Effect of proton-donor solvent and structural flexibility of prodan and laurdan molecules on their spectral-luminescent properties

The influence of structural flexibility on dipole moments, energy-level locations, and charge distributions in prodan and laurdan molecules was studied. A quantum-chemical calculation of isolated prodan and laurdan molecules in the fluorescent state geometry was conducted. Rate constants for radiative and non-radiative processes and fluorescence quantum yields for these probe molecules were calculated. Interaction centers of prodan and laurdan with a proton-donor solvent were estimated quantitatively. The possibility of using fluorescent probes for estimating the polarity of proton-donor and proton-acceptor solvents was shown. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 3, pp. 334–341, May–June, 2009.     

Complexing and photoprocesses in a PRODAN molecule

The effect of hydrogen bond on the spectral-luminescent properties of the PRODAN molecule — water complexes is studied. Quantum chemical calculations are performed for the ground and fluorescent equilibrium states of a free PRODAN molecule and its complexes with H₃O⁺. It is shown that significant changes occur in the geometry of the molecule in the fluorescent state. To describe the fluorescent state, account was taken of the changes in the electron density (population) on the bonds and atoms in transition of the molecule to an excited state. The rate constants of radiative and nonradiative processes and quantum yields of fluorescence are calculated for the PRODAN molecule and its complexes in water. A significant shift of the fluorescent bands (sensitivity to a solvent) in transition of the molecule from cyclohexane to water is accounted for.__________Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 71–75, November, 2004     

Spectral investigations on 2,3-bis(chloromethyl)-1,4- anthraquinone: solvent effects and host–guest interactions

Solvent effects on 2,3-bis(chloromethyl)-1,4-anthraquinone (DCMAQ) and the molecular recognition of DCMAQ in calix[8]arene were investigated using optical absorption and fluorescence emission techniques. Optical absorption spectra show n→π^* band in 350–500 nm region. It also indicates that the dipole–dipole interaction and solvent reorganization energies are responsible for the observed features in different solvents. The observed quantum yield of DCMAQ in different solvents is due to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bond and reorientation of solvent molecule in the excited state of DCMAQ. Excited state dipole moment of DCMAQ is calculated by solvatochromic data and it shows a higher excited state dipole moment than ground state dipole moment. Optical absorption and fluorescence studies of DCMAQ in calix[8]arene elucidate the evidence for the formation of complex between DCMAQ and calix[8]arene. The inclusion ratios and inclusion constant of the host–guest complexes are also determined.     

Role of geometrical prodan structures in the determination of possible centers of hydrogen bond formation

Using the method of intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO), quantum-chemical investigations of geometrical prodan structures with different rotation and deflection angles of methyl groups in the dimethylaminogroup of the molecule are performed. The charge distribution is studied for different conformations of the molecule. The possible centers of prodan interaction with proton-donor solvents are estimated. It is demonstrated that in addition to the oxygen and nitrogen atoms, the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon chain and the aromatic prodan ring can interact with the solvent. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 10–16, January, 2008.     

Determination of the rate constant of oxygen quenching of the excited states of molecules from the singlet oxygen luminescence

We have pioneered a method of determining the rate constant of quenching of the excited electronic states of molecules by molecular oxygen from measurements of the kinetics of photosensitized luminescence of singlet molecular oxygen (^lδ_g). The method can be used in the case where the lifetime of the excited electronic state in an air-saturated solution is comparable with or larger than the luminescence time of the singlet molecular oxygen in the given solvent. It is shown that this situation is implemented on quenching, by molecular oxygen, of the excited triplet states associated with the biopolymers of tetrapyrrole molecules in aqueous (H₂O and D₂O) solutions. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 3, pp. 401–404, May–June, 2000.     

Optical properties of new indotricarbocyanine dye as a limiter of laser radiation power

We present results of experimental and theoretical studies of the optical characteristics of a new indotricarbocyanine dye that is capable of effectively limiting the power of laser radiation in the visible spectral range. The spectral-luminescent and energy characteristics of the dye molecules and their absorption spectra from the excited state with nanosecond resolution are investigated experimentally. Quantum-chemical methods are used to calculate electronic absorption spectra from the ground (S₀ → S_n) and excited (S₁ → S_n) states and to determine the nature of electronic states of the molecule and the rate constants of intramolecular photophysical processes. The results of the theoretical research agree with experimental data. It is shown that the investigated dye has singlet-singlet absorption at 400–600 nm. Nonlinear absorption of the dye upon excitation by radiation of the second harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser is studied by z-scanning with an open diaphragm. The ratio of dye absorption cross sections from the excited and ground states at 532 nm is determined in the framework of a three-level model. The results are compared with those for previously studied compounds. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 4, pp. 473–480, July–August, 2007.     

Theoretical and experimental investigations of photophysics of the nile red molecule and its protonated structures

Results of quantum-chemical studies of the nile red (NR) molecule and its protonated structures by the INDO/S method are presented. It is demonstrated that the best agreement between the calculated and experimental data is obtained for the flat molecule in the ground electron state. Energies of the strongest singlet and triplet electronic states, molecular nature of these states, transition oscillator force, dipole moments in the ground and excited states, electron density distribution around atoms and molecular fragments in the S₀ and S₁ states, and rate constants of radiative, internal, and intercombination conversion are presented for the NR molecule and its protonated structures. The most probable NR protonation centers are analyzed using the molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) method. It is established that the reaction of proton addition to the NR molecule proceeds at the cyclic nitrogen atom. As demonstrated the results of quantum-chemical calculations, low fluorescent properties of the protonated NR structures (with a quantum yield of 4%) are due to a high rate of the S₁ – T₄ intercombination conversion.     

Formation of fluorescence bands of polyatomic organic molecules in the gaseous phase upon excitation by electrons

Information on paths in absorption and deactivation of energy gained by molecules in their excitation by electron impact to low-lying singlet states has been obtained from an analysis of changes in the fluorescence spectra of these molecules. It is shown that there is a significant difference in the formation of fluorescence spectra when free molecules are excited by optical radiation and by electrons. It contrast to optical excitation, the interaction of an electron with a molecule is nonselective in character. All electronic states have a chance to be excited, which results in ensembles of emitting molecules with a different store of vibrational energy, and these ensembles each contribute to the fluorescence spectrum. Deceased. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 216–223, March–April, 1998.     

Conformal transitions of the laurdan molecule in the absorption and fluorescence spectra

The fluorescent probe molecule – laurdan (6-dodekanoil-2-dimetilamin naphthalene) – is investigated by experimental and quantum-chemical methods. The influence of the structure non-rigidity on the dipole moments, arrangement of energy levels, and distribution of charges in the laurdan molecule is studied. An optimized structure is obtained and analyzed by the molecular dynamics method. Several structures with different rotation angles of the dimethylamino group are investigated, for which energy, oscillator forces, and nature of electron states are calculated. Fluorescence spectra of the laurdan molecule in an inert solvent are interpreted. Centers of possible interaction of the molecule with a proton-donor solvent are established. Rate constants of radiative and nonradiative processes and quantum fluorescence yields of the examined probe are calculated.     

A Spectroscopic Model for the Study of Preferential in the Ground and Excited Electronic States.

The preferential solvation of a solute molecule in mixed solvents is analysed in terms of the spectral solvent shifts. A spectroscopic model is developed in order to know the preferential solvation degree in the ground electronic state as well as in the first excited electronic state by measuring the absorption and fluorescence spectra respec tively.

Triphenylene was found to be a good model probe molecule in n-butanol/carbon tetrachloride mixtures for both electronic states. Furthermore Tryphenylene in its ground electronic state was studied in chloroform/methanol mixtures.     

TDDFT方法研究两个基于Michael反应的氰离子传感器的不同传感机理

利用含时密度泛函方法计算了两个具有类似结构的传感器分子a和b的氰离子传感机理. 结果证实,传感器分子a在基态和S₁态下有着类似的几何构型. 在质子性溶剂水中,氰离子能与传感器分子a发生Michael加成反应,水溶液提供质子,促使最终的α,β-加成产物的生成. 而此加成产物在S₁态下会发生构型变化,导致荧光的猝灭. 传感器分子b的S₁态与基态构型相比发生了构型扭转,并且在非质子性溶剂乙腈中,也可以与氰离子发生Michael加成反应. 由于乙腈     

Temporal dependences of dipole moments of prodan molecules

The fluorescence spectra of 6-propyl-2-dimethylaminonaphtalene (prodan), 1-(phenylamino)naphthalene (1-PAN), and 3-aminophthalimide are measured in glycerol with a picosecond resolution. The instantaneous fluorescence spectra and the correlation functions of the time-dependent Stokes shift of the fluorescence spectra of the two latter probes are used to find the time dependence of the dielectric response function of glycerol, which is necessary for calculating the charge transfer kinetics in prodan molecules. Based on the solvatochromism theory and using the experimental dependences of the time-dependent shift of the fluorescence bands for prodan molecules, which are characterized by efficient charge transfer in the excited electronic state, the kinetics of the electric dipole moment of the first singlet state is calculated.     

Gas-phase photoreactions of anthracene, 2-aminoanthracene,and pyrene with oxygen and water vapors

Excited singlet (S ₁) and triplet (T ₁) state quenching by O₂ and by (O₂ + H₂O) gas-vapor mixtures was studied in the gas phase for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, anthracene, 2-aminoanthracene, pyrene). Addition of water vapor is shown not to influence quenching of both fluorescence and delayed fluorescence of PAHs by oxygen. The role of complexes stabilized by charge transfer and hydrogen bonds in quenching the excited states of PAHs by atmospheric gases was analyzed. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 3, pp. 342–348, May–June, 2009.     

Fluorescence polarization of helical molecules cooled in a supersonic jet

The β-binaphthylene oxide molecules studied under supersonic cooling conditions have a number of specific properties due to their nonplanarity. Low-frequency vibrations of the molecules in the excited S1 state are higher than the frequencies for the S0 state, and conversely the high-frequency vibrations have lower frequencies. The S₀-S₂ fluorescence excitation spectrum is structureless. The absence of a Q branch in the rotational contour of the line for the purely electronic transition indicates that it is substantially broadened and shifted toward shorter wavelengths as a result of rotational perturbations of the helical structure of the molecule. Multiplet lines in the spectra of β-binaphthylene oxide complexes with argon, krypton, and xenon correspond to different isomeric complexes. Their bond energies are below those observed previously for planar polycyclic molecules such as perilene, fluorene, and carbazole. The greater number of isomers with xenon is due to strengthening of the bond in the van der Waals complex and the nonequivalence of the position of the xenon atoms on the outside and inside of the helical molecule. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 4, pp. 473–477, July–August, 2006.     

Spectral-luminescent and proton-acceptor properties of 9-11-dehydrogenated 8-azasteroid

Methods of quantum chemistry (including the method of intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO)) are used to calculate and to interpret the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the 9-11-dehydroderivative 2,3-dimethoxy-8-aza-D-homogon-1,3,5(10),13-tetraene-12,17a-dion (DA-1) molecule in aproton and proton-donor solvents. The electronic structure and spectra of electronically excited states of the isolated molecule and its complexes with water and proton solvates are calculated. It is demonstrated that bands in the absorption spectra are complex; they are formed by two or more electron transitions. It is established that only the charged DA-1 + H ₅ O ₂ ⁺ and DA-1 + 2H ₃ O ⁺ complexes can fluoresce. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 3–9, June, 2006.     

电子激发和溶剂效应对芴酮-甲醇分子间氢键增强现象的理论研究 (cited: 1)

理论研究了电子激发和溶剂效应导致的芴酮-甲醇复合体系中分子间氢键增强现象．通过基态和激发态性质的计算,不仅展示了分子间氢键键长的变化以及变化在振动光谱中的影响,而且揭示了导致氢键变化的内在物理机制：溶质分子的电子激发及溶剂化效应引起的电子重新分布,增大了溶质和溶剂分子的偶极矩,导致了它们之间的相互作用的增大,并最终加强了分子间氢键的强度．还分别对处于液相及气相中的复合体的基态和激发态的几何结构、红外谱、复合体及构成分子的偶极矩进行了理论计算,结果阐明了电子激发与溶剂化效应对氢键变化的贡献,同时还发现只有进一步引入溶剂化效应,复合体的基态、激发态的性质才能与实验达到精确一致．所有激发态均采用所开发的基于含时密度泛函理论解析计算一阶、二阶激发态能量导数的方法．     

Excited-state hydrogen bonding effect on dynamic fluorescence of coumarin 102 chromophore in solution: A time-resolved fluorescence and theoretical study

The steady-state absorption and emission as well as the time-resolved fluorescence spectra of coumarin 102 (C102) in both aprotic and alcoholic solvents have been used to study the effect of excited-state hydrogen bond on the dynamic fluorescence of C102 chromophore in various solutions. The dual fluorescence of C102 in alcohols, which is dependent on the hydrogen-bonded donation ability of the solvent, has been assigned to the distribution of free C102 and a hydrogen-bonded complex. Furthermore, a shift of the fluorescence spectra induced by excited-state hydrogen bond has been demonstrated to take place within hundreds of picoseconds by the performance of the time-resolved fluorescence spectra with the time-correlated single-photon-counting (TCSPC) technique. Moreover, the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) has been used to calculate the hydrogen-bonded equilibrium constant pK_HB in different electronic states. It has been demonstrated for the first time that the hydrogen bond strengthening in electronic excited states could decrease the free energy of the hydrogen-bonded complex due to its stronger binding energy. Therefore, the hydrogen-bonded equilibrium will become markedly in favor of the hydrogen-bonded forms in electronic excited states by comparison with the case in the ground state.     

The influence of temperature and dynamic quenching on the properties of 3-hydroxyflavone excited states

The influence of temperature and dynamic quenching on the properties of excited states of the normal and tautomeric 3-hydoxyflavone forms was studied. The stationary two-band fluorescence spectra of this luminophore in acetonitrile were recorded and analyzed. The spectra were observed under excitation by electromagnetic radiation in the region of the S ₁ absorption band over the temperature range 20–80°C. TEMPO was used as a quencher of the excited state. Heating caused temperature quenching of luminescence, and the tautomer formed via the excited state of the normal form of the luminophore was quenched more strongly both in pure solvent and in the presence of the quencher. An analysis of two-band fluorescence parameters led us to conclude that solution heating over the temperature range studied increased the rate of proton transfer by 1.25 times. The introduction of the quencher also accelerated proton transfer by 1.16–1.25 times as the temperature increased from room temperature to 80°C.     

Electronic states of neutral and ionized tetrahydrofuran studied by VUV spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

The electronic spectroscopy of isolated tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the gas phase has been investigated using high-resolution photoabsorption spectroscopy in the 5.8–10.6 eV with absolute cross-section measurements derived. In addition, an electron energy loss spectrum was recorded at 100 eV and 10° over the 5–11.4 eV range. The He(I) photoelectron spectrum was also collected to quantify ionisation energies in the 9–16.1 eV spectral region. These experiments are supported by the first high-level ab initio calculations performed on the excited states of the neutral molecule and on the ground state of the positive ion. The excellent agreement between the theoretical results and the measurements allows us to solve several discrepancies concerning the electronic state spectroscopy of THF. The present work reconsiders the question of the lowest energy conformers of the molecule and its population distribution at room temperature. Electronic supplementary material  Supplementary Online Material