Excitation wavelength-dependent EPR study on the influence of the conformation of multiporphyrin arrays on triplet state delocalization

Origin of Intersystem Crossing in Red-Light Absorbing Bodipy Derivatives: Time-Resolved Transient Optical and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectral Studies with Twisted and Planar Compounds

We studied the intersystem crossing (ISC) property of red-light absorbing heavy atom-free dihydronaphtho[b]-fused Bodipy derivatives (with phenyl group attached at the lower rim via ethylene bridge, taking constrained geometry, i.e., BDP-1 and the half-oxidized product BDP-2) and dispiroflourene[b]-fused Bodipy (BDP-3) that have a twisted π-conjugated framework. BDP-1 and BDP-3 show strong and sharp absorption bands (i.e., ε = 2.0 × 105 M-1 cm-1 at 639 nm, fwhm ∼491 cm-1 for BDP-3). BDP-1 is significantly twisted (φ = 21.6°), while upon mono-oxidation, BDP-2 becomes nearly planar on the oxidized side (φ = 3.5°). Interestingly, BDP-2 showed efficient ISC (triplet state quantum yield, ΦT = 40%) due to S1/T2 state energy matching. Long-lived triplet excited state was observed (τT = 212 μs in solution and 2.4 ms in polymer matrix), and ISC takes 4.0 ns. Differently, twisted BDP-1 gives weak ISC only 5%, ISC takes 7.7 ns, and the triplet state is populated only with addition of ethyl iodide. Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of BDP-1 revealed the coexistence of two triplet states, with drastically different zero-field splitting D parameters of -2047 MHz and -1370 MHz, respectively, along with varying sublevel population ratios. We demonstrate that the ISC is not necessarily enhanced by torsion of the π-conjugation framework; instead, S1/Tn state energy matching is more efficient to induce ISC even in compounds that have planar molecular structures.

Charge and Spin Transfer Dynamics in a Weakly Coupled Porphyrin Dimer

The dynamics of electron and spin transfer in the radical cation and photogenerated triplet states of a tetramethylbiphenyl-linked zinc-porphyrin dimer were investigated, so as to test the relevant parameters for the design of a single-molecule spin valve and the creation of a novel platform for the photogeneration of high-multiplicity spin states. We used a combination of multiple techniques, including variable-temperature continuous wave EPR, pulsed proton electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), transient EPR, and optical spectroscopy. The conclusions are further supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and comparison to reference compounds. The low-temperature cw-EPR and room-temperature near-IR spectra of the dimer monocation demonstrate that the radical cation is spatially localized on one side of the dimer at any point in time, not coherently delocalized over both porphyrin units. The EPR spectra at 298 K reveal rapid hopping of the radical spin density between both sites of the dimer via reversible intramolecular electron transfer. The hyperfine interactions are modulated by electron transfer and can be quantified using ENDOR spectroscopy. This allowed simulation of the variable-temperature cw-EPR spectra with a two-site exchange model and provided information on the temperature-dependence of the electron transfer rate. The electron transfer rates range from about 10.0 MHz at 200 K to about 53.9 MHz at 298 K. The activation enthalpies Δ‡H of the electron transfer were determined as Δ‡H = 9.55 kJ mol-1 and Δ‡H = 5.67 kJ mol-1 in a 1:1:1 solvent mixture of CD2Cl2/toluene-d8/THF-d8 and in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, respectively, consistent with a Robin-Day class II mixed valence compound. These results indicate that the interporphyrin electronic coupling in a tetramethylbiphenyl-linked porphyrin dimer is suitable for the backbone of a single-molecule spin valve. Investigation of the spin density distribution of the photogenerated triplet state of the Zn-porphyrin dimer reveals localization of the triplet spin density on a nanosecond time scale on one-half of the dimer at 20 K in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran and at 250 K in a polyvinylcarbazole film. This establishes the porphyrin dimer as a molecular platform for the formation of a localized, photogenerated triplet state on one porphyrin unit that is coupled to a second redox-active, ground-state porphyrin unit, which can be explored for the formation of high-multiplicity spin states.

A Rational Way to Control the Triplet State Wave Function Confinement of Organic Chromophores: Effect of the Connection Sites and Spin Density Distribution-Guided Molecular Structure Design Principles in Bodipy Dimers

To study the intersystem crossing (ISC) and the spatial confinement of the triplet excited states of organic chromophores, we prepared a series of Bodipy dimers. We found that the connection position of the two units has a significant effect on the absorption and fluorescence. Singlet oxygen quantum yields of 3.8-12.4% were observed for the dimers, which are independent of solvent polarity. Nanosecond transient absorption spectra indicate the population of long-lived triplet excited states with lifetimes (τT) of 45-454 μs. Pulsed laser-excited time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectra show that the T1 triplet states are essentially delocalized, which is different from the case for the previously reported Bodipy dimers. The TREPR spectra of the triplet states imply that the delocalization over the whole dimer essentially depends on the electron density of the carbon atoms at the connection sites. This property may become a universal rule for controlling the T1 state confinement in multichromophore organic molecules.

Decorrelated singlet and triplet exciton delocalization in acetylene-bridged Zn-porphyrin dimers

The controlled delocalization of molecular excitons remains an important goal towards the application of organic chromophores in processes ranging from light-initiated chemical transformations to classical and quantum information processing. In this study, we present a methodology to couple optical and magnetic spectroscopic techniques and assess the delocalization of singlet and triplet excitons in model molecular chromophores. By comparing the steady-state and time-resolved optical spectra of Zn-porphyrin monomers and weakly coupled dimers, we show that we can use the identity of substituents bound at specific positions of the macromolecules' rings to control the inter-ring delocalization of singlet excitons stemming from their B states through acetylene bridges. While broadened steady-state absorption spectra suggest the presence of delocalized B state excitons in mesityl-substituted Zn-tetraphenyl porphyrin dimers (Zn2U-D), we confirm this conclusion by measuring an enhanced ultrafast non-radiative relaxation from these inter-ring excitonic states to lower lying electronic states relative to their monomer. In contrast to the delocalized nature of singlet excitons, we use time-resolved EPR and ENDOR spectroscopies to show that the triplet states of the Zn-porphyrin dimers remain localized on one of the two macrocyclic sub-units. We use the analysis of EPR and ENDOR measurements on unmetallated model porphyrin monomers and dimers to support this conclusion. The results of DFT calculations also support the interpretation of localized triplet states. These results demonstrate researchers cannot conclude triplet excitons delocalize in macromolecular based on the presence of spatially extended singlet excitons, which can help in the design of chromophores for application in spin conversion and information processing technologies.

Confinement of the Triplet States in π‐Conjugated BODIPY Dimers Linked with Ethynylene or Butadiynylene Bridges: A Different View on the Effect of Symmetry

Understanding the impact of the excited state wavefunction confinement is crucial for the engineering of the photophysical properties and applications of organic chromophores. In the present contribution, the localization of the triplet state wavefunctions of some symmetric ethyne/butadiyne bridged BODIPY dimers and asymmetric BODIPY derivatives presenting extended π-conjugation frameworks is studied with time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and time-dependent density functional theory computations. Based on the Zero Field Splitting D parameters, we conclude that the triplet state wavefunctions are highly localized on one BODIPY unit in the symmetric dimers, which is consistent with the ab initio modelling that finds delocalized triplet state destabilized by 12-14 kcal mol^-1 as compared to its localized counterpart. The result provides a new insight into the study of triplet excited state confinement and the design of molecular wires or photosensitizers for photovoltaics and photocatalysis.

Comprehensive investigation of the triplet state electronic structure of free-base 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin by a combined advanced EPR and theoretical approach

The nature of the photoexcited triplet state of free-base 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (H₂TPPS^4-) has been investigated by advanced Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) techniques combined with quantum chemical calculations. The zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters, D and E, the orientation of the transition dipole moment in the ZFS tensor frame, and the proton hyperfine couplings have been determined by magnetophotoselection-EPR and pulse electron-nuclear double resonance spectroscopy. Both time-resolved and pulse experiments exploit the electron spin polarization of the photoexcited triplet state. Comparison of the magnetic observables with computational results, including CASSCF calculations of the ZFS interaction tensor, provides an accurate picture of the triplet-state electronic structure. The theoretical investigation has been integrated with a systematic analysis on the parent free-base porphyrin molecule to assess the effect of the sulfonatophenyl substituents on the magnetic tensors. Additionally, the magnetophotoselection effects are discussed in terms of tautomerization in the excited singlet state of H₂TPPS^4-.

Symmetry controlled photo-selection and charge separation in butadiyne-bridged donor–bridge–acceptor compounds

Electron transfer (ET) in donor–bridge–acceptor (DBA) compounds featuring alkyne bridges depends strongly on the torsion angle between the donor and acceptor.

Structure-Function Relationship of Organic Semiconductors: Detailed Insights From Time-Resolved EPR Spectroscopy

Organic photovoltaics (OPV) is a promising technology to account for the increasing demand for energy in form of electricity. Whereas the last decades have seen tremendous progress in the field witnessed by the steady increase in efficiency of OPV devices, we still lack proper understanding of fundamental aspects of light-energy conversion, demanding for systematic investigation on a fundamental level. A detailed understanding of the electronic structure of semiconducting polymers and their building blocks is essential to develop efficient materials for organic electronics. Illuminating conjugated polymers not only leads to excited states, but sheds light on some of the most important aspects of device efficiency in organic electronics as well. The interplay between electronic structure, morphology, flexibility, and local ordering, while at the heart of structure-function relationship of organic electronic materials, is still barely understood. (Time-resolved) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is particularly suited to address these questions, allowing one to directly detect paramagnetic states and to reveal their spin-multiplicity, besides its clearly superior spectral resolution compared to optical methods. This article aims at giving a non-specialist audience an overview of what EPR spectroscopy and particularly its time-resolved variant (TREPR) can contribute to unraveling aspects of structure-function relationship in organic semiconductors.

On the Influence of the Bridge on Triplet State Delocalization in Linear Porphyrin Oligomers

The extent of triplet state delocalization is investigated in rigid linear zinc porphyrin oligomers as a function of interporphyrin bonding characteristics, specifically in meso-meso singly linked and β,meso,β fused structures, using electron paramagnetic resonance techniques. The results are compared with those of earlier measurements on porphyrin oligomers with alkyne linkers exhibiting different preferred conformations. It is shown that dihedral angles near 90° between the porphyrin planes in directly meso-to-meso linked porphyrin oligomers lead to localization of the photoexcited triplet state on a single porphyrin unit, whereas previous work demonstrated even delocalization over two units in meso-to-meso ethyne or butadiyne-bridged oligomers, where the preferred dihedral angles amount to roughly 30° and 0°, respectively. The triplet states of fused porphyrin oligomers (i.e., porphyrin tapes) exhibit extended conjugation and even delocalization over more than two porphyrin macrocycles, in contrast to meso-to-meso ethyne or butadiyne-bridged oligomers, where the spin density distribution in molecules composed of more than two porphyrin units is not evenly spread across the oligomer chain.

Delocalisation of photoexcited triplet states probed by transient EPR and hyperfine spectroscopy

Photoexcited triplet states play a crucial role in photochemical mechanisms: long known to be of paramount importance in the study of photosynthetic reaction centres, they have more recently also been shown to play a major role in a number of applications in the field of molecular electronics. Their characterisation is crucial for an improved understanding of these processes with a particular focus on the determination of the spatial distribution of the triplet state wavefunction providing information on charge and energy transfer efficiencies. Currently, active research in this field is mostly focussed on the investigation of materials for organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). As the properties of triplet states and their spatial extent are known to have a major impact on device performance, a detailed understanding of the factors governing triplet state delocalisation is at the basis of the further development and improvement of these devices. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) has proven a valuable tool in the study of triplet state properties and both experimental methods as well as data analysis and interpretation techniques have continuously improved over the last few decades. In this review, we discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of the investigation of triplet states and triplet state delocalisation by transient continuous wave and pulse EPR and highlight the advantages and limitations of the presently available techniques and the current trends in the field. Application of EPR in the study of triplet state delocalisation is illustrated on the example of linear multi-porphyrin chains designed as molecular wires.

On the Importance of Electronic Symmetry for Triplet State Delocalization

The influence of electronic symmetry on triplet state delocalization in linear zinc porphyrin oligomers is explored by electron paramagnetic resonance techniques. Using a combination of transient continuous wave and pulse electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopies, it is demonstrated experimentally that complete triplet state delocalization requires the chemical equivalence of all porphyrin units. These results are supported by density functional theory calculations, showing uneven delocalization in a porphyrin dimer in which a terminal ethynyl group renders the two porphyrin units inequivalent. When the conjugation length of the molecule is further increased upon addition of a second terminal ethynyl group that restores the symmetry of the system, the triplet state is again found to be completely delocalized. The observations suggest that electronic symmetry is of greater importance for triplet state delocalization than other frequently invoked factors such as conformational rigidity or fundamental length-scale limitations.

Delocalization of Coherent Triplet Excitons in Linear Rigid Rod Conjugated Oligomers

In this work, the triplet state delocalization in a series of monodisperse oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene)s (OPEs) is studied by pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and pulsed electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) determining zero-field splitting, optical spin polarization, and proton hyperfine couplings. Neither the zero-field splitting parameters nor the optical spin polarization change significantly with OPE chain length, in contrast to the hyperfine coupling constants, which showed a systematic decrease with chain length n according to a 2/(1 + n) decay law. The results provide striking evidence for the Frenkel-type nature of the triplet excitons exhibiting full coherent delocalization in the OPEs under investigation with up to five OPE repeat units and with a spin density distribution described by a nodeless particle in the box wave function. The same model is successfully applied to recently published data on π-conjugated porphyrin oligomers.

Experimental and computational evaluation of the barrier to torsional rotation in a butadiyne-linked porphyrin dimer

The barrier to torsional rotation in a butadiyne-linked porphyrin dimer has been determined in solution using variable temperature UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy: ΔH = 5.27 ± 0.03 kJ mol(-1), ΔS = 10.69 ± 0.14 J K(-1) mol(-1). The value of ΔH agrees well with theoretical predictions. Quantum chemical calculations (DFT) were used to predict the torsion angle dependence of the absorption spectrum, and to calculate the vibronic fine structure of the S0 → S1 absorption for the planar dimer, showing that the absorption band of the planar conformer has a vibronic component overlapping with the 〈0|0〉 absorption of the perpendicular conformer. The torsion barrier in the porphyrin dimer is higher than that of 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne (calculated ΔH = 1.1 kJ mol(-1)). Crystallographic bond lengths and IR vibrational frequencies confirm that there is a greater contribution of the cumulenic resonance form in butadiyne-linked porphyrin dimers than in 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne. The DFT frontier orbitals of the twisted conformer of the porphyrin dimer are helical, when calculated in the absence of symmetry. The helical character of these orbitals disappears when D2d symmetry is enforced in the 90° twisted conformer. Helical representations of the frontier orbitals can be generated by linear combinations of the more localised orbitals from a symmetry-constrained calculation but they do not indicate π-conjugation. This work provides insights into the relationship between electronic structure and conformation in alkyne-linked conjugated oligomers.

Photogenerated triplet states in supramolecular porphyrin ladder assemblies: an EPR study

Ladder formation and planarisation do not enhance delocalisation in the triplet excited states of linear porphyrin oligomers.