Quantum chemical analysis of the chemical bonds in Mq3 (M=AlIII, GaIII) as emitting material for OLED

Absorption and emission properties of 5-phenyl tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato) M(III) complexes (M = Al, Ga, In) and correlations with molecular electrostatic potential

Substituent effect for a series of 5-phenyl tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato) M(III) complexes (Mq3) of aluminum, gallium, and indium are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) for the ground state properties and the time-dependent version of DFT (TDDFT) for their absorption and emission properties. A comparison between the ground state energy of mer and fac isomers of all the complexes revealed that the mer configuration is always more stable than fac. The substituent effect is significantly reflected at the fluorescence maximum (λ_F ) values whereas the effect is moderate at the absorption maximum (λ_abs ) values. The molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) at the metal center (V_M ) and the most electron rich region indicated by MESP minimum (V_min ), located at the oxygen of phenoxide ring exhibit excellent correlations with the λ_F and Stokes shift (λ_F -λ_abs ) values. The study suggests the use of Stokes shift as an experimental quantity to measure the excited state substituent effect while the V_min or V_M emerge as theoretical quantities to measure the same.

Push-pull effect on the geometrical, optical and charge transfer properties of disubstituted derivatives of mer-tris(4-hydroxy-1,5-naphthyridinato) aluminum (mer-AlND3)

To design innovative and novel optical materials with high mobility, two kinds of disubstituted derivatives for mer-tris(4-hydroxy-1,5-naphthyridinato) aluminum (mer-AlND3) with push (EDG)–pull (EWG) substituents have been designed. The structures of mer-tris(8-EDG-2-EWG-4-hydroxy-1,5-naphthyridinato) aluminum (type I) and mer-tris(8-EWG-2-EDG-4-hydroxy-1,5-naphthyridinato) aluminum (type II) in the ground and first excited states have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G(D) and CIS/6-31G(D) level of theory, respectively. It can be seen from frontier molecular orbitals analysis, in all these complexes, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) is localized on the pyridine-4-ol ring of A-ligand while lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is on the pyridyl ring of B-ligand in ground state irrespective of electron donor/acceptor substitution present on the ligands similar to that of mer-tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (mer-Alq3) and parent mer-AlND3.The absorption and emission wavelengths have been evaluated at the TD-PBE0/6-31G(D) level and it can be see that all the type I derivatives show blue shift while most of the type II derivatives show red shift compared to mer-AlND3. All the disubstituted complexes have showed hypsochromic shifts in both the absorption and emission spectra when compared with the calculated absorption and emission spectra respectively of mer-Alq3. It can be seen that the reorganization energies of some of the disubstituted derivatives are comparable with mer-Alq3 and these derivatives might be good candidates for emitting materials in OLED.

DFT study and topological analysis of the bonding in DNA Hoogsteen-type base pairs

The purpose of our work is to characterize and present a theoretical comparative study of a variety of compounds based on DNA base pairs linked with some transition metal ions in gas phase: C–M–G (Cytosine–metal–Guanine) where [Formula: see text](I), Zn(II), Cd(II) and A–M–T (Adenine–metal–Thyminate) where [Formula: see text](II), Ru(I), Ni(I), Y(II), Zn(I), Cd(I), Cu(II). Geometry optimization and frequency calculations were carried out at DFT/ZORA/BLYP-D/TZ2P level. M–N and M–O bonds were investigated with the quantum chemical topology (QCT): Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and electron localization functions (ELF). The hydrogen bonds: N10–H[Formula: see text]O7 for A–M–T complexes and N7–H[Formula: see text]O10 for C–M–T ones were visualized and discussed, QTAIM and ELF prove the existence of O7–H[Formula: see text]N10 hydrogen bond for some A–M–T systems, since the bond critical point (BCP) of N7–H having [Formula: see text], so it has a covalent character confirming the existence of a tautomer process of these complexes. Bonding energy [Formula: see text], Pauli repulsion [Formula: see text], electrostatic [Formula: see text], and orbital [Formula: see text] interactions were represented and compared together. Hirschfeld’s charges showed the existence of charge transfer process in the bridge moieties. It seems that, in contrast to natural base pairs that are stabilized by hydrogen bonding, Hoogsteen-type base pairs are held together by coordinative bond with metal ions.

TAME5OX, abiotic siderophore analogue to enterobactin involving 8-hydroxyquinoline subunits: thermodynamic and photophysical studies

The synthesis, thermodynamic and photophysical properties of trivalent metal complexes of biomimetic nonadentate analogue, 5,5'-(2-(((8-hydroxyquinolin-5-yl)methylamino)methyl)-2-methylpropane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)diquinolin-8-ol (TAME5OX), have been described. Combination of absorption and emission spectrophotometry, potentiometry, electrospray mass spectrometry, IR, and theoretical investigation were used to fully characterize metal (Fe(+3), Al(+3) and Cr(+3)) chelates of TAME5OX. In solution, TAME5OX forms protonated complexes [M(H3L)](3+) below pH 3.4, which consecutively deprotonates through one to three-proton processes with rise of pH. The formation constants (Logβ11n) of neutral complexes formed at or above physiological pH, have been determined to be 30.18, 23.27 and 22.02 with pM values of 31.16, 18.07 and 18.12 for Fe(+3), Al(+3) and Cr(+3) ions, respectively, calculated at pH 7.4, indicating TAME5OX is a powerful among synthetic metal chelator. The results clearly demonstrate that the ligand in a tripodal orchestration firmly binds these ions over wide pH range and forms distorted octahedral complexes. The binding and the coordination event could be monitored from absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The high thermodynamic stability in water at physiological pH of ferric complex of TAME5OX indicates that these complexes are resistant to hydrolysis and therefore are well suited for the development of device for applications as probes. The ligand displays high sensitive fluorescence enhancement to Al(3+) at pH 7.4, in water. Moreover, TAME5OX can distinguish Al(3+) from Fe(3+) and Cr(3+) via two different sensing mechanisms: photoinduced electron transfer (PET) for Al(3+) and internal charge transfer (ICT) for Fe(3+) and Cr(3+). Density functional theory was employed for optimization and evaluation of vibrational modes, NBO analysis, excitation and emission properties of the different species of metal complexes observed by solution studies.

Self-assembled tubular nanostructures of tris(8-quinolinolato)gallium(iii)

We report for the first time the controllable growth of tubular nanostructures at the nanoscale of the broadly applied organic drug material, tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)gallium (Gaq₃), by an extremely facile approach.

Unravelling the role of the central metal ion in the electronic structure of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) metal chelates: photoemission spectroscopy and hybrid functional calculations

The electronic structures of tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)-erbium(III) (ErQ(3)) and tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)-aluminum(III) (AlQ(3)) have been studied by means of core level and valence band photoemission spectroscopy with the theoretical support of hybrid Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof density functional theory, to investigate the role played by the central metal atom. A lower binding energy (0.2 eV and 0.3 eV, respectively) of the O 1s and N 1s core levels has been observed for ErQ(3) with respect to AlQ(3). Differences in the valence band spectra, mainly related to the first two peaks next to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), have been ascribed to an energetic shift (to 0.4 eV lower energies for ErQ(3)) of the σ molecular orbital between the oxygen atoms and the central metal atom. A lower (by 0.5 eV) ionization energy has been measured for the ErQ(3). The interpretation of these results is based on a reduced interaction between the central metal atom and the ligands in ErQ(3), with increased electronic charge around the ligands, due to the higher ionic radius and the lower electronegativity of Er with respect to Al.

Designing of Disubstituted Derivatives of mer-Alq3: Quantum Theoretical Study

Different disubstituted derivatives of tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium (mer-Alq3) have been designed. An electron donating group (–CH3) has been substituted at position 4; along with electron withdrawing groups (–Cl, –CN, and –F) at position 5 (i.e. tris(4-X-5-Y-8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium), as well as the molecules arising from reversion of these substitutions. The designed systems have been optimized at the B3LYP/6–31G* and TD-B3LYP/6–31G* level of theories, in the ground and excited states, respectively. The absorption and emission spectra have been calculated at the TD-B3LYP/6–31G* level. A significant blue shift has been observed for tris(4-methyl-5-cyano-8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium (2), and red shifts for each of tris(4-methyl-5-fluoro-8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium (3), tris(4-chloro-5-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium (4), and tris(4-cyano-5-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium (5). The reorganization energy in solvent best elucidates the charge transport behaviour (p- or n-type), rather than the equivalent gas phase for mer-Alq3 and its derivatives. The reorganization energies indicate that these new derivatives have better or comparable mobility when compared to the parent molecule. The electrostatic surface potential study suggested that photostability would be enhanced. On the basis of energy decomposition analysis, we have explained the distribution pattern of frontier molecular orbitals.

Ground- and Excited-State Proton Transfer and Rotamerism in 2-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole and Its O/“NH or S”-Substituted Derivatives

The intramolecular proton-transfer process, rotational process, and optical properties of 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (HOXD) and its O/"NH"- and O/"S"-substituted derivatives, 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-triazole (HOT) and 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (HOTD), respectively, have been studied. DFT (B3LYP/6-31+G**) single-point energy calculations were performed using HF- and DFT-optimized geometries in the ground state (S0). TD-B3LYP/6-31+G** calculations using CIS-optimized geometries were carried out to investigate the properties of the first singlet excited state (S1) and first triplet excited state (T1). The computational results revealed that a high-energy barrier inhibits the proton transfer from cis-enol (Ec) to keto (K) form in S0, whereas the proton transfer in S1 can take place through a very-low-energy barrier. The rotation between Ec and trans-enol (Et) can occur in S0 through a low-energy barrier, whereas it is prohibited because of the high-energy barrier in S1 for each of the three molecules. The vertical excitation energies were calculated using the TD-B3LYP/6-31+G** method based on the HF- and CIS-optimized geometries. Absorption and fluorescence wavelengths of HOT show a hypsochromic shift (6-15 nm) relative to HOXD, while those of HOTD show a bathochromic shift (21-29 nm). The phosphorescence wavelength of HOTD shows a significant bathochromic shift relative to that of HOXD.

Optical Properties of the Phosphorescent Trinuclear Copper(I) Complexes of Pyrazolates: Insights from Theory

Theoretical investigations have been performed to explore the optical properties of {[3,5-(CF3)(2)Pz]Cu}3 in monomeric and dimeric forms using TD-DFT approaches. The emission of all complexes originates from the lowest triplet excited-states (T1), and the corresponding emissive states are assigned as the mixture of the metal-centered charge transfer and ligand-to-metal charge transfer. The features of the emission spectrum are clarified in detail. The bulk emission spectrum of complex is mainly determined by the stacked dimers rather than the individual monomers. The predicted maximum emission wavelength (lambda(em)) are in good agreement with experimental values, indicating that the phosphorescence bands can be assigned to two different conformations for the neighboring stacked dimers sharing the same monomer in the complex. Energy transfer from T1 of one stacked dimer to the neighboring one is responsible for the disappearance of the shoulder, leaving only the main peak upon heating. With the aim to reveal the conformational dependence for the triplet excited-state emission spectrum, the optical properties of various stacked dimers with different conformations are investigated by varying the relative arrangements through changing inter-monomer distance or rotational angles for the dimer which is responsible for the main peak emission. Calculation results suggest that the shortest intermolecular Cu...Cu distance plays an important role in the emission spectra of the vertical- and tilting-movement dimers, which is ascribed to the variation of the energy gap for the frontier molecular orbitals involved in the main emitting transition. The blue shift of lambda(em) in parallel-movement and rotational dimers can be traced back to the variation of the mutual spatial orientation. Therefore, the modulation of the extent of movement or rotational angles for stacked dimers by external perturbations creates new possibilities for the design of molecular light-emitting devices.

Theoretical Study on Photophysical Properties of Phenolpyridyl Boron Complexes

Organoboron complexes have potential application in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). Our group has synthesized four phenolpyridyl boron complexes (Inorg. Chem. 2006, 45, 2788), which can function as an electron transport materials (ETM), white and blue emitters, and exhibit high efficiency and stability. To reveal the relationship between the properties and structures of these functional materials, theoretical analysis of spectral properties and electronic structures of these complexes was systematically characterized with the B3LYP and 6-31G* basis set. The calculated absorption and emission spectra of these systems are in good agreement with the experimental ones. It is clear seen that these transitions are charge transferred along 2,6-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyridyl boron moiety, and the contribution of boron atom in these compounds to the main transition orbitals is vanishingly small. The substitution of methyl and methoxyl for hydrogen does not change the absorption wavelengths and transition natures, but influences the radioactive efficiencies and electron transport properties, which are observed and discussed in detail. Furthermore, large red shifts of fluorescence are caused by replacing the hydrogen with CN or NO2 groups, which indicates that they are potential candidates as green-light-emitting materials. These results are favorable to further understanding the photophysical properties of this kind of complexes.