experiments on the neutron structure factor S(q) for heavy water near 11.2°C have been extended so that the next term in the Taylor expansion may be examined. An improved result for the isochoric temperature derivative of S(q) at 11.2°C is obtained. These data and those for the (ΔT)² coefficient in the Taylor expansion may be explained on a simple basis: namely that OH and HH distances between neighbouring molecules vary as (T  t₀)⁻ⁿ where (T  T₀) ≈ 1200n for T ≈ 300 K.     

Relaxation in torsional motion of triplet oxirane

The rotational barrier height E_rot in the lowest triplet state oxirane molecule was calculated to be 26.3 kcal/mole using a double zeta basis set with partial geometry optimization. This suggest ldrelaxedrd rotation and the computed e(T₁- E(S_o) + E_rot value is commensurate with the enthalpy change for the oxirane-forming O(³P) + C₂H₄ reaction, thus providing a rationale for the stereochemical features of the reaction.     

Fluorescence signaling of aromatic oxoanion inclusion within metal-ion activated molecular receptor complexes formed from 2-(9-anthracenylmethylamino)ethyl-appended cyclen

Our observations that 1-[2-[(9-anthracenylmethylamino)ethyl)-4,7,10-tris[(2S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, L¹, complexes Cd(II) to form fluorescent [CdL¹]²⁺ which undergoes a fluorescence change when it acts as an aromatic anion receptor complex has caused us to explore further the potential development of an interesting sequestration/sensor system. Accordingly, three new, octadentate, fluorescent, macrocyclic ligands, 1-[2-[(9-anthracenylmethyl)((2S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl)amino]ethyl]-4,7,10-tris[(2S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, (L²), 1-[2-[(9-anthracenyl-methyl)((2S)-2-hydroxy-3-(4??-methyl)phenoxypropyl)amino]ethyl]-4,7,10-tris[(2S)-2-hydroxy-3-(4??-methyl)phenoxypropyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, (L³), and 1-[2-[(9-anthracenylmethyl)((2S)-2-hydroxy-3-(4??-t-butyl)phenoxypropyl)amino]ethyl]-4,7,10-tris[(2S)-2-hydroxy-3-(4??-t-butyl)phenoxypropyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, (L⁴), have been prepared with a view to using their metal complexes to study aromatic anion sequestration. The eight-coordinate Cd(II) complexes of L² and L³, [CdL²](ClO₄)₂·5H₂O and [CdL³](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O·2Et₂O are both capable of acting as receptors for a range of aromatic oxoanions. This is demonstrated by perturbation of the anthracene derived fluorescence emission intensity as the guest aromatic oxoanion and the receptor complex combine. In 20% aqueous 1,4-dioxane the receptor complex/aromatic oxoanion association constants are in the range of 10^3.2 M^?1 (guest = p-hydroxybenzoate) to 10^7.3 M^?1 (guest = 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate).     

Host–guest complexation of antioxidative caffeic and ferulic acid amides with a functionalized cyclophane

Host?guest complexation has been studied by ¹H NMR on the benzyl and phenethyl amides of ferulic and caffeic acids as the guests in chloroform and acetonitrile; the counter host is a cyclophane which integrates four phenylene rings, amino and amide groups in the macrocyclic framework and bears four pendant methyl acetate ester arms. CAPE, one of the best known natural antioxidants, also has been studied for comparison. Among the guests studied, ferulic acid benzyl amide shows NMR shifts due to the formation of a host?guest complex in chloroform. The complexation occurs in two steps with the formation constants K ₁?=?[HG]/[H][G]?=?6?M^?1 and β ₂?=?[HG₂]/[H][G]²?=?87?M^?2. Two guest molecules are bound on the surface of the macrocyclic framework of a host molecule by two hydrogen bonds, NH(host amide)···O=C(guest amide) and C=O(host ester)···HO(guest phenol). The latter hydrogen bond may protect the bioactive site, i.e., phenol OH, of guest molecules captured in the complex against undesirable oxidation. This feature is observed only for ferulic acid benzyl amide in chloroform; the cyclophane ester interacts with this amide, distinctively from the other hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives.     

Characterization of Inherently Chiral Electrosynthesized Oligomeric Films by Voltammetry and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM)

A voltammetric and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) investigation was performed on an inherently chiral oligomer-coated gold electrode to establish its general properties (i.e., conductivity and topography), as well as its ability to discriminate chiral electroactive probe molecules. The electroactive monomer (S)-2,2′-bis(2,2′-bithiophene-5-yl)-3,3′-bibenzothiophene ((S)-BT₂T₄) was employed as reagent to electrodeposit, by cyclic voltammetry, the inherently chiral oligomer film of (S)-BT₂T₄ (oligo-(S)-BT₂T₄) onto the Au electrode surface (resulting in oligo-(S)-BT₂T₄-Au). SECM measurements, performed in either feedback or competition mode, using the redox mediators [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ and [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ in aqueous solutions, and ferrocene (Fc), (S)-FcEA, (R)-FcEA and rac-FcEA (FcEA is N,N-dimethyl-1-ferrocenylethylamine) in CH₃CN solutions, indicated that the oligomer film, as produced, was uncharged. The use of [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ allowed establishing that the oligomer film behaved as a porous insulating membrane, presenting a rather rough surface. This was inferred from both the approach curves and linear and bidimensional SECM scans, which displayed negative feedback effects. The oligomer film acquired semiconducting or fully conducting properties when the Au electrode was biased at potential more positive than 0.6 V vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl. Under the latter conditions, the approach curves displayed positive feedback effects. SECM measurements, performed in competition mode, allowed verifying the discriminating ability of the oligo-(S)-BT₂T₄ film towards the (S)-FcEA and (R)-FcEA redox mediators, which confirmed the results obtained by cyclic voltammetry. SECM linear scans indicated that the enantiomeric discriminating ability of the oligo-(S)-BT₂T₄ was even across its entire surface.     

Analysis of vibronic intensities in the phosphorescence spectrum of dimethylbenzaldehydes in durene

An attempt is reported to explain the main intensity patterns in the phosphorescence spectra of 2,4-, 2,5- and 3,4-dimethyl-benzaldehyde-1h₁ and -1d₁, observed previously. The analysis is based on CNDO and MINDO calculations of (transition) dipole moments, spin-orbit couplings, vibronic couplings, state energies, normal coordinates and vibrational frequencies. Where possible these quantities are empirically checked and corrected. Additional information, especially about the separation of the closely spaced T₁(³ππ^*) and T₂(³nπ^*) states, is obtained from phosphorescence excitation spectra reported here for all six isomers. The phosphorescence spectra consist of two components, an “allowed” component of ³ππ^* and a “forbidden” component of ³nπ^* symmetry. It is concluded that the allowed component is partly induced by the crystal field. The forbidden component is vibronically induced by out-of-plane vibrations among which the aldehydic CH(CD)-wag mode is the most active. The observed intensity patterns for this component are ascribed to interference between two mechanisms, one involving vibronic coupling between S₀ and S₁(¹nπ^*) and spin-orbit coupling between S₁ and T₁, the other involving vibronic coupling between T₁ and T₂ and spin-orbit coupling between S₀ and T₂. Within the groups of either 1h₁ or 1d₁ isomers, the main changes in the spectrum are shown to be due to the change in T₁–T₂ energy separation. The changes observed upon deuterium substitution in the aldehyde group involve, in addition to changes in the T₁–T₂ gap, changes in vibronic coupling due to normal-coordinate mixing. All these spectral changes are reproduced by calculations based on a mixture of theoretical and empirical input parameters, derived from, or at least consistent with, other observations, including excitation spectra, dipole moments and zero-field splittings. It is concluded that the mechanisms underlying these calculations offer a satisfactory explanation of the observed intensity patterns in the phosphorescence spectra of dimethylbenzaldehydes.     

Furanose ring conformations in a 1′-alkynyl C-nucleoside and the dinucleotide

A large-scale synthesis was carried out for alkynyl C-nucleotide oligomers in order to clarify the structural details of the artificial DNA. A liquid-phase synthesis by means of phosphoramidite methodology enabled us to handle ～0.1 g of the DNA oligomers possessing a pseudouracil derivative (T*) as a non-natural nucleobase. ¹H NMR measurements in aqueous media were carried out for the oligomers, succeeded in the accurate assignments of the protons accompanying with determination of the coupling constants (J values). These J values revealed that average conformation of the alkynylribose rings in the DNA was substantially biased toward the S-type conformers (²T₁/E₁/^OT₁). X-ray crystal analysis of the non-natural nucleoside also supported the S-type conformation (²E/²T₁) as seen in natural B-DNA.