The first observation of the effect of dendritic structure to produce the triplet excited state of the core stilbene by dendron excitation

We report that both singlet and triplet energy transfers in stilbene-cored benzophenone dendrimers (trans-BPST) took place quite efficiently. On excitation (290 nm) of stilbene group, the intramolecular singlet energy transfer from the excited core stilbene to the benzophenone part (99.7%) was confirmed by quenching of the fluorescence from the core stilbene. The benzophenone in the excited singlet state is known to undergo intersystem crossing to give its excited triplet state quantitatively. However, the very weak phosphorescence from benzophenone part in trans-BPST was observed even at 77 K. The phosphorescence intensity of trans-BPST is only 1% of that of model compound (4-methylbenzophenone) at 77 K. During the irradiation, the absorption spectra also changed due to the trans-cis isomerization. This is probably due to the ultrafast triplet energy transfer from the benzophenone to produce the triplet state stilbene.     

One-way isomerization and internal rotation in anthrylethylenes in the excited triplet state

1-(2-Anthryl)-2-(bromophenyl)ethylene and 1-(2-anthryl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene undergo cis→trans one-way isomerization in the excited triplet state through an adiabatic process from the cis-triplet to the trans-triplet states. The trans-isomers of these compounds undergo one-way internal rotation in the excited triplet state with an activation barrier of }7 kcal mol^?1 and a frequency factor of }10¹² s^?1, while no internal rotation takes place in the excited singlet state.     

Effects of benzyl ether type dendrons as hole-harvesting antennas, and shielding for the neutralization of stilbene core radical cations with chloride ion during two-photon ionization of stilbene dendrimers having stilbene core and benzyl ether type dendrons

The two-photon ionization (TPI) process (308 and 266 nm) of stilbene dendrimers having a stilbene core and benzyl ether type dendrons has been investigated in an acetonitrile and 1,2-dichloroethane mixture (3:1) in order to elucidate the dendrimer effects. The quantum yield of the formation of stilbene core radical cation during the 308-nm TPI was independent of the dendron generation of the dendrimers, whereas a generation dependence of the quantum yield of the radical cation was observed during the 266-nm TPI, where both the stilbene core and benzyl ether type dendron were ionized, suggesting that the subsequent hole transfer occurs from the dendron to the stilbene core, and that the dendron acts as a hole-harvesting antenna. The neutralization rate of the stilbene core radical cation with the chloride ion, generated from the dissociative electron capture by 1,2-dichloroethane, decreased with the increase in the dendrimer generation, suggesting that the dendron is an effective shield of the stilbene core radical cation against the chloride ion.     

Electronic Structure and Isomerization of Stilbene

The electronic structures of trans- and cis-stilbene are calculated using Pariser and Parr's semiempirical method. The resonance integrals are adjusted so as to give the best agreement with the spectroscopic data. In addition, the potential surfaces of various excited states in stilbene during its isomerization process are calculated. Our results differ significently from those of Borrell and Greenwood²⁾ who did not realized the importance of a doubly excited singlet state to the potential surface of the ground state of stilbene. Our improved potential surfaces suggests mechanism of various radiationless leading to photoisomerization and sensitized isomerization.     

Photoisomerization of stilbene dendrimers: the need for a volume-conserving isomerization mechanisms

Highly branched stilbene dendrimers were synthesized and their photochemical behavior was studied. Even the stilbene dendrimer with molecular weight over 6500 underwent trans-cis isomerization in the excited singlet state within the lifetime of 10 ns. The photoisomerization of C=C double bond of stilbene dendrimers in the excited state may proceed by a volume-conserving novel mechanism such as hula-twist rather than conventional 180 degrees rotation around the C=C double bond based on fluorescence and isomerization experiments.     

Water-soluble azobenzene dendrimers

Water-soluble azobenzene-cored dendrimers 4-6 were synthesized as potential photoresponsive micelles to which the aggregation is triggered by photoirradiation. In the absorption spectra, the π- absorption band of the dendrimers largely blue-shifted with increasing the generation due to the shielding effect of surrounding dendron on the interaction between the core azobenzene and solvent water. Not only the surrounding dendron groups suppressed the E-to-Z photoisomerization, but also the rate of thermal Z-to-E isomerization depended on the generation of the dendrimer. Furthermore, we have observed a novel temperature dependence of the rate constant of the thermal isomerization.     

Design of a new dihedral-angle-controlled molecular scissors: A DFT investigation

DFT calculations are employed to investigate the effects of the addition of a photoisomerizable stilbene unit to Aida′s molecular scissors on relative energies, dipole moments, and kinetic stability according to HOMO-LUMO energy gaps and amplitude of the open-close motion of blade moieties. The most obvious finding emerging from this study is the coming into existence of a new pair of molecular scissors operated by two photoswitchable units. Based on photoisomerization of azobenzene and stilbene units, four conformations appear for these new molecular scissors: cis–cis, cis–trans, trans–cis, and trans–trans. The HOMO-LUMO energy gaps promise that all isomers are kinetically stable. The other important finding is that in these new molecular scissors the dihedral angle between the two blade moieties can be controlled and measured through the open-close motion and the blade parts can adopt two middle states in addition to open-close forms.     

Modeling the structure,absorption spectra,and cis-trans isomerization of thiacarbocyanine dyes

The relative stability of the trans-and cis-isomers of 3,3′-diethylthiacarbocyanine (Dye1) and 3,3′-diethyl-9-methylthiacarbocyanine (Dye2)¹, as well as sections of the potential energy surfaces along the internal coordinate of the isomerization reaction, were studied using the density functional theory. Calculation of the minimum energy pathway for the isomerization reaction showed that the barrier for rotation about the C₈–C₉ bond is higher for Dye1 than for Dye2. Local minimums were found for the singlet excited state of the 8,9-cis-and trans-isomers of the dyes. In the case of the trans-isomers, substantial changes in the dye structure do not occur and the local minimum of the excited state corresponds to the geometry of the starting trans-isomers, which favors efficient fluorescence. A search for the nearest local minimum of the singlet excited state of the 8,9-cis-isomers leads to structures, which differ significantly from the starting structures, and the intensity of the S₁ → S₀ transition in those structures appears to be practically zero. The results are in agreement with experimental data on the absorption, fluorescence, and fluorescence excitation spectra of the dyes.     

Excited-state behavior of trans and cis isomers of stilbene and stiff stilbene: a TD-DFT study

The first part of the isomerization path on the two lowest excited states of trans and cis isomers of stilbene and stiff stilbene is investigated by means of TD-PBE0 calculations in the gas phase and in heptane solution. Solvent effects are taken into account by the PCM model. The excited-state optimized structures and the computed absorption and emission frequencies are in good agreement with the available experimental results. In all of the examined compounds, the isomerization process before barrier crossing occurs on the HOMO --> LUMO bright state, whereas the role played by other single-excitation states appears negligible. The relative energy barriers on the isomerization paths are consistent with the experimental excited-state lifetimes, suggesting a unifying picture of the isomerization process in stilbene-like molecules.     

How Does the Trans–Cis Photoisomerization of Azobenzene Take Place in Organic Solvents?

The trans–cis photoisomerization of azobenzene‐containing materials is key to a number of photomechanical applications, but the actual conversion mechanism in condensed phases is still largely unknown. Herein, we study the ${{\rm{n}}{\rm{,{\rm \pi} ^\ast }}}$ isomerization in a vacuum and in various solvents via a modified molecular dynamics simulation adopting an ab initio torsion–inversion force field in the ground and excited states, while allowing for electronic transitions and a stochastic decay to the fundamental state. We determine the trans–cis photoisomerization quantum yield and decay times in various solvents (n‐hexane, anisole, toluene, ethanol, and ethylene glycol), and obtain results comparable with experimental ones where available. A profound difference between the isomerization mechanism in vacuum and in solution is found, with the often neglected mixed torsional–inversion pathway being the most important in solvents.     

Synthesis and properties of polyaromatic dendrimers possessing a repetitive amide-ester coupling sequence

A series of novel polyaromatic dendrimers that feature tris-(2-ethylamino)amine as the central core unit has been synthesized up to the third generation by employing a convergent growth strategy. The building blocks 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane and 4-carboxybenzaldehyde were used for dendron construction, a process that involved the cyclic repetition of esterification, oxidation and selective amidation steps. Molecular modelling of this class of dendrimers has been used to predict potential solution state conformations employing molecular mechanics and molecular dynamic simulations. In addition, the results of preliminary metal binding studies using the first generation dendritic system are also outlined.     

Novel first-generation dendrimers on calix[4]resorcinol core equipped with multiple triazole units

Novel first-generation dendrimers on the calix[4]resorcinol core with four branches each containing multiple 1,2,3-triazole units have been synthesized in one-step by acid catalyzed condensation of resorcinols with a new aldehyde dendron, namely, 4-{3,5-bis[(1-benzyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)- methoxy]benzyloxy}benzaldehyde (obtained by alkyne–azide cycloaddition). The reaction proceeds stereoselectively to form rccc-diastereoisomers in high yields.     

Solvent and temperature effects on the fluorescence and competitive photoreactions of cis-9-styrylanthracene

A fluorimetric and photochemical study of cis-9-styrylanthracene as a function of temperature has been carried out in different solvents with the aim of answering some open questions about the behavior of its first excited singlet state, S₁. In non-polar solvents, a parallel photoreactive pathway, leading to a cyclization adduct, was found to compete with fluorescence and isomerization already at 200 K, its contribution increasing markedly with temperature. The cis » trans photoisomerization occurs prevalently by a triplet mechanism, a detectable contribution of diabatic and adiabatic isomerization in S₁ being operative in these solvents from room temperature upwards. In polar solvents, the main deactivation pathway competitive with fluorescence is isomerization to trans, which occurs prevalently through a mixed singlet mechanism with a major diabatic and a minor adiabatic components.     

A CASSCF study on the lowest π→π* excitation of urocanic acid

The photochemical cis/trans isomerization of urocanic acid (UCA, (E)‐3‐(1′H‐imidazol‐4′‐yl)propenoic acid) was investigated using complete active space SCF (CASSCF) ab initio calculations. The singlet ground state and the triplet and the singlet manifolds of the lowest‐lying π→π* (HOMO→LUMO) excitation of the neutral and the anionic UCA were calculated using the 6‐31G* and the 6‐31+G* basis sets, respectively. The torsional barrier of the double bond of the propenoic acid moiety in UCA is observed to be considerably lower in the T₁ and S₁ excited states of the neutral UCA and in the T₁ but not in the S₁ excited state of the anionic UCA, as compared to the S₀ state of the respective protonation form. The cis‐isomer of both the neutral and the anionic UCA is lower in energy than the trans‐isomer in the S₀, T₁, and S₁ states. This energy difference is larger in the excited states than in the ground state, probably due to strengthening of the intramolecular hydrogen bond of cis‐UCA as the molecule is excited. The results of the calculations, interpreted in terms of the idea that UCA is deprotonated upon electronic excitation, led to construction of a new model for the photoisomerization mechanisms of UCA. According to this model, the trans‐to‐cis isomerization proceeds via both the triplet and the singlet manifolds in the deprotonated form of UCA. This isomerization may occur in the S₀ state of the neutral UCA as well. The cis‐to‐trans isomerization is suggested to proceed only in the S₀ state of the neutral UCA. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 72: 25–37, 1999     

Conjugated dendrimers with triazine peripheries and a distyrylanthracene core

We describe the synthesis and luminescence characterization of conjugated dendrimers with triazine peripheries and a distyrylanthracene core that are suitable for electroluminescence applications. The dendrimers consist of dendritic triazine wedges with high electron affinity, stilbene branches, and a distyrylanthracene core as an emitting moiety. The dendrimers have lowest unoccupied molecular orbital values of about ?2.7 eV. Photoluminescence studies have indicated that a cascade energy transfer occurs from the triazine wedges to the stilbene bridges and finally to the distyrylanthracene core. Thus, the emission wavelength is determined by the distyrylanthracene core unit. The energy‐transfer efficiency of the distyrylanthracene‐cored dendrimers is about 47 and 20% for the first and second generations, respectively. A preliminary electroluminescence property investigation has also been conducted. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5855–5862, 2006     

Model for the direct photo-isomerization of stilbene

The photo-chemical cis-trans isomerization of stilbene is re-interpreted after the introduction of a low-energy doubly excited state.     

Time-resolved IR spectroscopy of N-methylthioacetamide: trans-->cis isomerization upon n-pi and pi-pi excitation and cis-->trans photoreaction

Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy was used to study the photoisomerization of N-Methylthioacetamide (NMTAA) in D2O in both the cis-->trans and the trans-->cis direction upon selective excitation of the n-pi (S1) and pi-pi (S2) electronic transitions. While isomerization and the return to the ground state takes place on two distinct time scales (cis isomerization is 30-40%, independent of the electronic state excited, while the cis-->trans isomerization proceeds with a 60-70% quantum efficiency. These results support a mechanism by which isomerization takes place via one common intermediate state independent of electronic excitation energy and initial conformation.     

Synthesis and characterization of dendrons and dendrimers skeleton-constructed with azobenzene moiety

A series of dendrons and dendrimers skeleton-constructed with azobenzene moiety based upon 4-carboxy-4′-(1,2-propanediolether)-azobenzene as an AB₂ monomer, via a convergent approach, proceeding in a repeated stepwise growth manner starting from 4-carboxy-4′-(n-butylether)-azobenzene as a peripheral monomer, were synthesized, and characterized by NMR, FTIR, and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. Their regular molecular architecture and thus monodispersed molecular weights were confirmed by GPC. The UV-Vis absorbance and ¹H NMR spectrum study indicated that the azobenzene moieties in CHCl₃ solution took fully trans-cis isomerization under UV irradiation, and reversely isomerization back to the trans by visible light irradiation or by heat.     

Delocalization resonance energy of the allylic radical from the geometrical isomerization of hexa-1,3,5-trienes

Thermal cis, trans geometrical isomerization theoretically involves a 90° twisted, singlet diradical-like transition state which may serve as a base for the examination of structural perturbations. Although thermal rearrangement of hexa-1, trans-3,5-triene (and all-trans octa-2,4,6-triene) to the cis isomer cannot be followed directly owing to subsequent cyclization and 1,5 hydrogen shifts, activation parameters for disappearance have been determined. Experimental complications and mechanistic uncertainties which make interpretation difficult are removed in the bicyclic hexatriene, cyclopentenylidenecyclopentene. These geometrical isomers undergo uncomplicated thermal cis, trans isomerization in vessels of lead-potash glass: log k₁ = 12·03±0·32?41·7±0·8/(0·004575T_abs). Extraction of a value for allylic delocalization energy from the behavior of hexa-1, trans-3,5-triene [log k₁ = 12·91 ± 0·47?44·3±1·2/(0·004575 T_abs)] requires corrections of the Dewar-Schmeising type for changes in hybridization of the σ bonds. Depending on whether ethylene or trans-butene is taken as standard, values of 12·2 and 13·1 kcal/mol are obtained (estimated uncertainty ± 2 kcal/mol).     

The di-π-methane rearrangement of systems with simple vinyl moieties : Mechanistic and exploratory organic photochemistry

3,3-Dimethyl-1,1-diphenyl-1,4-pentadiene and two 5-substituted derivatives were synthesized and studied. The regioselectivity, stereochemistry, quantum efficiency, multiplicity, and excited state reaction rates were studied in each case. The parent hydrocarbon, 5-MeO-derivative, and 5-cyano-diene—all rearranged on direct irradiation to give vinylcyclopropanes. The first compound led to 3,3-dimethyl-2,2-diphenyl-1-vinylcyclopropane. The second afforded 3,3-dimethyl-2,2-diphenyl-1-(2'-methoxyvinyl)cyclopropane. The last gave 1-cyano-3,3-dimethyl-2-(2',2'-diphenylvinyl)cyclopropane. Thus, the vinyl and methoxyvinyl groups survive in the products intact, while the cyanovinyl group is incorporated in the three-ring. In the two substituted dienes, cis-reactant gave cis-product and trans-reactant gave trans-product, both where the substituent was on the vinyl group of the product and where it became a ring substituent. The substituted di-π-methane systems underwent only cis-trans isomerization on sensitization, while the parent, unsubstituted diene led to di-π-methane product on sensitized as well as direct photolysis. While the quantum yields for the hydrocarbon diene were the same at room temperature for the direct and sensitized runs, only the sensitized runs showed a temperature dependence of efficiency with a dramatic, 5-fold increase on a 46° temperature increase. Thus, evidence was obtained for a singlet rearrangement in all cases and a triplet process only in the case of the unsubstituted diene. A sizable activation energy was seen for the triplet but not for the singlet. The room temperature quantum yields in the direct irradiations were: φ(parent diene)=0.011, φ(trans-methoxydiene)=0.051, φ(cis-methoxy-diene)= 0.050, φ(trans-cyanodiene)=0.36, and φ(cis-cyano-diene) = 0.20. A competing side reaction was cis-trans isomerization but these quantum yields were lower. Single photon counting was employed to obtain excited singlet reaction and decay rates at low temperature (i.e. 77°K) and the method of magic multipliers was used to obtain room temperature rates. These were: k_r(parent diene) = 4.7 × 10⁸ sec^?1, k_r(trans-cyano-diene)= 1.5 ×10¹⁰ sec^?1, k_r(cis-cyano-diene)= 8.0 × 10⁹sec^?1, and k_r(trans-methoxy-diene) = 1.9 × 10⁹ sec^?1. The results are discussed in terms of excited state molecular structure.An SCF-CI molecular orbital treatment of the reaction was developed. This used a cyclopropyldicarbinyl diradical species, with Walsh cyclopropane basis orbitals, as representing the half-reacted species. The energy of formation of this species from vertical excited state reactant was calculated for all three dienes and an excellent correlation with observed excited singlet rates was obtained. Similarly, dissection of the excited diradical energy into bond components led to a correlation between regioselectivity and weakness of the three-ring bond broken in the regioselectivity-determining step. Evidence was adduced for localization of the excitation energy in S₁ of reactant in the diphenylvinyl chromophore with migration of electronic excitation into the cyclopropyldicarbinyl diradical moiety during the vinyl-vinyl bridging process. A general method for quantitatively partitioning excitation energy was developed and applied to the case in hand. Finally, there was predicted a greater probability of di-π-methane three-ring fission in the excited state compared to the diradical ground state where Grob fragmentation proved energetically more favorable.