Optical and Infrared Spectroelectrochemical Studies of CN-Substituted Bipyridyl Complexes of Ruthenium(II).

Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes [Ru(CN-Me-bpy)x(bpy)3-x]2+ (CN-Me-bpy = 4,4'-dicyano-5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, and x = 1-3, abbreviated as 12+, 22+, and 32+) undergo four (12+) or five (22+ and 32+) successive one-electron reduction steps between -1.3 and -2.75 V versus ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc+/Fc) in tetrahydrofuran. The CN-Me-bpy ligands are reduced first, with successive one-electron reductions in 22+ and 32+ being separated by 150-210 mV; reduction of the unsubstituted bpy ligand in 12+ and 22+ occurs only when all CN-Me-bpy ligands have been converted to their radical anions. Absorption spectra of the first three reduction products of each complex were measured across the UV, visible, near-IR (NIR), and mid-IR regions and interpreted with the help of density functional theory calculations. Reduction of the CN-Me-bpy ligand shifts the ν(C≡N) IR band by ca. -45 cm-1, enhances its intensity ∼35 times, and splits the symmetrical and antisymmetrical modes. Semireduced complexes containing two and three CN-derivatized ligands 2+, 3+, and 30 show distinct ν(C≡N) features due to the presence of both CN-Me-bpy and CN-Me-bpy•-, confirming that each reduction is localized on a single ligand. NIR spectra of 10, 1-, and 2- exhibit a prominent band attributable to the CN-Me-bpy•- moiety between 6000 and 7500 cm-1, whereas bpy•--based absorption occurs between 4500 and 6000 cm-1; complexes 2+, 3+, and 30 also exhibit a band at ca. 3300 cm-1 due to a CN-Me-bpy•- → CN-Me-bpy interligand charge-transfer transition. In the UV-vis region, the decrease of π → π* intraligand bands of the neutral ligands and the emergence of the corresponding bands of the radical anions are most diagnostic. The first reduction product of 12+ is spectroscopically similar to the lowest triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited state, which shows pronounced NIR absorption, and its ν(C≡N) IR band is shifted by -38 cm-1 and 5-7-fold-enhanced relative to the ground state.

Luminescent Diamond Nanoparticles: Physical, Chemical and Biological Aspects of the Phenomenon.

Biosensors based on nanodiamonds are able to penetrate through the cell membrane in a targeted manner and probe changes in real-time in the inner cellular space. In this work we performed exclusive theoretical and experimental study of nanodiamond particles adjusted for application in optically-traceable intracellular nanodiamond sensors. Theoretical and experimental study of specific optical properties of high-pressure high-temperature nanodiamonds containing NV- and NV0 centres were performed. The results are supported by theoretical modeling. The final result of this study was detection of luminescence ND in living cells and in vivo application od luminiscence NDs in chicken embryo, showing the detectability of luminescence ND using a standard confocal microscope. On the level of in cells selectivity numerous clusters of ND particles were present within the cytoplasm and at the same time no particles were absent in the nucleus-ND particles can be used as imaging or delivery system for specific cell parts targeting. From our study we can say that biosensors based on nanodiamonds (NDs) are able to penetrate through the cell membrane in a targeted manner and probe changes in the inner cellular space.

Electron-transfer acceleration investigated by time resolved infrared spectroscopy.

Ultrafast electron transfer (ET) processes are important primary steps in natural and artificial photosynthesis, as well as in molecular electronic/photonic devices. In biological systems, ET often occurs surprisingly fast over long distances of several tens of angströms. Laser-pulse irradiation is conveniently used to generate strongly oxidizing (or reducing) excited states whose reactions are then studied by time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. While photoluminescence decay and UV-vis absorption supply precise kinetics data, time-resolved infrared absorption (TRIR) and Raman-based spectroscopies have the advantage of providing additional structural information and monitoring vibrational energy flows and dissipation, as well as medium relaxation, that accompany ultrafast ET. We will discuss three cases of photoinduced ET involving the Re(I)(CO)3(N,N) moiety (N,N = polypyridine) that occur much faster than would be expected from ET theories. [Re(4-N-methylpyridinium-pyridine)(CO)3(N,N)](2+) represents a case of excited-state picosecond ET between two different ligands that remains ultrafast even in slow-relaxing solvents, beating the adiabatic limit. This is caused by vibrational/solvational excitation of the precursor state and participation of high-frequency quantum modes in barrier crossing. The case of Re-tryptophan assemblies demonstrates that excited-state Trp → *Re(II) ET is accelerated from nanoseconds to picoseconds when the Re(I)(CO)3(N,N) chromophore is appended to a protein, close to a tryptophan residue. TRIR in combination with DFT calculations and structural studies reveals an interaction between the N,N ligand and the tryptophan indole. It results in partial electronic delocalization in the precursor excited state and likely contributes to the ultrafast ET rate. Long-lived vibrational/solvational excitation of the protein Re(I)(CO)3(N,N)···Trp moiety, documented by dynamic IR band shifts, could be another accelerating factor. The last discussed process, back-ET in a porphyrin-Re(I)(CO)3(N,N) dyad, demonstrates that formation of a hot product accelerates highly exergonic ET in the Marcus inverted region. Overall, it follows that ET can be accelerated by enhancing the electronic interaction and by vibrational excitation of the reacting system and its medium, stressing the importance of quantum nuclear dynamics in ET reactivity. These effects are experimentally accessible by time-resolved vibrational spectroscopies (IR, Raman) in combination with quantum chemical calculations. It is suggested that structural dynamics play different mechanistic roles in light-triggered ET involving electronically excited donors or acceptors than in ground-state processes. While TRIR spectroscopy is well suitable to elucidate ET processes on a molecular-level, transient 2D-IR techniques combining optical and two IR (or terahertz) laser pulses present future opportunities for investigating, driving, and controlling ET.

Correlated coordination and redox activity of a hemilabile noninnocent ligand in nickel complexes.

The compound [Ni(QM)2], QM = 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2-methylthiomethylphenyl)-o-iminobenzoquinone, is a singlet diradical species with approximately planar configuration at the tetracoordinate metal atom and without any Ni-S bonding interaction. One-electron oxidation results in additional twofold Ni-S coordination (dNi-S ≈2.38 Å) to produce a complex cation of [Ni(QM)2](PF6) with hexacoordinate Ni(II) and two distinctly different mer-configurated tridentate ligands. The O,O'-trans arrangement in the neutral precursor is changed to an O,O'-cis configuration in the cation. The EPR signal of [Ni(QM)2](PF6) has a very large g anisotropy and the magnetic measurements indicate an S = 3/2 state. The dication was structurally characterized as [Ni(QM)2](ClO4)2 to exhibit a similar NiN2O2S2 framework as the monocation. However, the two tridentate (O,N,S) ligands are now equivalent according to the formulation [Ni(II)(QM(0))2](2+). Cyclic voltammetry reflects the qualitative structure change on the first, but not on the second oxidation of [Ni(QM)2], and spectroelectrochemistry reveals a pronounced dependence of the 800-900 nm absorption on the solvent and counterion. Reduction of the neutral form occurs in an electrochemically reversible step to yield an anion with an intense near-infrared absorption at 1345 nm (ε = 10,400 M(-1) cm(-1)) and a conventional g factor splitting for a largely metal-based spin (S = 1/2), suggesting a [(QM(·-))Ni(II)(QM(2-))](-) configuration with a tetracoordinate metal atom with antiferromagnetic Ni(II)-(QM(·-)) interactions and symmetry-allowed ligand-to-ligand intervalence charge transfer (LLIVCT). Calculations are used to understand the Ni-S binding activity as induced by remote electron transfer at the iminobenzoquinone redox system.

Solvation-driven excited-state dynamics of [Re(4-Et-Pyridine)(CO)3(2,2'-bipyridine)]+ in imidazolium ionic liquids. A time-resolved infrared and phosphorescence study.

Excited-state dynamics of [Re(Etpy)(CO)3(bpy)]+ was studied in three imidazolium ionic liquids by time-resolved IR and emission spectroscopy on the picosecond to nanosecond time scale. Low-lying excited states were characterized by TD-DFT calculations, which also provided molecular dipole moment vectors in the relevant electronic states. TRIR spectra in ionic liquids show initial populations of two excited states: predominantly bpy-localized 3IL and 3MLCT, characterized by nu(CO) bands shifted to lower and higher frequencies, respectively, relative to the ground state. Internal conversion of 3IL to the lowest triplet 3MLCT occurred on a time scale commensurate with solvent relaxation. The nu(CO) IR bands of the 3MLCT state undergo a dynamic shift to higher wavenumbers during relaxation. Its three-exponential kinetics were determined and attributed to vibrational cooling (units of picoseconds), energy dissipation to the bulk solvent (tens of picoseconds), and solvent relaxation, the lifetime of which increases with increasing viscosity: [EMIM]BF4 (330 ps) < [BMIM]BF4 (470 ps) < [BMIM]PF6 (1570 ps). Time-resolved phosphorescence spectra in [BMIM]PF6 show a approximately 2 ns drop in intensity due to the 3IL --> 3MLCT conversion and a dynamic Stokes shift to lower energies with a lifetime decreasing from 1.8 ns at 21 degrees C to 1.1 ns at 37 degrees C, due to decreasing viscosity of the ionic liquid. It is proposed that solvent relaxation predominantly involves collective translational motions of ions. It drives the 3IL --> 3MLCT conversion, increases charge reorganization in the lowest excited-state 3MLCT, and affects vibrational anharmonic coupling, which together cause the dynamic shift of excited-state IR bands. TRIR spectroscopy of carbonyl-diimine complexes emerges as a new way to investigate various aspects of solvation dynamics, while the use of slowly relaxing ionic liquids offers new insight into the photophysics of Re(I) carbonyl polypyridyls.

Excited states of nitro-polypyridine metal complexes and their ultrafast decay. Time-resolved IR Absorption, spectroelectrochemistry, and TD-DFT calculations of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)3(5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline)].

The lowest absorption band of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)3(5-NO2-phen)] encompasses two close-lying MLCT transitions. The lower one is directed to LUMO, which is heavily localized on the NO2 group. The UV-vis absorption spectrum is well accounted for by TD-DFT (G03/PBEPBE1/CPCM), provided that the solvent, MeCN, is included in the calculations. Near-UV excitation of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)3(5-NO2-phen)] populates a triplet metal to ligand charge-transfer excited state, 3MLCT, that was characterized by picosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy. Large positive shifts of the nu(CO) bands upon excitation (+70 cm(-1) for the A'1 band) signify a very large charge separation between the Re(Cl)(CO)3 unit and the 5-NO2-phen ligand. Details of the excited-state character are revealed by TD-DFT calculated changes of electron density distribution. Experimental excited-state nu(CO) wavenumbers agree well with those calculated by DFT. The 3MLCT state decays with a ca. 10 ps lifetime (in MeCN) into another transient species, that was identified by TRIR and TD-DFT calculations as an intraligand 3npi excited state, whereby the electron density is excited from the NO2 oxygen lone pairs to the pi system of 5-NO2-phen. This state is short-lived, decaying to the ground state with a approximately 30 ps lifetime. The presence of an npi state seems to be the main factor responsible for the lack of emission and the very short lifetimes of 3MLCT states seen in all d6-metal complexes of nitro-polypyridyl ligands. Localization of the excited electron density in the lowest 3MLCT states parallels localization of the extra electron in the reduced state that is characterized by a very small negative shift of the nu(CO) IR bands (-6 cm(-1) for A'1) but a large downward shift of the nu(s)(NO2) IR band. The Re-Cl bond is unusually stable toward reduction, whereas the Cl ligand is readily substituted upon oxidation.

Low-valent cobalt complexes with three different pi acceptor ligands: experimental and DFT studies of the reduced and the low-lying excited states of (R-DAB)Co(NO)(CO), R-DAB = substituted 1,4-diaza-1,4-butadiene.

The complexes (RN=CH-CH=NR)Co(NO)(CO) with R = isopropyl, 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, or p-tolyl are chemically and electrochemically reducible to radical anions at potentials which strongly depend on R. The DFT calculated structure for the neutral compound with R = iPr agrees with the experiment, and the computed structure of the anion radical reveals changes according to a reduction of the R-DAB ligand. EPR results confirm an (R-DAB)-based singly occupied molecular orbital in [(RNCHCHNR)Co(NO)(CO)](.-), with minor but detectable contributions from NO as supported by IR spectroelectrochemistry and as quantified by DFT spin density calculations. The calculations indicate increasingly stabilized CO, NO, and RNCHCHNR pi* acceptor orbitals, in that order. On the basis of TD-DFT (time-dependent density functional theory) calculations, the lowest-lying excited states are assigned to metal-to-(R-DAB) charge transfer transitions while bands due to the metal-to-nitrosyl charge transfer occur at higher energies but still in the visible region. Resonance Raman studies were used to probe these assignments.