Spectroscopy and decay dynamics of jet-cooled carbazole and N-ethylcarbazole and their homocyclic analogues

Role of Polarization Interactions in the Formation of Dipole-Bound States

Even though there is a critical dipole moment required to support a dipole-bound state (DBS), how molecular polarizability may influence the formation of DBSs is not well understood. Pyrrolide, indolide, and carbazolide provide an ideal set of anions to systematically examine the role of polarization interactions in the formation of DBSs. Here, we report an investigation of carbazolide using cryogenic photodetachment spectroscopy and high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). A polarization-assisted DBS is observed at 20 cm^-1 below the detachment threshold for carbazolide, even though the carbazolyl neutral core has a dipole moment (2.2 D) smaller than the empirical critical value (2.5 D) to support a dipole-bound state. Photodetachment spectroscopy reveals nine vibrational Feshbach resonances of the DBS, as well as three intense and broad shape resonances. The electron affinity of carbazolyl is measured accurately to be 2.5653 ± 0.0004 eV (20,691 ± 3 cm^-1). The combination of photodetachment spectroscopy and resonant PES allows fundamental frequencies for 14 vibrational modes of carbazolyl to be measured. The three shape resonances are due to above-threshold excitation to the three low-lying electronic states (S₁-S₃) of carbazolide. Resonant PES of the shape resonances is dominated by autodetachment processes. Ultrafast relaxation from the S₂ and S₃ states to S₁ is observed, resulting in constant kinetic energy features in the resonant PES. The current study provides decisive information about the role that polarization plays in the formation of DBSs, as well as rich spectroscopic information about the carbazolide anion and the carbazolyl radical.

A lifetime in photochemistry; some ultrafast measurements on singlet states

We describe here the development of time-correlated single-photon counting techniques from the early use of spark discharge lamps as light sources through to the use of femtosecond mode-locked lasers through the personal work of the author. We used laser-excited fluorescence in studies on energy migration and rotational relaxation in synthetic polymer solutions, in biological probe molecules and in supersonic jet expansions. Time-correlated single-photon counting was the first method used in early fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), and we outline the development of this powerful technique, with a comparison of techniques including wide-field microscopy. We employed these modern forms of FLIM to study single biological cells, and applied FLIM also to gain an understanding the distribution in tissue, and fates of photosensitizer molecules used in photodynamic therapy. We also describe the uses and instrumental design of laser systems for the study of ultrafast time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy.

Competition between solvent quenching and indole quenching of 9-fluorenone: a spectroscopic and computational study

The interaction between 9-fluorenone, various indoles and solvents has been studied using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. It was determined that polar protic solvents such as methanol and ethanol significantly quenched the fluorescence of 9-fluorenone but various indoles reversed the solvent quenching. The effect of various solvents on the 9-fluorenone carbonyl vibration was investigated using infrared spectroscopy. Ab initio calculations using Gaussian03 were also carried out in order to determine the minimum energy conformations of these systems along with binding energies.

Rotationally resolved S1←S0 electronic spectra of fluorene, carbazole, and dibenzofuran: Evidence for Herzberg-Teller coupling with the S2 state

Rotationally resolved fluorescence excitation spectra of the S1 <-- S0 origin bands and higher vibronic bands of fluorene (FLU), carbazole (CAR), and dibenzofuran (DBF) have been observed and assigned. Analyses of these data show that replacement of the CH2 group in FLU with a NH group in CAR and an O atom in DBF produces only localized changes in structure, in the ground state. But the three molecules exhibit different changes in geometry when they are excited by light. The S1 states of the three molecules also are electronically very different. The S1 <-- S0 transition moments of CAR and DBF are parallel to the C2 symmetry axis whereas the corresponding transition moment in FLU is perpendicular to this axis. Herzberg-Teller coupling involving the S2 state also has been observed in the spectra of higher vibronic bands of CAR and DBF. Possible reasons for these behaviors are discussed.

[Theoretical simulation of UV absorption spectra of carbazole and some homocyclic analogs]

The UV absorption spectra structures of carbazole, fluorene and dibenzofurane are studied using the atom monopole-dipole interaction (AMDI) model and atomic dipolar polarisabilities and effective charge given by Fraga. The absorption spectra corresponding to these molecules and their self-associations are presented. The original obtained results are discussed and compared to previous works.