Immobilization of pyrene on quartz plate surface via a flexible long spacer and its sensing properties to dicarboxylic acids

It is known that polycyclic aromatic hydrocar-bons (PAHs) form excimer easily, and show both monomer and excimer emission in polar medium[1]. This character comes from their hydrophobic nature and plane structures. The ratio of the intensity of ex-cimer emission to that of monomer emission is a func-tion of distance between neighbouring PAHs in a sys-tem. It is not difficult to understand that many factors, such as the concentration of PAHs, temperature, pres-ence and concentration of othe…     

Self-assembly behavior and photoluminescence property of bispyrenyl-POSS nanoparticle hybrid

Two flexible ether bonds were designed to connect two pyrene rings on a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (BPy-POSS) to enrich the fraction of "intrinsic intramolecular pyrene-dimer" on the surface of crystal isobutyl-POSS (iBu-POSS) thin-films. Compared to the monomer emission of 1-pyrenemethanol (Py-OH), the emission spectra of BPy-POSS in dichloromethane show the large proportion of intramolecular and intermolecular excimers due to the formation of pyrenyl dimers or aggregates via the easy rotation of two adjacent ether bonds and the π-π interaction of pyrene rings, respectively. By blending inert iBu-POSS, the fluorescent dimers or aggregates of 5 wt.% and 20 wt.% BPy-POSS are distributed on the surface of iBu-POSS crystal fractal pattern as shown by confocal photoluminescence microscopy. Upon exposure to the vapors of nitrobenzene, the 5 wt.% BPy-POSS blend shows the similar quenching efficiency as 100 wt.% BPy-POSS blends, indicating the better excimer dispersion for vapor permeability of blend thin-films.     

Color-tunable fluorescent organogels: columnar self-assembly of pyrene-containing oligo(glutamic acid)s

New fluorescent gelators containing pyrene moieties and dendritic oligopeptides have been developed. These molecules self-assemble into 1D helical columnar structures that lead to the formation of 3D fibrous random networks. The resulting gel materials show monomer emission of pyrenes because the hydrogen-bonded array of the oligopeptide moieties greatly suppresses the formation of pyrene excimers. In contrast, in the sol states green excimer emission of the pyrenes is observed because of the dissociation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. This is the first example of the reverse-mode color switching of fluorescence for supramolecular pyrene assemblies.     

Abnormal Fluorescence Behavior of Pyrene Functionalized Chitosan Films to Some Quenchers

Investigation of the fluorescence behavior of a pyrene functionalized chitosan film (PSC-CS) to some quenchers,including KI,CH3NO2 and Cu(NO3)2,has revealed that the monomer emission from the PSC-CS film increased rather than decreased,whereas the excimer emission decreased with the increase of time of duration after addition of KI or Cu(NO3)2.Both the increasing and decreasing processes could last as long as 20min to 40min,Unlike that observed in the system containing KI or Cu(NO3)2,for CH3NO2 system,both the monomer emission and the excimer emission increased with introduction of the quencher,but the excimer emission only started to increase after an hour-long induction period.The position of the excimer emission of the PSC-CS film did not change very much with addition of KI or Cu(NO3)2.However,addition of CH3NO2 made the excimer emission blue shifted for at least 20nm indicating formation of distorted excimers opr partially overlapped excimers.The fluorescence response of the film to external additions is sensitive but is low in selectivity.This property may make the film use as a novel sensing material for monitoring the purity of water.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel pyrene-dendronized porphyrins exhibiting efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer: optical and photophysical properties

A novel series of pyrene dendronized porphyrins bearing two and four pyrenyl groups (Py(2)-TMEG1 and Py(4)-TMEG2) were successfully synthesized. First and second generation Fréchet type dendrons (Py(2)-G1OH and Py(4)-G2OH) were prepared from 1-pyrenylbutanol and 3,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol. These compounds were further linked to a trimesitylphenylporphyrin containing a butyric acid spacer via an esterification reaction to obtain the desired products. Dendrons and dendronized porphyrins were fully characterized by FTIR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy and their molecular weights were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Their optical and photophysical properties were studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. The formation of dynamic excimers was detected in the pyrene-labeled dendrons, with more excimer being produced in the higher generation dendron. The fluorescence spectra of the pyrene dendronized porphyrins exhibited a significant decrease in the amount of pyrene monomer and excimer emission, jointly with the appearance of a new emission band at 661 nm characteristic of porphyrin emission, an indication that fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurred from one of the excited pyrene species to the porphyrin. The FRET efficiency was found to be almost quantitative ranging between 97% and 99% depending on the construct. Model Free analysis of the fluorescence decays acquired with the pyrene monomer, excimer, and porphyrin core established that only residual pyrene excimer formation in the dendrons could occur before FRET from the excited pyrene monomer to the ground-state porphyrin core.     

Pyrene.pyrene complexes at the active site of cytochrome P450 3A4: evidence for a multiple substrate binding site

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) metabolize nearly all drugs and toxins. Recently, it has become clear that CYPs exhibit both homotropic and heterotropic allosteric kinetics for many substrates. However, the mechanism of cooperative kinetics has not been established for any specific human CYP/substrate combination. Suggested mechanisms include binding of multiple substrates within distinct, static, subsites of a single large active site or binding of multiple substrates within a single fluid active site. CYP3A4 hydroxylates pyrene with positive cooperativity. Therefore, experiments were designed to exploit the fluorescence properties of pyrene, which diagnostically distinguish between pyrene.pyrene complexes versus spatially separated pyrene substrates. Pyrene complexes (excimers) yield an emission spectrum clearly distinct from pyrene monomers. In lipid-free aqueous/glycerol solutions of CYP3A4, addition of pyrene affords a concentration-dependent low-spin to high-spin conversion of the CYP3A4 heme prosthetic group, indicating occupancy of the active site by pyrene. Under the same conditions, in the presence of CYP3A4 but not other heme proteins, the excimer/monomer ratio (E/M) of pyrene was decreased in emission spectra, compared to pyrene alone. However, excitation spectra indicate a CYP3A4-dependent increase in the wavelength shift for the excimer excitation spectrum versus the monomer excitation spectrum, as well as changes in the excimer excitation peak shape and vibronic structure. These changes are reversed by the CYP3A4 substrate testosterone. Together, the results demonstrate that pyrene.pyrene ground-state complexes occupy the CYP3A4 active site, and they provide the first spectroscopic evidence for substrate complexes within a single fluid active site. Functional implications include the possibility that turnover rate, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity of the reaction are determined by the substrate.substrate complex rather than individual substrates.     

Synthesis of ionic polyurethanes with pyrene rings: Spectral properties and fluorescence quenching study

Hydrophilic ionic polyurethanes with 4‐chloromethylphenylcarbamoyl‐1‐oxymethylpyrene located on the quaternary ammonium structure from a polymer based on poly(ethylene glycol), isophorone diisocyanate, and N‐methyldiethanolamine were prepared by a quaternization reaction, in which the amount of pyrene covalently attached to the polymeric backbone ranged from 1.14 to 19.82 mmol of fluorophore/100 g of polymer. It was interesting to compare the photoluminescence of the pyrene polyurethane carrying a few mole percent of pyrene moieties with that of a third polymer resulting from its subsequent quaternization with benzyl chloride up to a concentration of ionic groups as in the latter (quaternization degree = 14.15%). The process of excimer formation between the pyrene molecules attached to the ionic polyurethane was investigated in tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylformamide, film, and THF/H₂O to illustrate the expected differences in the polymer behavior compared with that of the starting pyrene derivative. The formation of aggregates or core–shell micelles was sustained by the fluorescence data, which indicated the existence of pyrene units in the ground state of the molecule, giving rise thus to an explanation for the high excimer‐to‐monomer intensity ratio. The fluorescence decay of pyrene polyurethanes in the presence of various concentrations of nitrobenzene used as a quencher was analyzed too when the fluorescence quenching in the polymer solution normally followed Stern–Volmer kinetics. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3945–3956, 2005     

A new pyrene-based fluorescent probe for the determination of critical micelle concentrations

A new pyrene-based fluorescent probe for the determination of critical micelle concentrations (CMC) is described. The title compound 1 is obtained in five steps, starting from pyrene. Fluorescence spectroscopic properties of 1 are studied in homogeneous organic solvents and aqueous micellar solutions. In a wide range of organic solvents, probe 1 exhibits a characteristic monomer emission of the pyrene fluorophore, with three distinct peak maxima at 382, 404, and 425 nm. The spectra change dramatically in aqueous solution, where no monomer emission of the pyrene fluorophore is detected. Instead, only strong excimer fluorescence with a broad, red-shifted emission band at lambda(max) = 465 nm is observed. In micellar aqueous solution, a superposition of the monomer and excimer emission is found. The appearance of the monomer emission in micellar solution can be explained on the basis of solubilization of 1 by the surfactant micelles. The ratio of the monomer to excimer fluorescence intensities of 1 is highly sensitive to changes in surfactant concentration. This renders 1 a versatile and sensitive probe molecule for studying the micellization of ionic and nonionic surfactants. For a representative selection of common surfactants, the critical micelle concentrations in aqueous solution are determined, showing excellent agreement with established literature data.     

Intramolecular singlet and triplet excimers of triply bridged [3.3.N](3,6,9)carbazolophanes

Intermoiety electronic interactions in the singlet and triplet excimer states of triply bridged [3.3.n](3,6,9)carbazolophanes ([3.3.n]Cz, n=3-6) were studied by emission and transient absorption measurements. In these [3.3.n]Cz molecules, the dihedral angle and the separation distance r between fully overlapped two carbazole rings change systematically from nearly parallel (n=3, r=3.35 A) to oblique (n=6, r=4.03 A). In rigid glass at 77 K, [3.3.n]Cz (n=3, 4) (r<4 A) exhibited red-shifted and structureless excimer fluorescence and phosphorescence while [3.3.n]Cz (n=5, 6) (r>4 A) exhibited monomer-like vibrational fluorescence and phosphorescence. In solution at 130 K, all [3.3.n]Cz molecules exhibited an excimeric fluorescence band while [3.3.5]Cz still exhibited monomer-like phosphorescence. Transient absorption spectra measured at 294 K exhibited local excitation and charge-transfer bands for all [3.3.n]Cz molecules in the excited singlet and triplet states, suggesting that not only singlet but also triplet excimers of carbazole are formed at room temperature. Furthermore, the singlet-triplet energy gap decreased with the decrease in n, suggesting that electrons are effectively delocalized over the two carbazole moieties. These findings showed that both singlet and triplet excimers of carbazole are formed with a separation distance shorter than about 4 A and are most stable in the parallel-sandwich structure and that the configurational mixing between exciton resonance and charge resonance states plays an essential role in the formation of singlet and triplet excimers of carbazole.     

一种含芘葡萄糖衍生物的合成及其胶凝行为

合成并表征了一种荧光活性小分子胶凝剂——芘磺酰基-丙二胺-葡萄糖(PSDAPG), 考察了其在36种常见溶剂中的胶凝行为. 结果发现, PSDAPG可使其中16种溶剂胶凝. 对癸醇, PSDAPG表现出罕见的超级胶凝能力, 室温下最低胶凝浓度(MGC)达7.0×10-4 g·mL-1. 此外, PSDAPG还是一种既可胶凝水又可胶凝有机溶剂的双性胶凝剂. 扫描电镜(SEM)、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、核磁共振(1HNMR)和荧光光谱研究表明,在不同溶剂中, PSDAPG具有不同的聚集结构, 除了芘基之间的疏水π-π堆积作用外, 氢键作用是PSDAPG自发形成三维网络结构的重要驱动力. 实验研究还表明, 溶液态和凝胶态的PSDAPG荧光光谱均同时呈现芘的单体荧光和激基缔合物荧光光谱特征, 但两者的光谱形貌差异显著. 随凝胶的形成, 体系单体荧光发射增强, 激基缔合物荧光发射减弱,表明形成的三维网络结构阻碍了PSDAPG中芘单元的运动性, 使得以Birks途径形成激基缔合物的效率降低.     

Electric field effects on absorption and fluorescence spectra of trimethylsilyl- and trimethylsilylethynyl-substituted compounds of pyrene in a PMMA film

External electric field effects on absorption and fluorescence spectra of 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)pyrene and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(trimethylsilylethynyl)pyrene (TMSPy and TMS(E)Py, respectively) have been examined in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film at various concentrations at various temperatures. TMS(E)Py preferentially forms an aggregate in a PMMA film, as the concentration increases, indicating that the acetylenic groups enhance the pi-pi interactions between pyrene molecules. The change in molecular polarizability following excitation has been determined both for the monomer and for the aggregate, based on the electroabsorption spectra. The change in molecular polarizability following emission has also been determined in both compounds, based on the electrofluorescence spectra. TMSPy exhibits two excimer fluorescence emissions at high concentrations which are ascribed to the partially overlapping excimer and the sandwich-type excimer, respectively, besides the monomer fluorescence emitted from the locally excited state. The sandwich-type excimer fluorescence as well as monomer fluorescence is quenched by an electric field, whereas the fluorescence of the partially overlapping excimer is enhanced by an electric field. Excimer fluorescence of TMS(E)Py, which arises from the sandwich-type excimer, is quenched by an electric field at any temperature. Only one species of the partially overlapping excimer is confirmed in TMSPy, while no partially overlapping excimer is confirmed in TMS(E)Py.     

Pyrene excimer signaling molecular beacons for probing nucleic acids

Molecular beacon DNA probes, containing 1-4 pyrene monomers on the 5' end and the quencher DABCYL on the 3' end, were engineered and employed for real-time probing of DNA sequences. In the absence of a target sequence, the multiple-pyrene labeled molecular beacons (MBs) assumed a stem-closed conformation resulting in quenching of the pyrene excimer fluorescence. In the presence of target, the beacons switched to a stem-open conformation, which separated the pyrene label from the quencher molecule and generated an excimer emission signal proportional to the target concentration. Steady-state fluorescence assays resulted in a subnanomolar limit of detection in buffer, whereas time-resolved signaling enabled low-nanomolar target detection in cell-growth media. It was found that the excimer emission intensity could be scaled by increasing the number of pyrene monomers conjugated to the 5' terminal. Each additional pyrene monomer resulted in substantial increases in the excimer emission intensities, quantum yields, and excited-state lifetimes of the hybridized MBs. The long fluorescence lifetime ( approximately 40 ns), large Stokes shift (130 nm), and tunable intensity of the excimer make this multiple-pyrene moiety a useful alternative to traditional fluorophore labeling in nucleic acid probes.     

荧光探针法研究壳聚糖水凝胶形成过程及其性能

基于芘(Py)单体荧光光谱结构对微观环境变化的敏感性,以及介质粘度及Py分子间距对Py激基络缔合物形成的影响,以戊二醛交联壳聚糖(CS)水凝胶体系为例研究了Py荧光探针法监测水凝胶形成过程及其溶胀性能的可行性。结果表明,Py荧光光谱精细结构的变化(以I~3/I~1为参量)或Py激基缔合物荧光强度与单体荧光强度之比(I~E/I~M)的变化与CS水凝胶的形成及溶胀程度有很好的对应关系。此外,CS凝胶网状结构中包埋的聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM)的构象变化也可由探针光谱变化反映出来。利用这种荧光探针方法有助于从分子水平上探知凝胶形成过程的微观本质。此外,这种方法也可作为光纤传导监测凝胶形成过程和溶胀的基础。     

Solvatochromic shifts of naphthalene and pyrene excimers

Solvatochromic shifts of pyrene (Py) and naphthalene (Np) excimers were obtained in polar and non-polar solvents. The observed shifts for both excimers are explained by changes in the polarizability between the excimer and the dissociative ground state. The magnitudes of the shifts in the pyrene excimer are larger, indicating that the pyrene excimer is more polarizable than the naphthalene excimer.     

THE PHOTO-DIMERIZATION AND EXCIMER FLUORESCENCE OF 9-METHYL ANTHRACENE

Abstract— Ultra-violet irradiation of oxygen-free solutions of 9-methyI anthracene leads to the formation of both stable dimers and metastable excimers. The fluorescence spectra of concentrated solutions show an excimer emission band. This behaviour is attributed to the partial steric hindrance of dimer formation by the meso -sub stituent, and it is proposed that the stable dimers and excimers correspond to anti-parallel and parallel configurations of the two monomers respectively. A consideration of the monomer fluorescence data for anthracene and its meso -substituted derivatives suggests that steric hindrance similarly reduces the interactions with solvent molecules which lead to internal quenching.     

The use of doped crystals as a medium for the study of excited state bimolecular interactions

A molecular crystal is an attractive medium for the study of excited state intenmolecular interactions since the ground state positions of interacting molecules may be accurately determined. Besides excimer interactions in pure crystals it is possible to study (in doped crystals) exciplex interactions between host and guest molecules, and even excimer formation between two adjacent guest molecules. This approach has been utilized to observe excimer formation by several anthracene derivatives introduced as dopants in pyrene crystals. Photochemical reactions of some of these exciplexes and excimers are discussed. Excimer forming crystals are considered to be good candidates for excited state structure determination by means of pulsed x-ray diffraction.     

Dual pyrene-labeled pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid as an excimer-to-monomer switching probe for DNA sequence detection

The unique ability of pyrene to form excimers with distinct emission characteristic from monomer offers an attractive means to signal the interactions between biomolecules. In this work, dual pyrene-labeled pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid probe with a d-prolyl-2-aminocyclopetanecarboxylic acid α,β-dipeptide backbone (acpcPNA) was designed as an excimer-to-monomer switching probe for DNA sequence detection. In single stranded state, the excimer emission at 470 nm was mainly observed in the fluorescence spectrum. In the presence of DNA target, the hybridization resulted in separation of the two pyrene units, therefore the spectrum displayed increased monomer emission at 380 nm with concomitant decreased excimer emission. Switching ratio, which is defined as the ratio of the monomer to excimer in the double stranded form [F₃₈₀/F₄₇₀(ds)] divided by the same value obtained from the single stranded form [F₃₈₀/F₄₇₀(ss)], was used to describe the performance of the probes. Switching ratios in the range of 5–30 were observed with various dual pyrene-labeled acpcPNA probes bearing pyrenebutyryl label attached five-base apart. Practically no excimer-to-monomer switching behavior was observed with DNA targets carrying a single mismatched base as shown by the small switching ratios of ∼1.     

Fluorescence ratiometry of monomer/excimer emissions in a space-through PET system

[Reaction: see text]. Fluorogenic calix[4]arenes (1 and 2) bearing a pendent ethyleneamine on their triazacrown rings, respectively, were synthesized in the cone conformation. Compared with 4, free 1 and 2 display a relatively weak emission, reflecting that a PET process from the pendent amine group (-CH2CH2NH2) to the fluorogenic pyrenes is mainly operated. Addition of various metal ions or anions to the solution of 1 or 2 reduces the PET because the pendent alkylamine takes part in the complexation, causing their fluorescence spectra to be changed. When Pb2+, a quenching metal ion, is added to 1 or 2, their pyrene monomer emission is enhanced with their excimer emission quenched, which is due to conformational changes of the facing carbonyl groups as well as to the participation of the ethyleneamine into the three-dimensional Pb2+ ion encapsulation. In contrast, upon addition of alkali metal ions to the 1 and 2, both monomer and excimer emissions are observed to increase, which is attributable to the CHEF effect and the retained conformations. For anion sensing, both 1 and 2 show a high selectivity for F- ions over other anions tested. When the F- ion is bound to 1 or 2 by hydrogen bonding between the amide NH of the triazacrown ring and F-, both their monomer and excimer emissions are weakened due to PET from the bound F- to the pyrene units.     

Luminescence of ruthenium halide complexes containing a hemilabile phosphine pyrenyl ether ligand

A series of Ru(II) complexes, tcc-RuX2(POC4Pyr-P,O)2 (X = Cl (3), Br (4), I (5)), containing the hemilabile phosphine pyrenyl ether ligand 4-{2-(diphenylphosphino)phenoxy}butylpyrene (POC4Pyr (1)) are reported. The synthesis and spectroscopic properties of both the ligand, POC4pyr (1), and ligand oxide, P(=O)OC4pyr 2, and the solid-state structure of 1 are reported. Complexes 3-5 react rapidly with CO to give complexes ttt-RuX2(CO)2(POC4pyr-P)2 (X = Cl (6), Br (7), I (8)). No pyrene excimer emission is detected from 3-5; however, different intensities of excimer emission are observed for 6-8. The intensity of excimer emission decreases through the series, with 6 showing the most intense response. The emission is solely due to intramolecular pyrene excimers at low concentrations (< or =10(-4) M). Comparison of the UV-vis and steady-state fluorescence spectra shows overlap between the low energy d-d absorption of 7 and 8 with excimer emission (480 nm), suggesting nonradiative energy transfer may be occurring. Once excess CO is removed, complexes 6-8 isomerize to cis-dicarbonyl complexes cct-RuX2(CO)2(POC4Pyr-P)2 (X = Cl (9), Br (10), I (11)). The intensity of excimer emission from 9-11 increases with respect to the excimer emission observed for 6-8, with 9 showing a significant increase in excimer intensity.     

Star‐shaped polymer PFStODO by atom transfer radical polymerization: Its synthesis,characterization, and fluorescence property

A novel monomer bearing with pyrazoline chromophore, 3‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐1‐phenyl‐5‐(4‐(4‐vinylbenzyloxy)phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole (FStODO), was synthesized, and its atom transfer radical polymerization initiated by a tetrafunctional initiator, pentaerythritol tetrakis(2‐bromoisobutyrate) (4Bri‐Bu), was studied in detail and characterized by ¹H NMR, GPC, and TG‐DSC. The solution, film luminescence of monomer, and its polymer were studied in detail. Compared with that of monomer, both luminescence emission intensity and quantum yield of star‐shaped polymer PFStODO in DMF solution are decreased. However, the two‐photon absorption (TPA) spectra in DMF solution measured by a femtosecond laser show an entirely different result that the maxima TPA cross‐section value of polymer reaches to 203 GM, better than that of the monomer itself (13 GM). More interestingly, the film of polymer shows surprisingly white emission ranging from 400 to 700 nm assigned to the excimer formation. We attribute this formation of excimers to the ordered chromophore aggregates in film, which is further verified by X‐ray diffraction. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011