Spectroscopy and dynamics of excited states in maleimide and N-methyl maleimide: Ionic projection and ab initio calculations

Greatness in Simplicity: Efficient Red Room-Temperature Phosphorescence from Simple Halogenated Maleimides with a 2D Layered Structure

Herein, two maleimide derivatives substituted by Br (DBM) and I (DIM) with a two-dimensional (2D) layered structure are found to have highly efficient red room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) at 660 nm in solid state, which is independent of their morphology (crystal, powder, and film). The red RTP of DBM and DIM is closely related to the synergism of n_π-ct-π* transitions and the 2D halogen-bonded network. Interestingly, the red RTP can be excited by visible light of 500 nm, which should be ascribed to the forbidden absorption from the ground state to the triplet state activated in the layered halogen-bonded framework. Due to the rich intermolecular interactions in the rigid layered structure, the red RTP of DBM is very stable under water or external force stimulation. Notably, Hg(II) and Cd(II) ions in a pure aqueous solution result in an opposite change in the RTP intensity of the DBM film. The detection limit of Hg(II) ion is as low as 2.5 × 10^-5 nM, lesser than all reported values. The above results not only provide a new idea for the design of simple and efficient red RTP materials but also make it possible to develop solid-state phosphorescent probes for toxic heavy metal ions in environmental sewage with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Intramolecular thiomaleimide [2 + 2] photocycloadditions: stereoselective control for disulfide stapling and observation of excited state intermediates by transient absorption spectroscopy

Thiomaleimides undergo efficient intermolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reactions and offer applications from photochemical peptide stapling to polymer crosslinking; however, the reactions are limited to the formation of the exo head-to-head isomers. Herein, we present an intramolecular variation which completely reverses the stereochemical outcome of this photoreaction, quantitatively generating endo adducts which minimise the structural disturbance of the disulfide staple and afford a 10-fold increase in quantum yield. We demonstrate the application of this reaction on a protein scaffold, using light to confer thiol stability to an antibody fragment conjugate. To understand more about this intriguing class of [2 + 2] photocycloadditions, we have used transient absorption spectroscopy (electronic and vibrational) to study the excited states involved. The initially formed S₂ (π₁π*) excited state is observed to decay to the S₁ (n₁π*) state before intersystem crossing to a triplet state. An accelerated intramolecular C–C bond formation provides evidence to explain the increased efficiency of the reaction, and the impact of the various excited states on the carbonyl vibrational modes is discussed.

Tethered bromomaleimides are described which undergo thiol conjugation and rapid regio- and stereoselective photocycloadditions to serve as disulfide staples; with the excited state intermediates observed by transient absorption spectroscopies.

The role of vibronic coupling in the electronic spectroscopy of maleimide: a multi-mode and multi-state quantum dynamics study

The first two excitation bands below 7 eV in the electronic absorption spectrum of maleimide are investigated using a model Hamiltonian including four low-lying singlet excited states within the manifold of 24 vibrational modes. The role of non-adiabatic effects is studied and shines light on both the broad, inter-state coupling-dominated spectral band as well as the fine-structured, not-so-strong coupled band. Calculations have been performed using the Multiconfigurational Time-Dependent Hartree (MCTDH) wavepacket propagation method as well as its multilayer version (ML-MCTDH) using a quadratic vibronic coupling (QVC) Hamiltonian model where parameters are obtained from fitting adiabatic potential energy surfaces computed by ab initio methods. The quantum dynamics calculations provide information on the relaxation dynamics and the vibrational modes involved. Already with a low-order vibronic coupling model and only a few modes being considered, a quantitative agreement with the experimental spectrum is obtained. However, it is found that all modes need to be considered to get a full picture of the photo-excited relaxation dynamics of this molecule.

Interference in acetylene intersystem crossing acts as the molecular analog of Young's double-slit experiment

We report on an experimental approach that reveals crucial details of the composition of singlet-triplet mixed eigenstates in acetylene. Intersystem crossing in this prototypical polyatomic molecule embodies the mixing of the lowest excited singlet state (S(1)) with 3 triplet states (T(1), T(2), and T(3)). Using high-energy (157-nm) photons from an F(2) laser to record excited-state photoelectron spectra, we have decomposed the mixed eigenstates into their S(1), T(3), T(2), and T(1) constituent parts. One example of the interpretive power that ensues from the selective sensitivity of the experiment to the individual electronic state characters is the discovery and examination of destructive interference between two doorway-mediated intersystem crossing pathways. This observation of an interference effect in nonradiative decay opens up possibilities for rational coherent control over molecular excited state dynamics.

Theoretical calculations of the molecular properties of maleimide and its dimer

B3LYP theoretical calculations with 6-31++G(d,p) basis set have been performed to study the infrared spectrum of maleimide and its dimer. Our calculations have shown that the dimer formation leads to a binding energy of 44.0 kJ mol(-1) involving two intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the amide hydrogen and a carbonyl group of two neighboring maleimides. This value is essentially due to the electrostatic interaction term. Our calculations have also revealed the vibrational changes, in terms of frequencies and IR intensities, after dimer formation. The most affected modes are associated with the N-H stretching and in-plane bending bands. This behavior can be adequately interpreted by the hydrogen atomic charge and N-H charge-flux based on the modified charge-charge flux-overlap model for infrared intensities. The B3LYP frequency shifts are in very good agreement with the experimental ones.

Reaction Optimization and Mechanism in Maleimide [5 + 2] Photocycloaddition: A Dual Approach Using Tunable UV Lasers and Time-Dependent DFT

An in-depth study of the intramolecular [5 + 2] photocycloaddition of maleimides using tunable UV lasers has demonstrated that the peak in quantum yield and rate both occur at wavelengths some 50 nm red shifted from the maxima observed in the UV spectra. A detailed explanation for these findings using time-dependent DFT calculations is presented, and the implications for a previously adopted mechanism are discussed.

Asymmetric Indolylmaleimide Derivatives and Their Complexation with Zinc(II)−Cyclen

The spectroscopic properties of two asymmetric indolylmaleimide derivatives, 4-bromo-3-(1'H-indol-3'-yl)maleimide and 4-methyl-3-(1'H-indol-3'-yl)maleimide, are investigated. The bromo derivative was crystallized and its X-ray structure was determined. Both compounds are strongly colored while their separate components (indole and maleimide) absorb in the UV region only. To understand the ground- and excited-state behavior, the photophysical properties of the two compounds were studied in detail by steady state and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy. Their solvatochromic behavior was investigated by using the Kamlet-Taft approach, which indicates some charge transfer (CT) character in the excited state. Nano- and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was used for the identification and investigation of the CT state. Furthermore, the effect of the complexation with zinc(II) 1,4,7,11-tetraazacyclododecane (Zn-cyclen) on the photophysical properties of these two compounds was studied. An enhancement of the fluorescence intensity upon self-assembly (up to 90 times) and high association constants were observed, which illustrate the potential use of these compounds as luminescent sensors. DFT calculations indicate that HOMO-1 to LUMO excitation is mainly responsible for the charge transfer character and that this transition changes its character drastically when Zn-cyclen complexation occurs, thus giving it sensor properties.