Photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) reaction in trans-methyl p-(dimethylamino) cinnamate: A combined fluorescence measurement and quantum chemical calculations

The photophysical behaviour of trans-methyl p-(dimethylamino) cinnamate (t-MDMAC) donor–acceptor system has been investigated by steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The molecule t-MDMAC shows an emission from the locally excited state in non-polar solvents. In addition to weak local emission, a strong solvent dependent red shifted fluorescence in polar aprotic solvents is attributed to highly polar intramolecular charge transfer state. However, the formation of hydrogen-bonded clusters with polar protic solvents has been suggested from a linear correlation between the observed red shifted fluorescence band maxima with hydrogen bonding parameters (). Calculations by ab initio and density functional theory show that the lone pair electron at nitrogen center is out of plane of the benzene ring in the global minimum ground state structure. In the gas phase, a potential energy surface along the twist coordinate at the donor (–NMe₂) and acceptor (–CH = CHCOOMe) sites shows stabilization of S₁ state and destabilization S₂ and S₀ states. A similar potential energy calculation along the twist coordinate in acetonitrile solvent using non-equilibrium polarized continuum model also shows more stabilization of S₁ state relative to other states and supports solvent dependent red shifted emission properties. In all types of calculations it is found that the nitrogen lone pair is delocalized over the benzene ring in the global minimum ground state and is localized on the nitrogen centre at the 90° twisted configuration. The S₁ energy state stabilization along the twist coordinate at the donor site and localized nitrogen lone pair at the perpendicular configuration support well the observed dual fluorescence in terms of proposed twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) model.     

Size- and solvent-dependent kinetics for cis–trans isomerization in donor–acceptor systems

We have investigated, using time-resolved and steady-state optical spectroscopy, the cis–trans isomerization dynamics in a series of charge transfer, donor–acceptor compounds. The number of donor (dithiafulvene) and acceptor (p-nitrophenyl) moieties as well as their spatial arrangement around a central ethynylethene core has been varied in a systematic way. All compounds in the series are weakly fluorescent. We show that the fluorescence spectrum red-shifts within a few picoseconds, a shift which occurs concurrently with a blue-shift of the transient absorption spectrum. The kinetics following the initial relaxation are in all cases multi-exponential, and the time constants correlate with molecular size and solvent viscosity. We interpret the data as a result of conformational change where the conjugation through the central double bond is broken upon excitation into the charge-transfer transition, and the time for rotation around this bond is dependent on the molecular interactions between solute and solvent.     

Fluorescence properties of trans-ethyl-p-(dimethylamino) cinnamate in presence of bile acid host

The knowledge of the formation of bile acid micellar aggregates is of great importance because of the biological significance of these compounds and their pharmacological applications. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescence property of trans-ethyl-p-(dimethylamino) cinnamate is used to study the micelles formed by aggregation of three most important bile acids, viz. cholic acid, deoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid by steady state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The ICT fluorescence band intensity was found to increase with concomitant blue shift with the addition of bile acids. The blue shift in ICT fluorescence maxima as well as decrease in nonradiative decay constants in presence of bile acids indicate the passage of the probe towards the micro domains formed from the aggregated bile acids. Binding constant of the probe with micelles as well as critical micelle concentration and average polarity parameter of the micellar environments were obtained from the variation of fluorescence intensity on increasing concentration of bile acids in the medium.     

The fluorescence of 5-cyano-2-(1-pyrrolyl)-pyridine (CPP) in different solvents and in solid argon: An experimental and theoretical study

The fluorescence spectrum of 5-cyano-2-(1-pyrrolyl)-pyridine (CPP) was measured in several solvents as well as in an argon matrix. Based on comparison with other compounds and on ab initio calculations it is proposed that the fluorescence in the argon matrix and in non-polar solvents is due to two electronic excited states: one is of locally excited nature, the other a charge transfer (CT) state. In polar solvents the spectrum is dominated by the CT emission. The photo-physical behavior of CPP is discussed by comparison with that of other molecules exhibiting dual fluorescence and in view of a recent model developed for the benzene analog.     

The spectroscopy, dynamics, and electronic structure of pyrenyl-dU nucleosides: P/dU charge transfer state photophysics

Various spectroscopies including UV-vis absorbance, emission, and emission quantum yield are combined with a variety of kinetics measurements including time resolved emission and nanosecond, picosecond, and femtosecond transient absorbance (TA) to systematize the P⁺/dU⁻ charge transfer (CT) state dynamics of a variety of pyrenyl-dU nucleoside conjugates in several solvents of varying polarity. These results are then analyzed further by means of electronic structure computations in vacuum and using two different solvent models. Finally, the excess electron dynamics of a number of DNA duplex structures substituted with two different pyrenyl-dU nucleosides and 5-XdU, where X=Br or F, electron traps are discussed in terms of achieving high yields of long-lived photoinduced CT products in DNA.     

Raman and theoretical study of the solvent effects on the sizable intramolecular charge transfer in the push-pull 5-(dimethylamino)-5'-nitro-2,2'-bithiophene

In this paper, we analyze the degree of intramolecular charge transfer in a push-pull pi-conjugated system, 5-(dimethylamino)-5'-nitro-2,2'-bithiophene, from changes in frequencies and relative intensities of its strongest Raman scatterings in a bunch of solvents with different polarities. Density functional theory (DFT) was used as a support of the experimental study. Solvent effects on the molecular and electronic structures and on the vibrational properties were estimated by performing B3LYP/6-31G calculations within the framework of the polarized continuum model (PCM) developed by Tomasi. Calculations reveal that the molecule is highly polarized in the ground state and behaves as a very efficient photoinduced push-pull system. The polarization of the molecule strongly increases with solvent polarity and determines that the profile of the Raman spectra greatly changes from one solvent to another and in going to the solid. The strongest Raman scattering associated with the nu(sym)(NO(2)) stretching undergoes a downshift of 48 cm(-1) in passing from CCl(4) to the solid. DFT calculations provide a comprehensive interpretation of the evolution of the Raman spectra with solvent polarity.     

An acyclic,dansyl based colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for Hg(II) via twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT)

An efficient fluorescent chemosensor for Hg²⁺ ion, based on 5-(dimethylamino)-N-(2-mercaptophenyl)naphthalene-1-sulfonamide, has been developed. It exhibits Hg²⁺-selective on–off fluorescence quenching behavior via twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) mechanism, which is rationalized by time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. The system exhibits visible color change from colorless to gray upon Hg²⁺ binding with very high selectivity and sensitivity (as low as 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹) over other metal ions such as K⁺, Na⁺, Ag⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Fe²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Sn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺. The present sensing system is also successfully applied for the detection of Hg²⁺ ion in real samples.     

Ion pairing in NHC gold(I) olefin complexes: A combined experimental/theoretical study

The relative anion-cation orientation in [(NHC)Au(alkene)]BF₄ ion pairs [NHC = N-Heterocyclic Carbene = 1,3-bis(di-iso-propylphenyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr) and 4,5-dimethyl-N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene (^MeIPr); alkene = 4-methyl-1-pentene, 2,3-methyl-2-butene and 4-methylstyrene] has been investigated by combining ¹⁹F,¹H-HOESY NMR spectroscopy in CD₂Cl₂ and a detailed analysis of the Coulomb potential of the cationic fragment through DFT calculations. Two main orientations have been found where the anion locates close to the imidazole ring (NHC-side) and close to the olefin (olefin-side). The NHC-side orientation is always predominant (65-83%) while the exact position of the anion in the olefin-side is finely tuned by the nature of olefin substituents. In all cases, the counterion resides far away from the gold site, the latter carrying only a small fraction of the positive charge.     

A combined experimental and theoretical charge density study of the chemical bonding and magnetism in 3-amino-propanolato Cu(II) complexes containing weakly coordinated anions

The experimental (100 K) and theoretical charge densities in the binuclear complexes [Cu2(ap)2(L)2] (ap = 3-aminopropanolate) 1 (L = nitrite), 2 (L = nitrate), and 3 (L = formate) have been examined. These complexes contain the same centrosymmetric alkoxy-bridged motif, where each strongly Jahn-Teller distorted Cu(II) ion is ligated to three O atoms and one N atom in a square-planar arrangement. This primary coordination sphere is augmented by a long contact with the O atom of a pendant L anion from an adjacent molecule in the crystal lattice. Topological analyses of the experimental and theoretical densities according to the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) are in excellent agreement. Consideration of a number of topological indicators including rho(r), vector differential(2)rho(r), the delocalization indices delta(A,B), and the contour integral(A intersection B) rho(r) of the density over the zero flux surface shared by the two atoms confirms that the Cu-O and Cu-N bonding in the primary coordination sphere has a strong covalent component, but the weak Cu...O interactions are primarily electrostatic in nature. In this first investigation of the source function in a coordination complex, it is shown to provide an insight into the differing electrostatic and covalent contributions to the chemical bonds. The two Cu(II) centers are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled, but the topological analyses indicates the lack of any direct Cu...Cu interaction. The molecular graph suggests an exchange pathway via the bridging O-atoms, thus providing experimental support of the classical superexchange mechanism. Periodic DFT calculations on 2 and 3 show that the intradimer coupling proceeds via spin-delocalization and provide values of the magnetic coupling constants -2 J of 324.5 and 244.8 cm(-1), respectively, which compare well with the previously determined experimental values.     

Theoretical study on molecular structures, intramolecular proton transfer reaction, and solvent effects of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-(6-hydro-4-amino-5-sulfo-2,3-pyrazine)-pyrazole-5-one

The molecular structures and intramolecular proton transfer reaction of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-(6-hydro-4-amino-5-sulfo-2,3-pyrazine)-pyrazole-5-one have been investigated with both ab initio method and the density functional theory. The solvent effects are simulated using the self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) method within the framework of the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The results show that the computed geometrical parameters at the B3LYP levels are in better agreement with experimental values than those at the RHF levels, and the choice of functional in DFT plays an important role in describing the title compound. It is found that strong hydrogen bonds (O–H···N and O···H–N) exist in the title compound, and in the proton transfer process, the O–H bond is broken while the N–H bond is formed. In addition, the order of stability of the isomers remains the same in different solvents, while the barrier height of the proton transfer reaction and dipole moments for the title compound grow with the increase of the solvent polarity. Eventually, the NBO analysis shows that the strength of the hydrogen bond reduces with the increase of the solvent polarity.     

Impact of surface hydroxylation in MgO-/SnO-nanocluster modified TiO2 anatase (101) composites on visible light absorption,charge separation and reducibility

Anatase TiO₂ surfaces, whether oxidised or hydroxylated, can be modified by nanoclusters of SnO and MgO to give a red shift in light absorption, enhanced charge separation and high reducibility.     

Unraveling solvent-dependent hydrogen bonding interaction and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer behavior for 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenol: A theoretical study

Organic chemosensors with excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) behavior have attracted much attention because it has great potential in a wide range of applications. Considering the paramount behavior of excited-state relaxation, in this work, we mainly focus on deciphering photo-induced hydrogen bonding effects and ESIPT mechanism for the novel 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenol (mCzOH) dye. Considering the effects of different solvents on excited-state dynamics of mCzOH flurophore, we adopt four solvents with different polarities. Analyses of fundamental structural changes, infrared (IR) vibrational spectra, and core valence partition index between S₀ and S₁ state, we confirm hydrogen bond O H···N of mCzOH should be enhanced via photoexcitation. Especially, the increase of solvent polarity could promote hydrogen bonding strengthening degree. Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) resulting from photoexcitation qualitatively facilitates the ESIPT occurrence to a large extent. For further checking and probing into ESIPT mechanism, via constructing potential energy curves (PECs) in four solvents, we clarify the ESIPT behavior for mCzOH. Most worthy of mention is that polar solvent plays critical roles in lowering potential barrier of ESIPT reaction and in facilitating ESIPT process. We not only clarify the detailed excited-state process, but also present the solvent-polarity-dependent ESIPT mechanism for mCzOH fluorophore.     

The influence of formamide (model of protein unit) on the intramolecular proton transfer in the DNA simple base guanine: A density functional theory study

For the purpose of investigating the influence of protein unit on the intramolecular proton transfer (IPT) reactions in the simple base guanine, a simple model (formamide) of peptides is designed to biological system investigations, and five complexes of formamide–guanine (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, and FG5) are determined at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory. For comparison, HF and MP2 methods are also used in this paper. The proton transfer (PT) reaction processes of guanine and FGs have been investigated employing the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory. The selected thermodynamic and kinetic parameters, such as the activation energies (E_a), changes of enthalpy (ΔH) and changes of free energies (ΔG), as well as the equilibrium constants (K_p) for those reaction processes, have also been obtained by calculational means. The calculated results indicate that the assisted and protected effects of formamide on IPT in guanine are site‐dependent. CH1 is the lowest activation energy needed PT process no matter where the formamide molecule is located in. The activation energy of CH1 with formamide in S2 is the lowest one (153.3 KJ/mol), whereas the one of CH5 with formamide in S5 is the highest (318.3 KJ/mol). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

A combined experimental and theoretical approach for structural study on a new cinnamoyl derivative of 2-acetyl-1,3-indandione and its metal(II) complexes

The synthesis, structure and spectral properties of a new cinnamoyl derivative of 2-acetyl-1,3-indandione (2AID), p-fluoro-cinnamoyl-1,3-indandione, LH and its metal(II) complexes with Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II), are described. In order to verify the molecular structure of the free ligand and its metal complexes, model geometries based on the spectroscopic data were optimized using quantum chemical methods. The experimental spectroscopic data (IR and NMR) of the ligand, LH, complemented by the calculated ones, show that it exists in the exocyclic enolic form in the gas phase, solution and solid state. Good quality single crystals of Cd(II) complex were obtained from a DMSO solution and were studied by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The data show bidentate coordination of the ligand and two DMSO molecules coordinated to the metal centre, thus forming a complex with octahedral geometry. On the contrary, the spectroscopic data on the amorphous samples indicate a square planar geometry of the Cu(II) complex and distorted octahedral geometry for Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with two water molecules coordinated to the metal centre. The used quantum chemical method for structure optimization of the transition metal complexes, B3LYP/LANL2DZ, shows very good agreement with the crystallographic data and, therefore, was also employed for structural determination for the non-crystalline complexes. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

A new nanobiosensor for glucose with high sensitivity and selectivity in serum based on fluorescence resonance Energy transfer (FRET) between CdTe quantum dots and Au nanoparticles

A novel assembled nanobiosensor QDs-ConA-beta-CDs-AuNPs was designed for the direct determination of glucose in serum with high sensitivity and selectivity. The sensing approach is based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CdTe quantum dots (QDs) as an energy donor and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as an energy acceptor. The specific combination of concanavalin A (ConA)-conjugated QDs and thiolated beta-cyclodextrins (beta-SH-CDs)-modified AuNPs assembles a hyperefficient FRET nanobiosensor. In the presence of glucose, the AuNPs-beta-CDs segment of the nanobiosensor is displaced by glucose which competes with beta-CDs on the binding sites of ConA, resulting in the fluorescence recovery of the quenched QDs. Experimental results show that the increase in fluorescence intensity is proportional to the concentration of glucose within the range of 0.10-50 muM under the optimized experimental conditions. In addition, the nanobiosensor has high sensitivity with a detection limit as low as 50 nM, and has excellent selectivity for glucose over other sugars and most biological species present in serum. The nanobiosensor was applied directly to determine glucose in normal adult human serum, and the recovery and precision of the method were satisfactory. The unique combination of high sensitivity and good selectivity of this biosensor indicates its potential for the clinical determination of glucose directly and simply in serum, and provides the possibility to detect low levels of glucose in single cells or bacterial cultures. Moreover, the designed nanobiosensor achieves direct detection in biological samples, suggesting the use of nanobiotechnology-based assembled sensors for direct analytical applications in vivo or in vitro.     

A DFT/TDDFT study on the structures, trend in DNA-binding and spectral properties of molecular “light switch” complexes [Ru(phen)2(L)](L = dppz, taptp, phehat)

Theoretical studies on a series of molecular “light switch” complexes [Ru(phen)₂L]²⁺ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; L: dppz = dipyrido [3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine; taptp = 4,5,9,18-tetraazaphenanthreno-[9,10-b]triphenylene; phehat = 1,10-phenanthrolino[5,6-b]1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene) 1-3 have been carried out applying DFT/TDDFT (density functional theory and time-dependent DFT) methods. The geometric and electric structure-characteristics of these complexes have been revealed, and the trend in their DNA-binding constants (K_b), i.e., K_b (2) < K_b (3) < K_b (1), which closely relates to the luminescence properties of the complexes in DNA, has been reasonably explained. The results show that simply increasing the planar area of intercalative ligand may be ineffective on improvement of DNA-binding of resulting complex because of going with the increase in the LUMO (and LUMO + x) energy, but introducing some heteroatoms (e.g., N atom) with stronger electronegativity into the ring skeleton of intercalative ligand should be effective because of the decrease in the LUMO (and LUMO + x) energy to a certain extent. In addition, the spectra of this series of complexes in vacuo are also computed, simulated, and minutely discussed by the DFT/TDDFT methods, and it is interesting to find that the symmetries of the excited and accepting orbitals of the transition with the largest f value are the same.     

Electronic and steric effects of substituents on the conformational diversity and hydrogen bonding of N-(4-X-phenyl)-N′,N″-bis(piperidinyl) phosphoric triamides (X = F, Cl, Br, H, CH3): A combined experimental and DFT study

Phosphoric triamides of the general formula (4-X-C₆H₄NH)P(O)(NC₅H₁₀)₂, X = F (1), Cl (2), Br (3), H (4) and CH₃ (5), have been synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystallography at 120 K reveals that the compounds 1, 3, 4·H₂O and 5 are composed of one, four, two and four conformers, respectively. DFT calculations were performed to investigate the electronic structures of the compounds. The X-ray data and DFT calculations revealed that the conformational diversity in these compounds is mainly governed by the steric effects of the substituent X rather than by electronic effects. Although substituent X does not participate directly in hydrogen bonding, the crystal packing of the compounds is influenced by the size of X. Atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses confirm that the para substituent X has no significant effect on the electronic features of the amidic proton and the phosphoryl oxygen atom (O_P). Using X-ray crystallography, AIM and NBO analyses, the structural and electronic aspects of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the compounds have been studied. The charge density (ρ) at the bond critical point (bcp) of the N-H bond decreases from the fully optimized monomers to their corresponding hydrogen bonded clusters. The N-H stretching frequency decreases from the calculated values to the experimental results.     

(N,N) vs. (N,S) chelation of palladium in asymmetric allylic substitution using bis(thiazoline) ligands: A theoretical and experimental study

New thiazoline-containing ligands including non-symmetric bis(thiazolines) and oxazoline-thiazolines were synthesized and then compared to C₂-symmetric bis(thiazolines) in the palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution. The experimental results obtained in this study support the hypothesis of a competition between the (N,N) and the (N,S) palladium chelation, when sterically hindered bis(thiazolines) are used as ligands. A quantum chemical study performed on the Pd-complexes derived from three selected ligands, two C₂-symmetric bis(thiazolines) and one oxazoline-thiazoline, also supports this hypothesis.     

Influence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding on IR-spectroscopic properties of (R)-(−)-1-phenylglycinium hydrogen squarate monohydrate in solid-state. IR-LD, Raman spectroscopy and theoretical study

Influence of the intermolecular interactions in solid phase on the overlapped IR-spectroscopic pattern of (R)-(−)-1-phenylglycinium hydrogen squarate monohydrate is studied experimentally by means of a complex approach, including IR-LD spectroscopy of oriented solid-samples as suspension in nematic liquid crystal, reducing difference procedure for polarized spectra interpretation, deconvolution and curve-fitting procedures. Raman ones completes the IR-spectroscopic data. The experimental results are supported with theoretical ones and the calculated frequencies obtained on UHF/6-311++G^** level of theory and basis and scaled with a factor of 0.8929 correlated well with experimental observed data, giving a standard deviation of 9 cm⁻¹ for so-called non-characteristic bands.