Excited State Properties of Fucoxanthin Aggregates

The structure and excited state properties of the H- and J-aggregates of the marine carbonyl carotenoid, fucoxanthin(Fx), were studied by various spectroscopic methods, and compared with those of Fx monomers in polar organic solvents. The fluorescent analysis indicated tliat the higher vibronic states of S2 contribute more to populating the S1 state, from which fluorescent emission mainly originates. Resonance Raman and density functional theory calculations confirmed the ‘card-packed' and chead-to-taiF structures of the H- and J-aggregates of Fx, respectively. An fs time-resolved absorption study proved the coexistence of Si and intramolecular charge transfer relaxation pathways upon excitation to the S2 state for both tlie monomers and aggregates.     

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.     

Role of homogeneous solvents on photophysics of 3-pyrazolyl-2-pyrazoline derivative

S₀ → S₁ and S₀ → S₂ electronic transitions have been observed in UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy of 3-pyrazolyl-2-pyrazoline (PZ) in different homogeneous solvents. Radiative emissions and relaxation processes from S₁ and S₂ states of PZ have been resolved in water, ethylene glycol and glycerol whereas in polar aprotic and protic solvents the radiative transitions have been observed from S₁ state. The S₂–S₁ electronic energy spacing has been calculated from the absorption maxima of the S₀ → S₂ transitions and fluorescence maxima of the S₁ → S₀ transitions. Solute–solvent interactions have been established to rationalize the photophysical modification of PZ in H-bonding solvents.     

Role of structural flexibility in the fluorescence and photochromism of salicylideneaniline: the general scheme of the phototransformations

The mechanism of light-induced transformation in the salicylideneaniline molecule was studied by semiempirical PM3 calculations. The structures and energies of the minima and saddle points (transition states) on the S₀, S₁ and T₁ potential energy hypersurfaces (PESs) were obtained, together with the gradient lines on the PESs. The structure-energy scheme was compared with the experimental findings. According to the results obtained, the following principle processes are observed: fast S₁ excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), followed by typical ESIPT fluorescence; the formation of two S₁ twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) structures which quench the ESIPT fluorescence; the diabatic formation of two ground state metastable coloured “post-TICT” structures responsible for photochromism.     

Population and deactivation of triplets of thioindigoid dyes via electron-transfer reactions

Quenching experiments with thioindigoid dyes can be interpreted using a pure energy picture. In polar solvents electron transfer is possible from a donor to the excited trans isomer via the S₁ state as well as the triplet state. In non-polar solvents exciplexes were formed, a considerable fraction of which can be deactivated by forming the trans triplet.     

Time-Resolved Spectroscopic Study on Photoinduced Electron-Transfer Processes in Zn(II)porphyrin–Zn(II)chlorin–Fullerene Triad

Femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption studies have been performed to investigate the photoinduced energy and electron-transfer processes in Zn(II )porphyrin–Zn(II )chlorin–fullerene triad in which energy and oxidation potential gradients are directed along the donor–acceptor-linked arrays. Fast energy transfer (≈450 fs) from photoexcited Zn(II )porphyrin to Zn(II )chlorin was observed upon selective photoexcitation of Zn(II )porphyrin unit in the triad. In a nonpolar solvent such as toluene, the energy transfer from the excited singlet state of Zn(II )chlorin to fullerene occurs and is followed by the formation of an intermediate state with a time constant of nanoseconds, which was attributed to the intramolecular exciplex between Zn(II )chlorin and fullerene. In benzonitrile, on the other hand, the photoexcitation of the triad results in the fast electron transfer (<1 ps) from photoexcited Zn(II )chlorin to fullerene. The generated charge-separated species recombine with a time constant of ≈12 ps. The relatively fast charge separation and charge recombination rates imply that the strong electronic coupling between Zn(II )chlorin and fullerene moieties is probably induced by the folded conformation between Zn(II )chlorin and fullerene moieties which enhances direct through-space interaction between the proximately contacted π systems.     

Photoinduced Electron Transfer in a Distyryl BODIPY–Fullerene Dyad

A novel distyryl BODIPY–fullerene dyad is prepared. Upon excitation at the distyryl BODIPY moiety, the dyad undergoes photoinduced electron transfer to give a charge‐separated state with lifetimes of 476 ps and 730 ps in polar (benzonitrile) and nonpolar (toluene) solvents, respectively. Transient absorption measurements show the formation of the triplet excited state of distyryl BODIPY in the dyad, which is populated from charge‐recombination processes in both solvents.     

Energetics of Photoinduced Electron Transfer in the Indole-O2 Cluster in Gas Phase: Possible Consequences for Photoexcited Tryptophan in Solution

Abstract— A direct process for an activationless electron transfer from photoexcited tryptophan to molecular oxygen is proposed. By photodetachment of mass-selected indole-O_2- clusters in gas phase a neutral indole₊ O_2- charge-separated exciplex state is found at 2.25 0.2 eV above the neutral ground state. By theory also, the existence of an excited charge separated state at 3.05 0.2 eV is postulated. In gas phase both charge-separated cluster states are energetically below the first singlet states ₁L_b and ₁L_a and the lower even below the first triplet state T₁ of indole. In gas-phase clusters these energetics imply a very efficient quenching of photoexcited indole by fast electron transfer to oxygen. We discuss a similar mechanism for tryptophan-O₂ in aqueous environment and find it without activation barrier and presumably extremely fast. In the collisional tryptophan_*-O₂ complex the efficiency and the time scale of the charge transfer process should be mostly solvent independent. In polar solvent a complete charge separation and free superoxide formation are expected. We correlate this model with previous fluorescence and phosphorescence quenching data of excited tryptophan by O₂ and propose electron transfer to be the relevant process.     

Enhancement of three-photon absorption cross-sections in a novel class of symmetrical charge transfer fluorene-based molecules

The three-photon absorption effect (3PA) of two novel symmetrical charge transfer fluorene-based molecules (abbreviated as BASF and BMOSF) has been determined by using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pumped with 38 ps pulses at 1064 nm in DMF. The measured 3PA cross-sections are 84 × 10⁻⁷⁸ and 114 × 10⁻⁷⁸ cm⁶ s², respectively. The geometries and electronic excitations of these two molecules are systematically studied by PM3 and ZINDO/S methods. The relationships between 3PA cross-sections and intramolecular charge transfer are discussed micromechanically. The experimental and theoretical results have shown that the larger intramolecular charge transfer, which was characterized by the charge density difference between the ground state (S₀) and the first excited state (S₁), the greater enhancement of the 3PA cross-sections.     

Low-lying excited singlet states and S2→S0 luminescence of dipyrido[3,4-b: 2,3-d]phenazine

The absorption, fluorescence and excitation fluorescence spectra dipyrido[3,4-b:2,3-d]-phenazine (DPPZ1) have been measured in non-polar and polar matrices at room temperature, and were taken into account to explain the origin of the relatively weak emission of this molecule in both type of environment. The electronic structure of DPPZ1 was calculated using a modified INDO CI method. The geometry optimization has been performed using the MNDO method. According to the spectra and the results of calculations, the lowest excited singlet state S₁ of DPPZ1 molecule is of n,π^*-type and the next one, S₂ state, is of π,π^*-type. The energy gap ΔE_calc is equal 4770 cm⁻¹. The low efficiency of the emission observed in the hydroxylic solvent can be interpreted in terms of thermal quenching of the π,π^*-type fluorescence. However, experimental results obtained suggest that in nonpolar solvents the emission of the molecule examined is an anomalous S₂→S₀ fluorescence.     

DNA环境中硒代胸腺嘧啶和腺嘌呤碱基对的激发态性质和光物理机理的理论研究

应用高精度的多态完全活化自洽场二级微扰理论方法, 在量子力学/分子力学组合方法的理论框架 QM(MS-CASPT2//CASSCF)/MM下, 系统研究了DNA环境中2-硒和4-硒取代胸腺嘧啶和腺嘌呤碱基对(2SeT-A和4SeT-A)的最低5个电子态(S₀, S₁, S₂, T₂和T₁)的结构、 性质和光物理过程. QM(MS-CASPT2//CASSCF)/MM计算揭示了DNA环境中2SeT-A和4SeT-A碱基对激发态性质和光物理过程差异性的来源, 提出的机理将有助于理解DNA类似物的光物理过程, 在光动力学治疗中具有潜在的应用.     

Synthesis and excited-state photodynamics of perylene-porphyrin dyads. 4. Ultrafast charge separation and charge recombination between tightly coupled units in polar media

New perylene-porphyrin dyads that have excellent light-harvesting and energy-utilization capabilities in nonpolar media are found to exhibit efficient, ultrafast and tunable charge-transfer activity in polar media. The dyads consist of a perylene-monoimide dye (PMI) connected to a porphyrin (Por) via an ethynylphenyl (ep) linker. The porphyrin constituent of the PMI-ep-Por arrays is either a zinc or magnesium complex (Por = Zn or Mg) or a free-base form (Por = Fb). Following excitation of the perylene in each array in acetonitrile, PMI* decays in ≤0.4 ps by a combination of energy transfer to the ground-state porphyrin (forming Por*) and hole transfer (forming PMI^-Por⁺). The excited porphyrin formed by energy transfer (or via direct excitation) then undergoes effectively quantitative electron transfer back to the perylene (τ = 1, 1, 700 ps for Por = Mg, Zn, Fb). Subsequently, charge recombination within PMI^- Por⁺ returns each dyad quantitatively to the ground state (τ = 2, 4, 8 ps for Por = Mg, Zn, Fb). The dynamics of the PMI Por* → PMI^-Por⁺ and PMI^- Por⁺ → PMI Por charge-transfer processes can be modulated by altering the type of polar solvent (acetonitrile, benzonitrile, tetrahydrofuran and 2,6-lutidine). The charge-separation times for PMI-ep-Zn are 1, 6, 9 and 22 ps in these solvents, while the charge-recombination times are 4, 24, 38 and 34 ps. The efficient, rapid and tunable nature of the charge-transfer processes in polar media makes the PMI-ep-Por dyads useful units for performing molecular-switching functions. These properties when combined with the excellent light-harvesting and energy-transfer capabilities of the same arrays in nonpolar media afford a robust perylene-porphyrin motif that can be tailored for a variety of functions in molecular optoelectronics.     

Photophysics of inter- and intra-molecularly hydrogen-bonded systems: Computational studies on the pyrrole–pyridine complex and 2(2′-pyridyl)pyrrole

The role of electron and proton transfer processes in the photophysics of hydrogen-bonded molecular systems has been investigated with ab initio electronic-structure calculations. We discuss generic mechanisms of the photophysics of a hydrogen-bonded aromatic pair (pyrrole–pyridine), as well as an intra-molecularly hydrogen-bonded π system composed of the same molecular sub-units (2(2′-pyridyl)pyrrole). The reaction mechanisms are discussed in terms of excited-state minimum-energy paths, conical intersections and the properties of frontier orbitals. A common feature of the photochemistry of these systems is the electron-driven proton transfer (EDPT) mechanism. In the hydrogen-bonded complex, a highly polar charge transfer state of ¹ππ^* character drives the proton transfer, which leads to a conical intersection of the S₁ and S₀ surfaces and thus ultrafast internal conversion. In 2(2′-pyridyl)pyrrole, out-of-plane torsion is additionally needed for barrierless access to the S₁–S₀ conical intersection. It is pointed out that the EDPT process plays an essential role in the fluorescence quenching in hydrogen-bonded aromatic complexes, the function of organic photostabilizers, and the photostability of biological molecules.     

Solvatochromic effects in the absorption and fluorescence spectra of indazole and its amino derivatives

Absorption and fluorescence spectra of Indazole (In) in five solvents and those of 5-amino, 6-amino, and 7-aminoindazoles (5-AI 6-AI, 7-Al) in thirteen solvents have been studied. Using the multiparametric approach of Taft et al., spectral characteristics of these molecules have been analysed on the basis of electrostatic effects, hydrogen bond donor ability and hydrogen bond accepting ability of the solvents. In the excited singlet state, all three effects are nearly equally prominent, whereas in the ground state 5-AI acts as a better hydrogen bond acceptor than the other amines. Stokes shifts and the difference between the radiative decay constants determined experimentally and using Strickler and Berg's equation indicate different geometries of the amines in the S₀ and S₁ states. A decrease in the non-radiative decay constants of 5-AI and 6-AI with an increase in the polarity of the solvents predict better planar geometry in the S₁ state in comparison to that in the S₀ state. Semi-empirical quantum mechanical calculations have been used to find the nature of transitions, total atomic charges at the basic centres and dipole moments of all the aromatic amines in the S₀ and S₁ states. Results so obtained are compared and discussed.     

A High‐Energy Charge‐Separated State of 1.70 eV from a High‐Potential Donor–Acceptor Dyad: A Catalyst for Energy‐Demanding Photochemical Reactions

A high potential donor–acceptor dyad composed of zinc porphyrin bearing three meso‐pentafluorophenyl substituents covalently linked to C₆₀, as a novel dyad capable of generating charge‐separated states of high energy (potential) has been developed. The calculated energy of the charge‐separated state was found to be 1.70 eV, the highest reported for a covalently linked porphyrin–fullerene dyad. Intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer leading to charge‐separated states of appreciable lifetimes in polar and nonpolar solvents has been established from studies involving femto‐ to nanosecond transient absorption techniques. The high energy stored in the form of charge‐separated states along with its persistence of about 50–60 ns makes this dyad a potential electron‐transporting catalyst to carry out energy‐demanding photochemical reactions. This type of high‐energy harvesting dyad is expected to open new research in the areas of artificial photosynthesis especially producing energy (potential) demanding light‐to‐fuel products.     

Internal Conversion with N,N-substituted 1-aminonaphthalenes:Photophysics and Applications

The solvent polarity dependence of the fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime of 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene (DMAN) was fund different from that of normal case in that the two parameters increase with increasing solvent polarity, in spite of the fact that the emissive state of DMAN was also of ICT character. Steady state and time-resolved fluorescence studies have currently indicated that a thermally activated internal conversion (IC) occurred with DMAN^[1,2]. The IC was assumed to be the consequence, of the vibronic coupling of the emissive S₁ state and S₂ state with the activation energy of the IC process depending on the energy gap between S₁ and S₂ states. It was hence put, forward that with increasing solvent, polarity the energy of the S₁ state would be lowered more than that of the S₂ state, leading to higher energy gap between the S₁ and S₂ states and therefore suppressed IC. As a consequence, increased fluorescence quantum yield and lengthened lifetime were observed.     

Effect of solvent on the subnanosecond decay of the second excited singlet state of tetramethylindanethione

The S₂ → S₀ fluorescence spectra and quantum yields and the S₂ lifetimes of 2,2,3,3-tetramethylindanethione (TMIT) have been measured in several solvents using a synchronously pumped picosecond dye laser excitation system. The S₂ nonradiative decay rate is markedly solvent dependent. In inert perfluoroalkane solvents remarkably large S₂-S₀ fluorescence quantum yields (θ_f = 0.14) and long S₂ lifetimes (τ = 880 ps) are measured. Hydrocarbons are efficient excited-state quenchers.     

Control of electron transfer in supramolecular systems

The fluorescence quantum yield of zinc porphyrin (ZnP) covalently linked to 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene (AB) is strongly dependent upon the solvent properties. The bichromophoric system ZnP-AB exhibits 'normal' zinc porphyrin fluorescence in solvents that cannot coordinate to the central zinc atom. In contrast, if a Lewis base, such as pyridine, is added to a sufficiently polar solvent, the fluorescence is significantly quenched. Picosecond transient absorption measurements, in conjunction with fluorescence quenching and cyclic voltammetric measurements, suggest that the quenching mechanism is intramolecular electron transfer from ZnP to AB. The charge separated state. ZnP*+-AB*-, has a lifetime of not more than 220 ps before recombining. If a secondary electron acceptor, iron(III) porphyrin (FeP), is covalently connected to the AB unit, a second electron transfer from AB*- to FeP occurs and the charge separated state, ZnP*+-AB-FeP*-, has a lifetime of at least 5 ns. This demonstrates that electron transfer might be sensitively tuned (switched on) by specific solvent effects.     

Photoinduced intra- and intermolecular electron transfer in solutions and in solid organized molecular assemblies

The present paper highlights results of a systematic study of photoinduced electron transfer, where the fundamental aspects of the photochemistry occurring in solutions and in artificially or self-assembled molecular systems are combined and compared. In photochemical electron transfer (ET) reactions in solutions the electron donor, D, and acceptor, A, have to be or to diffuse to a short distance, which requires a high concentration of quencher molecules and/or long lifetimes of the excited donor or acceptor, which cannot always be arranged. The problem can partly be avoided by linking the donor and acceptor moieties covalently by a single bond, molecular chain or chains, or rigid bridge, forming D-A dyads. The covalent combination of porphyrin or phthalocyanine donors with an efficient electron acceptor, e.g. fullerene, has a two-fold effect on the electron transfer properties. Firstly, the electronic systems of the D-A pair result in a formation of an exciplex intermediate upon excitation both in solutions and in solid phases. The formation of the exciplex accelerates the ET rate, which was found to be as fast as >10(12) s(-1). Secondly, the total reorganization energy can be as small as 0.3 eV, even in polar solvents, which allows nanosecond lifetimes for the charge separated (CS) state. Molecular assemblies can form solid heterogeneous, but organized systems, e.g. molecular layers. This results in more complex charge separation and recombination dynamics. A distinct feature of the ET in organized assemblies is intermolecular interactions, which open a possibility for a charge migration both in the acceptor and in the donor layers, after the primary intramolecular exciplex formation and charge separation in the D-A dyad. The intramolecular ET is fast (35 ps) and efficient, but the formed interlayer CS states have lifetimes in microsecond or even second time domain. This is an important result considering possible applications.     

Solvent effects on the excited-state processes of protochlorophyllide: a femtosecond time-resolved absorption study

The excited-state dynamics of protochlorophyllide a, a porphyrin-like compound and, as substrate of the NADPH/protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase, a precursor of chlorophyll biosynthesis, is studied by femtosecond absorption spectroscopy in a variety of solvents, which were chosen to mimic different environmental conditions in the oxidoreductase complex. In the polar solvents methanol and acetonitrile, the excited-state dynamics differs significantly from that in the nonpolar solvent cyclohexane. In methanol and acetonitrile, the relaxation dynamics is multiexponential with three distinguishable time scales of 4.0-4.5 ps for vibrational relaxation and vibrational energy redistribution of the initially excited S1 state, 22-27 ps for the formation of an intermediate state, most likely with a charge transfer character, and 200 ps for the decay of this intermediate state back to the ground state. In the nonpolar solvent cyclohexane, only the 4.5 ps relaxational process can be observed, whereas the intermediate intramolecular charge transfer state is not populated any longer. In addition to polarity, solvent viscosity also affects the excited-state processes. Upon increasing the viscosity by adding up to 60% glycerol to a methanolic solution, a deceleration of the 4 and 22 ps decay rates from the values in pure methanol is found. Apparently not only vibrational cooling of the S1 excited state is slowed in the more viscous surrounding, but the formation rate of the intramolecular charge transfer state is also reduced, suggesting that nuclear motions along a reaction coordinate are involved in the charge transfer. The results of the present study further specify the model of the excited-state dynamics in protochlorophyllide a as recently suggested (Chem. Phys. Lett. 2004, 397, 110).