Raman and site-selective fluorescence spectra of model compounds for interchain interactions in poly(phenylenevinylene)

Excited Mixed-Valence States of Symmetrical Donor−Acceptor−Donor π Systems

We investigated the spectroscopic properties of a series of four bistriarylamine donor-pi-bridge-donor D-pi-D compounds (dimers), composed of two asymmetric triarylamine chromophores (monomers). UV/vis, fluorescence, and transient absorption spectra were recorded and compared with those of the corresponding D-pi monomers. Bilinear Lippert-Mataga plots indicate a major molecular reorganization of the excited state in polar media for all compounds. The excited states of the dimers are described as mixed-valence states that show, depending on the chemical nature of the pi bridge, a varying amount of interactions (couplings). We found that superradiant emission, that is, an enhancement of the fluorescence rate in the dimer, is observed only in the case of weak and medium coupling. Whether the first excited-state potential energy surface of the dimers is described by single minimum or a double minimum potential depends on the solvent polarity and the electronic coupling. In the latter case, the dimer relaxes in a symmetry broken CT state with partial positive charge at the triarylamine donor and negative charge at the pi bridge. The [2.2]paracyclophane bridged dimer is an example of a weakly coupled system because the spectroscopic behavior is very similar to the corresponding p-xylene monomer. In contrast, anthracene as well as p-xylene bridges mediate a stronger coupling and reveal a significant cooperative influence on the optical properties.

Dications of Bis-triarylamino-[2.2]paracyclophanes: Evaluation of Excited State Couplings by GMH Analysis

In this paper, we present the absorption properties of a series of bis-triarylamino-[2.2]paracyclophane diradical dications. The localized pi-pi and the charge-transfer (CT) transitions of these dications are explained and analyzed by an exciton coupling model that also considers the photophysical properties of the "monomeric" triarylamine radical cations. Together with AM1-CISD-calculated transition moments, experimental transition moments and transition energies of the bis-triarylamine dications were used to calculate electronic couplings by a generalized Mulliken-Hush (GMH) approach. These couplings are a measure for interactions of the excited mixed-valence CT states. The modification of the diabatic states reveals similarities of the GMH three-level model and the exciton coupling model. Comparison of the two models shows that the transition moment between the excited mixed-valence states mu(ab) of the dimer equals the dipole moment difference Delta of the ground and the excited bridge state of the corresponding monomer.

[2.2]Paracyclophane-Bridged Mixed-Valence Compounds: Application of a Generalized Mulliken−Hush Three-Level Model

A series of [2.2]paracylophane-bridged bis-triarylamine mixed-valence (MV) radical cations were analyzed by a generalized Mulliken-Hush (GMH) three-level model which takes two transitions into account: the intervalence charge transfer (IV-CT) band which is assigned to an optically induced hole transfer (HT) from one triarylamine unit to the second one and a second band associated with a triarylamine radical cation to bridge (in particular, the [2.2]paracyclophane bridge) hole transfer. From the GMH analysis, we conclude that the [2.2]paracyclophane moiety is not the limiting factor which governs the intramolecular charge transfer. AM1-CISD calculations reveal that both through-bond as well as through-space interactions of the [2.2]paracyclophane bridge play an important role for hole transfer processes. These electronic interactions are of course smaller than direct pi-conjugation, but from the order of magnitude of the couplings of the [2.2]paracyclophane MV species, we assume that this bridge is able to mediate significant through-space and through-bond interactions and that the cyclophane bridge acts more like an unsaturated spacer rather than a saturated one. From the exponential dependence of the electronic coupling V between the two triarylamine localized states on the distance r between the two redox centers, we infer that the hole transfer occurs via a superexchange mechanism. Our analysis reveals that even significantly longer pi-conjugated bridges should still mediate significant electronic interactions because the decay constant beta of a series of pi-conjugated MV species is small.

Theoretical study of the effects of solvent environment on photophysical properties and electronic structure of paracyclophane chromophores

We use first-principles quantum-chemical approaches to study absorption and emission properties of recently synthesized distyrylbenzene (DSB) derivative chromophores and their dimers (two DSB molecules linked through a [2.2]paracyclophane moiety). Several solvent models are applied to model experimentally observed shifts and radiative lifetimes in Stokes nonpolar organic solvents (toluene) and water. The molecular environment is simulated using the implicit solvation models, as well as explicit water molecules and counterions. Calculations show that neither implicit nor explicit solvent models are sufficient to reproduce experimental observations. The contact pair between the chromophore and counterion, on the other hand, is able to reproduce the experimental data when a partial screening effect of the solvent is taken into account. Based on our simulations we suggest two mechanisms for the excited-state lifetime increase in aqueous solutions. These findings may have a number of implications for organic light-emitting devices, electronic functionalities of soluble polymers and molecular fluorescent labels, and their possible applications as biosensors and charge/energy conduits in nanoassemblies.

Solvatochromism of Distyrylbenzene Pairs Bound Together by [2.2]Paracyclophane: Evidence for a Polarizable “Through-Space” Delocalized State

A series of compounds were designed and synthesized to examine how through-space and through-bond electron delocalization respond to solvent effects. The general strategy involves the study of "dimers" of the distyrylbenzene chromophore held in close proximity by the [2.2]paracyclophane core and a systematic dissection of the chromophore into components with through-space and through-bond electronic delocalization. Steady state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in a range of solvents reveals a red-shift in emission and an increase in the intrinsic fluorescence lifetime for the emitting state in polar solvents when donor substituents are absent. We propose that through-space delocalization across the [2.2]paracyclophane core is more polarizable in the excited state, relative to the through-bond (distyrylbenzene based) excited state. When strong donors are attached to the distyrylbenzene chromophore, the charge transfer character of the distyrylbenzene-based excited state dominates fluorescence properties.

Synthesis, characterization, and spectroscopy of 4,7,12,15-[2.2]paracyclophane containing donor and acceptor groups: impact of substitution patterns on through-space charge transfer

This paper reports the synthesis of 4,7,12,15-tetra(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)[2.2]paracyclophane (1), 4-(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)-7,12,15-tri(4' '-nitrostyryl)[2.2]paracyclophane (2), 4,7-bis(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)-12,15-bis(4' '-nitrostyryl)-[2.2]paracyclophane (3), 4,7,12-tris(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)-15-(4' '-nitrostyryl)[2.2]paracyclophane (4), 4,15-bis(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)-7,12-bis(4' '-nitrostyryl)[2.2]paracyclophane (5), and 4,12-bis(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)-7,15-bis(4' '-nitrostyryl)[2.2]paracyclophane (6). These molecules represent different combinations of bringing together distyrylbenzene chromophores containing donor and acceptor groups across a [2.2]paracyclophane (pCp) bridge. X-ray diffraction studies show that the lattice arrangements of 1 and 3 are considerably different from those of the parent chromophores 1,4-bis(4'dihexylaminostyryl)benzene (DD) and 1,4-di(4'-nitrostyryl)benzene (AA). Differences are brought about by the constraint by the pCp bridge and by virtue of chirality in the "paired" species. The absorption and emission spectra of 1-6 are also presented. Clear evidence of delocalization across the pCp structure is observed. Further, in the case of 2, 3, and 4, emission from the second excited state takes place.