Complex excited dynamics around a plateau on a retinal-like potential surface: chaos, multi-exponential decays and quantum/classical differences

Enhanced intramolecular charge transfer and near-infrared fluorescence in 4-dimethylamino-chalcone analogues through extended conjugation: synthesis, photophysical properties, and theoretical modelling

The distinctive characteristics of near-infrared fluorescent organic molecules render them indispensable across diverse applications, from energy harvesting to bioimaging and sensing technologies. In this work, we continue our investigation on the chalcone derivative, 4-dimethylamino-2'-hydroxychalcone (nDHC, n = 1; where n is the number of olefinic bonds), by expanding the number of central double bonds (n = 2 (2DHC) and n = 3 (3DHC)). Additionally, we also synthesized the structurally related chalcones lacking the OH group (DC, 2DC, 3DC) in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of their effects on the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The results show remarkable bathochromic shifts in absorption and fluorescence peaks in solution as n increases. These shifts, 20 nm and 35 nm for absorption and 100 nm and 200 nm for fluorescence in 2DHC and 3DHC, respectively, signify enhanced ICT and a significant increase in the excited state's dipole moment. The presence of OH groups notably amplifies these shifts due to additional electron donation, influencing solute-solvent interactions in solution. Femtosecond fluorescence upconversion and transient absoprtion techniques unraveled distinct dynamics in these derivatives, exhibiting the dominance of vibrational cooling, solvation, and intramolecular motions, particularly in the larger conjugated systems 3DHC and 3DC. The observed changes in the femtosecond transinet absorption spectra suggest the existence of new active states in extended conjugation systems, indicating diverse intramolecular conformational states contributing to their relaxation dynamics. The results of this study provide invaluable insights into excited-state spectroscopy, offering a roadmap for tailoring chalcone derivatives for specific applications.

Extreme Parametric Sensitivity in the Steady-State Photoisomerization of Two-Dimensional Model Rhodopsin

We computationally studied the photoisomerization reaction of the retinal chromophore in rhodopsin using a two-state two-mode model coupled to thermal baths. Reaction quantum yields at the steady state (10 ps and beyond) were found to be considerably different than their transient values, suggesting a weak correlation between transient and steady-state dynamics in these systems. Significantly, the steady-state quantum yield was highly sensitive to minute changes in system parameters, while transient dynamics was nearly unaffected. Correlation of such sensitivity with standard level spacing statistics of the nonadiabatic vibronic system suggests a possible origin in quantum chaos. The significance of this observation of quantum yield parametric sensitivity in biological models of vision has profound conceptual and fundamental implications.

Acceleration of the Z to E photoisomerization of penta-2,4-dieniminium by hydrogen out-of-plane motion: theoretical study on a model system of retinal protonated Schiff base

We report the result of comparison between two reaction coordinates [on the potential energy surface of the first excited state (S(1))] produced by CASSCF and these energies recalculated by MRMP2 in the Z to E photoisomerization of penta-2,4-dieniminium (PDI) as the minimal model of the retinal protonated Schiff base (RPSB). One coordinate is the S(1) state minimum-energy-path (MEP) in mass-weighted coordinates from the S(1) vertically excited point, where a strong hydrogen-out-of plane (HOOP) motion is not exhibited. The energy profile of the S(1) MEP at the MRMP2//CASSCF level shows a barrier for the rotation around the reactive C-C and hits the S(1)/S(0) degeneracy space where the central C-C-C-C dihedral angle is distorted by 65 degrees . The other coordinate is an S(1) coordinate obtained by the relaxed scan strategy. The relaxed coordinate along the central C-C-C-C dihedral angle, which we call the HOOP coordinate, shows strong HOOP motion. According to the MRMP2//CASSCF calculation, there is no barrier on the HOOP coordinate. Furthermore, the S(1) to S(0) transition may be possible without the large skeletal deformation by HOOP motion because the HOOP coordinate encounters the S(1)/S(0) degeneracy space where the central C-C-C-C dihedral angle is distorted by only 40 degrees . Consequently, if PDI is a suitable model molecule for the RPSB as often assumed, the 11-cis to all-trans photoisomerization is predicted to be accelerated by the HOOP motion.