AFFINITY-CONTROLLED TRIPLET ENERGY TRANSFER FROM p-BENZOYLBENZYL-BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN TO LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT QUENCHERS

Abstract— Methods for the controlled synthesis of modified protein photosensitizers which maximize affinity-controlled energy transfer are discussed. Modified proteins containing covalently linked benzophenone groups were prepared by the reaction of bovine serum albumin with p -benzoylbenzyl bromide under conditions limiting the number and locations of the introduced benzophenone chromophores. The mechanism of energy transfer responsible for quenching of triplet photochemical reactions of the modified proteins was explored using water soluble quenchers. In addition, methods were employed to determine the magnitude of the contribution of the affinity-controlled mechanism for energy transfer in these systems. The utility of sodium- cis -8-methylene-4,9-decadienoate as a triplet energy transfer indicator for macromolecular systems was demonstrated using the modified proteins as sensitizers. The trienoic acid was prepared starting with the known 4-methylene-5-hexenal by the Wittig reaction with 3-ethoxycarbonylpropylidene triphenylphosphorane followed by saponification. Triplet sensitized irradiation of this trienoic acid using p -benzoylbenzyltriethylammonium chloride as sensitizer led to production of endo- and exo-1-vinyl-5-(3-carboxyethyl)bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane along with the trans acid. Characterization of the bicyclohexane products was made on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Results demonstrate that quenching of the intramolecular photoreactions of the modified proteins by trienoic acid must be a result of triplet energy transfer, since irradiation of these modified proteins in the presence of the trienoic acid salt led to the characteristic triplet photoproduct mixture.     

INTERACTION OF ENZYME-GENERATED SPECIES WITH CHLOROPHYLL-a AND PROBES BOUND TO SERUM ALBUMINS

Abstract— The interaction of serum albumin-bound acceptors with enzyme-generated and protected triplet species was studied in two types of systems. Chlorophyll-a bound to bovine and human serum albumins is efficiently excited by enzymatically generated triplet acetone and acetaldehyde. When the Chl-a concentration is much lower than that of the albumin the interaction occurs with chlorophyll in an aggregate in which one Chl-a is surrounded by several protein molecules. When the Chl-a concentration is higher than that of the protein, the aggregate contains the proteins and fluorescent chlorophylls in a 1:1 ratio. The excess chlorophylls, although able to interact with the donors, are not fluorescent.
In another study, probes bound to various specific sites of serum albumins were used as quenchers of the enzymatically generated triplet acetone. The efficiency of quenching by all the bound probes is equal and in one case even stronger than for the free probes.
A model for the interaction of the excited species contained in the enzyme with the acceptor(s) located in the protein is proposed.
The present results provide further evidence that enzyme-generated and protected triplet carbonyl species can interact through a collisional process with acceptors bound to or constituents of macromolecules.     

PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF MODIFIED PROTEINS BENZOPHENONE-CONTAINING BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN

Abstract— The results of exploratory and mechanistic studies of the photochemistry of poly- p -benzoyl-acetimido-bovine serum albumin, a modified protein containing photoreactive and photosensitizing groups, are reported. Specifically described are our recent findings concerning (1) the synthesis and characterization of a modified bovine serum albumin that contains benzophenone-like moieties, (2) the photochemistry of this modified protein which appears to involve photoreductive coupling of the benzophenone chromophores to the protein backbone, and (3) triplet energy transfer from modified bovine serum albumin to small molecule acceptors resulting in quenching of the photoreaction.     

Reaction of tetramethylpiperidine N-oxides with persistent triplet diphenylcarbenes

Persistent triplet diphenylcarbenes with considerable stability have been shown to be trapped by tetramethylpiperidine N-oxides (TEMPOs) to give the corresponding benzophenones as major products along with tetramethylpiperidine, which indicates that the reaction pattern is essentially identical with that observed for parent triplet diphenylcarbene. The absolute rate constants for the quenching reaction were measured by a laser flash photolysis technique and compared with those for quenching by other typical triplet carbene quenchers. The results showed that the reactivity of TEMPOs toward triplet carbenes was lower than that of oxygen but higher than that of 1,4-cyclohexadiene. The advantages of TEMPOs as a triplet carbene quencher as opposed to the other quenchers are discussed, and TEMPOs are shown to be very convenient reagents to estimate the reactivity of triplet carbenes.     

Singlet oxygen and polymer photooxidations. I. Sensitizers,quenchers, and reactants

A study designed to ascertain the role of singlet molecular oxygen in the photodegradation of plastics established that most classes of dye chromophores are sensitizers in polymer films, absorbing light and transferring the absorbed energy to ambient triplet ground state molecular oxygen, generating metastable reactive singlet molecular oxygen. Unsaturated polymers containing polybutadiene, polyisoprene, etc. are highly reactive to singlet oxygen produced through photosensitization, generating hydroxylic and carbonyl derivatives and losing their rubbery properties as consequences of such reactions. Many types of transition metal chelates are singlet oxygen quenchers. The relationships of the structures and spectroscopic properties of these chelates to their efficiency in quenching singlet oxygen are examined and discussed.     

Naphthalene in the higher triplet excited state

Naphthalene in the higher triplet excited state Np(Tn) was generated from the two-step excitation method using two-colour two-laser flash photolysis technique and the lifetime of Np(Tn) was estimated to be 4.5 ps from the triplet energy quenching by quenchers such as p-dichlorobenzene, o-dicyanobenzene and carbon tetrachloride.     

Structural relaxation in the 1,2,6-trimethyl-3,5-diphenyl-4-pyridone triplet

On 308 nm or 337.1 nm laser pulse excitation, 1,2,6-trimethyl-3,5-diphenyl-4-pyridone (2) forms triplets (λ_max ^T = 330 – 335 nm) characterized by short lifetimes (2 – 3 μs) in fluid solutions at room temperature. The triplet yields (0.07 – 0.5) decrease on going from non-polar solvents to polar/hydrogen-bonding solvents. The triplet exhibits a reluctant quenching behavior toward quenchers with triplet energies in the range 40 – 66 kcal mol⁻¹, although the spectroscopic triplet energy of 2 is estimated to be 74 kcal mol⁻¹ (from phosphorescence spectra in low temperature glasses). This inefficient energy transfer quenching is explained in terms of extensive relaxation in the triplet state of 2 in fluid solutions, most probably in the form of twisting about the double bonds of the heterocyclic ring (thereby relieving the steric strain). The triplets of 2 and its oxygen analogue (1) are shown to be efficient donors of electrons and energy in their interactions with paraquat and oxygen respectively.     

Photoinduced electron transfer reactions of pyrylium derivatives with organic sulfides in acetonitrile

The photochemistry and photophysics of pyrylium derivatives with organic sulfides in acetonitrile medium are investigated. A steady decrease in the fluorescence intensity and fluorescence lifetime of the dyes was observed with increase in the quencher concentration. Bimolecular quenching constants were evaluated and correlated with the free energy of electron transfer. Laser flash photolysis investigations on the dyes in presence of quenchers were done. Observation of pyranyl radical and sulfide cation radicals as intermediates clearly illustrates the electron transfer mechanistic pathway for this reaction. The radical pair energies were calculated and found to be lower than the triplet energy of the sensitisers and hence we do not see any triplet induction in the present system.     

SENSITIZATION OF THE PHOSPHORESCENCE OF INDOLE THROUGH INTRAMOLECULAR ENERGY TRANSFER FROM THE TRIPLET STATE OF COVALENTLY LINKED ACETOPHENONE IN RIGID MEDIA AT 77 K

Abstract— In an attempt to study the quenching of the triplet state of acetophenone by indole, we have prepared the compounds containing these chromophores intramolecularly. The emission measurements in rigid glasses at 77 K have indicated that the quenching of the triplet acetophenone is due to intramolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer to the indole chromophore, resulting in the sensitization of the indole phosphorescence. The efficiency of the energy transfer has reached ca. 100% in ethanol glasses, while it has been suggested that in methylcyclohexane glasses, the indole chromophore except for 1-methyl derivative is subjected to strong interaction with the acetophenone chromophore other than electronic energy transfer.     

Triplet quenching and antioxidant effect of several carbon black grades in the photodegradation of LDPE doped with benzophenone as a photosensitiser

In a previous paper it was demonstrated for the first time, that carbon black pigments have the ability to operate as effective singlet and triplet quenchers. This work was undertaken directly in the polymer using the inherent long-lived luminescent species as triplet donor species. In order to ascertain the effectiveness of the quenching mechanism and its inter-relationship with carbon black parameters, a total of eight different carbon black pigments have been incorporated into low density polyethylene at different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.4% w/w) and their effects determined on the quenching the triplet state of a known triplet photosensitiser, benzophenone (0.05% w/w). Using phosphorescence analysis at 77 K a large variability was observed in the benzophenone triplet lifetime quenching, the effect varying with the pigment type and the concentration of pigment. Photodegradation rates on the films were also performed in order to relate the quenching effect of the carbon black with films exposed to UVA light at 70°C. An unusual synergistic effect between the carbon black and the benzophenone sensitiser was observed compared with films containing only carbon black. The implications of carbon black pigments to operate as “super quenchers”, as well as antioxidants in this study and under practical concentration conditions is discussed. Although not consistent throughout, there is some indication that low surface area carbon black pigments can be the most effective quenchers of active excited states. However, the presence of surface containing oxygen groups can be related to the synergistic effect reported, using experimental design statistical analysis.     

Electron-transfer fluorescence quenching of aromatic hydrocarbons by europium and ytterbium ions in acetonitrile

To make the effects of molecular size on photoinduced electron-transfer (ET) reactions clear, the ET fluorescence quenching of aromatic hydrocarbons by trivalent lanthanide ions M3+ (europium ion Eu3+ and ytterbium ion Yb3+) and the following ET reactions such as the geminate and free radical recombination were studied in acetonitrile. The rate constant k(q) of fluorescence quenching, the yields of free radical (phi(R)) and fluorescer triplet (phi(T)) in fluorescence quenching, and the rate constant k(rec) of free radical recombination were measured. Upon analysis of the free energy dependence of k(q), phi(R), phi(T), and k(rec), it was found that the switchover of the fluorescence quenching mechanism occurs at deltaG(fet) = -1.4 to -1.6 eV: When deltaG(fet) < -1.6 eV, the fluorescence quenching by M3+ is induced by a long-distance ET yielding the geminate radical ion pairs. When deltaG(fet) > -1.4 eV, it is induced by an exciplex formation. The exciplex dissociates rapidly to yield either the fluorescer triplet or the geminate radical ion pairs. The large shift of switchover deltaG(fet) from -0.5 eV for aromatic quenchers to -1.4 to -1.6 eV for lanthanide ions is almost attributed to the difference in the molecular size of the quenchers. Furthermore, it was substantiated that the free energy dependence of ET rates for the geminate and free radical recombination is satisfactorily interpreted within the limits of the Marcus theory.     

QUENCHING OF THE TRIPLET STATE OF CHLOROPHYLL a BY ASCORBIC ACID AND ASCORBATE IN ETHANOLIC SOLUTION

Abstract— Ascorbic acid and ascorbate in chlorophyll ethanol solution were found to be fairly efficient quenchers of the chlorophyll triplet state; comparable to the efficiency of ascorbic acid as a quencher in aqueous pyridine solution.
It has been well established that ascorbic acid quenches the triplet state of chlorophyll in aqueous pyridine solution.^(1,2) The bimolecular quenching constant, kQ , is very much less than that for O₂ or quinine.^(3,4)
Information regarding the quenching of the triplet state of chlorophyll by ascorbic acid in ethanolic solution is lacking. There has been some question as to whether ascorbic acid reduces photoexcited chloro-phyll-ethanolic solution because of its high oxidation potential, or because like the ascorbate ion, it acts only as a quencher; both ascorbic acid and ascorbate in high concentrations gave low quantum yields.⁽⁵⁾ The quenching of the triplet state by ascorbic acid and ascorbate was determined by the flash-photolytic method.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Water‐Soluble Carboxylated Polyfluorene and Its Fluorescence Quenching by Cationic Quenchers and Proteins

We have developed a new intermediate monomer, 2,7‐[bis(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)‐9,9‐bis(3‐(tert‐butyl propanoate))]fluorene, that allows the easy synthesis of water‐soluble carboxylated polyfluorenes. As an example, poly[9,9′‐bis(3′′‐propanoate)fluoren‐2,7‐yl] sodium salt was synthesized by the Suzuki coupling reaction, and the properties of the polymer were studied in aqueous solutions of different pH. Fluorescence quenching of the polymer by different cationic quenchers (MV²⁺, MV⁴⁺, and NO₂MV²⁺; MV=methyl viologen) was studied, and the quenching constants were found to be dependent on the charge and electron affinity of the quencher molecule and the pH of the medium. The largest quenching constant was observed to be 1.39×10⁸ M ^?1 for NO₂MV²⁺ at pH 7. The change in polymer fluorescence upon interaction with different proteins was also studied. Strong fluorescence quenching of the polymer was observed in the presence of cytochrome c, whereas weak quenching was observed in the presence of myoglobin and bovine serum albumin. Lysozyme quenched the polymer emission at low protein concentrations, and the quenching became saturated at high protein concentrations. Under similar experimental conditions, the polymer showed improved quenching efficiencies toward cationic quenchers and a more selective response to proteins relative to other carboxylated conjugated polymers.     

Laser flash photolysis study of triplets of cyclobutanethiones

Five cyclobutanethiones with different chromophores at the 3-position were examined for triplet state behaviour in benzene using laser excitation into their low lying nπ^*1 band systems. A weak transient absorption attributable to the triplet state is observed in all these cases. Results concerning triplet lifetimes, intersystem crossing yields (S₁ → T₁), self-quenching kinetics and kinetics of energy transfer to all-trans-1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and oxygen and quenching by di-t-butyl nitroxide (DTBN) are presented. Intersystem crossing yields estimated with reference to p,p′-dimethoxythiobenzophenone are roughly unity in all five cases. Self-quenching rates are found to be less than diffusion limited and this is attributed to steric crowding at the α positions (dimethyl group). The rates of oxygen and DTBN quenching compare well with those reported for several other thiones in the literature. No transients other than the triplet were detected in the above cyclobutane-thiones.     

Quenching of triplet states by molecular oxygen and the role of charge-transfer interactions

The rate constants for oxygen quenching in benzene solution of the triplet states of several organic compounds with relatively high triplet energies have been measured in laser photolysis and pulse radiolysis experiments. The previously observed trend for aromatic hydrocarbons where the quenching rate constants decrease from a limiting value of about one ninth of that expected for a diffusion controlled reaction to lower values for triplet states with increasing triplet energy was not observed for the triplet states of certain aromatic ketones and amines. The higher rate constants observed, e.g. oxygen quenching of triplet N-methyl indole has k_Q = 1.4 × 10¹⁰ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1, are interpreted as being due to the presence of low lying triplet charge-transfer states which enhance the efficiency of quenching.     

Triplet state quenching by ruthenocene

Ruthenocene quenches triplet states of organic molecules with energies greater than 24000 cm^?1 in benzene solution at a diffusion controlled rate , (6 ± 1) × 10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1. For triplets with energies less than this the efficiency of quenching is dependent on the energy of the triplet state being quenched but drops off less acutely than expected for endothermic energy transfer following the Arrhenius equation. This is in agreement with the lowest triplet state of ruthenocene being geometrically distorted as expected from the previously observed large Stokes shift between absorption to and emission from its lowest triplet state. Similarities to ferrocene quenching of triplet states are discussed. Quenching of the triplet state of benzil by ruthenocene does not fall on the smooth curve which exists between the quenching rate constants k_q and the energy of the triplet state being quenched. Queching of triplet benzil by ruthenocene is therefore attributed to favourable charge-transfer interactions, also in this case the behaviour is analogous to quenching of triplet methylene-blue by ferrocene where at least a proportion of electron transfer following quenching has been previously established.     

Preparation of (2E)-3-(4'-Halophenyl)prop-2-enoyl Sulfachlorpyridazine Sodium Salts and Their Interaction with Bovine Serum Albumin by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Three (2E)-3-(4'-halophenyl)prop-2-enoyl sulfachlorpyridazine sodium salts(XPSCA) were synthesized. Their chemical structures were confirmed by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and infrared(IR) spectroscopy. The interactions between XPSCA and bovine serum albumin(BSA) were investigated under imitated physiological condition by fluorescence quenching technique and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy according to the Stern-Volmer equation. The results from the emission quenching at different temperatures indicate that the quenching mechanism of serum albumin by XPSCA was static quenching mechanism at low XPSCA concentrations or a combined quenching(static and dynamic) mechanism at higher XPSCA concentrations. At different temperatures, the binding constant and the binding sites of XPSCA with BSA were investigated, and the distances were evaluated according to Förster non-radiative resonance energy transfer theory. The thermodynamic parameters were calculated according to van't Hoff equation, which implies that both van der Waals interaction and hydrogen bond played major roles in stabilizing the XPSCA-BSA complexes, whereas hydrophobic interactions were secondary. Moreover, the conformational changes in BSA were analyzed by synchronous fluorescence spectra.     

Influence of quenchers on excited complexes upon triplet-triplet annihilation of tetrapyrrole molecules in liquid solutions

The influence of triplet quenchers on the kinetics of triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) for chlorophylla and tetraphenylporphine was investigated. It was found that the rate constants for the quenching of triplet states by TTA increase with increasing the quencher concentration [Q]. The greatest values for the triplet deactivation parameter are proportional to [Q]. Experimental results are consistent with the rationalization of the triplet annihilation through the formation of complexes from the triplet molecules. The linear dependence of the degradation rate constant of the triplet-triplet complexes to the ground-state molecules on [Q]² suggests that two quencher molecules are necessary for the quenching of one complex molecule. This means that two locally excited triplet states exist in the complex. It is likely the spin correlation time of the triplet states is longer than the lifetime of the complexes.     

Phosphorescence sensitization via heavy-atom effects in d10 complexes

Heavy atom-induced phosphorescence of organic chromophores that originates from spin?Corbit coupling (SOC) is always accompanied by fluorescence quenching concomitant with a reduction of the triplet excited state lifetime. However, such changes are typically manifest by fluorescence quenching at room temperature and phosphorescence sensitization at cryogenic temperatures. Herein we overview our efforts over the past decade in which both internal and external heavy-atom effects (HAEs) can trigger room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) with dramatic shortening of the phosphorescence radiative lifetime by several orders of magnitude. Such spectral properties render new classes of phosphorescent materials for potential use in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The molecular systems described in this paper are organic fluorophores that are ??-complexed or ??-bonded to a multinuclear d¹⁰ transition metal center, the presence of which leads to phosphorescence sensitization because of the significant SOC in such materials.     

Photoprocesses of Xanthene Dyes Bound to Lysozyme or Serum Albumin

The ground and excited state processes of eosin, erythrosin and rose bengal in aqueous solution were studied in the presence of lysozyme or bovine serum albumin (BSA). Noncovalent protein-dye binding was analyzed by circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. The effects of protein concentrations and pH were studied. Fluorescence quenching of the dye takes place due to binding to lysozyme and fluorescence enhancement due to low loading to BSA. The effects of proteins on the xanthene triplet state and its precursor were observed by time-resolved 530 nm photolysis. The triplet lifetime is quenched by lysozyme and prolonged by loading to BSA. Light-induced damages on both the dyes and proteins were observed under exclusion of oxygen. Photo-oxidation is efficient for lysozyme and lower for BSA. The CD signal of the eosin/BSA system is maximum at pH 4, where the photo-oxidation is minor.