Radiationless Deactivation Process of 1-Dimethylamino-9-fluorenone Induced by Conformational Relaxation in the Excited State: A New Model Molecule for the TICT Process

Highly sensitive and selective off-on fluorescent platform for tricresyl phosphate flame retardant based on twisted intramolecular charge transfer probe

BACKGROUND

Tricresyl phosphate (TCP), a typical organic phosphorus flame retardant (OPFR), is an emerging pollutant that causes great concern in recent years due to its high neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity, etc. Conventional analysis methods for TCP such as gas chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry exhibit high sensitivity and accuracy. However, these techniques generally suffer from certain limitations, such as high cost, bulky equipment, time-consuming and operator-dependent properties. Therefore, the establishment of fast and efficient analytical methods for TCP still remains a great challenge.

RESULT

A "turn on" fluorescence sensing strategy for the efficient detection of TCP was established, based on a unique molecular rotor probe of 9-(2,2-dicyanovinyl)-julolidine (DCVJ). The introduction of TCP led to a significant enhancement of the fluorescence intensity of DCVJ. The results show that twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) process might play an important role for this enhancement of fluorescence response via dynamic light scattering measurements and fluorescence lifetime analysis. Further investigations demonstrate that the hydrophobic interaction and conjugation effect between DCVJ and TCP constrain the molecular rotation and vibration of DCVJ, thereby regulating the TICT process, which contribute to this intriguing "turn on" behavior. In view of this, a new sensing platform with excellent performance for TCP was established, which offers quick response time, high selectivity, wide linear range (20-1200 ng mL-1, 1600-8000 ng mL-1), and low detection limit (4.82 ng mL-1).

SIGNIFICANCE

The established new sensing platform for TCP demonstrates the advantages of simplicity, high efficiency, excellent sensitivity and selectivity. The obtained results are also superior to some other previously reported fluorescence methods. This work opens up a new perspective for the efficient detection of emerging OPFRs pollutants.

Benzocoumarin-Styryl Hybrids: Aggregation and Viscosity Induced Emission Enhancement

Two benzo[h]chromen-3-yl)ethylidene) malononitrile styryl hybrid dyes are synthesized and characterized by NMR and elemental analysis. One is based on nitrogen donor and other on oxygen (3b and 3b respectively). Dyes are low emissive in the solution but dramatically showed increase in emission intensity in aggregates form in the THF (tetrahydrofuran) /water system. Dyes are also sensitive to viscosity and showed increased emission intensity in the DCM:PEG 400 system and DMF:PEG 400 system respectively. Dyes 3a and 3b showed higher viscosity sensitivity constant (0.67 and 0.39 respectively) in DMF:PEG 400 system compared to DCM:PEG 400 (0.47 and 0.21 respectively) system which is contrary to the traditional concept of FMRs. Results shows that lowering of twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) and increase in intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in the excited state could be the reason for such behavior in the aggregate and highly viscous state. This study may provide the new insights into the field of AIEE and FMR research of such hybrid molecules.

Spectral and molecular modeling investigations of supramolecular complexes of mefenamic acid and aceclofenac with α- and β-cyclodextrin

Inclusion complexes of mefenamic acid (MFA) and aceclofenac (ALF) with α- and β-cyclodextrins (CDs) in aqueous medium were investigated by absorption, fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence methods. The solid inclusion complexes between drugs and CDs were characterized by SEM, TEM, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, DSC and powder XRD techniques. Spectral studies indicated that both CDs form 1:1 inclusion complex with MFA and ALF. The experimental results revealed that the inclusion process is a spontaneous process. Time-resolved fluorescence studies suggested that ALF exhibited biexponential decay in aqueous and triexponential decay in CD whereas significant enhancement of lifetime of decay components of MFA was observed. Morphologies of drug-CD complexes observed by TEM demonstrate that self-aggregates of MFA/α-CD, ALF/α-CD and ALF/β-CD were nano-sized particles while vesicles were observed for MFA/β-CD. A spatial arrangement of inclusion complex is proposed based on ¹H NMR and PM3 results. Investigations of thermodynamic and electronic properties confirmed the stability of the inclusion complex.

Intermolecular hydrogen bond and twisted intramolecular charge transfer in excited state of fast violet B (FVB) in methanol solution

The excited state hydrogen bonding dynamics and corresponding photophysical processes of fast violet B (FVB) in hydrogen-donating methanol (MeOH) solution are investigated by using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method. In the FVB molecule, there are -C=O, -N-H groups which could act as hydrogen acceptor and donor. It is demonstrated that both the intramolecular hydrogen bond O⋯H-N in FVB and intermolecular hydrogen bond C=O⋯H-O between FVB and MeOH are formed in the ground state S0 and strengthened in the excited state S1. The absorption spectra are obviously red shifted for the hydrogen-bonded complex in comparison with FVB monomer in the low energy range. The theoretical investigation demonstrates that the twisted intramolecular charge transfer takes place in the excited states for both isolated FVB and hydrogen-bonded complex, and the dominant twisting is along N2-C3 bond. The potential energy curve is investigated to understand the photophysics process of FVB and hydrogen-bonded complex.

The first bifluoride sensor based on fluorescent enhancement

The first fluorescent sensor for HF2(-) anion, N(1), N(3)-di(naphthalene-1-yl)isophthalamide (L) has been derived from α-Napthylamine and isopthaloyl chloride. In 1:1 (v/v) DMSO:H2O, L exhibits high selectivity towards HF2(-) anion with a 4-fold enhancement in fluorescent intensity. Very little enhancement in fluorescence intensity is observed for F(-), Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), SCN(-), PO4(3-), SO4(2-), and CH3COO(-) anions. The stoichiometry interaction between L and HF2 (-) is found to be 1:1 from fluorescence and UV/Visible spectral data. DFT calculation shows that binding between HF2(-) and L is 1:1 and increases the relative planarity between the two naphthyl rings causing fluorescence enhancement. A shift of 0.080 V in oxidation potential of L is observed on interaction with HF2(-) by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry.

The role of triplet state keto-enol tautomerism in the photodeamination of metamitron

Substituted 4-amino-1,2,4-triazin-5-ones undergo photodeamination through cleavage of the N-NH(2) bond in the presence of oxygen and water. To elucidate the mechanism of this reaction, we investigated the photolysis of metamitron (4-amino-6-phenyl-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazin-5-one) by nanosecond laser flash photolysis, steady-state irradiation, and ab initio calculations. Upon pulsed laser excitation of deoxygenated aqueous metamitron, two transient species are clearly detected. The predictions of ab initio results are consistent with experimental results: (i) it is proposed here that the transient species are, respectively, the keto and diradical forms of the metamitron keto-enol tautomerism in the triplet state, and (ii) in water, the activation free energy barrier of enolization is drastically decreased. Thus, the formation of the diradical triplet is enabled in aqueous solvent. A detailed analysis of the intermediate structures that lead to the final products (HNO(2) and deaminometamitron) is provided.

Fluoride detection based on fluorescence enhancement of thioureido naphthalene derivative

A novel thioureido naphthalene derivative was synthesized and characterized. The compound proved itself as an effective fluoride sensor with respect to selectivity and sensitivity. In acetonitrile, the fluorescence intensity increased by 40-fold with the addition of 5 equiv. of fluoride. Fluorescence intensity did not substantially change with other halides, suggesting that the thioureido protons interact strongly with fluoride but not with other halides. The enhanced fluorescence is due to increased quantum efficiency of the fluoride complex.Key words: fluoride sensing, thioureido compound, fluorescence.

Time-dependent density functional theory study on intramolecular charge transfer and solvent effect of dimethylaminobenzophenone

The lower singlet excited states for dimethylaminobenzophenone have been investigated as a function of the twisting motion with inclusion of solvent effects. Theoretical calculations have been performed using time-dependent density functional theory. The B3LYP and MPW1PW91 functionals with a 6-311+G(2d,p) basis set have been used to compute transition energies. The solvent effects have been described within the polarizable continuum model. Ground-state geometries are optimized using density functional theory with both B3LYP and MPW1PW91 functionals combined with 6-31G(d) basis sets. Vertical absorption energy calculations characterize the lower singlet excited states both in vacuum and in different kinds of solvents. A large redshift of the absorption maximum in the polar solvent suggests an intramolecular charge transfer character of the excited state. We have constructed the potential energy curves of two possible twisting motions of the excited states both in vacuum and in the polar solvent of acetonitrile: the twisting of only the dimethylamino group and the twisting of the dimethylaminophenyl group with respect to the benzoyl group. Both twisting processes predict the formation of the twisted intramolecular charge transfer state associated with the crossing of a low barrier. The presence of the polar solvent significantly changes the shape of the energy curves. Calculated emission energies for both the isolated and the solvated systems show a large Stokes shift between the absorption and fluorescence maxima. Two possible twisting motions produce similar fluorescence spectroscopic consequences. Our results including solvent effects explain the weak "dual-fluorescence" feature of dimethylaminobenzophenone, and imply that the two possible twisting motions may occur in the excited-state relaxation dynamics, but the twisting of the dimethylamino group seems to take place easier.

Intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding effects on photophysical properties of 2'-aminoacetophenone and its derivatives in solution

Effects of intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bonds on the photophysical properties of 2'-aminoacetophenone derivatives (X-C6H4-COCH3) having a substituted amino group (X) with different hydrogen-bonding ability to the carbonyl oxygen (X: NH2(AAP), NHCH3(MAAP), N(CH3)2(DMAAP), NHCOCH3(AAAP), NHCOCF3(TFAAP)) are investigated by means of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and time-resolved thermal lensing. Based on the photophysical parameters obtained in aprotic solvents with different polarity and protic solvents with different hydrogen-bonding ability, the characteristic photophysical behavior of the 2'-aminoacetophenone derivatives is discussed in terms of hydrogen-bonding and n,pi*-pi,pi* vibronic coupling. The dominant deactivation process of AAP and MAAP in nonpolar aprotic solvents is the extremely fast internal conversion (k(ic)= 1.0 x 10(11) s(-1) for AAP and 3.9 x 10(10) s(-1) for MAAP in n-hexane). The internal conversion rates of both compounds decrease markedly with increasing solvent polarity, suggesting that vibronic interactions between close-lying S1(pi,pi*) and S2(n,pi*) states lead to the large increase in the non-radiative decay rate of the lowest excited singlet state. It is also suggested that for MAAP, which has a stronger hydrogen-bond as compared to AAP, an intramolecular hydrogen-bonding induced deactivation is involved in the dissipation of the S1 state. For DMAAP, which cannot possess an intramolecular hydrogen-bond, the primary relaxation mechanism of the S1 state in nonpolar aprotic solvents is the intersystem crossing to the triplet state, whereas in protic solvents very efficient internal conversion due to intermolecular hydrogen-bonding is induced. In contrast, the fluorescence spectra of AAAP and TFAAP, which have an amino group with a much stronger hydrogen-bonding ability, give strongly Stokes-shifted fluorescence, indicating that these compounds undergo excited-state intramolecular proton transfer reaction upon electronic excitation.

A Remarkable Ligand Orientational Effect in Osmium-Atom-Induced Blue Phosphorescence

A new series of Os(II)-based carbonyl complexes cis(CO),trans(Npy,Npy),cis(Ntz,Ntz)-[Os(CO)2(bptz)2] (1), cis(CO),cis(Npy,Npy),trans(Ntz,Ntz)-[Os(bptz)2(CO)2] (2), and cis(CO),trans(Npy,Npy),cis(Ntz,Ntz)-[Os(CO)2(fptz)2] (3), where bptz and fptz denote 3-tert-butyl-5-(2-pyridyl)- and 3-trifluoromethyl-5-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazolate, respectively, have been designed and synthesized in an effort to achieve high efficiency, room-temperature blue phosphorescence. Although 1 and 2 are geometric isomers, remarkably different excited-state relaxation pathways were observed. Complex 1 exhibits strong phosphorescence in CH3CN (Phi(p) approximately 0.47) and as a single crystal at room temperature, whereas complex 2 is nearly nonemissive under similar conditions. The associated relaxation dynamics have been comprehensively investigated by spectroscopic and relaxation dynamics as well as by theoretical approaches. Our results lead us to the conclusion that for complex 2, the "loose bolt" effect of metal-ligand bonding interactions plays a crucial role in the fast radiationless deactivation of this type of geometrical isomer. Fine adjustment can also be achieved by functionalizing the ligands so that the electron-withdrawing nature of the CF3 group in 3 stabilizes the HOMO of the triazolate moiety, thus moving the emission further into the pure "blue" region; this results in highly efficient phosphorescence and renders 3 particularly attractive for application in blue OLED devices.