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Fontes LFB, Rocha J, Silva AMS, Guieu S. Excited-State Proton Transfer in Luminescent Dyes: From Theoretical Insight to Experimental Evidence. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301540. [PMID: 37450664 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The effective utilization of luminescent dyes often relies on a comprehensive understanding of their excitation and relaxation pathways. One such pathway, Excited-State Proton Transfer (ESPT), involves the tautomerization of the dye in its excited state, resulting in a new structure that exhibits distinct emission properties, such as a very large Stokes' shift or dual-emission. Although the ESPT phenomenon is well-explained theoretically, its experimental demonstration can be challenging due to the presence of numerous other phenomena that can yield similar experimental observations. In this review, we propose that an all-encompassing methodology, integrating experimental findings, computational analyses, and a thorough evaluation of diverse mechanisms, is essential for verifying the occurrence of ESPT in luminescent dyes. Investigations have offered significant understanding of the elements impacting the ESPT process and the array of approaches that can be used to validate the existence of ESPT. These discoveries hold crucial ramifications for the advancement of molecular probes, sensors, and other applications that depend on ESPT as a detection mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís F B Fontes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João Rocha
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Artur M S Silva
- LAQV-REQUIMTE & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Samuel Guieu
- LAQV-REQUIMTE & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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Shekhovtsov NA, Nikolaenkova EB, Berezin AS, Plyusnin VF, Vinogradova KA, Naumov DY, Pervukhina NV, Tikhonov AY, Bushuev MB. Tuning ESIPT-coupled luminescence by expanding π-conjugation of a proton acceptor moiety in ESIPT-capable zinc(II) complexes with 1-hydroxy-1 H-imidazole-based ligands. Dalton Trans 2022; 51:15166-15188. [PMID: 36129344 DOI: 10.1039/d2dt02460h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The emission of ESIPT-fluorophores is known to be sensitive to various external and internal stimuli and can be fine-tuned through substitution in the proton-donating and proton-accepting groups. The incorporation of metal ions in the molecules of ESIPT fluorophores without their deprotonation is an emerging area of research in coordination chemistry which provides chemists with a new factor affecting the ESIPT reaction and ESIPT-coupled luminescence. In this paper we present 1-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-(pyridin-2-yl)-2-(quinolin-2-yl)-1H-imidazole (HLq) as a new ESIPT-capable ligand. Due to the spatial separation of metal binding and ESIPT sites this ligand can coordinate metal ions without being deprotonated. The reactions of ZnHal2 with HLq afford ESIPT-capable [Zn(HLq)Hal2] (Hal = Cl, Br, I) complexes. In the solid state HLq and [Zn(HLq)Hal2] luminesce in the orange region (λmax = 600-650 nm). The coordination of HLq by Zn2+ ions leads to the increase in the photoluminescence quantum yield due to the chelation-enhanced fluorescence effect. The ESIPT process is barrierless in the S1 state, leading to the only possible fluorescence channel in the tautomeric form (T), S1T → S0T. The emission of [Zn(HLq)Hal2] in the solid state is blue-shifted as compared with HLq due to the stabilization of the ground state and destabilization of the excited state. In CH2Cl2 solutions, the compounds demonstrate dual emission in the UV (λmax = 358 nm) and green (λmax = 530 nm) regions. This dual emission is associated with two radiative deactivation channels in the normal (N) and tautomeric (T) forms, S1N → S0N and S1T → S0T, originating from two minima on the excited state potential energy surfaces. High energy barriers for the GSIPT process allow the trapping of molecules in the minimum of the tautomeric form, S0T, resulting in the possibility of the S0T → S1T photoexcitation and extraordinarily small Stokes shifts in the solid state. Finally, the π-system of quinolin-2-yl group facilitates the delocalization of the positive charge in the proton-accepting part of the molecule and promotes the ESIPT reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita A Shekhovtsov
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - Elena B Nikolaenkova
- N. N. Vorozhtsov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 9, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Alexey S Berezin
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - Victor F Plyusnin
- Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3, Institutskaya str., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Katerina A Vinogradova
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - Dmitry Yu Naumov
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - Natalia V Pervukhina
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - Alexsei Ya Tikhonov
- N. N. Vorozhtsov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 9, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Mark B Bushuev
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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