Driving Force Dependence of Electron Transfer from Electronically Excited [Ir(COD)(µ-Me2pz)]2 to Photo-Acid Generators.

We report the rates of electron transfer (ET) reactions of electronically excited [Ir(COD)(µ-Me2pz)]2 with onium salt photoacid generators (PAGs). The reduction potentials of the PAGs span a large electrochemical window that allows determination of the driving force dependence of the ET reactions. Rate constants of ET from electronically excited [Ir(COD)(µ-Me2pz)]2 to onium PAGs are determined by the reaction driving force until the diffusion limit in acetonitrile is reached.

Degradation of Hole Transport Materials via Exciton-Driven Cyclization.

Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays have been an active and intense area of research for well over a decade and have now reached commercial success for displays from cell phones to large format televisions. A more thorough understanding of the many different potential degradation modes which cause OLED device failure will be necessary to develop the next generation of OLED materials, improve device lifetime, and to ultimately improve the cost vs performance ratio. Each of the different organic layers in an OLED device can be susceptible to unique decomposition pathways, however stability toward excitons is critical for emissive layer (EML) materials as well as any layer near the recombination zone. This study will specifically focus on degradation modes within the hole transport layer (HTL) with the goal being to identify the general decomposition paths occurring in an operating device and use this information to design new derivatives which can block these pathways. Through post-mortem analyses of several aged OLED devices, an apparently common intramolecular cyclization pathway has been identified that was not previously reported for arylamine-containing HTL materials and that operates parallel to but faster than the previously described fragmentation pathways.

Controlled Release of Antimicrobial ClO2 Gas from a Two-Layer Polymeric Film System.

We report a two-component label system comprising a chlorite-containing polymer film and an acid-containing polymer film that can release antimicrobial ClO2 gas upon adhering the two films together to enable a reaction of the chlorite and acid under moisture exposure. The chlorite-containing film comprises a commercial acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesive polymer impregnated with sodium chlorite. The acid-containing film comprises a commercial poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer loaded with tartaric acid. Both of the films were prepared on low ClO2-absorbing substrate films from stable aqueous systems of the polymers with high reagent loading. Rapid and sustained releases of significant amounts of ClO2 gas from the label system were observed in an in situ quantification system using UV-vis spectroscopy. It was found that the ClO2 release is slower at a lower temperature and can be accelerated by moisture in the atmosphere and the films. Controlled release of ClO2 gas from the label system was demonstrated by tailoring film composition and thickness. A model was developed to extract release kinetics and revealed good conversions of the label system. This two-component system can potentially be applied as a two-part label without premature release for applications in food packaging.

Generation of powerful tungsten reductants by visible light excitation.

The homoleptic arylisocyanide tungsten complexes, W(CNXy)6 and W(CNIph)6 (Xy = 2,6-dimethylphenyl, Iph = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), display intense metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorptions in the visible region (400-550 nm). MLCT emission (λ(max) ≈ 580 nm) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution at rt is observed for W(CNXy)6 and W(CNIph)6 with lifetimes of 17 and 73 ns, respectively. Diffusion-controlled energy transfer from electronically excited W(CNIph)6 (*W) to the lowest energy triplet excited state of anthracene (anth) is the dominant quenching pathway in THF solution. Introduction of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate, [Bu(n)4N][PF6], to the THF solution promotes formation of electron transfer (ET) quenching products, [W(CNIph)6](+) and [anth](•-). ET from *W to benzophenone and cobalticenium also is observed in [Bu(n)4N][PF6]/THF solutions. The estimated reduction potential for the [W(CNIph)6](+)/*W couple is -2.8 V vs Cp2Fe(+/0), establishing W(CNIph)6 as one of the most powerful photoreductants that has been generated with visible light.

Ranking solvent interactions and dielectric constants with [Pt(mesBIAN)(tda)]: A cautionary tale for polarity determinations in ionic liquids.

The solvatochromic properties of [Pt(mesBIAN)(tda)] are studied in traditional molecular solvents and ionic liquids and duly compared along established empirical solvent parameter scales. The charge-transfer absorption band of [Pt(mesBIAN)(tda)] is determined to be primarily dependent upon solvent acidity and dipolarity. Notably, ionic liquids do not obey the same well-behaved trend as molecular solvents, highlighting the complexity and domain (nano)segregation inherent to ionic liquids.

Coherence in metal-metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer excited states of a dimetallic complex investigated by ultrafast transient absorption anisotropy.

Coherence in the metal-metal-to-ligand-charge transfer (MMLCT) excited state of diplatinum molecule [Pt(ppy)(µ-(t)Bu(2)pz)](2) has been investigated through the observed oscillatory features and their corresponding frequencies as well as polarization dependence in the single-wavelength transient absorption (TA) anisotropy signals. Anticorrelated parallel and perpendicular TA signals with respect to the excitation polarization direction were captured, while minimal oscillatory features were observed in the magic angle TA signal. The combined analysis of the experimental results coupled with those previous calculated in the literature maps out a plausible excited state trajectory on the potential energy surface, suggesting that (1) the two energetically close MMLCT excited states due to the symmetry of the molecule may be electronically and coherently coupled with the charge density shifting back and forth between the two phenylpyridine (ppy) ligands, (2) the electronic coupling strength in the (1)MMLCT and (3)MMLCT states may be extracted from the oscillation frequencies of the TA signals to be 160 and 55 cm(-1), respectively, (3) a stepwise intersystem crossing cascades follows (1)MMLCT → (3)MMLCT (T(1b)) → (3)MMLCT (T(1a)), and (4) a possible electronic coherence can be modulated via the Pt-Pt σ-interactions over a picosecond and survive the first step of intersystem crossing. Future experiments are in progress to further investigate the origin of the oscillatory features. These experimental observations may have general implications in design of multimetal center complexes for photoactivated reactions where coherence in the excited states may facilitate directional charge or energy transfer along a certain direction between different parts of a molecule.

Triplet excited state distortions in a pyrazolate bridged platinum dimer measured by X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy.

The excited-state structure of a dinuclear platinum(II) complex with tert-butyl substituted pyrazolate bridging units, [Pt(ppy)(µ-(t)Bu(2)pz)](2) (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine; (t)Bu(2)pz = 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolate) is studied by X-ray transient absorption (XTA) spectroscopy to reveal the transient electronic and nuclear geometry. DFT calculations predict that the lowest energy triplet excited state, assigned to a metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MMLCT) transition, has a contraction in the Pt-Pt distance. The Pt-Pt bond length and other structural parameters extracted from fitting the experimental XTA difference spectra from full multiple scattering (FMS) and multidimensional interpolation calculations indicates a metal-metal distance decrease by approximately 0.2 Å in the triplet excited state. The advantages and challenges of this approach in resolving dynamic transient structures of nonbonding or weak-bonding dinuclear metal complexes in solution are discussed.

Boron dipyrromethene (Bodipy) phosphorescence revealed in [Ir(ppy)(2)(bpy-C[triple bond]C-bodipy)](+).

The synthesis, structural characterization, electrochemistry, and molecular photophysics of [Ir(ppy)(2)(bpy-C[triple bond]C-Bodipy)](PF(6)), where ppy is 2-phenylpyridine and bpy-C[triple bond]C-Bodipy is 5-ethynyl-2,2'-bipyridine-8-phenyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-4,4-bis(2,5-dioxaoct-7-ynyl)-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (4), is presented. Static and dynamic photoluminescence and absorption measurements in conjunction with cyclic voltammetry were employed to elucidate the nature of the intramolecular energy transfer processes occurring in the excited state of the title chromophore. Parallel studies were performed on appropriate model chromophores (2 and 3) intended to represent the photophysics of the isolated molecular subunits, that is, triplet metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) and triplet Bodipy intraligand ((3)IL) excited states, respectively. Upon charge transfer excitation of the title chromophore, the (3)MLCT based phosphorescence readily observed in 2 (Phi(em) = 0.027, tau = 243 ns) is quantitatively quenched resulting from production of the (3)Bodipy excited state through intramolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer. The formation of the (3)Bodipy-localized excited state is confirmed by features in the transient absorption difference spectrum, extended excited-state lifetime (tau = 25 micros), as well the observation of (3)IL Bodipy-based phosphorescence detected at 730 nm at 77 K. The low temperature Bodipy phosphorescence is readily produced in 4 as a result of the internal Ir(III) heavy atom.

Thermochromic absorption and photoluminescence in [Pt(ppy)(mu-Ph2pz)]2.

The temperature effects on the spectral properties and photophysics of a new d(8)-d(8) dinuclear Pt(II) chromophore, [Pt(ppy)(mu-Ph(2)pz)](2) (ppy is 2-phenylpyridine and Ph(2)pz is 3,5-diphenylpyrazolate), have been investigated. The thermochromic shifts are tentatively ascribed to intramolecular sigma interactions between the two pseudocofacial d(z(2)) orbitals. Substantial emission profile changes occur in the solid state, solution, and doped polymer films.

Theoretical insight on the S --> O photoisomerization of DMSO complexes of Ru(II).

Complexes of the type [Ru(tpy)(L)(dmso)](n+) (where tpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine; L = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), n = 2; N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylene diamine (tmen), n = 2; acetylacetonate (acac), n = 1; oxalate (ox), n = 0; malonate (mal), n = 0) were investigated by density functional theory (DFT). The results do not support a promoting role for the dsigma* ligand field (LF) states during excited state S --> O isomerization. Instead, the calculations show that the formation of a Ru(III) center is important in the isomerization, along with the identity of the ancillary bidentate ligand. The present work shows that the orbital contributions from the bidentate ligand to the HOMO, which is typically centered on the ruthenium, plays an important role in the photochemical and oxidative reactivity of the complexes.

Fluorescence probing of T box antiterminator RNA: insights into riboswitch discernment of the tRNA discriminator base.

The T box transcription antitermination riboswitch is one of the main regulatory mechanisms utilized by Gram-positive bacteria to regulate genes that are involved in amino acid metabolism. The details of the antitermination event, including the role that Mg(2+) plays, in this riboswitch have not been completely elucidated. In these studies, details of the antitermination event were investigated utilizing 2-aminopurine to monitor structural changes of a model antiterminator RNA when it was bound to model tRNA. Based on the results of these fluorescence studies, the model tRNA binds the model antiterminator RNA via an induced-fit. This binding is enhanced by the presence of Mg(2+), facilitating the complete base pairing of the model tRNA acceptor end with the complementary bases in the model antiterminator bulge.

Solvent-induced configuration mixing and triplet excited-state inversion: insights from transient absorption and transient dc photoconductivity measurements.

Solvent-induced excited-state configuration mixing in a Pt(II) diimine chromophore with phenylene ethynylene containing acetylide ligands, [Pt((t)Bu2bpy)(PE3)2] (1), was characterized by nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and transient dc photoconductivity (TDCP). The mixing is a result of closely spaced triplet charge transfer (3CT) and intraligand-localized (3IL) triplet energy levels that are finely tuned with solvent polarity as ascertained by their parent model chromophores [Pt((t)Bu2bpy)(PE1)2] (2) and [Pt(P2)(PE3)2] (3), respectively. The absorption difference spectrum of the mixed triplet state is dramatically different from those of the 3CT and 3IL state model chromophores. The 3CT, 3IL and configuration-mixed triplet states led to distinct TDCP signals. The TDCP response is of negative polarity for 3CT excited states but of positive polarity for 3IL excited states. TDCP transients for 1 in mixed solvents are a combination of signals from the 3IL and 3CT states, with the signal magnitude depending on the polarity of solvent composition. The fraction of 3CT state character in the configurationally mixed excited state was quantified by TDCP to be approximately 0.24 in pure benzene, while it decreased to approximately 0.05 in 20 : 80 (v : v) benzene-CH2Cl2. The charge transfer fraction appears to increase slightly to approximately 0.11 in the lower polarity 20 : 80 n-hexane-CH2Cl2 medium. TDCP is shown to be a useful tool for the identification of the lowest excited state in electrically neutral metal-organic chromophores.

[Pt(mesBIAN)(tda)]: a near-infrared emitter and singlet oxygen sensitizer.

The synthesis and subsequent photophysical investigation of [Pt(mesBIAN)(tda)], where mesBIAN is bis(mesitylimino)acenaphthene and tda is tolan-2,2'-diacetylide, reveal excited-state characteristics best described as triplet charge transfer ((3)CT) in nature upon visible light excitation. Large ground-state dipole moments are apparent as the absorption spectrum dramatically red-shifts with decreasing solvent polarity. The (3)CT excited state is significantly lower in energy than the ligand-centered (3)tda excited-state, as confirmed by steady-state and time-resolved techniques. Singlet oxygen sensitization studies demonstrate that (1)O(2) production occurs by diffusive quenching from the photo-excited (3)CT state (Phi(Delta) = 0.24, lambda(max) approximately 1270 nm) in oxygen-saturated dichloromethane.

Evolution of the triplet excited state in Pt(II) perylenediimides.

Here, we present the ultrafast dynamics of a series of metal complexes developed to permit access to the perylenediimide (PDI) triplet manifold that preserves the desirable colorfastness and visible light-absorption properties associated with these dyes. To this end, three Pt(II) complexes each bearing two PDI moieties tethered to the metal center through acetylide linkages emanating from one of the PDI bay positions have been thoroughly examined by static spectroscopic methods, electrochemistry, laser flash photolysis, and ultrafast transient absorption spectrometry. Upon ligation to the Pt(II) center, the bright singlet-state fluorescence (Phi = 0.91, tau = 4.53 ns) of the free PDI-CCH chromophore is quantitatively quenched, and no long wavelength photoluminescence is observed from any of the Pt(II)-PDI complexes in deaerated solutions. Ultrafast transient measurements reveal that upon ligation of PDI-CCH to the Pt(II) center, picosecond intersystem crossing (tau = 2-4 ps) from the (1)PDI excited state is followed by vibrational cooling (tau = 12-19 ps) of the hot (3)PDI excited state, whereas only singlet-state dynamics, including stimulated emission, were observed in the "free" PDI-CCH moiety. In each of the Pt-PDI chromophores, quantitatively similar transient absorption difference spectra were obtained; the only distinguishing characteristic is in their single-exponential lifetimes (tau = 246 ns, 1.0 mus, and 710 ns). These long-lived (3)PDI excited states are clearly poised for bimolecular electron and energy transfer schemes. In the present case, the latter is demonstrated through bimolecular sensitization of singlet oxygen phosphorescence at approximately 1270 nm in aerated dichloromethane solutions, producing reasonable (1)O(2) quantum yields (Phi(Delta) = 0.40-0.55) across this series of molecules.

Ligand localized triplet excited states in platinum(II) bipyridyl and terpyridyl peryleneacetylides.

An investigation of the photophysics of two complexes, [Pt((t)Bu3tpy)(C triple bond C-perylene)]BF4 (1) and Pt((t)Bu2bpy)(C triple bond C-perylene)2 (2), where (t)Bu3tpy is 4,4',4''-tri( tert-butyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, (t)Bu2bpy is 4,4'-di( tert-butyl)-2,2'-bipyridine, and C triple bond C-perylene is 3-ethynylperylene, reveals that they both exhibit perylene-centered ligand localized excited triplet states ((3)IL) upon excitation with visible light. These complexes do not display any significant photoluminescence at room temperature but readily sensitize (1)O2 in aerated CH2Cl2 solutions, as evidenced by its characteristic emission near 1270 nm. The transient absorption difference spectra were compared to bi- and tridentate phosphine peryleneacetylides intended to model the (3)IL peryleneacetylide excited states in addition to the related phenylacetylide-bearing polyimine analogues, with the latter model being the respective triplet charge-transfer ((3)CT) excited states. The transient difference spectra of the two title compounds display excited-state absorptions largely attributable to perylene localized (3)IL states yet exhibit somewhat attenuated excited-state lifetimes relative to those of the phosphine model chromophores. The abbreviated lifetimes in 1 and 2 may suggest the involvement of the energetically proximate (3)CT triplet state exerting an influence on excited-state decay, and the effect appears to be stronger in 1 relative to 2, consistent with the energies of their respective (3)CT states.

Solvent-induced configuration mixing and triplet excited state inversion exemplified in a Pt(II) complex.

The present study provides clear-cut experimental evidence for solvent-induced configuration mixing and complete triplet state inversion at room temperature in a Pt(ii) charge transfer complex bearing a combination of energetically proximate charge transfer and intraligand triplet excited states.

Accessing the triplet excited state in perylenediimides.

Here, we present a strategy designed to permit access to the PDI triplet manifold that preserves the desirable colorfastness and visible light-absorption properties associated with these dyes. To this end, three new Pt(II) complexes each bearing two PDI moieties tethered to the metal center via acetylide linkages emanating from one of the PDI bay positions have been synthesized, structurally characterized, and thoroughly examined by nanosecond laser flash photolysis. Upon ligation, the bright singlet-state fluorescence of the PDI chromophore is quantitatively quenched, and no long wavelength photoluminescence is observed from the Pt(II)-PDI complexes in deaerated solutions. In each of the Pt-PDI chromophores, quantitatively similar transient absorption difference spectra were obtained; the only distinguishing characteristic is in their single-exponential lifetimes (tau = 246 ns, 1.0 micros, and 710 ns). Triplet-state sensitization experiments of "free" PDI-CCH using thioxanthone confirmed the PDI triplet state assignments in each of the Pt-PDI structures.

Phototriggered sulfoxide isomerization in [Ru(pic)2(dmso)2].

We report the characterization and photochemistry of a simple ruthenium coordination complex containing only picolinate (pic) and dmso, which exhibits a large isomerization quantum yield (Phi(SS-->OO) = 0.50) in various solvents. The picolinate ligands of [Ru(pic)(2)(dmso)(2)] are in a cis arrangement so that the carboxylate oxygen of one pic ligand (O1) is trans to the pyridine of the second picolinate (N2). One dmso ligand (S1) is trans to a pyridine nitrogen (N1), while the second dmso (S2) is trans to a carboxylate oxygen (O3). The cyclic voltammetry, (1)H NMR, IR, and UV-vis spectroscopy data suggest that while both dmso ligands isomerize photochemically, only one dmso ligand isomerizes electrochemically. Isomerization quantum yields for each dmso ligand differ by an order of magnitude (Phi(SS-->SO) = 0.46 and Phi(SO-->OO) = 0.036). In agreement with previous results, the isomerization quantum yield for each dmso is dependent on the ligand that is trans to the dmso.

Luminescent charge-transfer platinum(II) metallacycle.

The photophysical and electrochemical properties of a platinum(II) diimine complex bearing the bidentate diacetylide ligand tolan-2,2'-diacetylide (tda), Pt(dbbpy)(tda) [dbbpy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine] (1), are compared with two reference compounds, Pt(dbbpy)(C[triple bond]CPh)(2) (2) and Pt(dppp)tda [dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane] (3), respectively. The X-ray crystal structure of 1 is reported, which illustrates the nearly perfect square planarity exhibited by this metallacycle. Chromophore 2 possesses low-lying charge-transfer excited states analogous to 1, whereas structure 3 lacks such excited states but features a low-lying platinum-perturbed tda intraligand triplet manifold. In CH(2)Cl(2), 1 exhibits a broad emission centered at 562 nm at ambient temperature, similar to 2, but with a higher photoluminescence quantum yield and longer excited-state lifetime. In both instances, the photoluminescence is consistent with triplet-charge-transfer excited-state parentage. The rigidity imposed by the cyclic diacetylide ligand in 1 leads to a reduction in nonradiative decay, which enhances its room-temperature photophysical properties. By comparison, 3 radiates highly structured tda-localized triplet-state phosphorescence at room temperature. The 77 K emission spectrum of 1 in 4:1 EtOH/MeOH becomes structured and is quantitatively similar to that measured for 3 under the same conditions. Because the 77 K spectra are nearly identical, the emissions are assigned as (3)tda in nature, implying that the charge-transfer states are raised in energy, relative to the (3)tda levels in 1 in the low-temperature glass. Nanosecond transient absorption spectrometry and ultrafast difference spectra were determined for 1-3 in CH(2)Cl(2) and DMF at ambient temperature. In 1 and 2, the major absorption transients are consistent with the one-electron reduced complexes, corroborated by reductive spectroelectrochemical measurements performed at room temperature. As 3 does not possess any charge-transfer character, excitation into the pipi* transitions of the tda ligand generated transient absorptions in the relaxed excited state assigned to the ligand-localized triplet state. In all three cases, the excited-state lifetimes measured by transient absorption are similar to those measured by time-resolved photoluminescence, suggesting that the same excited states giving rise to the photoluminescence are responsible for the absorption transients. ESR spectroscopy of the anions 1- and 2- and reductive spectroelectrochemistry of 1 and 2 revealed a LUMO based largely on the pi* orbital of the dbbpy ligand. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations performed on 1-3 both in vacuum and in a CH(2)Cl(2) continuum revealed the molecular orbitals, energies, dipole moments, and oscillator strengths for the various electronic transitions in these molecules. A DeltaSCF-method-derived shift applied to the calculated transition energies in the solvent continuum yielded good agreement between theory and experiment for each molecule in this study.

Phototriggered S --> O isomerization of a ruthenium-bound chelating sulfoxide.

We have prepared and characterized [Ru(bpy)2(OS)]+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; OS = 2-methylthiobenzoate) and the chelating sulfoxide S-[Ru(bpy)2(OSO)]+ (OSO = methylsulfonylbenzoate) by 1H NMR (1-D and 2-D COSY), IR, UV-visible spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and X-ray crystallography. Many of the metrical and crystal parameters are nearly identical between the two structures. The sulfoxide is produced from m-cpba oxidation of the thioether. Photolysis of S-[Ru(bpy)2(OSO)]+ results in a dramatic shift in the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) transition from 396 to 496 nm, with a new higher-energy 3MLCT transition appearing at 355 nm. Concomitant with this change, the Ru3+/2+ reduction potential shifts from 1.25 V vs Ag/AgCl to 0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl. These changes are ascribed to phototriggered excited-state isomerization of the sulfoxide from S- to O-bonded. Examination of the 1H NMR spectra in a CD3OD solvent before, during, and after irradiation shows the presence of two O-bonded complexes that revert to the structurally characterized S-bonded ground state. This represents the first report of isomerization of a chelating sulfoxide in a photochromic Ru complex.