Structural studies and photochromism of mercury(II)-iodo complexes of (arylazo)imidazoles

Triarylazoimidazole-ZnII, CdII, and HgII Complexes: Structures, Photophysics, and Antibacterial Properties

Novel triarylazoimidazoles containing strong electron donors (p-NEt2) or acceptors (p-NO2) by the azoaryl group, and their group 12 metal complexes were synthesized and fully characterized, including X-ray analysis for several complexes. Novel complexes exhibit red photo-luminescence emission (Φ up to  0.21) in a solution. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of complexes was tested against Gram-positive microorganism S. aureus and Gram-negative microorganism E. coli.

Unprecedented Coordination-Induced Bright Red Emission from Group 12 Metal-Bound Triarylazoimidazoles

Arylazoimidazoles are important dyes which were intensively studied in the past. In contrast, triarylazoimidazoles (derivatives which carry aryl substituents at the imidazole core) received almost no attention in the scientific literature. Here, we report a new family of simple and easily accessible triarylazoimidazole-group 12 metal complexes, which feature highly efficient photo-luminescence emission (Φ up to  0.44). Novel compounds exhibit bright red emission in solution, which could be excited with a visible light.

Crystal structure of 2-[(E)-2-(4-bromo-phen-yl)diazen-1-yl]-4,5-bis-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-1H-imidazole: the first example of a structurally characterized tri-aryl-azo-imid-azole

The title compound, C23H19BrN4O2, is a product of an azo coupling reaction between 3,4-bis-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)imidazole and 4-bromo-phenyl-diazo-nium tetra-fluoro-borate. Its crystal structure was determined using data collected at 120 K. The mol-ecule adopts a trans configuration with respect to the N=N double bond. The imidazole and aryl rings attached to the azo linkage are coplanar within 12.73 (14)°, which indicates significant electron delocalization within the mol-ecule. In the crystal, the mol-ecules form centrosymmetric dimers via pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Non-adiabatic dynamics simulation exploration of the wavelength-dependent photoinduced relaxation mechanism of trans-N-1-methyl-2-(tolylazo) imidazole in the gas phase

A comprehensive picture of the photoinduced non-adiabatic relaxation dynamics of trans-N-1-methyl-2-(tolylazo) imidazole (trans-MTAI) in different electronic excited states has been revealed using the on-the-fly surface hopping method at the ab initio CASSCF level.

The spectroscopic characterization, photochromism of cadmium(II)-iodo complexes of 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazoles and DFT computation of representative complexes

[Cd(Raai-C(n)H(2n+1))(μ-I)I]2 and [Cd(Raai-C(n)H(2n+1))2I2] are synthesized by the reaction of CdI2 with 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole (Raai-C(n)H(2n+1), n=4, 6, 8) in MeOH in 1:1 and 1:2 M ratio of salt and ligands, respectively. The complexes have been characterized by spectral data (UV-Vis, IR, (1)H NMR, Mass). The coordinated Raai-C(n)H(2n+1) shows photochromism, E(trans)-to-Z(cis) isomerisation, upon UV light irradiation. The reverse process, Z-to-E, is very slow in visible light irradiation process while the reaction is sensitive to change of reaction temperature. The quantum yields (ϕE→Z) for E-to-Z and the activation energy (Ea) of Z-to-E isomerisation are calculated and found that the complexes show subordinate results compared to free ligand. DFT computations of two representative complexes were carried out to explain the spectral and photochromic phenomena.

Water oxidation catalysts and pH sensors based on azo-conjugated iridium/rhodium motifs

Ionic half-sandwich Ir(iii) and Rh(iii) fragments coordinated by azo compounds exhibit good electrochemical properties, therefore, they can be employed as catalysts in water oxidation. The color of aqueous solutions of these complexes changes from brown to green at pH 12, so they can be used as pH sensors.

Transducer influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on photoisomerisation of 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazoles

The UV light irradiation to a solution of 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole (L) in toluene shows transformation of trans to cis configuration about -N=N- bond. The rate of photo-isomerisation and quantum yields are influenced by internal parameters like - nature of substituents, coordination to metal ions, steric and electronic effect, protonation etc. and the external factors like solvent (polarity, viscosity, dipole moment etc.), presence of innocent (to be chemically noninteracting) and noninnocent (chemically interacting) ions or molecules. In this work the influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) such as - napththalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene - an innocent system, on the photochromic efficiency of L has been examined. The PAHs are π-donor and may form a π-π continuum with L which can significantly affect the motional (vibration, rotation) properties of the analyte and hence the photochromic activity. The rate and quantum yield of trans-to-cis isomerisation of L decrease with increasing [PAH] and also with increasing number of the fused phenyl ring(s) in PAH. Thus the photoisomerisation follows the rate sequence: no PAH>napththalene>anthracene-phenanthrene>pyrene. The reverse change, cis-to-trans is very slow upon light irradiation while appreciably fast in thermal process at dark. The activation energy (E(a)) also decreases with [PAH] and number of fused phenyl rings.

Effect of PEG-200 and Tween-20 on photoisomerization of 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazoles in toluene

The photoisomerization of 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole, trans-to-cis, has been studied in the matrix of PEG-200 and Tween-20 in toluene medium by UV light irradiation. The trans and cis-isomers have different absorption spectra. The cis-to-trans isomerization proceeds slowly in visible light irradiation while it is appreciably fast in thermal process. The rate of trans-to-cis isomerization is decreased by 30-60% in presence of PEG-200 and Tween-20. The quantum yield of the photoisomerization is also decreased by 35-55% and follows the rate sequence: free state>PEG-200-phase>Tween-20 phase. The activation energy (E(a)) of cis→trans, thermal backward isomerization, is reduced in PEG-200 and Tween-20 phase following free state>PEG-200-phase>Tween-20-phase. The branched polyhydroxo structure of Tween-20 may help to wrap the polar photochrome more efficiently than major ether functionalized PEG-200 and stabilizes trans-isomer.

Cadmium(II) complexes of (arylazo)imidazoles: synthesis, structure, photochromism, and density functional theory calculation

Reaction between CdX2 and 1-alkyl-2-(phenylazo)imidazole (RaaiR') has isolated complexes of composition Cd(RaaiR')2X2 in MeOH or MeCN. Crystallization of Cd(RaaiR')2I2 from N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) has separated [Cd(RaaiR')I2.DMF], while Cd(RaaiR')2X2 (X = Cl and Br) remains unchanged in its composition upon crystallization under identical conditions. The structure has been established by spectral (UV-vis and 1H NMR) data and confirmation in the latter case by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of [Cd(TaiMe)I2.DMF] [where TaiMe = 1-methyl-2-(p-tolylazo)imidazole]. UV-light irradiation in a MeCN solution of Cd(RaaiR')2I2 and [Cd(RaaiR')I2.DMF] shows trans-to-cis isomerization of coordinated azoimidazole. The reverse transformation, cis-to-trans, is very slow with visible light irradiation. Quantum yields (phit-->c) of trans-to-cis isomerization are calculated, and the free ligand shows higher phi values than their cadmium(II) iodo complexes. The cis-to-trans isomerization is a thermally induced process. The activation energy (Ea) of cis-to-trans isomerization is calculated by a controlled-temperature experiment. The effects of the anions (Cl-, Br-, I-, and ClO4-) and the number of coordinated azoimidazoles (RaaiR') [Cd(RaaiR') or Cd(RaaiR')2] on the rate and quantum yields of photochromism are established in this work. A slow rate of photoisomerization of [Cd(RaaiR')4](ClO4)2 compared to Cd(RaaiR')I2 or Cd(RaaiR')2X2 may be associated with the increased mass and rotor volume of the complexes. The rate of isomerization is also dependent on the nature of X and follows the sequence Cd(RaaiR')2Cl2 < Cd(RaaiR')2Br2 < Cd(RaaiR')2I2. It may be related to the size and electronegativity of halide, which reduces the effective molar association in the order of I < Br < Cl and hence the rate. Gaussian 03 calculations of representative complexes and free ligands are used to explain the difference in the rates and quantum yields of photoisomerization.