Photophysical properties of 2,6-dicyano-N,N,N ′,N ′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine

Spectrofluorimetric determination of the antineoplastic agent lomustine based on the sensitizing effect of β-cyclodextrin

The effects of solvent dipolarity/polarizability and solvent-solute hydrogen bonding on the photophysical properties of the antineoplastic drug lomustine were analysed by means of the linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) concept proposed by Kamlet and Taft. The LSER method enabled the overall solvent effects to be quantitatively estimated and separated into specific and non-specific contributions. The molecular encapsulation of lomustine by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) has been studied using fluorescence spectroscopy. The results are discussed in terms of the binding parameter and the effect of the solvent used. It was concluded that β-CD forms a 1:1 inclusional complex with lomustine in acetonitrile solution and its association constant was calculated to be 500 M(-1). In addition, and for the first time, a simple, rapid and high sensitive fluorimetric method for the determination of lomustine was developed based upon the enhancement effect produced through complex formation with β-CD. The new approach for the quantification of lomustine in the presence of β-CD was described in aqueous and organic solutions. Better limits of detection (0.31 µg ml(-1)) and quantification (1.05 µg ml(-1)) were obtained in aqueous solution with respect to those obtained in organic solvent.

Investigation of inclusion complexes of sulfamerazine with α- and β-cyclodextrins: an experimental and theoretical study

Inclusion complexation behavior and binding ability of sulfamerazine (SMRZ) with α- and β-cyclodextrins (α-CD and β-CD) were investigated. The formation of inclusion complexes are studied by UV-visible, fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, (1)H NMR, FT-IR, DSC, XRD, SEM, TEM and molecular modeling methods. Both experimental and PM3 results indicated that the SMRZ is partially encapsulated in the CD cavity. The different spectral shifts observed in both the CDs indicate that different types of inclusion complexes are formed. Nanosecond time-resolved fluorescence studies demonstrated that SMRZ exhibit biexponential decay in water and triexponential decay in CD solutions. The resonance of the aromatic protons of SMRZ showed remarkably upfield shift in the complexes suggested that the aniline ring deeply encapsulated in the CD cavity. The amino and amido stretching vibrations at 3483 cm(-1) and 3379 cm(-1) respectively are strongly affected in the inclusion complexes. DSC curves for the inclusion complexes exhibited a broad endothermic effect from 106.4 °C, 123.8 °C and 234.5 6 °C for α-CD and 118.2 °C and 231.4 °C for β-CD. TEM images of both inclusion complexes are forms a nanochain like agglomerated structures with a width ranging from 40 nm to 100 nm. Thermodynamic parameters and binding affinity of the inclusion complex formation were determined and discussed.

Photoactive azoimine dyes: 4-(2-pyridylazo)-N,N-diethylaniline and 4-(2-pyridylazo)-N,N-dimethylaniline: computational and experimental investigation

4-(2-Pyridylazo)-N,N-dimethylaniline and 4-(2-pyridylazo)-N,N-diethylaniline, two photoactive azoimine dyes, were prepared from the reaction of 2-aminopyridine with N,N-dialkyl-1,4-nitrosoaniline at room temperature. Structural characterizations of these dyes using single crystal X-ray diffraction, (1)H NMR, elemental analysis, mass spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy have been carried out. The X-ray structure indicates a trans configuration around the azo group. The photochemical behavior of these compounds differs from that of 2-phenylazopyridine, the non-dialkylamino substituent compound. The synthesized compounds show emission spectra at room temperature while 2-phenylazopyridine does not. The excitation spectra of these compounds differ from their absorption spectra which can be explained on the basis of the trans to cis photoisomerization which is supported by the TD-PBE0/6-31G(d,p) calculations. Both oxidation of the dialkylamino substituents (-NR(2); R=-CH(3) and -C(2)H(5)) and reduction of -N=N-/-N=N-(-) and -N=N-(-)/-N=N-(2-) were observed in the cyclic voltammogram indicating a π-acidity of both dyes.

Fluorescence enhancement of 1-napthol-5-sulfonate by forming inclusion complex with beta-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution

Fluorescence enhancement of 1-naphthol-5-sulfonate (1N5S) upon inclusion in beta-cyclodextrin is studied by spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetery techniques. The spectral shifts were only observed in the emission spectra in different solvents and were found to be directly correlated to the solvent's hydrogen-bond donor strength (alpha). Spectral changes in the absorption spectra upon the addition of beta-cyclodextrin to 1N5S in aqueous medium were too small to allow for the determination of the binding constant. On the other hand; fluorescence measurements show that the emission of both the anionic and neutral forms of 1N5S increase upon the addition of beta-cyclodextrin with an increase in the quantum yield by about 60%. Fluorescence measurements show 1:1 inclusion of 1N5S in the beta-cyclodextrin cavity with an association constant of 88+/-10M(-1). (1)H NMR studies are used to confirm the inclusion and to provide information on the geometry of 1N5S inside the cavity of beta-cyclodextrin.

Heterogeneity of fluorescence determined by the method of area-normalized time-resolved emission spectroscopy

Heterogeneity of fluorescence due to multiple fluorophores or emitter species is a common problem in using fluorescent molecules to probe the structure, dynamics, and properties of microheterogeneous media (micelles, membranes, proteins, etc.) and biological media. Time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) and area-normalized TRES (TRANES) are useful to identify unambiguously emission from a single species (homogeneity) and emission from two species (dual emission). The features in TRANES spectra that are characteristic of solvation dynamics associated with single species and two species, and many other cases are also described.

The Rehm-Weller experiment in view of distant electron transfer

The driving-force dependence of bimolecular fluorescence quenching by electron transfer in solution, the Rehm-Weller experiment, is revisited. One of the three long-standing unsolved questions about the features of this experiment is carefully analysed here, that is, is there a diffusional plateau? New experimental quenching rates are compiled for a single electron donor, 2,5-bis(dimethylamino)-1,3-benzenedicarbonitrile, and eighteen electron acceptors in acetonitrile. The data are analysed in the framework of differential encounter theory by using an extended version of the Marcus theory to model the intrinsic electron-transfer step. Only by including the hydrodynamic effect and the solvent structure can the experimental findings be well modelled. The diffusional control region, the "plateau", reveals the inherent distance dependence of the reaction, which is shown to be a general feature of electron transfer in solution.

On the Coherent Description of Diffusion-Influenced Fluorescence Quenching Experiments

The fluorescence quenching by electron transfer of a fluorophore, 2,5-bis(dimethylamino)-1,3-benzenedicarbonitrile, to 1,3-dimethyl-2-nitrobenzene, has been studied by means of time-resolved and steady-state experiments at different viscosities and up to large quencher concentrations. Differential Encounter Theory (DET) has been used to rationalize the results, in combination with electron transfer modelled by the Marcus theory. Additionally, the solvent structure and the hydrodynamic effect on the diffusion coefficient have been taken into account. Any simpler model failed to simultaneously fit all the results. The large number of quencher concentrations used is crucial to unambiguously extract the electron transfer parameters.