Absorption spectra of p-nitroaniline derivatives: charge transfer effects and the role of substituents

CONTEXT

Push-pull compounds are model systems and have numerous applications. By changing their substituents, properties are modified and new molecules for different applications can be designed. The work investigates the gas-phase electronic absorption spectra of 15 derivatives of push-pull para-nitroaniline (pNA). This molecule has applications in pharmaceuticals, azo dyes, corrosion inhibitors, and optoelectronics. Both electron-donor and electron-withdrawing groups were investigated. Employing machine learning-derived Hammett's constants σm, σm0, σR, and σI, correlations between substituents and electronic properties were obtained. Overall, the σm0 constants presented the best correlation with HOMO and LUMO energies, whereas the σR constants best agreed with the transition energy of the first band and HOMO-LUMO energy gap. Electron-donors, which have lower σR values, redshift the absorption spectrum and reduce the HOMO-LUMO energy gap. Conversely, electron-withdrawing groups (higher σR's) blueshift the spectrum and increase the energy gap. The second band maximum energies, studied here for the first time, showed no correlation with σ but tended to increase with σ. A comprehensive charge transfer (CT) analysis of the main transition of all systems was also carried out. We found that donors (lower σ's) slightly enhance the CT character of the unsubstituted pNA, whereas acceptors (higher σ's) decrease it, leading to increased local excitations within the aromatic ring. The overall CT variation is not large, except for pNA-SO2H, which considerably decreases the total CT value. We found that the strong electron donors pNA-OH, pNA-OCH3, and pNA-NH2, which have the smallest HOMO-LUMO energy gaps and lowest σ's, have potential for optoelectronic applications. The results show that none of the studied molecules is fluorescent in the gas phase. However, pNA-NH2 and pNA-COOH in cyclohexane and water reveal fluorescence upon solvation.

METHODS

We investigated theoretically employing the second-order algebraic diagrammatic construction (ADC(2)) ab initio wave function and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) the gas-phase electronic absorption spectra of 15 derivatives of p-nitroaniline (pNA). The investigated substituents include both electron-donor (C6H5, CCH, CH3, NH2, OCH3, and OH,) and electron-withdrawing (Br, CCl3, CF3, Cl, CN, COOH, F, NO2, and SO2H) substituents.

Many-body analysis and spectroscopic characterization of diazene oligomers: A theoretical study

The present study reports the many-body analysis and spectroscopic characterization of linear and cyclic diazene oligomers in gas and water solvent states. The oligomers of diazene from monomer to pentamer have been considered for the study. The spectroscopic studies such as geometrical parameters, infrared spectra, electronic absorption spectra, and natural transition orbitals (NTOs) were reported. Many-body analysis techniques have been implemented to study the interactions among the diazene oligomers. These calculations have been performed using exchange and correlation functional (B3LYP) and 6-311++G (d,p) basis set. The geometrical parameters and infrared modes of monomer diazene in the gas state are well-matched with the available experimental determinations at this level of theory. A significant change in vibrational modes of linear and cyclic diazene oligomers has been observed in the gas phase-to-water solvent state. The time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) has been used to calculate the electronic absorption spectra of diazene oligomers. The Wavelength of electronic transitions, oscillator strength, and HOMO to LUMO gap has been reported. Many-body analysis shows that two-, three-, four-, and five-body energies have a remarkable contribution to the binding energy in addition to relaxation energies. All these calculations have been performed using Gaussian 16 program package.

Effect of new DFT methods on spectroscopy and NLO analysis of 2-Bromo-5-nitrothiozole and nitrosodimethylamine

The present study reports the effect of new DFT methods introduced in Gaussian 16 viz B2PLYP, B2PLYPD, DSDPBEP86, and MPW2LPLYP on spectroscopy and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. The 2-Bromo-5-nitrothiozole and nitrosodimethylamine are considered for the study. In addition to new methods, old DFT, MP2, and HF methods are also considered. The spectroscopic study of geometrical parameters, vibrational, electronic absorption spectra, and HOMO-LUMO gap with their molecular orbitals have been reported. The geometrical parameters such as optimized energy, dipole moment, bond length, and angles have been reported. The diffuse and polarized basis set 6-311 +  + G(d,p) has been used for the study. The first- and second-order hyperpolarizabilities have also been reported for both molecules at all methods. This study shows that these two molecules are responsive to nonlinear optical (NLO), which reflects its enhanced applicability in the development of photonic devices. The finite field approach has been applied for calculating first (β) and second hyperpolarizabilities (ϒ) respectively. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap of nitrosodimethylamine is found to be greater than that of 2-Bromo-5-nitrothiozole. Gaussian16 program package has been used for all these calculations.

Spectroscopy and second hyperpolarizability of odd spin states of acetonitrile: Theoretical study

The present study reports the spectroscopic characterization and second hyperpolarizability of odd spin states of acetonitrile in gas phase and water solvent. The odd spin states of acetonitrile are singlet, triplet and quintet spin state of acetonitrile have been considered for the study. The spectroscopic characterization viz. energy, geometrical parameters, infrared and electronic absorption spectra, molecular orbitals (MOs) their energies and natural transitions orbitals (NTOs) in gas phase and water solvent state reported at B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. The second hyperpolarizability values are obtained using various methods and basis sets for comparison. It has been observed that the second hyperpolarizability values for the odd spin states of acetonitrile are more positive than the first hyperpolarizability. It is clearly seen that the effect of spin on spectroscopic parameters except on energy. The singlet gas phase acetonitrile calculations are well matching with the available experimental determinations. The TDDFT approach has been used to study electronic absorption spectra of all spin states of acetonitrile in gas phase and in water solvent. The IEFPCM model implemented in studying acetonitrile in water solvent at B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. It is observed that HOMO to LUMO gap is larger for singlet than the triplet and quintet spin state and it decrease with an increase in strength of an applied field. All these calculations performed using Gaussian 16 program package.

Excited state electronic structures and photochemistry of different oxidation states of 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)

The molecular structures of 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), were calculated by using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) model with M062X method with 6-311G (d, p) basis set. In this work, the ABTS were theoretically investigated from the geometric structure, the energy levels of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), the energy level gap ΔE_HOMO-LUMO of the molecular ground state, excited stated properties and the electronic absorption spectra of different oxidation states. We studied the energy levels of LUMO and HOMO of ABTS in different oxidation states. Frontier molecular orbital analysis can provide insight into the nature of excited states. ABTS was synthesized from N-ethylamine by total synthesis. Then, we measured the UV-Vis spectra of ABTS before and after being oxidized by K₂S₂O₈. The calculated electronic structures and photochemical properties of different oxidation state of ABTS were in accordance with the experimental result. This work demonstrates the relationship between the electronic structures and photochemistry of different oxidation states ABTS hence paves the way for the rationally synthesis and deepen understanding of the photophysical properties of ABTS materials.

Nonlinear optical properties and spectroscopic characterization of Y-shaped polymer using quantum chemical approach

The present study reports nonlinear optical properties such as the first and second hyper polarizabilities (β and γ) of Y-shaped polymer (P1) and substituted polymers. The basic Y-shaped polymer (R = R₁ = H) was named as P1. Upon substitution of one OCH₃ group in ortho position of oxygen, it becomes polymer P2 (R1 = H, R = OCH3) and other OCH₃ group on another ortho becomes P3 (R1 = R = OCH3). We have also reported structural parameters, vibrational and electronic absorption spectra of polymer, and its substituted polymers. The geometrical parameters such as dipole moment, bond length, and angles are reported at B3LYP/6-311++g** level of theory. In addition, the vibrational, electronic absorption spectra and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties are also reported at the same level of theory. There is a significant change in dipole moment and in energy observed whereas symmetry, bond length, and angles are resembling Y-shaped and substituted polymer. The vibrational spectra of Y-shaped polymer (P1) having the intense peak are C-H stretching mode observed at 1258 cm^-1. These theoretical vibrational modes are well matching with available experimental determinations. The method dependent hyperpolarizabilities calculated by applying the field along the X, Y, and Z direction. This study confirms the polymer P1 and P2 showing first and second hyperpolarizability response whereas P3 do not show. The electronic absorption spectra for polymer and substituted polymers are also reported at the same level of theory using (TDDFT) approach. The wavelength of electronic transition, oscillator strength, and HOMO-LUMO gap was also reported.

Quantitative prediction of electronic absorption spectra of copper(II)-bioligand systems: Validation and applications

The visible region of the electronic absorption spectra of Cu(II) complexes was studied by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The performance of twelve functionals in the prediction of absorption maxima (λ_max) was tested on eleven compounds with different geometry, donors and charge. The ranking of the functionals for λ_max was determined in terms of mean absolute percent deviation (MAPD) and standard deviation (SD) and it is as follows: BHandHLYP > M06 ≫ CAM-B3LYP ≫ MPW1PW91 ~ B1LYP ~ BLYP > HSE06 ~ B3LYP > B3P86 ~ ω-B97x-D ≫ TPSSh ≫ M06-2X (MAPD) and BHandHLYP > M06 ~ HSE06 > ω-B97x-D ~ CAM-B3LYP ~ MPW1PW91 > B1LYP ~ B3LYP > B3P86 > BLYP ≫ TPSSh ≫ M06-2X (SD). With BHandHLYP functional the MAPD is 3.1% and SD is 2.3%, while with M06 the MAPD is 3.7% and SD is 3.7%. The protocol validated in the first step of the study was applied to: i) calculate the number of transitions in the spectra and relate them to the geometry of Cu(II) species; ii) determine the coordination of axial water(s); iii) predict the electronic spectra of the systems where Cu(II) is bound to human serum albumin (HSA) and to the regions 94-97 and 108-112 of prion protein (PrP). The results indicate that the proposed computational protocol allows a successful prediction of the electronic spectra of Cu(II) species and to relate an experimental spectrum to a specific structure.

Study of Photophysical Properties on Newly Synthesized Coumarin Derivatives

Herein, we have studied the photophysical properties for three newly synthesized coumarin derivatives; 4-((2,6-dibromo-4-methylphenoxy)methyl)-2H-benzo[h]chromen-2-one (DMB), 4-((3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinolin-1-yl)methyl)-6-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one (DIM) and 4-((p-tolyloxy)methyl)-6-methoxy-2H-chromen-2-one (TMC). The absorption and emission spectra for above said molecules were recorded in different solvents at room temperature in order to calculate their ground and excited state dipole moments. The ground (μ _g ) and excited state dipole (μ _e ) moments of these coumarin derivatives were calculated using Lippert's, Bakshiev's and Kawski-Chamma-Viallet's equations by the solvatochromic shift method, which involves a variation of Stokes shift with the solvent dielectric constant and refractive index. Ground state dipole moments (μ _g ) were also calculated from the Guggenheim method using the dielectric constant and refractive index of the solute molecule. The value of ground state dipole moment obtained from these two methods is well correlated. Further, it is notified that the excited state dipole moment is larger than the ground state dipole moment for all three solute molecules. It inferred that the excited state for above said molecules is more polar than the ground state. The present investigations may shine in the design of nonlinear optical materials. Graphical Abstract The photophysical properties for novel coumarin derivatives were studied in different solvents.Ground and excited state dipole moments were estimated by the solvatochromic shift method. The excited state dipole moment is greater than the ground state dipole moment in systems studied. The excited state is more polar than the ground state. The present investigation may be shine in the design of non linear optical materials.

Influence of structural and solvation factors on the spectral-fluorescent properties of alkyl-substituted BODIPYs in solutions

The spectral-fluorescent properties of alkyl-substituted BODIPYs 1-5 in organic solvents were investigated. The alkyl-substituted BODIPYs 1-5 exhibit intense chromophoric properties (lgε=4.60-5.00). Relative fluorescence quantum yield of studied compounds reaches 66-100% and weakly dependent on the structural and solvation effects. Introduction of methyl, propyl, amyl and heptyl substituents in the 2,6-positions of the pyrroles the results in a significant red shift (22-29nm) in the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra.

Analysis and deconvolution of dimethylnaphthalene isomers using gas chromatography vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy and theoretical computations

An issue with most gas chromatographic detectors is their inability to deconvolve coeluting isomers. Dimethylnaphthalenes are a class of compounds that can be particularly difficult to speciate by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry analysis, because of their significant coelution and similar mass spectra. As an alternative, a vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopic detector paired with gas chromatography was used to study the systematic deconvolution of mixtures of coeluting isomers of dimethylnaphthalenes. Various ratio combinations of 75:25; 50:50; 25:75; 20:80; 10:90; 5:95; and 1:99 were prepared to test the accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of the detector for distinguishing overlapping isomers that had distinct, but very similar absorption spectra. It was found that, under reasonable injection conditions, all of the pairwise overlapping isomers tested could be deconvoluted up to nearly two orders of magnitude (up to 99:1) in relative abundance. These experimental deconvolution values were in agreement with theoretical covariance calculations performed for two of the dimethylnaphthalene isomers. Covariance calculations estimated high picogram detection limits for a minor isomer coeluting with low to mid-nanogram quantity of a more abundant isomer. Further characterization of the analytes was performed using density functional theory computations to compare theory with experimental measurements. Additionally, gas chromatography - vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy was shown to be able to speciate dimethylnaphthalenes in jet and diesel fuel samples.

Improvement of photovoltaic performance by substituent effect of donor and acceptor structure of TPA-based dye-sensitized solar cells

We report a computational study of a series of organic dyes built with triphenylamine (TPA) as an electron donor group. We designed a set of six dyes called (TPA-n, where n = 0-5). In order to enhance the electron-injection process, the electron-donor effect of some specific substituent was studied. Thus, we gave insights into the rational design of organic TPA-based chromophores for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In addition, we report the HOMO, LUMO, the calculated excited state oxidized potential E(dye*)(eV) and the free energy change for electron-injection ΔGinject(eV), and the UV-visible absorption bands for TPA-n dyes by a time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) procedure at the B3LYP and CAM-B3LYP levels with solvent effect. The results demonstrate that the introduction of the electron-acceptor groups produces an intramolecular charge transfer showing a shift of the absorption wavelengths of TPA-n under studies. Graphical Abstract Several organic dyes TPA-n with different donors and acceptors are modeled. A strong conjugation acrros the donor and anchoring groips (TPA-n) bas been studied. Candidate TPA-3 shows a promising results.

Molecular structure and vibrational assignment of 1-[N-(2-pyridyl) aminomethylidene}-2(1H)-Naphtalenone by density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) calculations

The molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies of 1-[N-(2-pyridyl)aminomethylidene}-2(1H)-Naphtalenone in the ground state have been calculated by using the Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The results of the optimized molecular structure are presented and compared with the experimental X-ray diffraction. The computed vibrational frequencies were used to determine the types of molecular motions associated with each of the experimental bands observed. In addition, calculated results are related to the linear correlation plot of computed data versus experimental geometric parameters and IR data. From the results it was concluded that the B3LYP method is superior to the HF method for the vibrational frequencies. Using the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and Hartree-Fock (TD-HF) methods, electronic absorption spectra of the title compound have been predicted and a good agreement with the TD-DFT method and experimental ones is determined.

A study on the electronic spectra of some 2-azidobenzothiazoles, TD-DFT treatment

The electronic absorption spectra of some 2-azidobenzothiazoles were measured in different solvents. The effects of solvent and substitution on the spectra were investigated. Substitution by a bromine atom and by a nitro group have significant effects on both band maxima and band intensity. Correlation between the spectra of the studied compounds and the corresponding hydrocarbons proved to be weak, whereas the correlation between the observed spectra and those calculated is adequate. Theoretical treatment of the ultraviolet spectra of the studied compounds was carried out by using the TD-DFT procedures, at the B3LYP level and the 6-311+G(∗∗) basis sets, the results compared well with the experimental values. The computed molecular orbitals of the ground state indicate that some orbitals are "localized-π" or "localized σ" molecular orbitals while the others are delocalized orbitals. The calculated functions of the excited states lead to an accurate assignment of the bands observed in the spectra.

Synthesis, spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, DFT calculations, DNA binding and molecular docking of a propargyl arms containing Schiff base

A propargyl arms containing Schiff base (L) was synthesized by the condensation of 1-[2-hydroxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]ethanone with trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. The structure of L was characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy and by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The UV-Visible spectral behavior of L in different solvents exhibits positive solvatochromism. Density functional calculation of the L in gas phase was performed by using DFT (B3LYP) method with 6-31G basis set. The computed vibrational frequencies and NMR signals of L were compared with the experimental data. Tautomeric stability study inferred that the enolimine is more stable than the ketoamine form. The charge delocalization has been analyzed using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. Electronic absorption and emission spectral studies were used to study the binding of L with CT-DNA. The molecular docking was done to identify the interaction of L with A-DNA and B-DNA.

The new Schiff base 4-[(4-Hydroxy-3-fluoro-5-methoxy-benzylidene)amino]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one: experimental, DFT calculational studies and in vitro antimicrobial activity

The synthesized Schiff base, 4-[(4-Hydroxy-3-fluoro-5-methoxy-benzylidene)amino]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (I), has been characterized by (13)C NMR, (1)H NMR, 2D NMR ((1)H-(1)H COSY and (13)C APT), FT-IR, UV-vis and X-ray single-crystal techniques. Molecular geometry of the compound I in the ground state, vibrational frequencies and chemical shift values have been calculated by using the density functional method (DFT) with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The obtained results indicate that optimized geometry can well reflect the crystal structural parameters. The differences between experimental and calculated results of FT-IR and NMR have supported the existence of intermolecular (O-H⋯O type) and intramolecular (C-H⋯O type) hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), frontier molecular orbital analysis (HOMO-LUMO) and electronic absorption spectra were carried out at B3LYP/6-311G++(d,p). HOMO-LUMO electronic transition of 3.92eV is due to contribution of the bands the n→π∗. The antimicrobial activity of the compound I was determined against the selected 11 bacteria and 8 fungi by microdilution broth assay with Alamar Blue. In vitro studies showed that the compound I has no antifungal effect for selected fungal isolates. However, the compound I shows remarkable antibacterial effect for the bacteria; Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Enterococcus faecalis.

About intermolecular interactions in binary and ternary solutions of some azo-benzene derivatives

The nature and strength of the intermolecular interactions in the solutions of three azo-benzene derivatives (ADi, i=1, 2, 3) were established by solvatochromic effects in solvents with different electric permittivities, refractive indices and Kamlet-Taft constants. A quantum mechanical analysis corroborated with spectral data offered information about the excited state dipole moments and polarizabilities of the studied compounds. The separation of the supply of universal and specific interactions to the total spectral shift was made based on the regression coefficients from the equations describing the solvatochromic effect. Supplementary information about the composition of the first solvation shell and the energy in the solute-solvent molecular pairs were obtained analyzing the ternary solutions of ADi, i=1, 2, 3 compounds in solvent mixture Methanol (M)+n-Hexane (H).

An experimental study of the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectral properties of new p-substituted-N-phenylpyrroles and their electrosynthesized polymers

Electronic absorption and fluorescence spectral properties of new p-substituted-N-phenylpyrroles (N-PhPys), including HOPhPy, MeOPhPy, ThPhPy, PhDPy, DPhDPy, PyPhThThPhPy, and their available, electrosynthesized polymers were investigated. Electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, fluorescence quantum yields (ΦF) and lifetimes (τF), and other photophysical parameters of these N-PhPy derivatives and their polymers were measured in DMF, DMSO diluted solutions and/or solid state at room temperature. The electronic absorption spectra of N-PhPy derivatives and their polymers included one to several bands, located in the 270-395 nm region, according to the p-phenyl substituent electron-donating effect and conjugated heteroaromatic system length. The fluorescence excitation spectra were characterized by one broad main peak, with, in most cases, one (or more) poorly resolved shoulder (s), appearing in the 270-405 nm region, and their emission spectra were generally constituted of several bands located in the 330-480 nm region. No significant shift of the absorption, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra wavelengths was found upon going from the monomers to the corresponding polymers. ΦF values were high, varying between 0.11 and 0.63, according to the nature of substituents(s) and to the conjugated system extension. Fluorescence decays were mono-exponential for the monomers and poly-exponential for PyPhThThPhPy and for polymers. τF values were relatively short (0.35-5.17 ns), and markedly decreased with the electron-donor character of the phenyl group p-substituent and the conjugated system extension.

ESIPT inspired dual fluorescent probe (Z)-3-((4-(4-aminobenzyl) phenyl) amino)-1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-one: experimental and DFT based approach to photophysical properties

A fluorescent probe (Z)-3-((4-(4-aminobenzyl) phenyl) amino)-1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-one (L) was synthesized and characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, ESI mass, UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy and by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecule has a stable helical structure due to intermolecular CH π interaction. The thermal stability of L was studied by TG analysis. The electronic structure calculations of L have been carried out using DFT at B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) level. The vibrational frequencies and (1)H NMR spectra were computed at this level and compared with experimental values. Major orbital contributions for the electronic transitions were assigned with the help of time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The observed electronic absorption spectra of L in different solvents coincide with the computed spectra in keto form. The dual emission and high Stokes shift values support the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. The molecular docking has been employed to get information about the interaction of L with DNA [6BNA].

Theoretical screening of novel alkyne bridged zinc porphyrins as sensitizer candidates for dye-sensitized solar cells

Alkyne bridged porphyrin sensitizers have attracted great attention in the field of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) because of their excellent photo-to-electric conversion efficiencies, among which YD2 has reached 11% while YD2-o-C8 has reached 11.9% solely and 12.3% co-sensitized with other sensitizers. Design and screening of porphyrin sensitizer candidates with wider electronic absorption spectra to further improve the photo-to-electric conversion efficiencies of corresponding solar cells is still very important. Twenty novel alkyne bridged zinc porphyrin sensitizer candidates composed of the donors diarylamino-, tri-4-methylphenyl-, tri-hydroxyl- and tri-amino-substituted zinc porphyrins as well as the selected acceptors E, M, Q, R and S have been designed and calculated at the density functional B3LYP level. YD2 and YD2-o-C8 are also calculated at the same level for comparison. The result shows that the sensitizer candidates all have smaller HOMO-LUMO gaps as well as wider and red-shifted absorption bands than those of YD2 and YD2-o-C8. Most of the sensitizer candidates have appropriate HOMO and LUMO energy levels relative to the redox potential of the mediator and the TiO2 conduction band, showing that they are promising to provide comparable or even higher photo-to-electric conversion efficiencies than 11% of YD-2 or 11.9% of YD2-o-C8.

Photophysical behavior of some aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether)s derivatives

The change in electronic absorption and emission spectra of two fluorinated poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether)s in neat and binary solvent mixtures has been studied. The optical properties, absorption and photoluminescence of these polymers were investigated in solution and in solid state. The results were discussed as a function of solvent nature, excitation wavelength and local solvent composition, X2. The Catalan solvent scale was used for describing the solvatochromic shifts of the absorption and emission bands. The following binary solvent mixtures were used: chloroform-N,N'-dimethylformamide (CHCl3-DMF), chloroform-dimethyl sulfoxide (CHCl3-DMSO), and dimethylformamide-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMF-DMSO) and the influence of their composition on the absorption and emission maxima has been analyzed. The preferential solvation parameters such as local mole fraction (X2(L)), excess function (δs2) and preferential solvation constant (KPS) were determined.

Intermolecular interactions in binary and ternary solutions of two cycloimmonium-carboethoxy-anilido-methylids

Two cycloimmonium ylids with pyridinium and iso-quinolinium as heterocycle and having common carbanion were studied from the point of view of the solvent influence on electronic absorption spectra in binary and ternary solutions. The supplies of the universal and specific interactions to the spectral shifts in the electronic absorption spectra of hydroxyl solutions were separated. The strength of the specific interactions of the ylid molecules with octanol was estimated by using ternary solutions in binary solvent Octanol+Dichloroethane, in which the universal interactions have similar strengths. Quantum mechanical calculations and also the solvatochromic effect allowed us estimating the values of the molecular dipole moments in the excited state of the studied ylids. The conclusions showed that by excitation the molecular dipole moment of the studied ylids decreases or changes its sense, due to the electronic charge transport from the carbanion towards the heterocycle.

Theoretical design and screening of alkyne bridged triphenyl zinc porphyrins as sensitizer candidates for dye-sensitized solar cells

Alkyne bridged porphyrins have been proved very promising sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with the highest photo-to-electric conversion efficiencies of 11.9% solely and 12.3% co-sensitized with other sensitizers achieved. Developing better porphyrin sensitizers with wider electronic absorption spectra to further improve the efficiencies of corresponding solar cells is still of great significance for the application of DSSCs. A series of triphenyl zinc porphyrins (ZnTriPP) differing in the nature of a pendant acceptor group and the conjugated bridge between the porphyrin nucleus and the acceptor unit were modeled and their electronic and spectral properties calculated using density functional theory. As compared with each other and the experimental results of the compounds used in DSSCs previously, the molecules with a relatively longer conjugative linker and a strong electron-withdrawing group such as cyanide adjacent to the carboxyl acid group seem to provide wider electronic absorption spectra and higher photo-to-electric conversion efficiencies. The dye candidates ZnTriPPE, ZnTriPPM, ZnTriPPQ, ZnTriPPR and ZnTriPPS designed in the current work were found promising to provide comparable photo-to-electric conversion efficiencies to the record 11.9% of the alkyne bridged porphyrin sensitizer YD2-o-C8 reported previously.

Molecular structure and modeling studies of azobenzene derivatives containing maleimide groups

The molecular orbital calculations have been carried out to investigate the structure and stability of (E) / (Z) isomers of some azobenzene derivatives containing maleimide groups. A special attention has been devoted to the compound (E)-1, (E)-1-(4-(phenyldiazenyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione, for which the available crystallographic experimental data have been used to validate the modeling structures computed at the theoretical levels AM1, PM3, RHF/6-31+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p). To this end, the discrepancy between experimental and calculated structural parameters has been ascertained in terms of root-mean-square deviation (RMSD). The quantum calculations at the level RHF/6-31+G(d,p) yield the most accurate results on (E)-1 structure giving a deviation error from crystallographic data of about 5.00% for bond lengths and 0.97% for interatomic angles. The theoretical electronic absorption spectra of azobenzene derivatives of concern have been computed by means of configuration-interaction method (CI) at the level of semi-empirical Hamiltonians (AM1 and PM3). Likewise, the molecular energy spectra, electrostatic potential and some quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) properties of studied molecules have been computed and discussed in the paper.

Synthesis and spectral properties of new fluorescent alkoxy-substituted thieno[3,2-b]indole derivatives

The synthesis and optical properties of three new fluorescent alkoxy-substituted thieno[3,2-b]indole (TI) derivatives, including 7-methoxy thieno[3,2-b]indole (7-MeOTI), 6,7- methylenedioxythieno[3,2-b]indole (6,7-MDTI) and 6,7-dihexyloxythieno[3,2-b]indole, (6,7-DHTI), were investigated. Electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, fluorescence quantum yields (ΦF), lifetimes (τF), and other photophysical parameters of the three TI derivatives were measured in DMSO solutions at room temperature. Theoretical electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra were also calculated by means of a molecular orbital (MO) method. For all three alkoxy-TI derivatives, the fluorescence emission maximum wavelength was significantly red shifted relative to un-substituted TI, which was attributed to delocalization of the fused hetero-aromatic ring π electronic system by the electron-donating alkoxy group(s). ΦF values varied from 0.12 to 0.19, according to the compound. τF were short, in the range 0.56-1.13 ns.

Synthesis, solvatochromism and crystal structure of 5-Methoxy-5,6-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-2H -1,2,4-triazine-3-thione

BACKGROUND

For the development of properties in molecular crystals, such as electrical conductivities, magnetic properties, or non-linear optical properties, not only the electronic properties of molecules themselves matter, but also the molecular arrangements in the crystals are very important. Therefore, the design of the crystal structures and the control of molecular arrangements have attracted much attention in recent years. Among various ligands, triazine moieties have been especially interesting because of their biological, pharmacological and medicinal properties.

RESULTS

Crystal structure of 5-Methoxy-5,6-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-triazine-3-thione is Monoclinic, which consists of space group P21/c with a = 9.699(1), b = 8.500(1), c = 18.044(2) Å, β = 101.290(7)° and Z = 4, R1 = 0.0371 and wR2 = 0.1008 with 2456 reflections (I > 2σ(I)). Intermolecular H bonds between NH groups are acting as donors and S atoms as acceptors. There are also shorted face-to-face as well as edge to face π-π stacking interactions between the parallel aromatic rings. The behavior of solvatochromic of the mentioned compound that involved interhydrogen bonding was investigated by studying its electronic absorption spectra in pure organic solvents of different characters.

CONCLUSIONS

The crystal structure of C16H15N3OS, shows the expected face-to-face π-π stacking interactions between aromatic rings of the neighbor chains in this compound. The centroid-centroid distance between the aromatic rings is 3.325 Å. It was found that the monomer of the ligand 5-Methoxy-5,6-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-triazine-3-thione, further extends into 3D networks via hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking interactions. The solvatochromic behavior of the title compound was also investigated by studying its spectra in a selection of different organic solvents. While progressing from the non-polar solvent to the polar one, the main intense band at 310 nm, which is due to the π-π* transition, was red shifted by 13 nm. Thus, the title compound showed positive solvatochromic behavior.