Gaussian free-energy dependence of electron-transfer rates in iridium complexes

Real-Time Tracking of Photoinduced Metal-Metal Bond Formation in a d8d8 Di-Iridium Complex by Vibrational Coherence and Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy

We report real-time dynamics of photoinduced metal-metal bond formation acquired from ultrafast time-resolved stimulated emission and femtosecond stimulated Raman spectra (FSRS) of [Ir2(2,5-dimethyl-2,5-diisocyanohexane)4]2+ (Ir(TMB)) in the region of low-frequency vibrations. Interpretation was supported by impulsive stimulated Raman experiments and time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. The Ir-Ir stretching frequency doubled on going from ground to the lowest singlet excited state 1dσ*pσ, from 53 to 126 cm-1, demonstrating Ir-Ir bond formation. Spectral evolution during the first 4 ps after excitation showed extremely large-amplitude coherent oscillations of stimulated emission as well as FSRS signal intensities, which occurred with the excited-state Ir-Ir stretching frequency combined with frequencies of several deformation vibrations and the first Ir-Ir overtone. Corresponding vibrations were observed in FSRS directly but most of them vanished in the first 3 ps, indicating that they belonged to transiently populated hot vibrational states. Fourier transforms of intensity oscillations plotted against FSRS frequencies produced two-dimensional (2D-FSRS) maps with diagonal and off-diagonal features due to Franck-Condon-excited and anharmonically coupled vibrations, some of which acquired Raman intensity through coupling with the Ir-Ir stretch. We concluded that optical excitation impulsively shortens the Ir-Ir distance and increases its stretching force constant, assisted by a simultaneously excited network of coupled deformation modes. The electronically/vibrationally excited system then relaxes through periodic strengthening and weakening of the Ir-Ir interaction and changing conformations of the TMB ligand framework, forming a metal-metal bonded 1dσ*pσ state after 4-5 ps.

Efficiency Limits of Energy Conversion by Light-Driven Redox Chains

The conversion of absorbed sunlight to spatially separated electron-hole pairs is a crucial outcome of natural photosynthesis. Many organisms achieve near-unit quantum yields of charge separation (one electron-hole pair per incident photon) by dissipating as heat more than half of the light energy that is deposited in the primary donor. Might alternative choices have been made by Nature that would sacrifice quantum yield in favor of producing higher energy electron/hole pairs? Here, we use a multisite electron hopping model to address the kinetic and thermodynamic compromises that can be made in electron transfer chains, with the aim of understanding Nature's choices and opportunities in bioinspired energy-converting systems. We find that if the electron-transfer coordinates are even weakly coupled to a high-frequency vibrational mode, substantial energy dissipation is necessary to achieve the maximum possible energy storage in an electron-transfer chain. Since high-frequency vibronic coupling is common in physiological redox cofactors, we posit that biological reaction centers have recruited a strategy to convert light energy into redox potential with the near-optimum energy efficiency that is possible in an electron-transfer chain. Our simulations also find that charge separation in electron-transfer chains is subject to a minimum intercofactor separation distance, beneath which energy-dissipating charge recombination is unavoidable. We find that high quantum yield and low energy dissipation can thus be realized simultaneously for multistep electron transfer if recombination pathways are uncoupled from high-frequency vibrations and if the cofactors are held at small-to-intermediate distances apart (ca. 3 to 8 Å edge-to-edge). Our analysis informs the design of bioinspired light-harvesting structures that may exceed 60% energy efficiency, as opposed to the ∼30% efficiency achieved in natural photosynthesis.

Ultrafast Photophysics of Ni(I)-Bipyridine Halide Complexes: Spanning the Marcus Normal and Inverted Regimes

Owing to their light-harvesting properties, nickel-bipyridine (bpy) complexes have found wide use in metallaphotoredox cross-coupling reactions. Key to these transformations are Ni(I)-bpy halide intermediates that absorb a significant fraction of light at relevant cross-coupling reaction irradiation wavelengths. Herein, we report ultrafast transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy on a library of eight Ni(I)-bpy halide complexes, the first such characterization of any Ni(I) species. The TA data reveal the formation and decay of Ni(I)-to-bpy metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states (10-30 ps) whose relaxation dynamics are well described by vibronic Marcus theory, spanning the normal and inverted regions as a result of simple changes to the bpy substituents. While these lifetimes are relatively long for MLCT excited states in first-row transition metal complexes, their duration precludes excited-state bimolecular reactivity in photoredox reactions. We also present a one-step method to generate an isolable, solid-state Ni(I)-bpy halide species, which decouples light-initiated reactivity from dark, thermal cycles in catalysis.

Resolving Halide Ion Stabilization through Kinetically Competitive Electron Transfers

Stabilization of ions and radicals often determines reaction kinetics and thermodynamics, but experimental determination of the stabilization magnitude remains difficult, especially when the species is short-lived. Herein, a competitive kinetic approach to quantify the stabilization of a halide ion toward oxidation imparted by specific stabilizing groups relative to a solvated halide ion is reported. This approach provides the increase in the formal reduction potential, ΔE°'(Χ^•/-), where X = Br and I, that results from the noncovalent interaction with stabilizing groups. The [Ir(dF-(CF₃)-ppy)₂(tmam)]³⁺ photocatalyst features a dicationic ligand tmam [4,4'-bis[(trimethylamino)methyl]-2,2'-bipyridine]²⁺ that is shown by ¹H NMR spectroscopy to associate a single halide ion, K _eq = 7 × 10⁴ M^-1 (Br^-) and K _eq = 1 × 10⁴ M^-1 (I^-). Light excitation of the photocatalyst in halide-containing acetonitrile solutions results in competitive quenching by the stabilized halide and the more easily oxidized diffusing halide ion. Marcus theory is used to relate the rate constants to the electron-transfer driving forces for oxidation of the stabilized and unstabilized halide, the difference of which provides the increase in reduction potentials of ΔE°'(Br^•/-) = 150 ± 24 meV and ΔE°'(I^•/-) = 67 ± 13 meV. The data reveal that K _eq is a poor indicator of these reduction potential shifts. Furthermore, the historic and widely used assumption that Coulombic interactions alone are responsible for stabilization must be reconsidered, at least for polarizable halogens.

On the Determination of Halogen Atom Reduction Potentials with Photoredox Catalysts

The standard one-electron reduction potentials of halogen atoms, E°'(X^•/-), and many other radical or unstable species, are not accessible through standard electrochemical methods. Here, we report the use of two Ir(III) photoredox catalysts to initiate chloride, bromide, and iodide oxidation in organic solvents. The kinetic rate constants were critically analyzed through a derived diffusional model with Marcus theory to estimate E°'(X^•/-) in propylene carbonate, acetonitrile, butyronitrile, and dichloromethane. The approximations commonly used to determine diffusional rate constants in water gave rise to serious disagreements with the experiment, particularly in high-ionic-strength dichloromethane solutions, indicating the need to utilize the exact Debye expression. The Fuoss equation was adequate for determining photocatalyst-halide association constants with photocatalysts that possessed +2, +1, and 0 ionic charges. Similarly, the work term contribution in the classical Rehm-Weller expression, necessary for E°'(X^•/-) determination, accounted remarkably well for the stabilization of the charged reactants as the solution ionic strength was increased. While a sensitivity analysis indicated that the extracted reduction potentials were all within experimental error the same, use of fixed parameters established for aqueous solution provided the periodic trend expected, E°'(I^•/-) <E°'(Br^•/-) <E°'(Cl^•/-), in all of the organic solvents investigated; however, the potentials were more closely spaced than what would have been predicted based on gas-phase electron affinities or aqueous reduction potentials. The origin(s) of such behavior are discussed that provide new directions for future research.

From Fundamental Theories to Quantum Coherences in Electron Transfer

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) is a cornerstone of energy transduction from light to chemistry. The past decade has seen tremendous advances in the possible role of quantum coherent effects in the light-initiated energy and ET processes in chemical, biological, and materials systems. The prevalence of such coherence effects holds a promise to increase the efficiency and robustness of transport even in the face of energetic or structural disorder. A primary motive of this Perspective is to work out how to think about "coherence" in ET reactions. We will discuss how the interplay of basic parameters governing ET reactions-like electronic coupling, interactions with the environment, and intramolecular high-frequency quantum vibrations-impact coherences. This includes revisiting the insights from the seminal work on the theory of ET and time-resolved measurements on coherent dynamics to explore the role of coherences in ET reactions. We conclude by suggesting that in addition to optical spectroscopies, validating the functional role of coherences would require simultaneous mapping of correlated electron motion and atomically resolved nuclear structure.

Photoinduced bimolecular electron transfer from aromatic amines to pentafluorophenyl porphyrin combined with ultrafast charge recombination persistence with Marcus inverted region

The dynamics of photoinduced bimolecular reductive electron transfer between meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (H₂F₂₀TPP), an acceptor (A), and five aromatic amines (donor (D)) with varying oxidation potentials (aniline (AN), N-methylaniline (MAN), N-ethylaniline (EAN), N,N-dimethylaniline (DMAN) and N,N-diethylaniline (DEAN)) in dichloromethane (DCM) as a solvent as well as in neat donor solvents were investigated by employing nanosecond to femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy upon S₂ excitation of H₂F₂₀TPP. Systematic studies of time-resolved fluorescence quenching dependent on the donor concentration in the concentration range of 0.01-2 M and finally in neat donor solvents broadly enabled us to determine the electron transfer dynamics in three regimes of electron transfer: stationary or diffusion-controlled electron transfer, non-stationary electron transfer and intrinsic or ultrafast electron transfer. Depending upon the electron-donating ability of the studied donors, intrinsic electron transfer was found to occur in the time domain of ∼1-9 ps and diffusion-controlled ET dynamics was observed in the time domain of 200-500 ps, whereas the maximum limit of non-stationary electron transfer could be observed in the time domain of 15-50 ps. Femtosecond transient absorption studies together with global and target analysis helped to identify the spectral signature of the (H₂F₂₀TPP˙^-) radical anion as the product of ET. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever evidence that shows the spectra of an anion as the product of ET for any porphyrin-based electron transfer dynamics. However, transient absorption measurements confirm that intrinsic ET occurs in the Q_y state, whereas diffusion-controlled ET occurs in the hot Q_x as well as in the thermal equilibrium Q_x state. The most remarkable fact derived from the measurements of transient absorption was that the rate of the forward electron transfer (CS) is exactly the same as the rate of the backward electron transfer (CR) for all three regimes of ET. The thermodynamic driving force for CR was found to lie in the range of the total reorganization energy for the studied systems and hence falls in the Marcus optimal region, and the CR process is barrierless. The dependence on the driving force of the combination of forward and reverse electron transfer exhibited a bell-shaped curve for all three regimes of electron transfer, even though the rate of intrinsic ET is higher by a factor of ∼10² than that of diffusion-controlled ET. These results unambiguously favour the Marcus theory, in particular the controversial Marcus inverted region, of outer-sphere electron transfer.

Light-Driven Electron Accumulation in a Molecular Pentad

Accumulation and temporary storage of redox equivalents with visible light as an energy input is of pivotal importance for artificial photosynthesis because key reactions, such as CO2 reduction or water oxidation, require the transfer of multiple redox equivalents. We report on the first purely molecular system, in which a long-lived charge-separated state (τ≈870 ns) with two electrons accumulated on a suitable acceptor unit can be observed after excitation with visible light. Importantly, no sacrificial reagents were employed.

Visible-Light-Induced Olefin Activation Using 3D Aromatic Boron-Rich Cluster Photooxidants

We report a discovery that perfunctionalized icosahedral dodecaborate clusters of the type B12(OCH2Ar)12 (Ar = Ph or C6F5) can undergo photo-excitation with visible light, leading to a new class of metal-free photooxidants. Excitation in these species occurs as a result of the charge transfer between low-lying orbitals located on the benzyl substituents and an unoccupied orbital delocalized throughout the boron cluster core. Here we show how these species, photo-excited with a benchtop blue LED source, can exhibit excited-state reduction potentials as high as 3 V and can participate in electron-transfer processes with a broad range of styrene monomers, initiating their polymerization. Initiation is observed in cases of both electron-rich and electron-deficient styrene monomers at cluster loadings as low as 0.005 mol%. Furthermore, photo-excitation of B12(OCH2C6F5)12 in the presence of a less activated olefin such as isobutylene results in the production of highly branched poly(isobutylene). This work introduces a new class of air-stable, metal-free photo-redox reagents capable of mediating chemical transformations.

Electron Transfer Rate Maxima at Large Donor-Acceptor Distances

Because of their low mass, electrons can transfer rapidly over long (>15 Å) distances, but usually reaction rates decrease with increasing donor-acceptor distance. We report here on electron transfer rate maxima at donor-acceptor separations of 30.6 Å, observed for thermal electron transfer between an anthraquinone radical anion and a triarylamine radical cation in three homologous series of rigid-rod-like donor-photosensitizer-acceptor triads with p-xylene bridges. Our experimental observations can be explained by a weak distance dependence of electronic donor-acceptor coupling combined with a strong increase of the (outer-sphere) reorganization energy with increasing distance, as predicted by electron transfer theory more than 30 years ago. The observed effect has important consequences for light-to-chemical energy conversion.

Unusual distance dependences of electron transfer rates

There are regimes in which electron transfer rates increase with increasing donor–acceptor distance, leading to rate maxima at large donor–acceptor separations.

Long-Range Electron Transfer in Engineered Azurins Exhibits Marcus Inverted Region Behavior

The Marcus theory of electron transfer (ET) predicts that while the ET rate constants increase with rising driving force until it equals a reaction's reorganization energy, at higher driving force the ET rate decreases, having reached the Marcus inverted region. While experimental evidence of the inverted region has been reported for organic and inorganic ET reactions as well as for proteins conjugated with ancillary redox moieties, evidence of the inverted region in a "protein-only" system has remained elusive. We herein provide such evidence in a series of nonderivatized proteins. These results may facilitate the design of ET centers for future applications such as advanced energy conversions.

Long-range electron tunneling

Electrons have so little mass that in less than a second they can tunnel through potential energy barriers that are several electron-volts high and several nanometers wide. Electron tunneling is a critical functional element in a broad spectrum of applications, ranging from semiconductor diodes to the photosynthetic and respiratory charge transport chains. Prior to the 1970s, chemists generally believed that reactants had to collide in order to effect a transformation. Experimental demonstrations that electrons can transfer between reactants separated by several nanometers led to a revision of the chemical reaction paradigm. Experimental investigations of electron exchange between redox partners separated by molecular bridges have elucidated many fundamental properties of these reactions, particularly the variation of rate constants with distance. Theoretical work has provided critical insights into the superexchange mechanism of electronic coupling between distant redox centers. Kinetics measurements have shown that electrons can tunnel about 2.5 nm through proteins on biologically relevant time scales. Longer-distance biological charge flow requires multiple electron tunneling steps through chains of redox cofactors. The range of phenomena that depends on long-range electron tunneling continues to expand, providing new challenges for both theory and experiment.

Distance-independent charge recombination kinetics in cytochrome c-cytochrome c peroxidase complexes: compensating changes in the electronic coupling and reorganization energies

Charge recombination rate constants vary no more than 3-fold for interprotein ET in the Zn-substituted wild type (WT) cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP):cytochrome c (Cc) complex and in complexes with four mutants of the Cc protein (i.e., F82S, F82W, F82Y, and F82I), despite large differences in the ET distance. Theoretical analysis indicates that charge recombination for all complexes involves a combination of tunneling and hopping via Trp191. For three of the five structures (WT and F82S(W)), the protein favors hopping more than that in the other two structures that have longer heme → ZnP distances (F82Y(I)). Experimentally observed biexponential ET kinetics is explained by the complex locking in alternative coupling pathways, where the acceptor hole state is either primarily localized on ZnP (slow phase) or on Trp191 (fast phase). The large conformational differences between the CcP:Cc interface for the F82Y(I) mutants compared to that the WT and F82S(W) complexes are predicted to change the reorganization energies for the CcP:Cc ET reactions because of changes in solvent exposure and interprotein ET distances. Since the recombination reaction is likely to occur in the inverted Marcus regime, an increased reorganization energy compensates the decreased role for hopping recombination (and the longer transfer distance) in the F82Y(I) mutants. Taken together, coupling pathway and reorganization energy effects for the five protein complexes explain the observed insensitivity of recombination kinetics to donor-acceptor distance and docking pose and also reveals how hopping through aromatic residues can accelerate long-range ET.

Photoinduced electron tunneling between randomly dispersed donors and acceptors in frozen glasses and other rigid matrices

In fluid solution un-tethered donors and acceptors can diffuse freely, and consequently the donor-acceptor distance is usually not fixed on the timescale of an electron transfer event. When attempting to investigate the influence of driving-force changes or donor-acceptor distance variations on electron transfer rates this can be a problem. In rigid matrices diffusion is suppressed, and it becomes possible to investigate fixed-distance electron transfer. This method represents an attractive alternative to investigate rigid rod-like donor-bridge-acceptor molecules which have to be made in elaborate syntheses. This perspective focuses specifically on the distance dependence of photoinduced electron transfer which occurs via tunneling of charge carriers through rigid matrices over distances between 1 and 33 Å. Some key aspects of the theoretical models commonly used for analyzing kinetic data of electron tunneling through rigid matrices are recapitulated. New findings from this rather mature field of research are emphasized.

Photoinduced Electron Transfer in a Protein−Surfactant Complex: Probing the Interaction of SDS with BSA

Photoinduced fluorescence quenching electron transfer from N,N-dimethyl aniline to different 7-amino coumarin dyes has been investigated in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles and in bovine serum albumin (BSA)-SDS protein-surfactant complexes using steady state and picosecond time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The electron transfer rate has been found to be slower in BSA-SDS protein-surfactant complexes compared to that in SDS micelles. This observation has been explained with the help of the "necklace-and-bead" structure formed by the protein-surfactant complex due to coiling of protein molecules around the micelles. In the correlation of free energy change to the fluorescence quenching electron transfer rate, we have observed that coumarin 151 deviates from the normal Marcus region, showing retardation in the electron transfer rate at higher negative free energy region. We endeavored to establish that the retardation in the fluorescence quenching electron transfer rate for coumarin 151 at higher free energy region is a result of slower rotational relaxation and slower translational diffusion of coumarin 151 (C-151) compared to its analogues coumarin 152 and coumarin 481 in micelles and in protein-surfactant complexes. The slower rotational relaxation and translational diffusion of C-151 are supposed to be arising from the different location of coumarin 151 compared to coumarin 152 and coumarin 481.

Chemical approaches to artificial photosynthesis. 2

The goal of artificial photosynthesis is to use the energy of the sun to make high-energy chemicals for energy production. One approach, described here, is to use light absorption and excited-state electron transfer to create oxidative and reductive equivalents for driving relevant fuel-forming half-reactions such as the oxidation of water to O2 and its reduction to H2. In this "integrated modular assembly" approach, separate components for light absorption, energy transfer, and long-range electron transfer by use of free-energy gradients are integrated with oxidative and reductive catalysts into single molecular assemblies or on separate electrodes in photelectrochemical cells. Derivatized porphyrins and metalloporphyrins and metal polypyridyl complexes have been most commonly used in these assemblies, with the latter the focus of the current account. The underlying physical principles--light absorption, energy transfer, radiative and nonradiative excited-state decay, electron transfer, proton-coupled electron transfer, and catalysis--are outlined with an eye toward their roles in molecular assemblies for energy conversion. Synthetic approaches based on sequential covalent bond formation, derivatization of preformed polymers, and stepwise polypeptide synthesis have been used to prepare molecular assemblies. A higher level hierarchial "assembly of assemblies" strategy is required for a working device, and progress has been made for metal polypyridyl complex assemblies based on sol-gels, electropolymerized thin films, and chemical adsorption to thin films of metal oxide nanoparticles.

Intermolecular electron transfer between coumarin dyes and aromatic amines in Triton-X-100 micellar solutions: evidence for Marcus inverted region

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) between coumarin dyes and aromatic amines has been investigated in Triton-X-100 micellar solutions and the results have been compared with those observed earlier in homogeneous medium. Significant static quenching of the coumarin fluorescence due to the presence of high concentration of amines around the coumarin fluorophore in the micelles has been observed in steady-state fluorescence studies. Time-resolved studies with nanosecond resolutions mostly show the dynamic part of the quenching for the excited coumarin dyes by the amine quenchers. A correlation of the quenching rate constants, estimated from the time-resolved measurements, with the free energy changes (DeltaG0) of the ET reactions shows the typical bell shaped curve as predicted by Marcus outer-sphere ET theory. The inversion in the ET rates for the present systems occurs at an exergonicity (-DeltaG0) of approximately 0.7-0.8 eV, which is unusually low considering the polarity of the Palisade layer of the micelles where the reactants reside. Present results have been rationalized on the basis of the two dimensional ET model assuming that the solvent relaxation in micellar media is much slower than the rate of the ET process. Detailed analysis of the experimental data shows that the diffusional model of the bimolecular quenching kinetics is not applicable for the ET reactions in the micellar solutions. In the present systems, the reactions can be better visualized as equivalent to intramolecular electron transfer processes, with statistical distribution of the donors and acceptors in the micelles. A low electron coupling (Vel) parameter is estimated from the correlation of the experimentally observed and the theoretically calculated ET rates, which indicates that the average donor--acceptor separation in the micellar ET reactions is substantially larger than for the donor--acceptor contact distance. Comparison of the Vel values in the micellar solution and in the donor--acceptor close contact suggests that there is an intervention of a surfactant chain between the interacting donor and acceptor in the micellar ET reaction.

Photoinduced electron transfer from N,N-dimethylaniline to 7-amino Coumarins in protein-surfactant complex: Slowing down of electron transfer dynamics compared to micelles

Photoinduced electron transfer from N,N-dimethylaniline to different Coumarin dyes has been investigated in dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) micelles and in Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-DTAB protein-surfactant complex using steady-state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. We observed a slower fluorescence quenching rate in the DTAB micelles and in the protein-surfactant complex as compared to that in pure acetonitrile solution. Moreover, the observed fluorescence quenching in BSA-DTAB complex was found to be slower than that in DTAB micelles. In the correlation of free-energy change with the fluorescence quenching constant we observed a deviation in the fluorescence quenching electron transfer rate for Coumarin 151 (C-151) from the normal Marcus curve. This observation is ascribed to the stronger interaction of C-151 with the surfactant molecules present in the micelles. This is evident from the slower translation diffusion (D(L)) of Coumarin 151 compared to other probe molecules.

Effect of micellar environment on Marcus correlation curves for photoinduced bimolecular electron transfer reactions

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) between coumarin dyes and aromatic amine has been investigated in two cationic micelles, namely, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB), and the results have been compared with those observed earlier in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and triton-X-100 (TX-100) micelles for similar donor-acceptor pairs. Due to a reasonably high effective concentration of the amines in the micellar Stern layer, the steady-state fluorescence results show significant static quenching. In the time-resolved (TR) measurements with subnanosecond time resolution, contribution from static quenching is avoided. Correlations of the dynamic quenching constants (k(q) (TR)), as estimated from the TR measurements, show the typical bell-shaped curves with the free-energy changes (DeltaG(0)) of the ET reactions, as predicted by the Marcus outersphere ET theory. Comparing present results with those obtained earlier for similar coumarin-amine systems in SDS and TX-100 micelles, it is seen that the inversion in the present micelles occurs at an exergonicity (-DeltaG(0)> approximately 1.2-1.3 eV) much higher than that observed in SDS and TX-100 micelles (-DeltaG(0)> approximately 0.7 eV), which has been rationalized based on the relative propensities of the ET and solvation rates in different micelles. In CTAB and DTAB micelles, the k(q) (TR) values are lower than the solvation rates, which result in the full contribution of the solvent reorganization energy (lambda(s)) towards the activation barrier for the ET reaction. Contrary to this, in SDS and TX-100 micelles, k(q) (TR) values are either higher or comparable with the solvation rates, causing only a partial contribution of lambda(s) in these cases. Thus, Marcus inversion in present cationic micelles is inferred to be the true inversion, whereas that in the anionic SDS and neutral TX-100 micelles are understood to be the apparent inversion, as envisaged from two-dimensional ET theory.

Kinetics and mechanism of bimolecular electron transfer reaction in quinone-amine systems in micellar solution

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) reactions between anthraquinone derivatives and aromatic amines have been investigated in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) micellar solutions. Significant static quenching of the quinone fluorescence due to high amine concentration in the micellar phase has been observed in steady-state measurements. The bimolecular rate constants for the dynamic quenching in the present systems k(q) (TR), as estimated from the time-resolved measurements, have been correlated with the free energy changes DeltaG(0) for the ET reactions. Interestingly it is seen that the k(q) (TR) vs DeltaG(0) plot displays an inversion behavior with maximum k(q) (TR) at around 0.7 eV, a trend similar to that predicted in Marcus ET theory. Like the present results, Marcus inversion in the k(q) (TR) values was also observed earlier in coumarin-amine systems in SDS and TX-100 micellar solutions, with maximum k(q) (TR) at around the same exergonicity. These results thus suggest that Marcus inversion in bimolecular ET reaction is a general phenomenon in micellar media. Present observations have been rationalized on the basis of the two-dimensional ET (2DET) theory, which seems to be more suitable for micellar ET reactions than the conventional ET theory. For the quinone-amine systems, it is interestingly seen that k(q) (TR) vs DeltaG(0) plot is somewhat wider in comparison to that of the coumarin-amine systems, even though the maxima in the k(q) (TR) vs DeltaG(0) plots appear at almost similar exergonicity for both the acceptor-donor systems. These observations have been rationalized on the basis of the differences in the reaction windows along the solvation axis, as envisaged within the framework of the 2DET theory, and arise due to the differences in the locations of the quinones and coumarin dyes in the micellar phase.

Dyads containing iridium(III) bis-terpyridine as photoactive center: synthesis and electron transfer study

A series of Ir(III)-D dyads based on an iridium(III) bis-terpyridine complex as a photoactive center and tertiary amines as donor groups, as well as their individual components, have been designed to generate photoinduced charge separation. Depending on the donor group, a modular approach or a "chemistry-on-the-complex" approach has been used to prepare three different Ir(III)-D dyads. A detailed photophysical study has been performed on one Ir(III)-D dyad in which a triarylamine is linked to the iridium bis-terpyridine complex with an amido-phenyl group used as a spacer. In acetonitrile at room temperature, steady-state and time-resolved methods gave evidence of a photoinduced charge-separated state Ir(-)-D(+) with a lifetime of 70 ps. This relatively short lifetime could be due to the close proximity between the negative charge, likely localized in the bridging terpyridine, and the oxidized donor group.

Understanding Charge Transport in Molecular Electronics

For molecular electronics to become a viable technology the factors that control charge transport across a metal-molecule-metal junction need to be elucidated. We use an experimentally simple crossed-wire tunnel junction to interrogate how factors such as metal-molecule coupling, molecular structure, and the choice of metal electrode influence the current-voltage characteristics of a molecular junction.

Conformational dynamics and temperature dependence of photoinduced electron transfer within self-assembled coproporphyrin:cytochrome c complexes

The focus of the present study is to better understand the complex factors influencing intermolecular electron transfer (ET) in biological molecules using a model system involving free-base coproporphyrin (COP) complexed with horse heart cytochrome c (Cc). Coproporphyrin exhibits bathochromic shifts in both the Soret and visible absorption bands in the presence of Cc and an absorption difference titration reveals a 1:1 complex with an association constant of 2.63 +/- 0.05 x 10(5) M(-1). At 20 degrees C, analysis of time-resolved fluorescence data reveals two lifetime components consisting of a discrete lifetime at 15.0 ns (free COP) and a Gaussian distribution of lifetimes centered at 2.8 ns (representing (1)COP --> Cc ET). Temperature-dependent, time-resolved fluorescence data demonstrate a shift in singlet lifetime as well as changes in the distribution width (associated with the complex). By fitting these data to semiclassical Marcus theory, the reorganizational energy (lambda) of the singlet state electron transfer was calculated to be 0.89 eV, consistent with values for other porphyrin/Cc intermolecular ET reactions. Using nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy the temperature dependences of the forward and thermal back ET originating from triplet state were examined ((3)COP --> Cc ET). Fits of the temperature dependence of the rate constants to semiclassical Marcus theory gave lambda of 0.39 eV and 0.11 eV for the forward and back triplet ET, respectively (k(f) = (7.6 +/- 0.3) x 10(6) s(-1), k(b) = (2.4 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) s(-1)). The differing values of lambda for the forward and back triplet ET demonstrate that these ET reactions do not occur within a static complex. Comparing these results with previous studies of the uroporphyrin:Cc and tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin:Cc complexes suggests that side-chain flexibility gives rise to the conformational distributions in the (1)COP --> Cc ET whereas differences in overall porphyrin charge regulates gating of the back ET reaction (reduced Cc --> COP(+)).

Photoinduced electron transfer in hydrogen bonded donor--acceptor systems. Free energy and distance dependence studies and an analysis of the role of diffusion

The free energy dependence of electron transfer in a few small-molecule donor--acceptor systems having hydrogen-bonding appendages was studied to evaluate the role of diffusion in masking the inverted region in bimolecular PET reactions. A small fraction of the probe molecules associate and this led to the simultaneous observation of unimolecular and diffusion-mediated quenching of the probe fluorescence. Free energy dependence studies showed that the unimolecular electron transfer obeys Marcus behavior and the diffusion-mediated electron transfer obeys Rehm--Weller behavior. The absence of an inverted region in bimolecular PET reactions is thus attributed to diffusion. The results of the free energy dependence studies suggest that distance dependence of electron transfer plays a role in masking the inverted region. To ascertain this aspect we have carried out a study of the distance dependence of electron transfer in the hydrogen-bonded donor--acceptor systems. For a system in the normal region an exponential rate decrease was observed. For a system in the inverted region it was observed that the rate depends very feebly on distance. Thus distance dependence studies did not confirm the prediction of enhanced rates at larger distances in the inverted region.