Solvent effects on the photooxidation of indolepyrazines.

Photodestruction of 2-(pyrazin-2'-yl)-1H-indole and 2,5-di(1H-indol-2'-yl)pyrazine involves singlet oxygen generation and its rapid insertion into the indole ring with the formation of benzoxazinone derivatives: 2-(pyrazin-2-yl)-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one and 2-[5-(1H-indol-2-yl)pyrazin-2-yl]-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one. The quantum yield of this reaction strongly depends on the environment. It is definitely smaller in protic methanol than in aprotic acetonitrile or n-hexane. The observed effect of photostabilization is explained by formation of hydrogen bonded complexes between the chromophore and alcohol, which results in lower triplet formation efficiency and, in consequence, decrease of singlet oxygen formation quantum yield.

Photodegradation of free base and zinc porphyrins in the presence and absence of oxygen.

Comparison of photostability in degassed and aerated toluene solutions is reported for 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin, 5,10,15-tri(p-tolyl)porphyrin, and their zinc analogues. After degassing, quantum yields of photodegradation are higher, but the photodecomposition rates decrease. Lower stability in deoxygenated solutions is due to much longer triplet lifetimes: 200-300 microseconds, compared to 200-360 ns in non-degassed toluene. For the zinc porphyrins, the LC-MS results show that the initial photoproduct contains two oxygen atoms. Based on electronic absorption and calculations, it is assigned to dehydrated zinc biladienone structure, relatively stable in toluene, but readily demetallated in dichloromethane. A similar species is formed also in the case of free bases, but it then undergoes hydration due to traces of water present in the solvent. Zinc derivatives were found to form biladienones even in degassed solutions. To explain this observation, we postulate formation of a complex with remaining oxygen or oxygen-containing species which is not removed by freeze-thaw procedure. This hypothesis is confirmed by MS results and by the analysis of photodegradation products obtained when zinc porphyrin is complexed with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Under these circumstances, changes in absorption are the same as in the absence of DMSO when non-degassed toluene is used, but irradiation of deoxygenated solutions leads to a different photoproduct. For both degassed and non-degassed solvents, complexation with DMSO results in the enhancement of photostability.

Photo-Induced Reactions between Glyoxal and Hydroxylamine in Cryogenic Matrices.

In this paper, the photochemistry of glyoxal−hydroxylamine (Gly−HA) complexes is studied using FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The irradiation of the Gly−HA complexes with the filtered output of a mercury lamp (λ > 370 nm) leads to their photoconversion to hydroxyketene−hydroxylamine complexes and the formation of hydroxy(hydroxyamino)acetaldehyde with a hemiaminal structure. The first product is the result of a double hydrogen exchange reaction between the aldehyde group of Gly and the amino or hydroxyl group of HA. The second product is formed as a result of the addition of the nitrogen atom of HA to the carbon atom of one aldehyde group of Gly, followed by the migration of the hydrogen atom from the amino group of hydroxylamine to the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group of glyoxal. The identification of the products is confirmed by deuterium substitution and by MP2 calculations of the structures and vibrational spectra of the identified species.

Complexes of Formaldehyde and α-Dicarbonyls with Hydroxylamine: FTIR Matrix Isolation and Theoretical Study.

The interactions of formaldehyde (FA), glyoxal (Gly) and methylglyoxal (MGly) with hydroxylamine (HA) isolated in solid argon and nitrogen were studied using FTIR spectroscopy and ab initio methods. The spectra analysis indicates the formation of two types of hydrogen-bonded complexes between carbonyl and hydroxylamine in the studied matrices. The cyclic planar complexes are stabilized by O-H⋯O(C), and C-H⋯N interactions and the nonplanar complexes are stabilized by O-H⋯O(C) bond. Formaldehyde was found to form with hydroxylamine, the cyclic planar complex and methylglyoxal, the nonplanar one in both argon and nitrogen matrices. In turn, glyoxal forms with hydroxylamine the most stable nonplanar complex in solid argon, whereas in solid nitrogen, both types of the complex are formed.

Towards More Photostable, Brighter, and Less Phototoxic Chromophores: Synthesis and Properties of Porphyrins Functionalized with Cyclooctatetraene.

Free base and zinc porphyrins functionalized with cyclooctatetraene (COT), a molecule known as a good triplet-state quencher, have been obtained and characterized in detail by structural, spectral, and photophysical techniques. Substitution with COT leads to a dramatic decrease of the intrinsic lifetime of the porphyrin triplet. As a result, photostability in oxygen-free solution increases by two to three orders of magnitude. In non-degassed solutions, improvement of photostability is about tenfold for zinc porphyrins, but the free bases become less photostable. Similar quantum yields of photodegradation in free base and zinc porphyrins containing the COT moiety indicate a common mechanism of photochemical decomposition. The new porphyrins are expected to be much less phototoxic, since the quantum yield of singlet oxygen formation strongly decreases because of the shorter triplet lifetime. The reduction of triplet lifetime should also enhance the brightness and reduce blinking in porphyrin chromophores emitting in single-molecule regime, since the duration of dark OFF states will be shorter.

Photoinduced oxidation of an indole derivative: 2-(1'H-indol-2'-yl)-[1,5]naphthyridine.

The UV-induced oxidation of 2-(1'H-indol-2'-yl)-[1,5]naphthyridine acetonitrile solution in the presence of air leads to the formation of 2-(1,5-naphthyridin-2-yl)-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one as a major product and N-(2-formylphenyl)-1,5-naphthyridine-2-carboxamide as a minor one. The probable reaction mechanisms are different for the two photoproducts and may involve both the reaction with singlet oxygen generated by the excited substrate or the reaction of the excited substrate with the ground state oxygen molecule. Electronic absorption and IR spectra indicate that both photoproducts are formed as mixtures of syn and anti-rotameric forms. The obtained results indicate an efficient and easy method for the synthesis of molecules with a benzoxazinone structure.

Combined effect of hydrogen bonding interactions and freezing of rotameric equilibrium on the enhancement of photostability.

The photophysics and photostability of 12,13-dihydro-5H-indolo[3,2-c]acridine (IA), a rigid bifunctional indole derivative with proton donor/acceptor functionalities, can be drastically changed by the environment. The formation of hydrogen bonds with alcohols leads to a significant decrease of the triplet formation efficiency and an increase of photostability. The photodegradation yield was found to be about two hundred times lower in methanol and 1-propanol than in n-hexane or acetonitrile. A similar effect has been reported for two indole-naphthyridines, molecules that can exist in syn and anti rotameric forms. We demonstrate that IA, which can exist only in the syn form, is more photostable in alcohols than similar, but non-rigid molecules. This additional photostability enhancement is due to the elimination of a slower channel of excited state deactivation in alcohol complexes, S0 ← S1 internal conversion. The dominant, faster channel of S1 depopulation is the excited state double proton transfer, manifested by the presence of low energy tautomeric fluorescence.

A simple route to alloyed quaternary nanocrystals Ag-In-Zn-S with shape and size control.

A convenient method of the preparation of alloyed quaternary Ag-In-Zn-S nanocrystals is elaborated, in which a multicomponent mixture of simple and commercially available precursors, namely, silver nitrate, indium(III) chloride, zinc stearate, 1-dodecanethiol, and sulfur, is used with 1-octadecene as a solvent. The formation of quaternary nanocrystals necessitates the use of an auxiliary sulfur precursor, namely, elemental sulfur dissolved in oleylamine, in addition to 1-dodecanethiol. Without this additional precursor binary ZnS nanocrystals are formed. The optimum reaction temperature of 180 °C was also established. In these conditions shape, size, and composition of the resulting nanocrystals can be adjusted in a controlled manner by changing the molar ratio of the precursors in the reaction mixture. For low zinc stearate contents anisotropic rodlike (ca.3 nm x 10 nm) and In-rich nanocrystals are obtained. This is caused by a significantly higher reactivity of the indium precursor as compared to the zinc one. With increasing zinc precursor content the reactivities of both precursors become more balanced, and the resulting nanocrystals are smaller (1.5-4.0 nm) and become Zn-rich as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive spectrometry investigations. Simultaneous increases in the zinc and sulfur precursor content result in an enlargement of nanocrystals (2.5 to 5.0 nm) and further increase in the molar ZnS content (up to 0.76). The prepared nanoparticles show stable photoluminescence with the quantum yield up to 37% for In and Zn-rich nanocrystals. Their hydrodynamic diameter in toluene dispersion, determined by dynamic light scattering, is roughly twice larger than the diameter of their inorganic core.

Infrared spectra of the 1-pyridinium (C5H5NH+) cation and pyridinyl (C5H5NH and 4-C5H6N) radicals isolated in solid para-hydrogen.

Protonated pyridine and its neutral counterparts (C5H6N) are important intermediates in organic and biological reactions and in the atmosphere. We have recorded the IR absorption spectra of the 1-pyridinium (C5H5NH(+)) cation, 1-pyridinyl (C5H5NH), and 4-pyridinyl (4-C5H6N) produced on electron bombardment during matrix deposition of a mixture of pyridine (C5H5N) and p-H2 at 3.2 K; all spectra were previously unreported. The IR features of C5H5NH(+) diminished in intensity after the matrix was maintained in darkness for 15 h, whereas those of C5H5NH and 4-C5H6N radicals increased. Irradiation of this matrix with light at 365 nm diminished lines of C5H5NH(+) and C5H5NH but enhanced lines of 4-C5H6N slightly, whereas irradiation at 405 nm diminished lines of 4-C5H6N significantly. Observed wavenumbers and relative intensities of these species agree satisfactorily with the anharmonic vibrational wavenumbers and IR intensities predicted with the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) method. Assignments of C5H5NH and 4-C5H6N radicals were further supported by the observation of similar spectra when a Cl2/C5H5N/p-H2 matrix was irradiated first at 365 nm and then with IR light to generate H atoms to induce the H + C5H5N reaction.

Infrared spectrum of the 2-chloroethyl radical in solid para-hydrogen.

The addition reaction of chlorine with ethylene (C(2)H(4)) is expected to proceed via a free radical intermediate, the 2-chloroethyl radical, however, this intermediate has not been previously observed spectroscopically. Irradiation at 365 nm of a co-deposited mixture of Cl(2), C(2)H(4), and p-H(2) at 3.2 K produces a series of new lines in the infrared spectrum. A strong line at 664.0 cm(-1) and weaker lines at 562.1, 1069.9, 1228.0, 3041.1 and 3129.3 cm(-1) are concluded to be due to a single carrier based on their behavior upon subsequent annealing to 4.5 K and secondary irradiation at 254 and 214 nm. The positions and intensities of these lines agree with the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ predicted vibrational spectrum of the 2-chloroethyl (˙CH(2)CH(2)Cl) radical. In order to confirm this assignment, isotopic experiments were performed with C(2)D(4) and t-C(2)H(2)D(2) and the corresponding infrared bands due to the deuterium isotopomers of this radical (˙CD(2)CD(2)Cl and ˙C(2)H(2)D(2)Cl) have been observed. A final set of experiments were performed following irradiation of the Cl(2)/C(2)H(4)/p-H(2) mixture at 365 nm, in which the matrix was irradiated with filtered infrared light from a globar source, which has been shown to induce reactions between isolated Cl atoms and matrix H(2) to produce HCl and H atoms. In these experiments, the major products observed were HCl, the ethyl radical (˙C(2)H(5)) and ethyl chloride (C(2)H(5)Cl) and the possible mechanisms for the formation of these species are discussed.

Isotope effects observed in diluted D2O/H2O mixtures identify HOD-induced low-density structures in D2O but not H2O.

Normal and heavy water are solvents most commonly used to study the isotope effect. The isotope effect of a solvent significantly influences the behavior of a single molecule in a solution, especially when there are interactions between the solvent and the solute. The influence of the isotope effect becomes more significant in D2O/H2O since the hydrogen bond in H2O is slightly weaker than its counterpart (deuterium bond) in D2O. Herein, we characterize the isotope effect in a mixture of normal and heavy water on the solvation of a HOD molecule. We show that the HOD molecule affects the proximal solvent molecules, and these disturbances are much more significant in heavy water than in normal water. Moreover, in D2O, we observe the formation of low-density structures indicative of an ordering of the solvent around the HOD molecule. The qualitative differences between HOD interaction with D2O and H2O were consistently confirmed with Raman spectroscopy and NMR diffusometry.

Reactions between chlorine atom and acetylene in solid para-hydrogen: infrared spectrum of the 1-chloroethyl radical.

We applied infrared matrix isolation spectroscopy to investigate the reactions between Cl atom and acetylene (C2H2) in a para-hydrogen (p-H2) matrix at 3.2 K; Cl was produced via photodissociation at 365 nm of matrix-isolated Cl2 in situ. The 1-chloroethyl radical (·CHClCH3) and chloroethene (C2H3Cl) are identified as the main products of the reaction Cl + C2H2 in solid p-H2. IR absorption lines at 738.2, 1027.6, 1283.4, 1377.1, 1426.6, 1442.6, and 2861.2 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the 1-chloroethyl radical. For the reaction of Cl + C2D2, lines due to the ·CDClCH2D radical and trans-CHDCDCl are observed; the former likely has a syn-conformation. These assignments are based on comparison of observed vibrational wavenumbers and ¹³C- and D-isotopic shifts with those predicted with the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ methods. Our observation indicates that the primary addition product of Cl + C2H2, 2-chlorovinyl (·CHCHCl) reacts readily with a neighboring p-H2 molecule to form ·CHClCH3 and C2H3Cl. Observation of ·CDClCH2D and trans-CHDCDCl from Cl + C2D2 further supports this conclusion. Although the reactivity of p-H2 appears to be a disadvantage for making highly reactive free radicals in solid p-H2, the formation of 1-chloroethyl radical indicates that this secondary reaction might be advantageous in producing radicals that are difficult to prepare from simple photolysis or bimolecular reactions in situ.

Infrared absorption of gaseous benzoylperoxy radical C6H5C(O)OO recorded with a step-scan Fourier-transform spectrometer.

A step-scan Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer coupled with a multipass absorption cell was utilized to monitor the transient species produced in gaseous reactions of benzoyl radical, C(6)H(5)CO, with O(2). C(6)H(5)CO was produced either from photolysis of acetophenone, C(6)H(5)C(O)CH(3), at 248 nm, or from photolysis of a mixture of benzaldehyde, C(6)H(5)CHO, and Cl(2) at 355 nm. Two intense bands near 1830 and 1226 cm(-1) are assigned to the C=O stretching (ν(6)) and the C-C stretching mixed with C-H deformation (ν(13)) modes, and two weaker bands near 1187 and 1108 cm(-1) are assigned to the ν(14) (C-H deformation) and ν(16) (O-O stretching /C-H deformation) modes of C(6)H(5)C(O)OO, the benzoylperoxy radical. These observed vibrational wave numbers and relative infrared intensities agree with those reported for syn-C(6)H(5)C(O)OO isolated in solid Ar and values predicted for syn-C(6)H(5)C(O)OO with the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ method. The simulated rotational contours of the two intense bands based on rotational parameters predicted with the B3LYP∕cc-pVTZ method fit satisfactorily with experimental results.

Photochemistry of formaldoxime−nitrous acid complexes in an argon matrix: identification of formaldoxime nitrite.

We have studied the structure and photochemistry of the formaldoxime−nitrous acid system (CH2NOH−HONO) by help of FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy and ab initio methods. The MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) calculations show stability of six isomeric CH2NOH···HONO complexes. The FTIR spectra evidence formation of two hydrogen bonded complexes in an argon matrix whose structures are determined by comparison of the experimental spectra with the calculated ones for the six stable complexes. In the matrix there is present the most stable cyclic complex with two O−H···N bonds; a strong bond is formed between the OH group of HONO and the N atom of CH2NOH and the weaker one between the OH group of CH2NOH and the N atom of HONO. In the other complex present in the matrix the OH group of formaldoxime is attached to the OH group of HONO forming an O−H···O bond. The irradiation of the CH2NOH···HONO complexes with the filtered output of the mercury lamp (λ > 345 nm) leads to the formation of formaldoxime nitrite, CH2NONO, and its two isomeric complexes with water. The main product is the CH2NONO···H2O complex in which water is hydrogen bonded to the N atom of the C═N group. The identity of the photoproducts is confirmed by both FTIR spectroscopy and MP2 or QCISD(full) calculations with the 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The intermediate in this reaction is iminoxyl radical that is formed by abstraction of hydrogen atom from formaldoxime OH group by an OH radical originating from HONO photolysis.

Photo-induced hydrogen exchange reaction between methanol and glyoxal: formation of hydroxyketene.

We study the structure and photochemistry of the glyoxal-methanol system (G-MeOH) by means of FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The FTIR spectra show that the non-hydrogen-bonded complex, G-MeOH-1, is present in an inert environment of solid argon. MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations indicate that G-MeOH-1 is the most stable complex among the five optimized structures. The interaction energy partitioned according to the symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) scheme demonstrates that the dispersion energy gives a larger contribution to the stabilization of a non-hydrogen-bonded G-MeOH-1 complex than compared to the hydrogen-bonded ones. The irradiation of G-MeOH-1 with the filtered output of a mercury lamp (lambda>370 nm) leads to its photo-conversion into the hydroxyketene-methanol complex HK-MeOH-1. The identity of HK-MeOH-1 is confirmed by both FTIR spectroscopy and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations. An experiment with deuterated methanol (CH(3)OD) evidences that hydroxyketene is formed in a photo-induced hydrogen exchange reaction between glyoxal and methanol. The pathway for the photo-conversion of G-MeOH-1 to HK-MeOH-1 is studied by a coupled-cluster method [CR-CC(2,3)]. The calculations confirm our experimental findings that the reaction proceeds via hydrogen atom exchange between the OH group of methanol and CH group of glyoxal.

Formaldoxime hydrogen bonded complexes with ammonia and hydrogen chloride.

An infrared spectroscopic and MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) study of hydrogen bonded complexes of formaldoxime with ammonia and hydrogen chloride trapped in solid argon matrices is reported. Both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes between formaldoxime and ammonia, hydrogen chloride have been identified in the CH2NOH/NH3/Ar, CH2NOH/HCl/Ar matrices, respectively, their structures were determined by comparison of the spectra with the results of calculations. In the 1:1 complexes present in the argon matrices the OH group of formaldoxime acts as a proton donor for ammonia and the nitrogen atom acts as a proton acceptor for hydrogen chloride. In the 1:2 complexes ammonia or hydrogen chloride dimers interact both with the OH group and the nitrogen atom of CH2NOH to form seven membered cyclic structures stabilized by three hydrogen bonds. The theoretical spectra generally agree well with the experimental ones, but they seriously underestimate the shift of the OH stretch for the 1:1 CH2NOH⋯NH3 complex.

Solvent-Induced Changes in Photophysics and Photostability of Indole-Naphthyridines.

Molecules that can simultaneously act as hydrogen bond donors and acceptors often exhibit completely different photophysical behavior in protic and aprotic solvents. Formation of multiple hydrogen bonds with, for example, water or alcohols, may lead to enhanced internal conversion; as a result, triplet formation efficiency can be reduced. These changes in photophysical characteristics may influence the photostability. In order to check this hypothesis, we have investigated spectroscopy, photophysics, and changes in photostability caused by interaction with aprotic and protic solvents for 2-(1'H-indol-2'-yl)-[1,5]naphthyridine and 2-(1'H-indol-2'-yl)-[1,8]naphthyridine, molecules with hydrogen bond accepting and donating functionalities. The photostability of these compounds in n-hexane, acetonitrile, and alcohols was studied in the regime of 365 nm irradiation. The photodegradation yield was found to be significantly lower in alcohols. In polar and protic solvents, the presence of two species was detected and attributed to syn and anti rotameric forms; the former are dominant in all environments.

Indanthrone dye revisited after sixty years.

Indanthrone, an old, insoluble dye can be converted into a solution processable, self-assembling and electroluminescent organic semiconductor, namely tetraoctyloxydinaptho[2,3-a:2',3'-h]phenazine (P-C8), in a simple one-pot process consisting of the reduction of the carbonyl group by sodium dithionite followed by the substitution with solubility inducing groups under phase transfer catalysis conditions.

Complexation of formaldoxime with water. Infrared matrix isolation and theoretical studies.

The 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 formaldoxime-water complexes isolated in the argon matrices have been studied by help of FTIR spectroscopy and MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) method. The calculations predicted the stability of the three CH(2)NOH···H(2)O isomeric complexes, three CH(2)NOH···(H(2)O)(2) ones and one (CH(2)NOH)(2)···H(2)O complex. The analysis of the experimental spectra and their comparison with theoretical ones indicated that both the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes trapped in solid argon have the most stable cyclic structures stabilized by the O-H···O and O-H···N bonds between the formaldoxime and water molecules. In the 1:2 complex formaldoxime interacts with the water dimer, one H(2)O molecule acts as a proton acceptor for the OH group of formaldoxime whereas the second H(2)O molecule acts as a proton donor toward the nitrogen atom of the formaldoxime molecule. In the (CH(2)NOH)(2)···H(2)O complex the OH group of the water molecule acts as a proton donor toward one of the oxygen atoms of the formaldoxime cyclic dimer.