Charge on the move: how electron-transfer dynamics depend on molecular conformation

Magnetic field effects on exciplex-forming systems: the effect on the locally excited fluorophore and its dependence on free energy

This study addresses magnetic field effects in exciplex forming donor-acceptor systems. For moderately exergonic systems, the exciplex and the locally excited fluorophore emission are found to be magneto-sensitive. A previously introduced model attributing this finding to excited state reversibility is confirmed. Systems characterised by a free energy of charge separation up to approximately -0.35 eV are found to exhibit a magnetic field effect on the fluorophore. A simple three-state model of the exciplex is introduced, which uses the reaction distance and the asymmetric electron transfer reaction coordinate as pertinent variables. Comparing the experimental emission band shapes with those predicted by the model, a semi-quantitative picture of the formation of the magnetic field effect is developed based on energy hypersurfaces. The model can also be applied to estimate the indirect contribution of the exchange interaction, even if the perturbative approach fails. The energetic parameters that are essential for the formation of large magnetic field effects on the exciplex are discussed.

Structure and dynamics of an extended conjugated NLO chromophore within an amphiphilic 4-helix bundle peptide by molecular dynamics simulation

Incorporation of extended conjugated chromophores into amphiphilic 4-helix bundle peptides has been shown experimentally to be an effective means to orient the chromphores vectorially in 2-D ensembles with high in-plane density. The designed microscopic hyperpolarizabilty of the chromophore is preserved in the macroscopic NLO response of the ensemble. We show via molecular dynamics simulation that the designed coiled-coil structure of the bundle controls the conformation and dynamics of the chromophore that are critical to optimizing its hyperpolarizability.

Site-selective photoinduced electron transfer from alcoholic solvents to the chromophore facilitated by hydrogen bonding: a new fluorescence quenching mechanism

Solute-solvent intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer (ET) reaction was proposed to account for the drastic fluorescence quenching behaviors of oxazine 750 (OX750) chromophore in protic alcoholic solvents. According to our theoretical calculations for the hydrogen-bonded OX750-(alcohol)(n) complexes using the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method, we demonstrated that the ET reaction takes place from the alcoholic solvents to the chromophore and the intermolecular ET passing through the site-specific intermolecular hydrogen bonds exhibits an unambiguous site selectivity. In our motivated experiments of femtosecond time-resolved stimulated emission pumping fluorescence depletion spectroscopy (FS TR SEP FD), it could be noted that the ultrafast ET reaction takes place as fast as 200 fs. This ultrafast intermolecular photoinduced ET is much faster than the diffusive solvation process, and even significantly faster than the intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) process of the OX750 chromophore. Therefore, the ultrafast intermolecular ET should be coupled with the hydrogen-bonding dynamics occurring in the sub-picosecond time domain. We theoretically demonstrated for the first time that the selected hydrogen bonds are transiently strengthened in the excited states for facilitating the ultrafast solute-solvent intermolecular ET reaction.

Ultrafast Hydrogen Bond Strengthening of the Photoexcited Fluorenone in Alcohols for Facilitating the Fluorescence Quenching

The time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method was performed to investigate the excited-state hydrogen-bonding dynamics of fluorenone (FN) in hydrogen donating methanol (MeOH) solvent. The infrared spectra of the hydrogen-bonded FN-MeOH complex in both the ground state and the electronically excited states are calculated using the TDDFT method, since the ultrafast hydrogen-bonding dynamics can be investigated by monitoring the vibrational absorption spectra of some hydrogen-bonded groups in different electronic states. We demonstrated that the intermolecular hydrogen bond C=O...H-O between fluorenone and methanol molecules is significantly strengthened in the electronically excited-state upon photoexcitation of the hydrogen-bonded FM-MeOH complex. The hydrogen bond strengthening in electronically excited states can be used to explain well all the spectral features of fluorenone chromophore in alcoholic solvents. Furthermore, the radiationless deactivation via internal conversion (IC) can be facilitated by the hydrogen bond strengthening in the excited state. At the same time, quantum yields of the excited-state deactivation via fluorescence are correspondingly decreased. Therefore, the total fluorescence of fluorenone in polar protic solvents can be drastically quenched by hydrogen bonding.

Synthesis of Homoconjugated Oligomers Derived from 7,7-Diphenylnorbornane

A methodology for the synthesis of monodisperse homoconjugated oligomers (dimer, trimer, and tetramer) derived from cofacial 7,7-diphenylnorbornane (DPN) is described. Extended aromatic homoconjugation is observed in these oligomers as revealed by the electronic spectra. The effective homoconjugation length (EHL) is in the range of 4-5 DPN subunits.

Controlling Electron Transfer Dynamics in Donor−Bridge−Acceptor Molecules by Increasing Unpaired Spin Density on the Bridge

A t-butylphenylnitroxide (BPNO*) stable radical is attached to an electron donor-bridge-acceptor (D-B-A) system having well-defined distances between the components: MeOAn-6ANI-Ph(BPNO*)-NI, where MeOAn=p-methoxyaniline, 6ANI=4-(N-piperidinyl)naphthalene-1,8-dicarboximide, Ph=phenyl, and NI=naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide). MeOAn-6ANI, BPNO*, and NI are attached to the 1, 3, and 5 positions of the Ph bridge, respectively. Time-resolved optical and EPR spectroscopy show that BPNO* influences the spin dynamics of the photogenerated triradical states 2,4(MeOAn+*-6ANI-Ph(BPNO*)-NI-*), resulting in slower charge recombination within the triradical, as compared to the corresponding biradical lacking BPNO*. The observed spin-spin exchange interaction between the photogenerated radicals MeOAn+* and NI-* is not altered by the presence of BPNO*. However, the increased spin density on the bridge greatly increases radical pair (RP) intersystem crossing from the photogenerated singlet RP to the triplet RP. Rapid formation of the triplet RP makes it possible to observe a biexponential decay of the total RP population with components of tau=740 ps (0.75) and 104 ns (0.25). Kinetic modeling shows that the faster decay rate is due to rapid establishment of an equilibrium between the triplet RP and the neutral triplet state resulting from charge recombination, whereas the slower rate monitors recombination of the singlet RP to ground state.

Competing through-space and through-bond, intramolecular triplet-energy transfer in a supposedly rigid ruthenium(II) tris(2,2'-bipyridine)--fullerene molecular dyad

A ditopic ruthenium(II) tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)-based fullerene conjugate has been synthesized so as to separate the photoactive terminals by way of a short ethynylene spacer group that is expected to act as a rigid rod. Intramolecular triplet-energy transfer from the metal complex to the fullerene is quantitative at all temperatures and there is no indication for competing electron transfer. Temperature dependence studies indicate two pathways for triplet-energy transfer. An activationless route dominates at low temperature and is attributed to through-bond electron exchange that takes place via super-exchange interactions. The triplet energy of the bridging unit lies well above that of the metal complex. An activated process is switched-on at high temperatures and is believed to involve through-space electron exchange within closed conformations. Molecular dynamics simulations predict that, in addition to an extended conformation, the linker can distort in such a way that the terminals come into orbital contact. In fact, the resultant closed conformation possesses an idealised geometry for fast electron exchange.

A Strategy for the Synthesis of Metal Bis(2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-terpyridine)-Terminated Molecular Dyads Having Controlled Torsion Angles at the Central Biphenyl Linker

The synthesis of a series of binuclear complexes comprising bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine)ruthenium(II) and -osmium(II) centers connected via a geometrically constrained 4,4'-biphenyl bridge is described. These compounds have been prepared by a "synthesis-at-metal" approach as well as by the conventional method of synthesizing the ligand and subsequently attaching the metal center. A computational investigation into the behavior of the biphenyl-based bridges has been used to provide lowest-energy conformations and to estimate the degree of internal fluctuation about the mean torsion angle. It is shown that the length of the constraining strap determines both the torsion angle and the internal flexibility, with longer straps twisting the biphenyl group so as to relax stereochemical interactions between the linking oxygen atoms. Longer straps can be formed from poly(ethylene glycol) residues that provide an additional binding site for small cations. Electrospray mass spectrometry carried out on solutions of these crown ether-like bridges confirmed that Li+, Na+, and K+ ions bind in the form of 1:1 complexes. This range of compounds should permit rational examination of how the torsion angle affects the rate of through-bond electron transfer, electron exchange, and charge shift.

Photochemical energy conversion: from molecular dyads to solar cells

Photochemical approaches to solar energy conversion are currently making rapid progress, increasing not only academic but also commercial interest in molecular-based photovoltaic solar cells. This progress has been achieved not only by increased understanding of the physics and physical chemistry of device function but also through advances in chemical and materials synthesis and processing, which now allows the design and fabrication of increasingly sophisticated device structures organised on the nanometer length scale. In this feature article, we review some progress in this field, focusing in particular upon the electron-transfer dynamics which underlie the function of dye-sensitised, nanocrystalline solar cells. The article starts by building upon the parallels between the function of such devices and the function of simple donor/acceptor molecular systems in solution. We then go on to discuss the optimisation of device function, and in particular the use of self-assembly-based strategies to control interfacial electron-transfer kinetics.

Progress in Charge Transfer Systems Utilizing PorphyrinDonors and Simple Aromatic Diimide Acceptor Units

An overview of the evolution of artificial photosynthetic charge transfer systems containing porphyrin donors and pyromellitic or naphthalene diimide acceptor units is presented. Progression in this area of research is highlighted by the complexity of the systems, the nature of the medium separating donor and acceptor as well as the progression in the lifetime of the charge-separated state upon photoexcitation. A number of supramolecular systems that utilize hydrogen bonding or axial ligation of zinc porphyrins as a means for spatial orientation are highlighted.