Synthesis, photovoltaic performances and TD-DFT modeling of push-pull diacetylide platinum complexes in TiO2 based dye-sensitized solar cells.

In this joint experimental-theoretical work, we present the synthesis and optical and electrochemical characterization of five new bis-acetylide platinum complex dyes end capped with diphenylpyranylidene moieties, as well as their performances in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Theoretical calculations relying on Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) and a range-separated hybrid show a very good match with experimental data and allow us to quantify the charge-transfer character of each compound. The photoconversion efficiency obtained reaches 4.7% for 8e (see TOC Graphic) with the tri-thiophene segment, which is among the highest efficiencies reported for platinum complexes in DSCs.

Synthesis, photophysics and nonlinear optical properties of stilbenoid pyrimidine-based dyes bearing methylenepyran donor groups.

The nonlinear properties and the photophysical behavior of two π-conjugated chromophores that incorporate an electron-deficient pyrimidine core (A) and γ-methylenepyrans as terminal donor (D) groups have been thoroughly investigated. Both dipolar and quadrupolar branching strategies are explored and rationalized on the basis of the Frenkel exciton model. Even though a cooperative effect is clearly observed if the dimensionality is increased, the nonlinear optical (NLO) response of this series is moderate if one considers the nature of the D/A couple and the size of the chromophores (as measured by the number of π electrons). This effect was attributed to a disruption in the electronic conjugation within the dyes' scaffold for which the geometry deviates from planarity owing to a noticeable twisting of the pyranylidene end-groups. This latter structural parameter also has a strong influence on the excited-state dynamics, which leads to a very efficient fluorescence quenching.

Synthesis and photophysical investigation of a series of push-pull arylvinyldiazine chromophores.

A new series of push-pull arylvinyldiazines has been efficiently prepared by aldol condensation between the appropriate methyldiazine and aromatic aldehyde. The optical absorption and emission properties of these chromophores were studied in different solvents and media. These compounds act as polarity sensors with a strong positive emission solvatochromism. This behavior suggests a highly polar emitting state, which is characteristic of compounds that undergo an internal charge transfer upon excitation. These molecules also exhibit halochromic properties and are potential colorimetric and luminescence pH sensors. The second-order nonlinear properties have been investigated for some of the compounds, and large and positive µß are obtained, in particular, for pyrimidine derivatives.

Solution- and crystal-phase covalent modification of lysozyme by a purpose-designed organoruthenium complex. A MALDI-TOF MS study of its metal binding sites.

Study of the reaction between the transition organometallic complex 4-ruthenocenyl 2,6-dimethylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate and the enzyme hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) in solution and by diffusion in crystals was performed by use of a combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. Conjugation involving the lysine residues of lysozyme appeared to occur readily, yielding very stable ruthenocenyl pyridinium adducts with average degrees of incorporation ranging from 0.2 to 1.8 metal complexes per protein molecule, depending on reaction conditions. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) revealed that the protein conjugates were in fact mixtures of unmodified, mono-, di- and sometimes tripyridinium adducts. In combination with reversed-phased HPLC, we were able to show that six different monoruthenocenyl pyridinium adducts were formed in solution. This result was confirmed by trypsin digestion of a ruthenocenyl pyridinium conjugate and MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the peptide mixture, which showed that lysines 1, 13, 33, 96, 97 and 116 were involved in the reaction with the pyrylium complex, lysines 13, 33 and 116 being the major binding sites. In the tetragonal crystal state, no binding of the ruthenium complex was shown to occur at lysine 116, owing to steric hindrance at this particular position.

FT-IR observation of covalent labelling of lysozyme crystals by organometallic complexes of transition metals.

Electrophilic complexes of iron and chromium which have been reported to react with proteins in solution have been reacted with hen-egg white lysozyme (HEWL) in both the solution and crystal phases under similar pH and buffer conditions. This work was carried out with a view to developing novel side-chain selective heavy metal derivatives for protein X-ray crystallographic studies. Reaction of HEWL with a tricarbonyldienyliron cation (1) in aqueous solution led to modification of the sole histidine residue with concurrent reversible modification of other protein residues. Reaction of (1) with crystalline HEWL showed no covalent binding and only a build up of a hydrolysis product in the water channels of the crystal was observed. Reactions with a series of tricarbonylarylchromium pyrylium salts (2) led to the formation of stable covalent HEWL derivatives in solution. Chromatographic and IR spectroscopic studies showed that binding took place specifically at the epsilon-amino group of lysine residues to give a series of mono- and di-substituted products. When crystals of HEWL were soaked with the chromium reagents covalent binding to some of the lysine residues was also observed. In contrast, HEWL crystals which had their lysine side chains disabled did not bind any of the chromium reagents.