Triplet-sensitized photolysis of alkoxycarbonyl azides in solution and matrices

Photolysis of azides 1–4 in methanol, which have a built-in intramolecular triplet sensitizer, yields mainly carbamates 5–8. Laser flash photolysis of 1–4 shows formation of their triplet-excited ketone, which decays by intramolecular energy transfer to form triplet nitrenes 1n–4n. Irradiating 1–3 in matrices yields isocyanic acid, whereas photolysis of 4 forms isocyanate 4i. The depletion rate of the azide bands between 2100 and 2200 cm^?1 is different than the rate of formation for the isocyanic acid bands at ～2265 cm^?1; thus, the formation of isocyanic acid is a stepwise process. Irradiating 1 in matrices produces an absorption band due to nitrene 1n (λ_max ～ 343 nm), which is depleted upon further irradiation, whereas the absorption due to 4-acetyl benzaldehyde (λ_max ～ 280 nm) increases with prolonged irradiation. We propose that formation of isocyanic acid in matrices must come from secondary photolysis of nitrenes 1n–3n. This mechanism is further supported by calculation, which show that the estimated transition state for 1n–4n to fall apart to yield alkoxy and cyanato radicals is only ～34 kcal/mol above the ground state of the triplet nitrenes and thus the cleavage can take place photochemically. Thus, nitrenes 1n–4n can be formed selectively, but these intermediates are highly photosensitive and undergo secondary photolysis in matrices.     

Correlation between molecular structure and optical properties for the bis(2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazolate) complexes

A series of methyl-substituted bis(2-(hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazolate)zinc derivatives [Zn(n-MeBTZ)₂, n = 3 (1a), 4 (1b), 5 (1c)] were synthesized to investigate the correlation between molecular structures and optical properties. The results indicate that the blue-emitting (λ_max = 470 nm) complex 1b is monomer with a higher PL quantum efficiency than complexes 1, 1a, 1c. Two green-emitting (λ_max = 507 nm and 499 nm) complexes 1a and 1c have special bi-molecular structures. The molecular structure for Zn(BTZ)₂ (complex 1) is dimer. Bilayer organic light-emitting devices were fabricated by using these complexes as emitting layer. The maximum emission wavelengths of the devices are in the range of 501–553 nm. The devices show turn-on voltages at 9.2, 12.7, 2.3 and 10.7 V for complex 1, 1a, 1b, and 1c, respectively. In particular, the device with complex 1b shows a higher brightness than the other complexes under the same conditions.     

Structure and atropisomerisation of new diastereomeric gossypol Schiff bases with (R)-(+)-2-amino-3-benzyloxy-1-propanol studied by NMR,ECD and DFT methods

Gossypol Schiff base with (R)-(+)-2-amino-3-benzyloxy-1-propanol 1 was synthesised and resolved by HPLC method into diastereomers to study their atropisomerisation process. The spectroscopic analysis performed by one- and two-dimensional NMR, UV–vis and FT-IR methods indicated that the compound exists in solution as an enamine-oxo tautomer. The ECD measurements and TD-DFT calculations allowed us to unambiguously determine the configuration about the axially chiral biaryl moiety of 1. The conditions of the atropisomerisation processes of diastereopure gossypol Schiff bases (S_AX,R)-1 and (R_AX,R)-1 were determined on the basis of ECD and NMR measurements. Exposure of the diastereomers of 1 to sunlight and to the light at λ = 254 nm significantly accelerated the atropisomerisation when compared to its rate in the dark.     

Photophysical properties of 5-hydroxyflavone

To investigate the role of the excited triplet state in the deactivation process of 5-hydroxyflavone (5HF), the photophysical process of 5HF was studied by transient absorption, phosphorescence spectroscopies, and semiempirical calculations. The triplet–triplet absorption (T–T) spectra of 5HF and 5-methoxyflavone (5MF) were observed upon direct and triplet-sensitized excitation. The T–T spectrum of 5HF (λ_max=350 nm, τ_T=2.8 μs) was different from that of 5MF (λ_max=360 nm, τ_T=6.8 μs). Estimations of the triplet energies of 5HF and 5MF by quenching experiments, phosphorescence, and semiempirical (PM3/CI4) calculation revealed that 5HF underwent an intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer and formed the tautomer in the excited triplet state. The triplet energy of the normal form of 5HF was 260 kJ mol⁻¹, while that of the tautomer form (5HF′) was 197 kJ mol⁻¹. The triplet energy of 5MF, the model compound of the normal form of 5HF, was 261 kJ mol⁻¹. The PM3/CI4 calculation supported the experimental observations and suggested that the most stable conformer in the triplet state of 5HF is the tautomer form.     

Photochemical transformations of 5-perfluoroalkenyl uracils

Photochemical behavior of 1,3-dimethyl-5-trifluorovinyluracil 1 has been studied in polar, nucleophilic solvents (water and anhydrous methanol). Photoirradiation of 1 with UV light (λ > 300 nm) provides additional insight on previously suggested mechanism of phototransformations. Electrocyclization leading to cyclobutene intermediate 3 is a primary reaction; next addition of nucleophile (molecule of methanol or water) occurs, giving access to products.     

Third-order nonlinear optical properties and structures of (E)-N-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-2,6-dimethylaniline and (E)-N-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-2,3-dimethylaniline

(E)-N-(4-Nitrobenzylidene)-2,6-dimethylaniline (1) and (E)-N-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-2,3-dimethylaniline (2) have been synthesized. The crystal structures of both compounds have been defined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The maximum one-photon absorption (OPA) wavelengths recorded by quantum mechanical computations using a configuration interaction (CI) method are estimated in the UV region to be shorter than 450 nm, showing good optical transparency to the visible light. To provide an insight into the microscopic third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the investigated molecules, both dispersion-free (static) and also frequency-dependent (dynamic) linear polarizabilities (α) and second hyperpolarizabilities (γ) at λ = 825–1125 nm and 1050–1600 nm wavelength areas have been computed using time-dependent Hartree–Fock (TDHF) method. According to the ab initio calculation results, the title molecules exhibit second hyperpolarizabilities with non-zero values, implying microscopic third-order NLO behavior.     

Wavelength-dependent photolyses of 2,5-dichloro-3,6-bis(dialkylamino)-[1,4]benzoquinone

Photolysis of 2,5-dichloro-3,6-bis(dialkylamino)-[1,4]benzoquinone (1) at 254 nm or 300–500 nm produces the corresponding cyclized products (2) via the electron transfer-proton transfer sequence in a variety of solvents in quantitative yields within 10 min. In contrast, photolysis of 2,5-dichloro-3,6-bis(dialkylamino)-[1,4]benzoquinone (1) at >500 nm light source affords the elimination products (3) in good yields via the δ-hydrogen abstraction.     

Exploring weak interactions to assemble a nitrosyl–ruthenium compound able to release NO under visible light irradiation

This work reports on a novel nitrosyl–ruthenium complex bearing the azanaphthalene ligand quinazoline (qui) in its coordination sphere. The product crystallizes with an additional quinazoline molecule, yielding the compound cis-[Ru(bpy)₂(qui)NO](PF₆)₃ · (qui). This feature leads to an absorption band at λ_max = 430 nm in CH₃CN and λ_max = 420 nm in phosphate buffer, which promotes the photorelease of nitric oxide under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm), in 1 ethanol:1 water (v/v) mixture or under physiological pH. Both the intensity and energy of this transition are dependent on solvent and solution pH, suggesting that the transition has a charge transfer nature, and that the association of the second quinazoline molecule with the complex is driven by weak interactions, possibly of the π-stacking type.     

Effect of temperature on the absorption spectra of the solvated electron in 1-propanol and 2-propanol: Pulse radiolysis and laser photolysis studies at temperatures up to supercritical condition

The absorption spectra of solvated electrons in 1-propanol and 2-propanol have been investigated from 22 to 270 °C at a fixed pressure of 7 MPa, by using both nanosecond pulse radiolysis and laser photolysis techniques. The results show that, even up to supercritical conditions, it is still possible to measure unambiguously the absorption spectra of solvated electron in these two propanols. The peak positions of the absorption spectra show a red-shift (shifts to longer wavelengths) as temperature increases, similar to water and other alcohols, but the temperature efficiency, dE_max/dT, of 1-propanol is larger than that of 2-propanol. In addition, in clear contrast to that of pulse radiolysis, in laser photolysis experiments, an increase in the maximum absorbance of the absorption spectra of solvated electron with temperature up to ∼200 °C is attributed to the increase of absorbance (CTTS absorption band) of I⁻ anion at 248 nm with increasing temperature.     

Synthesis of triphenylamine-based thiophene-(N-aryl)pyrrole-thiophene dyes for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Two new triphenylamine-based metal-free organic dyes (TPTDYE-1 and TPTDYE-2) containing 1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2,5-di(2-thienyl)pyrrole as a new π-conjugated chromophore were synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. TPTDYE-1 containing three donor groups around the acceptor group was found to show relatively narrow absorption band from 300 nm to 470 nm while TPTDYE-2 having extended π–π delocalization between the donor and acceptor group showed broad absorption band from 300 nm to 550 nm. The electrochemical studies indicate that the HOMO–LUMO energy gap of TPTDYE-1 is considerably wider than that of TPTDYE-2. The dye-sensitized solar cell performance of each dye was investigated, and the TPTDYE-2-sensitized cell was found to show a maximum monochromatic incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 75%, a short-circuit photocurrent density (J_sc) of 13.50 mA/cm², an open-circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.72 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.69, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 6.71% under simulated AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW/cm²). Under the same condition the TPTDYE-1-sensitized cell showed the same IPCE value of 75% with a promising conversion efficiency of 6.00%, a J_sc of 11.11 mA/cm², a V_oc of 0.76 V, and a FF of 0.71.     

An unprecedented two-dimensional polymeric [Zn(OOC–C6H4–COO)2]n2−[+H3N–(CH2)3–NH3+]n system bearing one-dimensional chain of zinc(II) bis(phthalate) dianions held by propane-1,3-diammonium cations: Crystal structure,thermal and fluorescent properties

A novel zinc(II) phthalate compound, [Zn{C₆H₄(COO)₂}₂]_n²⁻[NH₃–(CH₂)₃–NH₃]_n²⁺, 1 which contains four different phthalate moieties coordinated to the Zn(II) ion through one each of their carboxylate moieties in a η¹-form and each phthalate moiety acting as a bridging unit with an overall tetrahedral geometry around the metal ion has been prepared and structurally characterized. The structure is unique in the sense that the dianionic moieties [Zn{C₆H₄(COO)₂}₂]²⁻ form an infinite one-dimensional network composed of 14-membered cyclic units interconnected in a way that they are disposed alternatively in almost perpendicular planes. The dicationic [NH₃–(CH₂)₃–NH₃]²⁺ units are seen to hold these one-dimensional chains by strong coulombic and hydrogen bond interaction, resulting in an infinite two-dimensional layered structure of 1. The compound is thermally stable up to 250 °C. Above this temperature it loses one equivalent of phthalate moiety along with the diammonium unit to yield Zn(II) phthalate. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters associated with this process could be evaluated using Coats–Redfern equation which shows the activation energy E_a for the process as 305.0 kJ mol⁻¹, the frequency factor A as 1.49 × 10¹¹ s⁻¹ and the entropy change ΔS as −35.90 JK⁻¹ mol⁻¹. Fluorescent emission properties of 1 was studied by exciting the compound at 380 nm and also at 322 nm which were found to be the two λ_max corresponding to absorptions of the molecule. Interestingly, the compound gave same type of emission spectra showing a maximum around 444 nm on exciting at these two different wavelengths, indicating that the molecule comes to the first excited state from the higher excited state by a fast non-radiative process before it exhibits singlet emission to come to the ground state.     

Effect of intraligand π-delocalization on the photophysical properties of two new Ru(II) complexes

Two new Ru(II) complexes, [Ru(bpy)₂(1-COO-iqu)]⁺ (2; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, 1-COO-iqu^? = isoquinoline-1-carboxylate) and [Ru(bpy)₂(3-COO-iqu)]⁺ (3; 3-COO-iqu^? = isoquinoline-3-carboxylate), were prepared and their crystal structures solved. The ground and excited state properties of 2 and 3 were characterized and compared to those of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (1). The presence of the oxygen atom in the Ru(II) coordination sphere makes 2 and 3 easier to oxidize than 1. The Ru → bpy MLCT absorption and emission of 2 and 3 are red-shifted relative to that of 1 in CH₂Cl₂, and the E₀₀ energies were estimated to be 1.89 eV and 1.95 eV from the low temperature emission of 2 and 3, resulting in excited state oxidation potentials of ?1.03 V and ?1.10 V vs SCE, respectively. In addition to the short-lived emissive ³MLCT state, a long-lived species is observed in the transient absorption of 3 in DMSO (τ = 49 μs) and pyridine (τ = 44 μs), assigned to a solvent-coordinated complex. This intermediate is not observed for 3 in non-polar solvents or for 2. The absence of the solvent coordinated intermediate in 2 is explained by the stronger Ru–O bond afforded by the lower conjugation in that extends onto the carboxylic acid in the 1-COO-iquo^?ligand, compared to that in the 3-COO-iqu^?ligand in 3. Transient absorption experiments also show that the ³MLCT excited state of 3 is able to reduce methyl viologen.     

Asymmetric synthesis of the chiral synthon ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate using Lactobacillus kefir

Lactobacillus kefir was used as the whole cell biocatalyst for the asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4-chloro acetoacetate 1 to the chiral synthon ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate 2. Ketoester 1 was obtained as micro-droplets, without the use of an organic solvent as substrate reservoir. 2 (1.2 M) was produced using 2-propanol as co-substrate with a final yield of 97% within 14 h. A high space-time yield and a high specific product capacity of 85.7 mmol/L h and of 24 mmol/g_DCW were measured. The enantiomeric excess of the (S)-alcohol 2 was 99.5%.     

Crystallography and magnetism of 2-amido-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-3-oxide-1-oxyls

Two 2-Ar-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-3-oxide-1-oxyl radicals were synthesized (Ar = para-acetamidophenyl, and para-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)aminophenyl, pAPNN, pBPNN) that incorporate amide-type NH moieties as potential hydrogen bonding sites. Both form hydrogen bonded cyclic dyads, but pAPNN exhibits spin pairing (2J/k = (−)5 K) due to a close, antiparallel nitroxide-nitroxide stacking contact, while pBPNN is essentially paramagnetic.     

UV-absorption and fluorimetric methods for the determination of alprazolam in pharmaceutical formulation

The development of UV and fluorescence spectrophotometric methods for the quantitative determination of alprazolam in dosage forms using As(III)?SDS system. The two simple and sensitive, spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods were developed for the determination of alprazolam (ALP) in tablets. These methods are based on formation of ALP?As(III) complex in the presence of SDS. The UV-spectrum of 30% methanolic solution of ALP (5 × 10^?5 M) at pH 6.5 (Mclivaine buffer) was run between 200 and 380 nm. The absorption spectrum of ALP exhibits two peaks with a λ_max. at 255 nm and a weak band at 325 nm. When the spectra of the drug were run at varying pH in the region 200–380 nm, one isosbestic point at 290 nm was observed, which indicated the presence of two ionic conditions in solution. The complex exhibited an absorption maximum at 265 nm and emission peak at 520 nm with respect to the excitation wavelength of 325 nm. The spectrophotometric method was found to be linear in 8.0–17.0 μg ml^?1 range with detection limit of 13.520 μg ml^?1, while 0.05–9.5 μg ml^?1 range was with detection limit of 1.048 × 10^?2 μg ml^?1 by spectrofluorimetric method. The mean percentage recovery of the added quantity was found to be 99.54 (spectrophotometric method) and 100.22 (spectrofluorimetric method) and the %RSD are lower than 0.478 and 0.296 determined spectrophotomerically and spectrofluorimtrically, respectively. This indicates that the proposed method is accurate. The apparent ionization constant of ALP was found to be 9.29. The spectra, experimental conditions were set followed by determination stoichiometry, stability constant and thermodynamic parameters of the As(III), Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) complexes with ALP at pH 6.5. The proposed methods have been successfully applied to the assay of ALP in tablets and the results were statistically evaluated.     

Reorganization energy of supramolecular donor–acceptor dyad of octaethylporphyrin isomers and axial-coordinated acceptor: Experimental and computational study

The internal reorganization energy (λ_V) of photoinduced electron transfer (ET) in the supramolecular donor–acceptor dyads of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphinatozinc(II) (ZnOEP) and electron acceptor ligands was compared with those of structural isomers, 2,3,7,8,11,12,17,18-octaethylhemiporphycenatozinc(II) (ZnHPc) and 2,3,6,7,12,13,16,17-octaethylporphycenatozinc(II) (ZnPcn). First, ET process of the supramolecular donor–acceptor dyads of ZnOEP was investigated by means of the transient absorption spectroscopy mainly. The formation of supramolecular dyads was confirmed by absorption spectral change, from which the association constant was estimated. The ET process was confirmed by the observation of radical cation of ZnOEP during the laser flash photolysis. The ET rates of these dyads are in the order of ZnOEP > ZnHPc > ZnPcn, when the driving forces for ET are similar to each other. From the free energy dependence of ET rates, the λ_V values of OEP and its isomers were estimated. The estimated λ_V value was in the order of ZnOEP < ZnHPc < ZnPcn. This tendency was reproduced by calculation at B3LYP/6-31G(d) and BHandHLYP/6-31G(d) levels. The origin of this tendency was discussed on the basis of the structural change during the ET process.     

Self-assembly of two zinc complexes with flexible building block of 4-pyridylthioethylphosphonate

A new organophosphonate ligand containing sulfide group, 4-pyridylthioethylphosphonic acid hydrobromide (H₂pytep·HBr), is synthesized through a facile route. Two zinc complexes of Zn₂(pytepH₂)₂Br₄ (1) and [Zn(pytep)]·H₂O (2) are obtained by reacting H₂pytep·HBr with zinc nitrate in solution and under hydrothermal condition, respectively. X-ray crystallographic studies reveal that 1 has a dinuclear structure in which the equivalent Zn atoms are doubly bridged by phosphonate groups. Compound 2 has a layer structure where ladder-like chains made up of corner-sharing {ZnNO₃} and {CPO₃} tetrahedra are linked by the organic groups of pytep. Photoluminescent properties are investigated. Different from complex 1 which shows no photoluminescence, complex 2 exhibits photoluminescence at 468 nm (λ_ex = 353 nm) in the solid state at room temperature.     

Synthesis,structure and fluorescence of a novel three-dimensional inorganic–organic hybrid polymer constructed from trimetallic clusters and mixed carboxylate ligands

A new inorganic–organic hybrid framework coordination polymer, Cd₃(BDC)_0.5(BTC)₂(DMF)(H₂O)·3DMF·H₃O·H₂O 1, in which two carboxylate ligands, 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H₂BDC) and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H₃BTC), coordinate with cadmium ions, has been synthesized under mild conditions and its structure solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Polymer 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c (No. 14) with a=15.750(3) Å, b=14.501(3) Å, c=19.363(4) Å, β=113.67(3)°, V=4050.4(14) Å³, Z=4, R1=0.0374 and wR2=0.1148. Its structure revealed that the nine vertices of the secondary building units are linked by benzene rings from both H₃BTC and H₂BDC ligands to form a 3D network with 10×10 Å channels along [001] direction. Complex 1 is characterized by inductively coupled plasma analysis, powder XRD, infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Polymer 1 exhibits intense fluorescence at 358 and 377 nm with λ_excitation=208 nm in the solid state at room temperature.     

New metastable hybrid phase,Zn2(OH)2(C8H4O4), exhibiting unique oxo-penta-coordinated Zn(II) atoms

The metastable phase (phase 1) Zn(OH)₂(tp)₂ (tp = C₈H₄O₄^2?) was found to be an intermediate forming during the hydrothermal synthesis of Zn₃(OH)₄tp (phase 2). Its structure has been determined ab initio from synchrotron powder diffraction data and refined with the Rietveld method: space group P2₁/c, a = 3.48856(2) Å, b = 5.84645(2) Å, c = 22.1331(1) Å, β = 103.46(1)°, D_x = 2.488 g/cm³, R_p = 0.10, R_B = 0.095 (402 independent reflections). The structures of the two analogues were compared. Whereas a mixed coordination of the zinc atoms was found in phase 2, phase 1 exhibits only penta-coordinated Zn(II). Moreover, different optical properties were observed, Zn₂(OH)₂(tp) showing photoluminescence at 378 nm under λ_ex = 316 nm.     

Pulse radiolysis studies of mangiferin: A C-glycosyl xanthone isolated from Mangifera indica

Pulse radiolysis technique has been employed to study the reaction of different oxidizing and reducing radicals with mangiferin. The reaction of OH radical showed the formation of transient species absorbing in 380–390 and 470–480 nm region. The reaction with specific one-electron oxidants (N₃, CCl₃O₂) also showed the formation of similar transient absorption bands and is assigned to phenoxyl radicals. The pK_a values of the transient species have been determined to be 6.3 and 11.9. One-electron oxidation potential of mangiferin at pH 9 has been found to be 0.62 V vs. NHE. The reaction of e_aq⁻ showed the formation of transient species with λ_max at 340 nm, which is assigned to the ketyl anion radical formed on addition of e_aq⁻ at carbonyl site. Reactions of one-electron oxidised mangiferin radicals with ascorbic acid have also been studied.