Photophysics of benzazole derived push–pull butadienes: A highly sensitive fluorescence probes

Two new homologues of 1,4-diphenylbutadiene, namely, 1-(2-benzazolyl)-4-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)buta-1,3-diene have been synthesized and their absorption and fluorescence properties have been investigated in different organic solvents. The absorption spectra are less sensitive to the solvent polarity than the corresponding fluorescence spectra, which show dual emission and high solvatochromic effect in polar solvents. Using an efficient solvatochromic method, a large excited state dipole moment parallel to the smaller ground state dipole moment was calculated. Other properties of the lowest excited state such as the planar ICT B_u nature, fluorescence quantum yield and the basicity of the two nitrogen atoms (of the benzoxazole or benzothiazole ring as well as the amino group) were studied by spectroscopic techniques and semiempirical AM1 quantum chemical calculations. The findings have been presented and discussed along with the promising fluorescence probing and pH-sensing properties of these two dienes. The main spectroscopic properties of the two derivatives have been also compared.     

Bichromophoric hemicyanine dyes as fluorescence probes applied for monitoring of the photochemically initiated polymerization

The spectroscopic properties of series homodimmeric hemicyanine dyes based on (p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)benzothiazolium, (p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)benzoxazolium, (p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)-2,3,3-trimethyl-3H-indolium residues were determined. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the dyes under study were measured in different polarity solvents at room temperature. On the basis of the solvatochromic behavior the ground state (μ_g) and excited state (μ_e) dipole moments of bis-(N,N-dimethylaminostyryl) derivatives were evaluated. The dipole moments (μ_g and μ_e) were estimated from solvatochromic shifts of absorption and fluorescence spectra as function of dielectric constant (ε) and refractive index (n) of applied solvents. The absorption and fluorescence spectra are only slightly affected by the solvent polarity. The analysis of solvatochromic behavior of the fluorescence spectra as a function of Δf (ε, n) revealed that the emission occurs from a high polarity excited state. The large dipole moment changes along with the red-shifted fluorescence, as the solvent polarity is increased, demonstrates the formation of an intramolecular charge transfer state (ICT). Six bichromophoric hemicyanine dyes, possessing benzothiazole, benzoxazole or indolinium group linked by 5 or 10 methylene groups were evaluated as fluorescence probes applied for monitoring of the polymerization process. The study on the changes in fluorescence intensity and spectroscopic shift of studied compounds were carried out during photochemically initiated polymerization of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-propane-1,3-diol triacrylate (TMPTA).     

New and efficient high Stokes shift fluorescent compounds: unsymmetrically substituted 1,2-bis-(5-phenyloxazol-2-yl)benzenes via microwave-assisted nucleophilic substitution of fluorine

Two new unsymmetric derivatives of 1,2-bis-(5-phenyloxazol-2-yl)benzene (ortho-POPOP) were synthesized via microwave-assisted nucleophilic substitution of fluorine which appears to be significantly more efficient compared with conventional thermal activation. The compounds synthesized are characterized by high fluorescence Stokes shifts (6000-11,000 cm⁻¹) in solvents of various polarity, intermediate-to-high fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes in the range of several nanoseconds.     

Surface and fluorescence properties of a novel fluorescent surfactant

A novel kind of fluorescent surfactant having 7-hydroxylcoumarin group in the long alkyl chain was synthesized. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension (γ_cmc) at CMC and absorption, fluorescence properties of this product were determined. From the variations of fluorescence spectra in different solvents, it is observed that the polarity and dielectric constant of the solvents play important roles in the maximum fluorescence intensity and wavelength. Moreover, the surprised exhibition of two fluorescence bands in neutral and alkaline solutions has been attributed to the superexciplex formation of the product molecules. Also, the lower product concentration measuring the fluorescence properties as well as the supposed configuration of hydrogen bond of the product indicate that the larger aggregations cannot exist in alkaline solutions. The superexciplex is a possibility with two or more polar excited molecules together to form an excited state association.     

The influence of solvent polarity and viscosity on fluorescence of quinolizinium salts

The effects of dielectric constant, viscosity and polarity of the solvents used on the relative fluorescent emission of 2,3-diphenylquinolizinium bromide and 2(p-dimethyl-amino)styryl-3-methylquinolizinium bromide are described. These salts were entirely dissolved in ten different solvents. The 2(p-dimethylamino)styryl derivative produced different ionic species, and was a fluorescent acid-base indicator. The fluorescence of these quinolizinium salts is shown to increase with greater viscosity of the medium.     

Microwave-assisted solvent-free catalyzed synthesis and luminescence properties of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles bearing a 4-aminophenyl substituent

A solvent-free microwave-assisted four-component synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles bearing a 4-aminophenyl substituent was studied by condensation of p-phenylenediamine, aryl diketone, benzaldehyde derivatives and ammonium acetate in the presence of solid support silica gel and catalyst Keggin-H₃[PW₁₂O₄₀]. The effects of four components molar ratio along with catalyst loading, irradiation time on the yields were investigated. Also, the structures of synthesized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, HRMS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, their ultraviolet–visible maximum absorption, liquid fluorescence emission maximum and quantum yields were, respectively, measured in 0.05 M H₂SO₄ aqueous solution and in dichloromethane. Simultaneously, solid fluorescence spectra were determined in the powder state. The relationships between the optical behavior and the polarity of the solvents for some compounds were assessed. The results showed that the fluorescence quantum efficiency was increased by introducing amino phenyl in comparison with benzyl on 1-position of trisubstitued imidazoles. The compounds synthesized were sensitive to the polarity of the solvents.     

Two Dehydroabietic Acid-based Arylamines: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Fluorescent Properties

Two dehydroabietic acid-based arylamines have been synthesized and characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS spectra and elemental analysis. Their spatial structures were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectral characteristics of these compounds in methanol were investigated. Their fluorescence emission spectra in different polarity solvents were further evaluated. Fluorescent properties and structural relationship of the compounds showed that fluorescence intensity and quantum yield inversely increase with the non-coplanar degree. In addition, the solvent polarity has different effects on the fluorescence emission spectra of two compounds.     

3-Hydroxybenzo[g]quinolones: dyes with red-shifted absorption and highly resolved dual emission

New derivatives of 3-hydroxyquinolone (3HQ) with a fused benzene ring (3-hydroxybenzo[g]quinolones) have been synthesized. They display a remarkable red shift of their absorption spectrum in comparison with other 3HQ analogs allowing their excitation by common He/Cd and Ar-ion lasers. As a result of their irreversible excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction, they display a dual fluorescence in a series of solvents of varying polarities, starting from toluene to methanol. The dual emission of these dyes correlates well with solvent H-bond basicity, which is connected with the effect of this solvent property on the kinetics of the ESIPT reaction. In addition to their red-shifted absorption and fluorescence, these new derivatives show a larger separation of their two emission bands and a more appropriate range of their intensity ratio than the previously synthesized 3HQs. These properties allow an improved ratiometric evaluation of the local H-bond basicity of unknown environments, which will favor future applications of the new dyes in polymer and biological sciences.     

Synthesis of benzanthron derivatives for selective detection by fluorescence of copper ions

The paper reports on the synthesis of two new benzanthron derivatives with intense yellow-orange fluorescence and their copolymers with styrene. The photophysical characteristics of the new low and high molecular weight fluorescent compounds have been studied in organic solvents of different polarity. The effect of the chemical nature of the C-3 substituent on the photophysical properties of the new dyes is discussed. The complexes formed between the benzanthron fluorophores and metal cations in solution have been studied with regard to potential applications as fluorescent sensors for metal ion contamination. The results show that the C-3 substituent determines a selective response to the presence of Cu²⁺ cations. In the case of copolymers the effect of the metal cations on the fluorescence intensity is negligible.     

Intensely blue-fluorescent 2,5-bis(benzoimidazol-2-yl)pyrazine dyes with improved solubility: their synthesis, fluorescent properties, and application as microenvironment polarity probes

In order to improve the solubility of intensively fluorescent 2,5-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyrazine (BBIP), we synthesized new BBIP derivatives (2, 3a,b, and 5a,b) possessing two alkyl chains at the N-1 and N-1′ positions of the two benzimidazole moieties. Characterization of these compounds demonstrated that they exhibit high fluorescence intensity even in protic solvents, as well as solvatochromic fluorescence, in which their fluorescence maxima in aqueous methanol exhibited bathochromic shift with increasing ?_r value of the medium. We utilized 5a as a microenvironment polarity probe to indicate the variation in polarity around the backbone of the temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) by measuring the spectral change caused by the thermal phase transition of the polymer.     

不同方位取代的二氰基乙烯基蒽的光谱行为的研究

本文设计合成了二个典型的共轭的电子给体与电子受体（D－A）化合物：2－二氰基乙烯基蒽（2－DCVA）与9－二氰基乙烯基蒽（9－DCVA）．考察了极性因素、温度因素对化合物发光能力的影响。研究表明：在不同极性溶剂中该二化合物均发分子内电荷转移（ICT）态的荧光，但2－DCVA的荧光量子产率（Φf）远大于9－DCVA的荧光量子产率，造成这一现象的主要原因可能是2－DCVA分子的平面性好于9－DCVA分子而引起分子内电荷转移相互作用不同所致．文中还用Bilot－Kawski公式估算了该二化合物在激发态与基态时仍极矩的差值。     

Photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer and S2 fluorescence in thiophene-pi-conjugated donor-acceptor systems: experimental and TDDFT studies

Experimental and theoretical methods were used to study newly synthesized thiophene-pi-conjugated donor-acceptor compounds, which were found to exhibit efficient intramolecular charge-transfer emission in polar solvents with relatively large Stokes shifts and strong solvatochromism. To gain insight into the solvatochromic behavior of these compounds, the dependence of the spectra on solvent polarity was studied on the basis of Lippert-Mataga models. We found that intramolecular charge transfer in these donor-acceptor systems is significantly dependent on the electron-withdrawing substituents at the thienyl 2-position. The dependence of the absorption and emission spectra of these compounds in methanol on the concentration of trifluoroacetic acid was used to confirm intramolecular charge-transfer emission. Moreover, the calculated absorption and emission energies, which are in accordance with the experimental values, suggested that fluorescence can be emitted from different geometric conformations. In addition, a novel S(2) fluorescence phenomenon for some of these compounds was also be observed. The fluorescence excitation spectra were used to confirm the S(2) fluorescence. We demonstrate that S(2) fluorescence can be explained by the calculated energy gap between the S(2) and S(1) states of these molecules. Furthermore, nonlinear optical behavior of the thiophene-pi-conjugated compound with diethylcyanomethylphosphonate substituents was predicted in theory.     

Spectral-luminescent and solvatochromic properties of 2-(3-coumarinyl)-5-(2′-(R-amino)-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Spectral-luminescent properties of the newly synthesized 2-(3^′-coumarinyl)-5-(2′-(R-amino)-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles has been investigated in solvents of various polarity and hydrogen-bonding ability. It has been found that for all the studied compounds no excited state intramolecular proton transfer occurs despite the presence of coumarinyl fragment - electron acceptor effect of the coumarinyl fragment is not sufficient to increase the excited state acidity of the amino group. It has been found that the absorption spectra of the studied compounds shift to higher energy with increase in solvent polarity, whereas corresponding fluorescence spectra shift to lower energy with solvent polarity increase. It has been suggested that long-wavelength shifts of the fluorescence spectra of the studied compounds with increase in solvent polarity is caused by the solvent relaxation. The observed solvent relaxation effect allow us to propose some of the studied compounds as potential probes to monitor changes in solvent relaxation in low-polar media and as potential probes for rigidochromic effect.     

Effects of solvent on the fluorescence of 2-anilinonaphthalene

Solvation dynamics of 2-anilinonaphthalene (2-AN) has been studied at room temperature in a series of solvents with different polarity. The computation at the Hartree-Fock level of theory with the 3-21G* basis set has also been performed to study the structure of 2-AN in the ground and excited states. Steady-state fluorescence and fluorescence lifetime of 2-AN show the dependence of the fluorescence decay on the polarity and viscosity of solvent.     

Synthesis and fluorescence study of 3-aminoalkylamidonapthalimides

A new series of fluorescent 3-aminoalkylamidonapthalimides were synthesized starting form 1,8-naphthalic anhydride. The structure of these compounds was characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and Mass spectral analysis. The solvent effect on ¹H and ¹³C NMR of these compounds was studied in CDCl₃, CDCl₃:DMSO-d₆ (7:3, v/v) and DMSO-d₆. NMR chemical shift of the ortho and para protons and meta carbons of naphthalene ring showed maximum variation on moving from CDCl₃ to DMSO-d₆. In CDCl₃ solvent naphthalene ring may exist in slightly puckered form while in DMSO-d₆ it attains maximum planar configuration. Fluorescent properties of the title compounds and their precursors were investigated in different solvents like chloroform, ethanol, acetonitrile, acetone, DMSO and water. 3-Aminoalkylamidonapthalimides exhibited improved fluorescence than their precursors. Cyclic amino derivatives yielded higher fluorescence quantum efficiency in protic solvents, ethanol and water. Acylic amino derivatives yielded high fluorescence quantum efficiency in chloroform solvent. The maximum fluorescence quantum yield up to 0.14 was found for butyl amine derivative in chloroform solvent. In general proton accepting nucleophilic solvents like acetone and DMSO quenched the fluorescence.     

哑铃型富勒烯化合物的光诱导电子转移反应

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of DTE-azomethine ylides (DTE: dithienyl-ethene) to C60 in refluxed toluene was used to synthesize novel dumbbell-type fullerene dimer 1. For the sake of comparison, the monoadduct 2 were also synthesized. The molecular geometries of these two compounds were determined by theoretical calculations with HF-3/21G method. UV-Vis and fluorescence experiments were carried out in solvents with different polarity at the room temperature. All the results indicated the existence of a photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer process between the donor and acceptor moieties.     

苯乙烯基吡嗪类化合物的构象研究

有选择地合成了四种结构不同的苯乙烯吡嗪衍生物，测定了它们在不同极性溶剂中的吸收光谱和荧光光谱，根据其在基态条件下可能的分子构象和所得到得到的光谱数据，进一步对该类分子的最佳发光构象做出较为肯定的结论。     

Polarity effect on fluorescence of styryl derivatives of quinolizinium salts in micellar media

The styryl derivatives of quinolizinium salts show a marked solvatochromic effect. The p-amino and p-hydroxy derivatives exhibited the greatest effect. The fluorescent intensity of the salts dissolved in nine different solvents is shown to be related to their polarity parameters. The emission was highest for hydroxylic solvents. For all solvents the changes in the fluorescence of the styryl derivatives in the presence of various surfactants is also studied; a great increase in intensity was produced in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate. This enhanced emission was not observed for non-ionic surfactants. This behaviour is discussed ansd also related to solvent polarity.     

苯并吲哚半菁、二次甲基菁染料的微波合成、光谱性能及其与生物分子的相互作用

采用微波技术,分别以N-烷基-2,3,3-三甲基-4,5-苯并吲哚六氟合磷酸盐与二甲氨基苯甲醛或3-吲哚甲醛为原料,在哌啶的催化下快速合成了4种苯并吲哚半菁染料H1～H4和4种苯并吲哚二次甲基菁染料F1～F4,并采用UV-Vis,1H NMR,IR,元素分析确证了产物的结构.研究了染料在不同溶剂中的吸收光谱性质,结果显示:两类染料在质子性溶剂中随着溶剂极性的增加最大吸收波长出现蓝移;而在非质子性溶剂中随着溶剂极性的减小最大吸收波长发生红移.同时,研究了染料H3和F2在生理条件下与鲑鱼精DNA、牛血清白蛋白、溶菌酶、淀粉酶和糜蛋白酶的相互作用,发现染料H3的荧光强度随着DNA浓度的增加而增强.     

Ultrasensitive fluorescent probe for the hydrophobic range of solvent polarities

The new 3-hydroxychromone derivative 2-(6-diethylaminobenzo[b]furan-2-yl)-3-hydroxychromone (FA) displays a dramatic solvent-dependent transformation of fluorescence spectra in the range of low-polarity solvents. The two well-separated emission bands change their relative intensities so that the short-wavelength band being of a very low intensity in hexane becomes dominant in the more polar ethyl acetate and trichloromethane. We suggest the participation in this effect of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer, which is characteristic for other 3-hydroxychromone and 3-hydroxyflavone derivatives, in the range of solvents of much higher polarities. Because of these unique properties, a number of spectroscopic parameters (positions of absorption and two fluorescence maxima, the ratio of their intensities and the fluorescence quantum yield) can be measured in this solvent range with multiparametric analysis of the data. In terms of solvent polarity, the shifts in both emission bands and their intensity ratio demonstrate a good correlation with empirical polarity scales E_T^N, P_y and SPP, while the absorption spectra reveal some deviations for the tested oxygen-containing solvent molecules. A good cross-correlation is observed between fluorescence spectral shifts and the ratio of band intensities. The latter provides the means for a dramatic amplification of solvent response. Thus, a new approach for ultrasensitive scaling and probing the solvent polarity in the low-polararity range can be suggested. It involves very simple ratiometric measurements at two emission bands and can be posed for a variety of applications. We present examples of these applications for distinguishing of polarities between methylated benzene derivatives, for quantitative assay of polar impurities in low-polar solvents and for detection of the changes of solvent polarity as a function of temperature.