A DFT/TD-DFT Study on the ESIPT-Type Flavonoid Derivatives with High Emission Intensity

Effects of substitution and conjugation on photophysical properties of ESIPT-based fluorophores with the core of 4-aminophthalimide

4-Aminophthalimide is a highly fluorescent signaling unit with excellent photophysical properties and wide application foregrounds. Based on this, a range of theoretical investigations are conducted on the fluorescent probe (E)-5-((2-hydroxybenzylidene) amino) isoindoline-1, 3-dione (HID) with the core of 4-aminophthalimide using density functional theory (DFT) and time-containing density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods in this paper. The optimized configurations, vertical excitation and emission energies, electronic characteristics and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) behaviors of the probe HID are discussed in detail. Furthermore, to enhance the luminescent properties of HID, five novel compounds have been designed based on the structure of HID by introducing amino, methoxy and naphthalene groups (-NH2, -OMe and C10H8). Our work thoroughly explores how the property and position of substituents and conjugation affect photophysical characteristics and ESIPT processes. We find that the ESIPT dynamics can be modulated by the substitution and conjugation effects. Specifically, the introduction of amino and methoxy groups at the ortho-position and the introduction of the naphthalene group promote the ESIPT behavior of HID1, whereas the introduction of amino and methoxy groups at the meta-position exhibits the contrary impact. Therefore, we boldly infer that the introduction of electron-donating groups in the ortho-position and the introduction of the conjugated group make the ESIPT process more effortless to occur, whereas the introduction of substituents with opposing natures in the meta-position makes the ESIPT process more difficult to occur. In addition, the ionization potentials (IP), electron affinities (EA) and reorganization energies (λh and λe) of molecules are calculated to assess their potential as luminescent materials. Our work not only reveals the luminescence and ESIPT mechanism of the probe HID1, but also proposes to modulate the ESIPT process through the substitution and conjugation effects. In particular, the designed molecules have better photoelectric properties as a result of their red-shifted absorption and fluorescence spectra, smaller energy gaps, larger transferred charges and greater charge transferred distances, which offers some valuable ideas for the experimental development of more efficient organic luminescent materials with ESIPT properties.

Excited-State Proton Transfer in Luminescent Dyes: From Theoretical Insight to Experimental Evidence

The effective utilization of luminescent dyes often relies on a comprehensive understanding of their excitation and relaxation pathways. One such pathway, Excited-State Proton Transfer (ESPT), involves the tautomerization of the dye in its excited state, resulting in a new structure that exhibits distinct emission properties, such as a very large Stokes' shift or dual-emission. Although the ESPT phenomenon is well-explained theoretically, its experimental demonstration can be challenging due to the presence of numerous other phenomena that can yield similar experimental observations. In this review, we propose that an all-encompassing methodology, integrating experimental findings, computational analyses, and a thorough evaluation of diverse mechanisms, is essential for verifying the occurrence of ESPT in luminescent dyes. Investigations have offered significant understanding of the elements impacting the ESPT process and the array of approaches that can be used to validate the existence of ESPT. These discoveries hold crucial ramifications for the advancement of molecular probes, sensors, and other applications that depend on ESPT as a detection mechanism.

Spectroscopic Insights of an Emissive Complex between 4'-N,N-Diethylaminoflavonol in Octa-Acid Deep-Cavity Cavitand and Rhodamine 6G

Excited-state chemistry relies on the communication between molecules, making it a crucial aspect of the field. One important question that arises is whether intermolecular communication and its rate can be modified when a molecule is confined. To explore the interaction in such systems, we investigated the ground and excited states of 4'-N,N-diethylaminoflavonol (DEA3HF) in an octa acid-based (OA) confined medium and in ethanolic solution, both in the presence of Rhodamine 6G (R6G). Despite the observed spectral overlap between the flavonol emission and the R6G absorption, as well as the fluorescence quenching of the flavonol in the presence of R6G, the almost constant fluorescence lifetime at different amounts of R6G discards the presence of FRET in the studied systems. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence indicate the formation of an emissive complex between the proton transfer dye encapsulated within water-soluble supramolecular host octa acid (DEA3HF@(OA)₂) and R6G. A similar result was observed between DEA3HF:R6G in ethanolic solution. The respective Stern-Volmer plots corroborate with these observations, suggesting a static quenching mechanism for both systems.

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Targeted Two-Photon Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Nitroxyl in a Parkinson's Disease Model

Nitroxyl (HNO) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are considered to play important effects in the administration of many pathological processes of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the intricate relationship between the neurotoxicity of HNO and ER stress in the processes of PD is still unknown. To completely comprehend the pathogenic activity of HNO during ER stress and achieve early diagnosis of PD, developing sensitive tools for HNO sensing in vivo is essential. In this work, a two-photon fluorescent probe (KD-HNO) was developed with highly selective and sensitive (7.93 nM) response for HNO in vitro. Then, utilizing KD-HNO, we found that HNO levels were distinctly increased in tunicamycin-stimulated PC12 cells, which are characterized by ER stress and PD features. Most importantly, we detected a considerable increase in HNO levels in the brains of PD-model mice, indicating a positive correlation between PD and HNO levels for the first time. Collectively, these findings revealed that KD-HNO is an excellent tool not only for understanding the biological effects of HNO in pathological processes of PD but also for early PD diagnosis.