Mechanism of quenching by oxygen of the excited states of ruthenium(ii) complexes in aqueous media. Solvent isotope effect and photosensitized generation of singlet oxygen, O2(1Δg), by [Ru(diimine)(CN)4]2−complex ions

Singlet Oxygen Photophysics: From Liquid Solvents to Mammalian Cells

Molecular oxygen, O2, has long provided a cornerstone for studies in chemistry, physics, and biology. Although the triplet ground state, O2(X3Σg-), has garnered much attention, the lowest excited electronic state, O2(a1Δg), commonly called singlet oxygen, has attracted appreciable interest, principally because of its unique chemical reactivity in systems ranging from the Earth's atmosphere to biological cells. Because O2(a1Δg) can be produced and deactivated in processes that involve light, the photophysics of O2(a1Δg) are equally important. Moreover, pathways for O2(a1Δg) deactivation that regenerate O2(X3Σg-), which address fundamental principles unto themselves, kinetically compete with the chemical reactions of O2(a1Δg) and, thus, have practical significance. Due to technological advances (e.g., lasers, optical detectors, microscopes), data acquired in the past ∼20 years have increased our understanding of O2(a1Δg) photophysics appreciably and facilitated both spatial and temporal control over the behavior of O2(a1Δg). One goal of this Review is to summarize recent developments that have broad ramifications, focusing on systems in which oxygen forms a contact complex with an organic molecule M (e.g., a liquid solvent). An important concept is the role played by the M+•O2-• charge-transfer state in both the formation and deactivation of O2(a1Δg).

Acridinedione-phthalimide conjugates: Intramolecular electron transfer and singlet oxygen generation studies for optical and photodynamic therapy applications

We reported herein the synthesis, characterization of hybrid conjugates composed of phthalimide (Phth) and acridine-1,8-diones (Acr) for optical and medical applications. For the synthetic procedure, a three-step synthetic strategy has been utilized. The optical properties of the examined 1,8-acridinedione-phthalimide connected molecules (AcrPhth 1-5) have been examined utilizing various spectroscopic techniques, e.g., steady-state absorption and fluorescence, and time-correlated single photon counting. The steady-state absorption studies showed that AcrPhth 1-5 absorbs the light in the UV and visible region. The fluorescence studies of AcrPhth 1-5 exhibited significant fluorescence quenching compared to the acridinedione control compounds (Acr 1-5) suggesting the occurrence of electron-transfer reactions from the electron donating acridinedione moiety (Acr) to the electron accepting phthalimide moiety (Phth). The rate and efficiency of the electron-transfer reactions were determined from the fluorescence lifetime measurements indicating the fast electron-transfer processes of the covalently connected AcrPhth 1-5 conjugates. Computational studies supported the intramolecular electron-transfer reaction of AcrPhth conjugates using ab initio B3LYP/6-311G methods. In the optimized structures, the HOMO was found to be entirely located on the Acr entity, while the LUMO was found to be entirely on the Phth entity. Further, the synthesized compounds were tested as photosensitizers for generating the singlet oxygen species, which is a key factor in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. The nanosecond laser flash measurements enable us to detect the triplet-excited states of examined Acr and AcrPhth conjugates, determining the triplet quantum yields, and direct detecting the singlet oxygen in an accurate way. From this observation, the singlet quantum yields were found to be in the range of 0.12-0.27 (for Acr 1-5) and 0.07-0.19 (for AcrPhth 1-5 conjugates). The molecular docking studies revealed that compound AcrPhth 2 exhibited high binding affinity with for key genes (p53, TOP2B, p38, and EGFR) suggesting its potential as a targeted anticancer therapy.

Ferromagnetically Coupled Chromium(III) Dimer Shows Luminescence and Sensitizes Photon Upconversion

There has been much progress on mononuclear chromium(III) complexes featuring luminescence and photoredox activity, but dinuclear chromium(III) complexes have remained underexplored in these contexts until now. We identified a tridentate chelate ligand able to accommodate both meridional and facial coordination of chromium(III), to either access a mono- or a dinuclear chromium(III) complex depending on reaction conditions. This chelate ligand causes tetragonally distorted primary coordination spheres around chromium(III) in both complexes, entailing comparatively short excited-state lifetimes in the range of 400 to 800 ns in solution at room temperature and making photoluminescence essentially oxygen insensitive. The two chromium(III) ions in the dimer experience ferromagnetic exchange interactions that result in a high spin (S=3) ground state with a coupling constant of +9.3 cm-1. Photoinduced energy transfer from the luminescent ferromagnetically coupled dimer to an anthracene derivative results in sensitized triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion. Based on these proof-of-principle studies, dinuclear chromium(III) complexes seem attractive for the development of fundamentally new types of photophysics and photochemistry enabled by magnetic exchange interactions.

Mechanism of Oxygen Quenching of the Excited States of Heteroleptic Chromium(III) Phenanthroline Derivatives

In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of some heteroleptic Cr(III) complexes of the form [Cr(Phen)2L](OTf)3, where Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and L is either 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) or its derivatives, such as 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-DMB), 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-DMOB), 4,4'-ditert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-dtbpy), 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (5,5'-DMB), 4,4'-dimethoxycarbonyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-dmcbpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives, such as 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (5-Me-Phen) and 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4,7-DMP). Heteroleptic complexes were prepared in two stages via the intermediate [Cr(Phen)2(CF3SO3)2](CF3SO3) and five examples have been crystallographically characterized. Steady-state absorption and luminescence emission characteristics of these complexes were measured in 1 M HCl solutions. The luminescence quantum yield of these complexes was found to be the lowest for [Cr(Phen)2(4,4'-dmcbpy)](OTf)3 and the highest for [Cr(Phen)2(4,4'-DMB)](OTf)3 with values of 0.31 × 10-2 and 1.48 × 10-2, respectively. The calculated excited state energy, E0-0, was found to vary within the narrow range of 163.1-165.0 kJ mol-1 across the series. Transient absorption spectra in degassed, air-equilibrated, and oxygen-saturated 1 M HCl aqueous solutions were also measured at different time decays and demonstrated no significant differences, indicating the absence of any ion-separated species in the excited state. Excited-state decay traces at the wavelength of maximum absorption were used to calculate oxygen quenching rate constants, kq, which were found to be in the range 3.26-5.27 × 107 M-1 s-1. Singlet oxygen luminescence photosensitized by these complexes was observed in D2O, and its luminescence intensity at 1270 nm was used for the determination of singlet oxygen quantum yields for these complexes, which were in the range of 0.20-0.44, while the fraction of the excited 2E state quenched by oxygen was in the range of 0.22-0.68, and the efficiency of singlet oxygen production was in the range of 0.44-0.90. The mechanism by which the excited 2E state is quenched by oxygen is explained by a spin statistical model that predicts the balance between charge transfer and noncharge transfer deactivation pathways, which was represented by the parameter pCT that was found to vary from 0.35 to 0.68 for this series of Cr(III) complexes.

Fractional dependence of the free energy of activation on the driving force of charge transfer in the quenching of the excited states of substituted phenanthroline homoleptic ruthenium(ii) complexes in aqueous medium

The photophysical characteristics of some homoleptic ruthenium(ii) phenanthroline derivatives are investigated in aqueous medium. The lifetimes of the excited ³MLCT state of the studied complexes were found to be very sensitive to the type of the substituents on the phenanthroline ligand and were found to increase from about 0.96 μs in case of the parent [Ru(Phen)₃]²⁺ complex to 2.97 μs in case of [Ru(DPPhen)₃]²⁺. The transient absorption spectra of the current set of complexes were studied also in aqueous medium. Quenching of the excited ³MLCT states of the studied complexes by molecular oxygen were studied and quenching rate constants were found to be in the range 1.02-4.83 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1. Values of singlet oxygen quantum yields were found to be in the range 0.01 to 0.25, and the corresponding efficiencies of singlet oxygen thereby produced, f ^T _Δ, were in the range 0.03-0.52. The mechanism by which the excited ³MLCT state is quenched by oxygen is discussed in light of the spin statistical factor rate constants and the competition between charge transfer and non-charge transfer quenching pathways. The partial charge transfer parameters, p _CT, were obtained and found to be about 0.88 for all complexes except for complexes with f ^T _Δ values lower than 0.25. The correlation of the activation free energies ΔG ^≠ of the exciplexes formation with the driving force for charge transfer, ΔG _CET, gives a charge transfer character of the exciplexes of about 35.0%.

Ferritin nanocomposites for the selective delivery of photosensitizing ruthenium-polypyridyl compounds to cancer cells

Human ferritin platforms containing Ru(ii)-polypyridyl-based photosensitizers effectively target cancer cells and provide cytotoxic effects upon light-activation.

Potassium Poly(Heptazine Imide): Transition Metal-Free Solid-State Triplet Sensitizer in Cascade Energy Transfer and [3+2]-cycloadditions

Polymeric carbon nitride materials have been used in numerous light-to-energy conversion applications ranging from photocatalysis to optoelectronics. For a new application and modelling, we first refined the crystal structure of potassium poly(heptazine imide) (K-PHI)-a benchmark carbon nitride material in photocatalysis-by means of X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Using the crystal structure of K-PHI, periodic DFT calculations were performed to calculate the density-of-states (DOS) and localize intra band states (IBS). IBS were found to be responsible for the enhanced K-PHI absorption in the near IR region, to serve as electron traps, and to be useful in energy transfer reactions. Once excited with visible light, carbon nitrides, in addition to the direct recombination, can also undergo singlet-triplet intersystem crossing. We utilized the K-PHI centered triplet excited states to trigger a cascade of energy transfer reactions and, in turn, to sensitize, for example, singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) as a starting point to synthesis up to 25 different N-rich heterocycles.

H/D solvent isotope effects on the photoracemization reaction of enantiomeric the tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(ii) complex and its analogues

This work assessed solvent isotope effects on the photoracemization rate and emission lifetime for [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) in water.

Tellurorhodamine photocatalyzed aerobic oxidation of organo-silanes and phosphines by visible-light

Tellurorhodamine, 9-mesityl-3,6-bis(dimethylamino)telluroxanthylium hexafluorophosphate (1), photocatalytically oxidizes aromatic and aliphatic silanes and triphenyl phosphine under mild aerobic conditions. Under irradiation with visible light, 1 can react with self-sensitized 1O2 to generate the active telluroxide oxidant (2). Silanes are oxidized to silanols and triphenyl phosphine is oxidized to triphenyl phoshine oxide either using 2, or 1 with aerobic irradiation. Kinetic experiments coupled with a computational study elucidate possible mechanisms of oxidation for both silane and phosphine substrates. First-order rates were observed in the oxidation of triphenyl phosphine and methyldiphenyl silane, indicating a substitution like mechanism for substrate binding to the oxidized tellurium(iv). Additionally, these reactions exhibited a rate-dependence on water. Oxidations were typically run in 50 : 50 water/methanol, however, the absence of water decreased the rates of silane oxidation to a greater degree than triphenyl phosphine oxidation. Parallel results were observed in solvent kinetic isotope experiments using D2O in the solvent mixture. The rates of oxidation were slowed to a greater degree in silane oxidation by 2 (kH/kD = 17.30) than for phosphine (kH/kD = 6.20). Various silanes and triphenyl phosphine were photocatalytically oxidized with 1 (5%) under irradiation with warm white LEDs using atmospheric oxygen as the terminal oxidant.

Oxygen-Dependent Photocatalytic Water Reduction with a Ruthenium(imidazolium) Chromophore and a Cobaloxime Catalyst

Detailed investigations of a photocatalytic system capable of producing hydrogen under pre-catalytic aerobic conditions are reported. This system consists of the NHC precursor chromophore [Ru(tbbpy)2 (RR'ip)][PF6 ]3 (abbreviated as Ru(RR'ip)[PF6 ]3 ; tbbpy=4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, RR'ip=1,3-disubstituted-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolinium), the reduction catalyst Co(dmgH)2 (dmgH=dimethylglyoximato), and the electron donor ascorbic acid (AA). Screening studies with respect to solvent, cobaloxime catalyst, electron donor, pH, and concentrations of the individual components yielded optimized photocatalytic conditions. The system shows high activity based on Ru, with turnover numbers up to 2000 under oxygen-free and pre-catalytic aerobic conditions. The turnover frequency in the latter case was even higher than that for the oxygen-free catalyst system. The Ru complexes show high photostability and their first excited state is primarily located on the RR'ip ligand. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the rigid cyclophane-type ligand dd(ip)2 (Br)2 (dd(ip)2 =1,1',3,3'-bis(2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylene)bis(methylene)bis(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolinium)) and the catalytic activity of its Ru complex [{(tbbpy)2 Ru}2 (μ-dd(ip)2 )][PF6 ]6 (abbreviated as Ru2 (dd(ip)2 )[PF6 ]6 ) suggest an intermolecular catalytic cycle.

Receptor selective ruthenium-somatostatin photosensitizer for cancer targeted photodynamic applications

The efficient conjugation of a ruthenium complex and the peptide hormone somatostatin is presented. The resultant biohybrid offers valuable features for photodynamic therapy such as remarkable cellular selectivity, rapid cell uptake by receptor-mediated endocytosis, efficient generation of (1)O2 upon irradiation, potent phototoxicity as well as low cytotoxicity in the "off"-state.

A ligand substituted tungsten iodide cluster: luminescence vs. singlet oxygen production

The cluster (TBA)₂[W₆I₈(CF₃COO)₆] shows photoluminescence in the solid state and in solution, and singlet oxygen (a¹Δ_g) is generated in the presence of oxygen.

Aluminum derivative peroxides in the (t-BuO)3Al–2t-BuOOH catalytic system as a source of electron-excited dioxygen: a quantum chemical study on a model

The t-BuOOH catalytic decomposition leads to reactive oxygen species including chemically activated and chemically excited (O₂(b¹Σ+g) and O₂(¹Δ_g)) dioxygen.

Partial charge transfer contribution to the solvent isotope effect and photosensitized generation of singlet oxygen, O2(1Δg), by substituted ruthenium(II) bipyridyl complexes in aqueous media

The efficiency of singlet oxygen photosensitized by some ruthenium(ii) bipyridyl complex ions in aqueous media is reported in this study. Measurements were carried out in H2O and D2O. The effect of the deuterium isotope on the lifetime of (3)MLCT excited states of these complexes is studied in H2O and D2O. The deuterium isotope effect was discussed in terms of the vibronic coupling to the solvent in addition to the charge transfer to the solvent mechanism due to their dependence on the oxidation potential of the sensitizer. Quenching rate constants, kq, for quenching of the (3)MLCT states of these ruthenium complex ions by molecular oxygen were found to be in the range of (2.08-3.84) × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) in H2O and (1.69-3.48) × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) in D2O. The efficiency of singlet oxygen, O2((1)Δg), production as a result of the (3)MLCT quenching by oxygen, f, is reported in D2O and found to be in the range 0.25-0.56. It has been found that the lifetime of the excited state is longer in D2O, τ, than in H2O, τ, which was related to partial charge transfer to the solvent in addition to the vibronic coupling mechanism. Mechanisms by which the excited states of these ruthenium complexes are quenched by molecular oxygen that shows the competition between charge transfer, non-charge transfer deactivation channels or energy transfer assisted charge transfer deactivation mechanisms are reported.

Solvent dependent photosensitized singlet oxygen production from an Ir(iii) complex: pointing to problems in studies of singlet-oxygen-mediated cell death

The photophysics of an Ir(iii) complex with phenanthroline and phenylpyridine ligands depends appreciably on the local environment.

Endosomes: guardians against [Ru(Phen)3]2+ photo-action in endothelial cells during in vivo pO2 detection?

Phototoxicity is a side-effect of in vitro and in vivo oxygen partial pressure (pO2) detection by luminescence lifetime measurement methods. Dichlorotris(1,10-phenanthroline)-ruthenium(ii) hydrate ([Ru(Phen)3]2+) is a water soluble pO2 probe associated with low phototoxicity, which we investigated in vivo in the chick's chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) after intravenous or topical administration and in vitro in normal human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC). In vivo, the level of intravenously injected [Ru(Phen)3]2+ decreases within several minutes, whereas the maximum of its biodistribution is observed during the first 2 h after topical application. Both routes are followed by convergence to almost identical "intra/extra-vascular" levels of [Ru(Phen)3]2+. In vitro, we observed that [Ru(Phen)3]2+ enters cells via endocytosis and is then redistributed. None of the studied conditions induced modification of lysosomal or mitochondrial membranes without illumination. No nuclear accumulation was observed. Without illumination [Ru(Phen)3]2+ induces changes in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi transport. The phototoxic effect of [Ru(Phen)3]2+ leads to more marked ultrastructural changes than administration of [Ru(Phen)3]2+ only (in the dark). These could lead to disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis accompanied by mitochondrial changes or to changes in secretory pathways. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the intravenous injection of [Ru(Phen)3]2+ into the CAM model mostly leads to extracellular localization of [Ru(Phen)3]2+, while its topical application induces intracellular localization. We have shown in vivo that [Ru(Phen)3]2+ induces minimal photo-damage after illumination with light doses larger by two orders of magnitude than those used for pO2 measurements. This low phototoxicity is due to the fact that [Ru(Phen)3]2+ enters endothelial cells via endocytosis and is then redistributed towards peroxisomes and other endosomal and secretory vesicles before it is eliminated via exocytosis. Cellular response to [Ru(Phen)3]2+, survival or death, depends on its intracellular concentration and oxidation-reduction properties.

Temperature and oxygen-concentration dependence of singlet oxygen production by RuPhen as induced by quasi-continuous excitation

Assessment of partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) by luminescence lifetime measurements of ruthenium coordination complexes has been studied intensively during the last few decades. RuPhen (dichlorotris(1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(ii) hydrate) is a water soluble molecule that has been tested previously for in vivo pO2 detection. In this work we intended to shed light on the production of singlet oxygen by RuPhen. The quantum yield of singlet oxygen production by RuPhen dissolved in 0.9% aqueous NaCl solution (pH = 6) was measured at physiological temperatures (285-310 K) and various concentrations of molecular oxygen. In order to minimize the bleaching of RuPhen, the samples were excited with low power (<2 mW) laser pulses (20 μs long), created by pulsing a cw laser beam with an acousto-optical modulator. We show that, whereas the RuPhen phosphorescence lifetime decreases rapidly with an increase of temperature (keeping the oxygenation level constant), the quantum yield of singlet oxygen production by RuPhen is almost identical in the temperature range of 285-310 K. For air-saturated conditions at 310 K the measured quantum yield is about 0.25. The depopulation rate constants of the RuPhen (3)MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge-transfer) state are determined in the absence and in the presence of oxygen. We determined that the excitation energy for the RuPhen (3)MLCT→d-d transition is 49 kJ mol(-1) in the 0.9% NaCl solution (pH = 6).

Singlet oxygen generation by cyclometalated complexes and applications

While cyclometalated complexes have been extensively studied for optoelectronic applications, these compounds also represent a relatively new class of photosensitizers for the production of singlet oxygen. Thus far, singlet oxygen generation from cyclometalated Ir and Pt complexes has been studied in detail. In this review, photophysical data for singlet oxygen generation from these complexes are presented, and the mechanism of (1) O2 generation is discussed, including evidence for singlet oxygen generation via an electron-transfer mechanism for some of cyclometalated Ir complexes. The period from the first report of singlet oxygen generation by a cyclometalated Ir complex in 2002 through August 2013 is covered in this review. This new class of singlet oxygen photosensitizers may prove to be rather versatile due to the ease of substitution of ancillary ligands without loss of activity. Several cyclometalated complexes have been tethered to zeolites, polystyrene, or quantum dots. Applications for photooxygenation of organic molecules, including "traditional" singlet oxygen reactions (ene reaction, [4 + 2] and [2 + 2] cycloadditions) as well as oxidative coupling of amines are presented. Potential biomedical applications are also reviewed.