Femtosecond fluorescence and intersystem crossing in rhenium(I) carbonyl-bipyridine complexes

Ultrafast electronic-vibrational relaxation upon excitation of the singlet charge-transfer b (1)A' state of [Re(L)(CO) 3(bpy)] ( n ) (L = Cl, Br, I, n = 0; L = 4-Et-pyridine, n = 1+) in acetonitrile was investigated using the femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion technique with polychromatic detection. In addition, energies, characters, and molecular structures of the emitting states were calculated by TD-DFT. The luminescence is characterized by a broad fluorescence band at very short times, and evolves to the steady-state phosphorescence spectrum from the a (3)A" state at longer times. The analysis of the data allows us to identify three spectral components. The first two are characterized by decay times tau 1 = 85-150 fs and tau 2 = 340-1200 fs, depending on L, and are identified as fluorescence from the initially excited singlet state and phosphorescence from a higher triplet state (b (3)A"), respectively. The third component corresponds to the long-lived phosphorescence from the lowest a (3)A" state. In addition, it is found that the fluorescence decay time (tau 1) corresponds to the intersystem crossing (ISC) time to the two emissive triplet states. tau 2 corresponds to internal conversion among triplet states. DFT results show that ISC involves electron exchange in orthogonal, largely Re-localized, molecular orbitals, whereby the total electron momentum is conserved. Surprisingly, the measured ISC rates scale inversely with the spin-orbit coupling constant of the ligand L, but we find a clear correlation between the ISC times and the vibrational periods of the Re-L mode, suggesting that the latter may mediate the ISC in a strongly nonadiabatic regime.     

Electronic structure of thiazides studied by 35Cl‐NQR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

NQR frequencies were determined for the ³⁵Cl isotope in a few benzodithiazine derivatives, chlorothiazide (CTZ), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), althiazide (ATZ), trichloromethiazide (TCTZ), benzthiazide (BTZ) and furosemide (FSE), at liquid nitrogen and room temperatures. It was found that changes of the substituent at C‐3 are transferred through a system of coupled rings on to the chlorine atom at C‐6. The substituents occurring in thiazides can be ordered according to increasing electron‐acceptor properties as —CH₂SCH₂Ph < —CH₂SCH₂CH?CH₂ <—CHCl₂. At the liquid nitrogen temperature —CH₂SCH₂Ph and —CH₂SCH₂CH?CH₂ are electron donors, and CHCl₂ is an electron acceptor, whereas at room temperature —CH₂SCH₂Ph is an electron donor and —CH₂SCH₂CH?CH₂ and —CHCl₂ are electron acceptors. The character of the substituent properties is preserved irrespective of whether the system is aromatic or aliphatic. The NQR frequencies and substituents properties are well reproduced by the DFT B3LYP/6–311+G(2d,p) method. The topological properties of the Laplacian of the electron density were analysed within the AIM (atoms in molecules) approach. The changes in the electron density at C‐3 are correlated with the biological activity of the compounds studied. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrogen-atom abstraction from Ni(I) phosphido and amido complexes gives phosphinidene and imide ligands

Hydrogen-atom abstraction from M-E(H) to generate M═E-containing complexes (E = PR, NR) is not well studied because only a few complexes are known to undergo such reactions. Hydrogen-atom abstraction from nickel(I) phosphide and amide complexes led to the corresponding phosphinidene and imide compounds. These reactions are unparalleled in the organometallic chemistry of nickel and feature an unusual example of a transition-metal phosphinidene synthesized by hydrogen-atom abstraction.     

Electronic structure of molecular complexes in their ground and excited states. I.

Using a recently modified INDO method the equilibrium intermolecular distance and heats of formation of various types of molecular complexes (CT, HB, CTTS, etc.) have been calculated. The results obtained are in reasonable agreement with available ab initio studies.     

Reaction of diphenyldiazomethane with singlet oxygen studied by time-resolved IR spectroscopy

The mechanism of the reaction of diphenyldiazomethane 4a with singlet oxygen has been investigated by nanosecond time-resolved UV-vis (LFP) and IR (step-scan) spectroscopy. The experiments were performed with fullerene (C60) as photosensitizer for the generation of (1)O2 in nonpolar solvents (toluene and CCl4). The UV-vis experiments allowed us to monitor the formation of benzophenone O-oxide 1a, while in the IR experiments the bleaching of 4a and the formation of benzophenone 7a and N2O was observed. The kinetic data were evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation and DFT calculations. These methods allow us to present a consistent mechanistic scheme for the reaction of 4a with (1)O2 and to explain why the elusive dioxadiazole 5a as key intermediate is not directly observed.     

Gold(I) phosphido complexes: synthesis, structure, and reactivity

Deprotonation of the phosphine complexes Au(PHR(2))Cl with aqueous ammonia gave the gold(I) phosphido complexes [Au(PR(2))](n)() (PR(2) = PMes(2) (1), PCy(2) (2), P(t-Bu)(2) (3), PIs(2) (4), PPhMes (5), PHMes (6); Mes = 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2), Is = 2,4,6-(i-Pr)(3)C(6)H(2), Mes = 2,4,6-(t-Bu)(3)C(6)H(2), Cy = cyclo-C(6)H(11)). (31)P NMR spectroscopy showed that these complexes exist in solution as mixtures, presumably oligomeric rings of different sizes. X-ray crystallographic structure determinations on single oligomers of 1-4 revealed rings of varying size (n = 4, 6, 6, and 3, respectively) and conformation. Reactions of 1-3 and 5 with PPN[AuCl(2)] gave PPN[(AuCl)(2)(micro-PR(2))] (9-12, PPN = (PPh(3))(2)N(+)). Treatment of 3 with the reagents HI, I(2), ArSH, LiP(t-Bu)(2), and [PH(2)(t-Bu)(2)]BF(4) gave respectively Au(PH(t-Bu)(2))(I) (14), Au(PI(t-Bu)(2))(I) (15), Au(PH(t-Bu)(2))(SAr) (16, Ar = p-t-BuC(6)H(4)), Li[Au(P(t-Bu)(2))(2)] (17), and [Au(PH(t-Bu)(2))(2)]BF(4) (19).     

Low-lying excited states and primary photoproducts of [Os3(CO)10(s-cis-L)] (L=cyclohexa-1,3-diene, buta-1,3-diene)] clusters studied by picosecond time-resolved UV/Vis and IR spectroscopy and by density functional theory

Combined picosecond transient absorption and time-resolved infrared studies were performed, aimed at characterising low-lying excited states of the cluster [Os(3)(CO)(10)(s-cis-L)] (L=cyclohexa-1,3-diene, 1) and monitoring the formation of its photoproducts. Theoretical (DFT and TD-DFT) calculations on the closely related cluster with L=buta-1,3-diene (2') have revealed that the low-lying electronic transitions of these [Os(3)(CO)(10)(s-cis-1,3-diene)] clusters have a predominant sigma(core)pi*(CO) character. From the lowest sigmapi* excited state, cluster 1 undergoes fast Os-Os(1,3-diene) bond cleavage (tau=3.3 ps) resulting in the formation of a coordinatively unsaturated primary photoproduct (1 a) with a single CO bridge. A new insight into the structure of the transient has been obtained by DFT calculations. The cleaved Os-Os(1,3-diene) bond is bridged by the donor 1,3-diene ligand, compensating for the electron deficiency at the neighbouring Os centre. Because of the unequal distribution of the electron density in transient 1 a, a second CO bridge is formed in 20 ps in the photoproduct [Os(3)(CO)(8)(micro-CO)(2)(cyclohexa-1,3-diene)] (1 b). The latter compound, absorbing strongly around 630 nm, mainly regenerates the parent cluster with a lifetime of about 100 ns in hexane. Its structure, as suggested by the DFT calculations, again contains the 1,3-diene ligand coordinated in a bridging fashion. Photoproduct 1 b can therefore be assigned as a high-energy coordination isomer of the parent cluster with all Os-Os bonds bridged.     

Excited-state characters and dynamics of [W(CO)(5)(4-cyanopyridine)] and [W(CO)(5)(piperidine)] studied by picosecond time-resolved IR and resonance Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations: roles of W --> L and W --> CO MLCT and LF excited states revised

The characters, dynamics, and relaxation pathways of low-lying excited states of the complexes [W(CO)(5)L] [L = 4-cyanopyridine (pyCN) and piperidine (pip)] were investigated using theoretical and spectroscopic methods. DFT calculations revealed the delocalized character of chemically and spectroscopicaly relevant molecular orbitals and the presence of a low-lying manifold of CO pi-based unoccupied molecular orbitals. Traditional ligand-field arguments are not applicable. The lowest excited states of [W(CO)(5)(pyCN)] are W --> pyCN MLCT in character. They are closely followed in energy by W --> CO MLCT states. Excitation at 400 or 500 nm populates the (3)MLCT(pyCN) excited state, which was characterized by picosecond time-resolved IR and resonance Raman spectroscopy. Excited-state vibrations were assigned using DFT calculations. The (3)MLCT(pyCN) excited state is initially formed highly excited in low-frequency vibrations which cool with time constants between 1 and 20 ps, depending on the excitation wavelength, solvent, and particular high-frequency nu(CO) or nu(CN) mode. The lowest excited states of [W(CO)(5)(pip)] are W --> CO MLCT, as revealed by TD-DFT interpretation of a nanosecond time-resolved IR spectrum that was measured earlier in a low-temperature glass (Johnson, F. P. A.; George, M. W.; Morrison, S. L.; Turner, J. J. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1995, 391-393). MLCT(CO) excitation involves transfer of electron density from the W atom and, to a lesser extent, the trans CO to the pi orbitals of the four cis CO ligands. Optical excitation into MLCT(CO) transition of either complex in fluid solution triggers femtosecond dissociation of a W-N bond, producing [W(CO)(5)(solvent)]. It is initially vibrationally excited both in nu(CO) and anharmonicaly coupled low-frequency modes. Vibrational cooling occurs with time constants of 16-22 ps while the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution from the v = 1 nu(CO) modes is much slower, 160-220 ps. No LF excited states have been found for the complexes studied in a spectroscopically relevant range up to 6-7 eV. It follows that spectroscopy, photophysics, and photochemistry of [W(CO)(5)L] and related complexes are well described by an interplay of close-lying MLCT(L) and MLCT(CO) excited states. The high-lying LF states play only an indirect photochemical role by modifying potential energy curves of MLCT(CO) states, making them dissociative.     

The hydrogen bonding and conformations of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene as studied by IR spectroscopy and by DFT calculations

IR and far IR spectra of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene were recorded at various temperatures between 16 and 180 degrees C and spectra of solutions and crystalline solids were obtained. Ab initio density functional calculations gave vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities for four conformers: cone, partial cone, 1,2- and 1,3-alternate. Complete assignments were made for experimental IR spectra of the cone conformer. The bands characteristic for each conformation were defined. It was revealed that O--H stretching low-frequency shift Deltanu in the cone conformation exceeds Deltanu shifts for other conformers. The effect was stipulated by a cooperative interaction of cyclic hydrogen bonds. The obtained spectra-structure correlation can be used for characteristic of calixarenes conformation.     

Application of time-resolved infrared spectroscopy to electronic structure in metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited states

Infrared data in the nu(CO) region (1800-2150 cm(-1), in acetonitrile at 298 K) are reported for the ground (nu(gs)) and polypyridyl-based, metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited (nu(es)) states of cis-[Os(pp)2(CO)(L)](n)(+) (pp = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy); L = PPh3, CH(3)CN, pyridine, Cl, or H) and fac-[Re(pp)(CO)3(4-Etpy)](+) (pp = phen, bpy, 4,4'-(CH3)2bpy, 4,4'-(CH3O)2bpy, or 4,4'-(CO2Et)2bpy; 4-Etpy = 4-ethylpyridine). Systematic variations in nu(gs), nu(es), and Delta(nu) (Delta(nu) = nu(es) - nu(gs)) are observed with the excited-to-ground-state energy gap (E(0)) derived by a Franck-Condon analysis of emission spectra. These variations can be explained qualitatively by invoking a series of electronic interactions. Variations in dpi(M)-pi(CO) back-bonding are important in the ground state. In the excited state, the important interactions are (1) loss of back-bonding and sigma(M-CO) bond polarization, (2) pi(pp*-)-pi(CO) mixing, which provides the orbital basis for mixing pi(CO)- and pi(4,4'-X(2)bpy)-based MLCT excited states, and (3) dpi(M)-pi(pp) mixing, which provides the orbital basis for mixing pipi- and pi(4,4'-X(2)bpy*-)-based MLCT states. The results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the ground and excited states of fac-[Re(I)(bpy)(CO)3(4-Etpy)](+) provide assignments for the nu(CO) modes in the MLCT excited state. They also support the importance of pi(4,4'-X2bpy*-)-pi(CO) mixing, provide an explanation for the relative intensities of the A'(2) and A' ' excited-state bands, and provide an explanation for the large excited-to-ground-state nu(CO) shift for the A'(2) mode and its relative insensitivity to variations in X.     

Electronic states of F2CO as studied by electron energy-loss spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

This paper reports on the first measurements of the electron impact electronic excitation cross-sections for carbonyl fluoride, F(2)CO, measured at 30 eV, 10° and 100 eV, 5° scattering angle, while sweeping the energy loss over the range 5.0-18.0 eV. The electronic-state spectroscopy has been investigated and the assignments are supported by quantum chemical calculations. The energy bands above 9.0 eV and the vibrational progressions superimposed upon it have been observed for the first time. Vibronic coupling has been shown to play an important role dictating the nature of the observed excited states, especially for the low-lying energy region (6.0-8.0 eV). New experimental evidence for the 6(1)B(2) state proposed to have its maximum at 12.75 eV according to the vibrational excitation reported in this energy region (11.6-14.0 eV). The n = 3 members of the Rydberg series have been assigned converging to the lowest ionization energy limits, 13.02 eV ((2)B(2)), 14.09 eV ((2)B(1)), 16.10 ((2)B(2)), and 19.15 eV ((2)A(1)) reported for the first time and classified according to the magnitude of the quantum defects (δ).     

Electronic structure of ferrocence derivatives studied by He(I) photoelectron spectroscopy and CNDO /2 method

The effect of substituents in the Cp ligands on the electronic structure has been studied for the 1,1′-disubstituted ferrocenes Fe(CpX)₂, with X = C₂H₅, OCH₃, CN, COCH₃, COOCH₃, OOCCH₃, CH₂C₆H₅, or C₆H₅, by UV photoelectron spectroscopy and by CNDO /2 calculations. The energy gap between the ²E_2g and ²AT_1g ion states, 0.36 eV in the parent ferrocene, is affected only by the COCH₃ and COOCH₃ substituents, which lower it to 0.22 and 0.28 eV, respectively. Splitting of e_1u(π) level due to the lowering of the symmetry is the only effect observed in the photoelectron spectra. There is a strong conjugation between the phenyl and cyclopentadienyl β-orbitals in 1,1′-diphenylferrocene. The changes in the a_1g(d) ionization energy calculated by the ΔSCF method using CNDO /2 total energies are in a good agreement with the experimental data.     

Intersystem crossing in ir and rh complexes studied by nanosecond and picosecond spectroscopy

Absorption spectra of the lowest triplet state were measured for cis-[IrCl₂(phen)₂ ]Cl (A), cis-[RhCl₂(bpy)₂] Cl (B), and cis-[RhBi₂(bpy)₂] Br (C) in ethanol—methanol (vlv = 4: 1) at 19°C. An S_n « S₁ absorption spectrum was also measured for the Ir complex. The time constants for T₁ formation are 26 ± 10, ≈2.4, and ≈1.3 ps for A, B, and C, respectively.     

Electronic structure and thermal decomposition of 5-methyltetrazole studied by UV photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations

The electronic properties and thermal decomposition of 5-methyltetrazole (5MTZ) are investigated using UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UVPES) and theoretical calculations. Simulated spectra of both 1H- and 2H-5MTZ, based on electron propagator methods, are produced in order to study the relative tautomer population. The thermal decomposition results are rationalized in terms of G2(MP2) results. 5MTZ yields a HOMO ionization energy of 10.82 ± 0.04 eV and the gas-phase 5MTZ assumes predominantly the 2H-form. Its gas-phase thermal decomposition starts at ca. 195 °C and leads to the formation of N₂,CH₃CN and HCN. N₂ is formed from two competing routes, involving 150.2 and 126.2 kJ/mol energy barriers, from 2H- and 1H-5MTZ, respectively. CH₃CN is formed also from two competing pathways, requiring activation energies of 218.3 (2H-5MTZ) and 198.6 kJ/mol (1H-5MTZ). Conclusions are also drawn in order to explain the formation of HCN from secondary reactions in the thermal decomposition process.     

Synthesis, structure, photochromism and DFT calculations of copper(I)-triphenylphosphine halide complexes of thioalkylazoimidazoles

[Cu(SRaaiNR′)(PPh₃)X] complexes are synthesized by the reaction of CuX (X = Cl, Br, I), triphenylphosphine and 1-alkyl-2-[(o-thioalkyl)phenylazo]imidazole (SRaaiNR′). The single crystal X-ray structure of [Cu(SEtaaiNH)(PPh₃)I] (SEtaaiNH = 2-[(o-thioethyl)phenylazo]imidazole) shows a distorted tetrahedral geometry of the copper center with bidentate, N(azo), N(imidazole) chelation of SEtaaiNH and coordination from PPh₃ and iodine. These complexes show a trans-to-cis isomerization upon irradiation with UV light. The reverse transformation, cis-to-trans isomerization, is very slow with visible light irradiation and is thermally accessible. The quantum yields (?_t→c) of the trans-to-cis isomerization of [Cu(SRaaiNR′)(PPh₃)X] are lower than the free ligand values. This is due to the increased mass and rotor volume of the complexes compared to the free ligand data. The rate of isomerization follows the order: [Cu(SRaaiNR′)(PPh₃)Cl] < [Cu(SRaaiNR′)(PPh₃)Br] < [Cu(SRaaiNR′)(PPh₃)I]. The activation energy (E_a) of the cis-to-trans isomerization is calculated by a controlled temperature reaction. DFT computation of representative complexes has been used to determine the composition and energy of the molecular levels.     

Electronic states of neutral and cationic bis(benzene) titanium and vanadium sandwich complexes studied by pulsed field ionization electron spectroscopy

Ti- and V-bz2 (bz=C6H6) sandwich complexes have been prepared in a laser-ablation cluster beam source and studied by pulsed field ionization-zero electron kinetic energy photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The ground electronic states of the neutral Ti- and V-bz2 complexes are determined to be 1A1g and 2A1g, and their ionization energies are measured to be 5.732+/-0.001 and 5.784+/-0.002 eV, respectively. These neutral complexes have eta6 binding and are in an eclipsed D6h configuration with flat benzene rings. Ionization of the 1A1g and 2A1g neutral states of Ti- and V-bz2 yields the 2B1g and 3B1g ion states, respectively, in a D2h point group with slightly puckered benzene rings. In addition, the binding and structures of these two complexes are compared with other first-row transition metal bis(benzene) sandwiches.     

Ultrafast structural dynamics of photochromic indolylfulgimides studied by vibrational spectroscopy and DFT calculations

The structural dynamics of the ring-opening reaction in a photochromic indolylfulgimide, a reversible, ultrafast photoswitch, is investigated by ultra-broadband time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy. The experimentally observed vibrational modes of the indolylfulgimide photoisomers C and E are assigned to normal modes with the help of DFT calculations. A complete evaluation of the observed vibrational dynamics including excited-state vibrational modes is used to characterize the reaction path and the cooling behavior of the photoswitch.     

Mesomorphic complexes of rhenium(I) and manganese(I)

Abstract

Following our discovery of liquid crystals based on octahedral manganese(I), we have now extended these studies to the synthesis of what we believe to be unique examples of mesomorphic rhenium-based complexes. These complexes offer advantages over the related manganese(I) systems in that they are more thermally stable. Further, modification of the organic backbone has led to lower melting manganese materials.     

First direct observation of a CO-bridged primary photoproduct of [Ru3(CO)12] by picosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy

For the first time, a CO-bridged primary photoproduct was observed for [Ru3(CO)12] by using picosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy (ps-TRIR).