Photoinduced charge transfer in push-pull pyrazoline-based chromophores - Relationship between molecular structure and photophysical, photovoltaic properties

The manuscript describes the effect of molecular structure on the photophysical and photovoltaic properties of the pyrazoline-based donor-branched-π-system-acceptor compounds decorated with two end groups: phenyl or thiophene. Although the absorption to the first singlet excited state is strongly allowed, the emission quantum yield is low in all studied solvents. This behaviour was explained by the existence of two non-radiative deactivation channels: the back electron transfer process, especially operated in polar solvents, and internal conversion realized as the rotation of flexible rotors (cyano, keto phenyl or thiophene). The feasibility of the photoinduced electron transfer process was corroborated by electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical measurements as well as DFT calculations. DFT calculations also support the existence of multiple conformations in the ground state, which differ from one another in terms of charge distribution and the values of ground state dipole moment. Finally, the mechanism of the singlet excited state deactivation of the studied compounds was determined by ultrafast pump-probe measurements. Our studies revealed that charge/electron transfer process may undergo over carbonyl bridge, included in branched π-system. Moreover, the thiophene decorated pyrazoline is characterized by a better photovoltaic power conversion efficiency, while the phenyl-ended pyrazoline can be applied as a viscosity sensor.

Uncovering nanotoxicity of a water-soluble and red-fluorescent [70]fullerene nanomaterial

Engineered fullerene materials have attracted the attention of researchers in the biomedical sciences, especially when their synthetic methodology is developed to endow them with significant levels of water-solubility and bioavailability. In this study, we synthesized and characterized a water-soluble and red-fluorescent [70]fullerene nanomaterial, which fluoresced at 693 nm with a quantum yield of 0.065 and a large Stokes shift (around 300 nm). The fullerene nanomaterial generated mainly singlet oxygen after illumination with blue LED light, while superoxide anion radical production was minimal. The transmission electron microscopy as well as fluorescent studies of Drosophila melanogaster revealed that prepared [70]fullerene nanoparticles had better bioavailability than pristine [70]fullerene nanoparticles. The designed nanomaterials were observed in the apical, perinuclear, and basal regions of digestive cells, as well as the basal lamina of the digestive system's epithelium, with no damage to cell organelles and no activation of degenerative processes and cell death. Our findings provide a new perspective for understanding the in vivo behavior of fullerene nanomaterials and their future application in bioimaging and light-activated nanotherapeutics.

Controlling of Photophysical Behavior of Rhenium(I) Complexes with 2,6-Di(thiazol-2-yl)pyridine-Based Ligands by Pendant π-Conjugated Aryl Groups

The structure–property correlations and control of electronic excited states in transition metal complexes (TMCs) are of high significance for TMC-based functional material development. Within these studies, a series of Re(I) carbonyl complexes with aryl-substituted 2,6-di(thiazol-2-yl)pyridines (Arⁿ-dtpy) was synthesized, and their ground- and excited-state properties were investigated. A number of condensed aromatic rings, which function as the linking mode of the aryl substituent, play a fundamental role in controlling photophysics of the resulting [ReCl(CO)₃(Arⁿ-dtpy-κ²N)]. Photoexcitation of [ReCl(CO)₃(Arⁿ-dtpy-κ²N)] with 1-naphthyl-, 2-naphthyl-, 9-phenanthrenyl leads to the population of ³MLCT. The lowest triplet state of Re(I) chromophores bearing 9-anthryl, 2-anthryl, 1-pyrenyl groups is ligand localized. The rhenium(I) complex with appended 1-pyrenyl group features long-lived room temperature emission attributed to the equilibrium between ³MLCT and ³IL/³ILCT. The excited-state dynamics in complexes [ReCl(CO)₃(9-anthryl-dtpy-κ²N)] and [ReCl(CO)₃(2-anthryl-dtpy-κ²N)] is strongly dependent on the electronic coupling between anthracene and {ReCl(CO)₃(dtpy-κ²N)}. Less steric hindrance between the chromophores in [ReCl(CO)₃(2-anthryl-dtpy-κ²N)] is responsible for the faster formation of ³IL/³ILCT and larger contribution of ³ILCT_{anthracene→dtpy} in relation to the isomeric complex [ReCl(CO)₃(9-anthryl-dtpy-κ²N)]. In agreement with stronger electronic communication between the aryl and Re(I) coordination centre, [ReCl(CO)₃(2-anthryl-dtpy-κ²N)] displays room-temperature emission contributed to by ³MLCT and ³IL_anthracene/³ILCT_{anthracene→dtpy} phosphorescence. The latter presents rarely observed phenomena in luminescent metal complexes.

Impact of the Anthryl Linking Mode on the Photophysics and Excited-State Dynamics of Re(I) Complexes [ReCl(CO)3(4′-An-terpy-κ2N)]

Rhenium(I) complexes with 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines (terpy) substituted with 9-anthryl (1) and 2-anthryl (2) were synthesized, and the impact of the anthryl linking mode on the ground- and excited-state properties of resulting complexes [ReCl(CO)₃(4′-An-terpy-κ²N)] (An—anthryl) was investigated using a combination of steady-state and time-resolved optical techniques accompanied by theoretical calculations. Different attachment positions of anthracene modify the overlap between the molecular orbitals and thus the electronic coupling of the anthracene and {ReCl(CO)₃(terpy-κ²N)} chromophores. Following the femtosecond transient absorption, the lowest triplet excited state of both complexes was found to be localized on the anthracene chromophore. The striking difference between 1 and 2 concerns the triplet-state formation dynamics. A more planar geometry of 2-anthryl-terpy (2), and thus better electronic communication between the anthracene and {ReCl(CO)₃(terpy-κ²N)} chromophores, facilitates the formation of the ³An triplet state. In steady-state photoluminescence spectra, the population ratio of ³MLCT and ³An was found to be dependent not only on the anthryl linking mode but also on solvent polarity and excitation wavelengths. In dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), compounds 1 and 2 excited with λ_exc > 410 nm show both ³MLCT and ³An emissions, which are rarely observed. Additionally, the abilities of the designed complexes for ¹O₂ generation and light emission under the external voltage were preliminary examined.

The impact of the anthryl linking mode on the ground- and excited-state properties of [ReCl(CO)₃(4′-An-terpy-κ²N)] with 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines (terpy) substituted with 9-anthryl (1) and 2-anthryl (2) was thoroughly investigated. Different attachment positions of anthracene were evidenced to modify the overlap between the molecular orbitals and electronic coupling of the anthracene and {ReCl(CO)₃(terpy-κ²N)} chromophores and thus the optical properties of the resulting complexes. The striking difference between 1 and 2 was demonstrated in the triplet-state formation dynamics.

Indium(II) Chloride as a Precursor in the Synthesis of Ternary (Ag-In-S) and Quaternary (Ag-In-Zn-S) Nanocrystals

A new indium precursor, namely, indium(II) chloride, was tested as a precursor in the synthesis of ternary Ag-In-S and quaternary Ag-In-Zn-S nanocrystals. This new precursor, being in fact a dimer of Cl2In-InCl2 chemical structure, is significantly more reactive than InCl3, typically used in the preparation of these types of nanocrystals. This was evidenced by carrying out comparative syntheses under the same reaction conditions using these two indium precursors in combination with the same silver (AgNO3) and zinc (zinc stearate) precursors. In particular, the use of indium(II) chloride in combination with low concentrations of the zinc precursor yielded spherical-shaped (D = 3.7-6.2 nm) Ag-In-Zn-S nanocrystals, whereas for higher concentrations of this precursor, rodlike nanoparticles (L = 9-10 nm) were obtained. In all cases, the resulting nanocrystals were enriched in indium (In/Ag = 1.5-10.3). Enhanced indium precursor conversion and formation of anisotropic, longitudinal nanoparticles were closely related to the presence of thiocarboxylic acid type of ligands in the reaction mixture. These ligands were generated in situ and subsequently bound to surfacial In(III) cations in the growing nanocrystals. The use of the new precursor of enhanced reactivity facilitated precise tuning of the photoluminescence color of the resulting nanocrystals in the spectral range from ca. 730 to 530 nm with photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) varying from 20 to 40%. The fabricated Ag-In-S and Ag-In-Zn-S nanocrystals exhibited the longest, reported to date, photoluminescence lifetimes of ∼9.4 and ∼1.4 μs, respectively. It was also demonstrated for the first time that ternary (Ag-In-S) and quaternary (Ag-In-Zn-S) nanocrystals could be applied as efficient photocatalysts, active under visible light (green) illumination, in the reaction of aldehydes reduction to alcohols.

In-Depth Studies of Ground- and Excited-State Properties of Re(I) Carbonyl Complexes Bearing 2,2':6',2″-Terpyridine and 2,6-Bis(pyrazin-2-yl)pyridine Coupled with π-Conjugated Aryl Chromophores

In the current work, comprehensive photophysical and electrochemical studies were performed for eight rhenium(I) complexes incorporating 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (terpy) and 2,6-bis(pyrazin-2-yl)pyridine (dppy) with appended 1-naphthyl-, 2-naphthyl-, 9-phenanthrenyl, and 1-pyrenyl groups. Naphthyl and phenanthrenyl substituents marginally affected the energy of the MLCT absorption and emission bands, signaling a weak electronic coupling of the appended aryl group with the Re(I) center. The triplet MLCT state in these complexes is so low lying relative to the triplet ³IL_aryl that the thermal population of the triplet excited state delocalized on the organic chromophore is ineffective. The attachment of the electron-rich pyrenyl group resulted in a noticeable red shift and a significant increase in molar absorption coefficients of the lowest energy absorption of the resulting Re(I) complexes due to the contribution of intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) transitions occurring from the pyrenyl substituent to the terpy/dppy core. At 77 K, the excited states of [ReCl(CO)₃(Lⁿ-κ²N)] with 1-pyrenyl-functionalized ligands were found to have predominant ³IL_pyrene/³ILCT_{pyrene→terpy} character. The ³IL/³ILCT nature of the lowest energy excited state of [ReCl(CO)₃(4'-(1-pyrenyl)-terpy-κ²N)] was also evidenced by nanosecond transient absorption and time-resolved emission spectroscopy. Enhanced room-temperature emission lifetimes of the complexes [ReCl(CO)₃(Lⁿ-κ²N)] with 1-pyrenyl-substituted ligands are indicative of the thermal activation between ³MLCT and ³IL/³ILCT excited states. Deactivation pathways occurring upon light excitation in [ReCl(CO)₃(4'-(1-naphthyl)-terpy-κ²N)] and [ReCl(CO)₃(4'-(1-pyrenyl)-terpy-κ²N)] were determined by femtosecond transient absorption studies.

Photoluminescence enhancement of Re(i) carbonyl complexes bearing D-A and D-π-A ligands

Three Re(i) carbonyl complexes [ReCl(CO)3(Ln)] bearing 2,2'-bipyridine, 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, and 1,10-phenanthroline functionalized with diphenylamine/or triphenylamine units (L1-L3) were synthesized to explore the impact of highly electron donating units appended to the imine ligand on the thermal and optoelectronic properties of Re(i) systems. Additionally, for comparison, the ligands L1-3 and parent complexes [ReCl(CO)3(bipy)], [ReCl(CO)3(phen)] and [ReCl(CO)3(terpy-κ2N)] were investigated. The thermal stability was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry. The ground- and excited-state electronic properties of the Re(i) complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry, absorption and emission spectroscopy, as well as using density-functional theory (DFT). The majority of the compounds form amorphous molecular materials with high glass transition temperatures above 100 °C. Compared to the unsubstituted complexes [ReCl(CO)3(bipy)], [ReCl(CO)3(phen)] and [ReCl(CO)3(terpy-κ2N)], the HOMO-LUMO gap of the corresponding Re(i) systems bearing modified imine ligands is reduced, and the decrease in the value of the ΔEH-L is mainly caused by the increase in HOMO energy level. In relation to the parent complexes, all designed Re(i) carbonyls were found to show enhanced photoluminescence, both in solution and in solid state. The investigated ligands and complexes were also preliminarily tested as luminophores in light emitting diodes with the structures ITO/PEDOT:PSS/compound/Al and ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK:PBD:compound/Al. The pronounced effect of the ligand chemical structure on electroluminescence ability was clearly visible.

Platinum(ii) complexes showing high cytotoxicity toward A2780 ovarian carcinoma cells

2,6-Bis(thiazol-2-yl)pyridines functionalized with 9-anthryl (L¹), 9-phenanthryl (L²), and 1-pyrenyl (L³) groups were used for the preparation of [Pt(Lⁿ)Cl]CF₃SO₃ (1-3). The constitution of the Pt(ii) complexes was determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, HR-MS spectrometry, elemental analysis and X-ray analysis (for (1)). The electrochemical and photophysical properties of [Pt(Lⁿ)Cl]CF₃SO₃ were compared with the behaviour of the Pt(ii) complexes with aryl-substituted 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine ligands. What is noteworthy is that the coordination ability of dtpy toward the Pt(ii) centre was investigated for the first time. All complexes were tested in vitro by MTS assay on four tumor cell lines, A2780 (ovarian carcinoma), HTC116 (colon rectal carcinoma), MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma), and PC3 (prostate carcinoma) and on normal primary fibroblasts. Compounds (1-3) showed a dose dependent antiproliferative effect in the A2780 cell line with (3) > (2) > (1) and this loss of A2780 cell viability was due to a combination of an apoptotic cell death mechanism via mitochondria and autophagic cell death. Exposure to IC₅₀ concentration of (2) induced an increase in the number of apoptotic nuclei and a depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane which is consistent with the induction of apoptosis while exposure to IC₅₀ concentration of (3) showed an increase in the apoptotic nuclei with a slight hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane that might indicate an initial step of apoptosis induction. The complexes (2) and (3) induce an increase in the production of intracellular ROS which is associated with the trigger of the apoptotic pathways. The ROS production was augmented by the presence of oxidants and correlated with an increase of oxygen radicals. The IC₅₀ of (2) and (3) (4.4 μM and 2.9 μM, respectively) was similar to the IC₅₀ of cisplatin (3.4 μM) in the A2780 cell line, which together with their low cytotoxicity in normal fibroblasts, demonstrates their potential for further studies.