KINETIC STUDIES OF THE TRYPTOPHAN TRIPLET STATE IN SOLID FILM AND IN WOOL KERATIN

Abstract— The triplet state of tryptophan in the solid environments of a polyvinyl alcohol) (PVA) film and the protein wool keratin has been studied by emission and absorption spectroscopy at room temperature. The decay kinetics of the triplet state vary depending on the conditions under which the study is made. The observation of second order kinetics suggests triplet-triplet interactions play a major role in the deactivation of the tryptophan triplet state in PVA films plasticised by the presence of water vapour. For wool keratin in the presence of air the major mechanism appears to be a first order reaction between tryptophan residues and oxygen. The actual effects of moisture and oxygen on the tryptophan triplet state are discussed.     

Photophysics of 6-(2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl)-s-triazine photostabilizers

The room temperature photophysical properties of several sulphonated and unsulphonated 6-(2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl)-s-triazines were investigated in a range of solvents by means of steady state and picosecond fluorescence spectroscopy. Compounds possessing phenyl or p-tolyl groups in the s-triazinyl ring exhibit only a very weak normal Stokes-shifted fluorescence, arising from the initially excited chromophore. Substitution of phenoxy groups into the s-triazinyl ring results in the appearance of an additional longer-wavelength fluorescence which is assigned to the keto tautomer, formed following excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). The rate constant for the (ESIPT) process that occurs in sodium 3-(3′,5′-diphenoxy-2′,4′,6′-triazinyl)-4-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzene sulphonate in water is estimated to be greater than 10¹¹ s⁻¹.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PORPHYRIN c: AN AGENT FOR USE IN TUMOR PHOTOTHERAPY

Abstract— The absorption and fluorescence properties of porphyrin c (P c ), the porphyrin chromophore present in cytochrome c , have been determined in several solvents and micellar environments. In aqueous buffer solutions at pH 7.5 Pc may exist in both a fluorescent monomeric form with quantum yield of fluorescence, (Φ_f,) ∼ 0.03, and fluorescence lifetime, (τ_f) ∼ 8 ns, and as a non-fluorescent aggregate. The proportion of monomeric form is higher in organic solvents and micelles but is reduced with increasing porphyrin concentrations in aqueous solutions. Porphyrin c readily complexes with Zn²⁺ to produce a fluorescent chelate (Zn-P c ) with Φ_f, ∼ 0.02 and τ_f, ∼ 2 ns at pH 7.5. The yields of singlet excited oxygen formation from Pc and the Zn-P c complex are higher than observed for hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD). Both P c and Zn-P c are effective agents in tumor phototherapy and do not induce the prolonged cutaneous photosensitivity observed with the use of HpD.     

Photoinduced electron transfer dynamics in porphyrin donor dyads

Intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) processes occurring in dyads with a free base porphyrin-tetraazaanthracene donor (P) and either a tetracyanonaphthoquinidodimethane (TCQ) or benzoquinone (BQ) acceptor linked by a rigid six σ-bond polynorbornane bridge ([6]) have been investigated. For P[6]BQ, PET in the polar solvent benzonitrile (_s = 25.9) occurs with a rate constant (k_PET) of 1.6 × 10⁸ s⁻¹ but is not evident in solvents less polar than tetrahydrofuran (_s = 7.52). For P[6]TCQ, highly efficient forward PET occurs in both polar and non-polar solvents (k_PET > 2 × 10¹⁰ s⁻¹). For P[6]TCQ the lifetime of the resulting charge-separated state decreases markedly with increasing solvent polarity. The results are discussed in the context of the likely mechanisms for electronic coupling and current theories for PET processes in such linked molecular systems.     

Synthesis and fluorescence of a series of multichromophoric acenaphthenyl compounds

A novel free radical trapping reaction based on a stepwise radical reversible addition-fragmentation mechanism has been utilized to synthesize a series of acenaphthenyl dimers and trimers. The synthetic procedure involves the reaction of acenaphthylene with dithiobenzoate compounds (S=C(Ph)-SR) in the presence of a free radical initiator followed by reduction of the dithiobenzoyl end group with tributyltin hydride. Stereoisomers of the compounds have been isolated and their structures determined by proton NMR and X-ray crystallography. The solution fluorescence of the compounds has been characterized to reveal the requirements for intramolecular excimer (excited-state dimer) formation. Only in compounds containing identical stereochemical arrangements of adjacent acenaphthenyl groups is excimer fluorescence observed following photoexcitation.     

Excimer kinetics in di(naphthyl)propane

The kinetics of excimer formation in 1,3-di(1-naphthyl)propane (DPN) in isooctane were investigated. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements carried out as a function of temperature and emission wavelength were successfully analysed in terms of a simple kinetic scheme, involving two ground state DNP conformations, an excimer and a contribution from photodimer formation.     

Examination of the photophysical processes of chlorophyll d leading to a clarification of proposed uphill energy transfer processes in cells of Acaryochloris marinas

A comprehensive study of the photophysical properties of chlorophyll (Chl) d in 1:40 acetonitrile-methanol solution is performed over the temperature range 170-295 K. From comparison of absorption and emission spectra, time-dependent density-functional calculations and homologies with those of Chl a, we assign the key features of the absorption and fluorescence spectra. Possible photophysical energy relaxation mechanisms are summarized, and thermal equilibration processes are studied in detail by monitoring the observed emission profiles and quantum yields as a function of excitation energy. In particular, we concentrate on emission subsequent to excitation in the extreme far-red tail of the Qy absorption spectrum, with this emission partitioned into contributions from hot-band absorptions as well as uphill energy transfer processes that occur subsequent to absorption. No unusual photophysical processes are detected for Chl d; it appears that all intramolecular relaxation processes reach thermal equilibration on shorter timescales than the fluorescence lifetime even at 170 K. The results from these studies are used to reinterpret a previous study of photochemical processes observed in intact cells and their acetone extracts of the photosynthetic system of Acaryochloris marina. In the study of Mimuro et al., light absorbed by Chl d at 736 nm is found to give rise to emission by another species, believed to also be Chl d, at 703 nm; this uphill energy transfer process is easily rationalized in terms of the thermal equilibration processes that we deduced for Chl d. However, no evidence is found in the experimental results of Mimuro et al. to support claims that (nonequilibrium) uphill energy transfer is additionally observed to Chl a species that emit at 670-680 nm. This finding is relevant to broader issues concerning the nature of the special pair in photosystem II of A. marina because suggestions that it is comprised of Chl a can only be correct if nonthermal uphill energy transfer processes from Chl d are operative.     

Photophysics of vinyl aromatic polymers

The experimental approaches required to characterize energy migration and excimer formation in vinyl aromatic polymers are considered. As an example the photophysical processes occurring in poly(acenaphthylene) (PACE) and water soluble acenaphthylene copolymers have been investigated using steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Excimer formation in these polymers is determined by both structural and dynamic factors. The difficulties in the application of fluorescence decay analyses to examine energy migration in polymers are discussed. For PACE with a 9-methylanthryl (9MA) end-group and the copolymers containing solubilized 9MA, energy migration and transfer can be demonstrated.     

Steady-State and Time-Resolved Fluorescence Polarization Behavior of Acenaphthene

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence polarization studies have been carried out on acenaphthene (ACE) in low-temperature glass solutions and at room temperature. In the low-temperature glass the fluorescence polarization values vary considerably with both emission and excitation wavelength. There is a time dependence (on the nanosecond time scale) of the fluorescence anisotropy, r(t), at 77 K, which has a strong dependence upon the excitation and emission wavelengths. Under these conditions, the time-dependent decay of the anisotropy is not attributable to chromophoric motion. The observations are consistent with emission from two closely lying and interconverting excited states. Rate constants for the photophysical processes involved have been determined by fitting the data using a model proposed by Fleming et. al. The results are discussed with particular reference to the care required in using dynamic fluorescence polarization measurements to determine energy transfer rates in systems containing this chromophore.