Chemical physics behind formation of efficient charge-separated state for complexation between PC70BM and designed diporphyrin in solution.

The present work reports supramolecular interaction of [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) with two designed diporphyrin molecules having dithiophene (1) and carbazole (2) spacer in solvent having varying polarity. Studies on complex formation reveal relatively higher binding constant for PC70BM/2 complex in all the solvent studied. Solvent dependence of charge separation and charge recombination processes in PC70BM/diporphyrin non-covalent complexes has been well established in present work. Donor-acceptor geometry and stabilization of the singlet excited state of the diporphyrin during charge recombination are considered to be the possible reasons for this behavior.

Photophysical insights on effect of gold nanoparticles over fullerene-porphyrin interaction in solution.

The present article reports the role of gold nanoparticles, i.e., AuNp (having diameter ∼2-4nm), in non-covalent interaction between fullerenes (C60 and C70) and a monoporphyrin (1) in toluene. Both UV-vis and fluorescence measurements reveal considerable reduction in the average value of binding constant (Kav) for the C70-1 system (KC70-1(av)=19,300 dm3 mol(-1)) in presence of AuNp, i.e., KC70-1-AuNp(av)=13,515 dm3 mol(-1) although no such phenomenon is observed in case of C60-1 system, viz., KC60-1(av)=1445 dm3 mol(-1) and KC60-1-AuNp(av)=1210 dm3 mol(-1). DLS study reveals sizeable amount of increase in the particle size of C70-1-AuNp nanocomposite, i.e., ∼105 nm, compared to C60-1-AgNp system, e.g., ∼5.5 nm which gives very good support in favor of decrease in the value of Kav for the former system. SEM study reveals that nanoparticles are dispersed in larger extent in case of C70-1-AuNp system. Time-resolved fluorescence study envisages that deactivation of the excited singlet state of 1 by C70 takes place at a faster rate in comparison to C60 in presence of gold nanoparticles.

Photophysical investigations on non-covalently linked fullerene/tetraarylporphyrin supramolecular complexes.

The host-guest interactions of various tetraarylporphyrins (TP), viz., 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrin (1), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(octadecyloxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin (2) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(dodecyloxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin (3) with C60 and C70 have been studied by 1H NMR, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques in toluene medium. All the fullerene/porphyrin complexes are found to be stable with 1:1 stoichiometry. Binding constants (K) of all the fullerene/porphyrin complexes have been determined by fluorescence quenching experiment. The trend in K values revealed that the presence of long chain n-alkyl group in tetraarylporphyrin effectively and remarkably increases the selectivity ratio of C70 over C60. Theoretical calculations have extended a good support in interpreting the stability difference between various fullerene/TP complexes.

Spectrophotometric study of the supramolecular complexes of [60]- and [70]Fullerenes with biscalix[6]arene and crown[4]calix[6]arene.

[60]- and [70]Fullerenes have been shown to form 1:1 supramolecular complexes with bis[2-(5,11,17,23,29,35-hexa-tert-butyl-37,38,39,40,41-pentahydroxycalix[6]arenyl-oxy ethyl ether) (1) and 5,11,17,23,29,35-hexa-tert-butyl-37,38,40,41-tetra hydroxyl-39,42-(crown-4)calix[6]arene (2) in CHCl3 medium by electronic absorption spectroscopy. Formation constants (K) of the complexes of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with 1 and 2 have been determined at room temperature from which free energy of formation values of the complexes have been estimated. The very high formation constant value of [60]fullerene/1 complex (5900 dm3 mol-1) in indicative of formation of inclusion complex. Moreover, PM3 calculations reveal that intermolecular interaction between [60]fullerene and 1 proceeds through quite deep energy molecular orbital.

Energies of charge transfer and formation equilibria of the complexes of [70]fullerene with some interesting polyaromatic molecules.

We have investigated electron donor-acceptor complexes of [70]fullerene with various polyaromatic molecules (PAM) with different vertical ionization potentials (I(D)(v)). Well defined charge transfer (CT) absorption bands have been located in the visible region. We extract degrees of charge transfer, oscillator and transition dipole strengths by analyzing the transition energy of the CT band as a function of I(D)(v) of the donors studied. The experimental results were explained using a theoretical model that takes into account the interaction between electronic subsystems of PAM with [70]fullerene. Trends in the formation constant for the [70]fullerene/PAM complexes were discussed in terms of enthalpies and entropies of formation.

Study of charge transfer complexes of [70]fullerene with phenol and substituted phenols.

To improve the understanding of the charge transfer (CT) interaction of [70]fullerene with electron donors, interaction of [70]fullerene with a series of phenols, e.g., phenol, resorcinol and p-quinol were studied in 1,4-dioxan medium using absorption spectroscopy. An absorption band due to CT transition was observed in the visible region. The experimental CT transition energies (h nuCT) are well correlated (through Mulliken's equation) with the vertical ionisation potentials (I(D)v) of the series of phenols studied. From an analysis of this correlation degrees of charge transfer for the [70]fullerene-phenol complexes were estimated. The degrees of charge transfer in the ground state of the complexes have been found to be very low (<2%). The h nuCT values change systematically as the number and position of the -OH groups change on the aromatic ring of the phenol moiety. From the trends in the h nuCT values, the Hückel parameters (h(O) and k(C-O)) for the -OH group were obtained in a straightforward way and the values so obtained, viz., 1.91 and 1.0, respectively, are close to the ones (1.8 and 0.8) recommended by Streitwieser on the basis of other evidence. Oscillator strengths, transition dipole strengths and resonance energies of the [70]fullerene-phenol complexes were determined. Formation constants of the CT complexes were determined at four different temperatures from which enthalpies and entropies of formation of the complexes were estimated.

Absorption spectroscopic study of synergistic extraction of praseodymium with benzoyl acetone in presence of crown ether.

The extraction behaviour of Pr(III) from aqueous nitric acid medium employing benzoylacetone has been studied in presence of two crown ethers, viz., 15-crown-5 and benzo-15-crown-5 in chloroform medium using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The binary equilibrium constant (logk(ex)) for the complex [Pr(benzoylacetonate)(NO3(-))2(H(2)O)] in organic phase was found to be 1.170. The overall equilibrium constants (logK) for the ternary species [Pr(benzoylacetonate)(crown ether)(NO3(-))(2)] were estimated to be 4.01 and 4.41 for 15-crown-5 and benzo-15-crown-5, respectively. The trend in the equilibrium constant values were very much in accordance with the nature of substitution of the donor moiety. The extraction of Pr(III) by the benzoylacetone-crown ether combination was maximum at pH 3.0 and extraction decreases with increase in pH. It has been found that the extent of extraction of Pr(III) in organic phase as the binary as well as ternary complex [Pr(benzoylacetonate)(NO3(-))(2)(H(2)O)] and [Pr(benzoylacetonate)(crown ether)(NO3(-))(2)] increases with increase in concentration of the ligand. Similar trend is observed in the extraction by only donors. Enthalpies and entropies of formation for the ternary extraction process have been estimated. In addition, the effect of NaNO(3) as foreign salt was also studied and it was observed that with increase in ionic strength, percentage extraction increases.

Synergistic extraction of cobalt (II) by beta hydroxy naphthaldoxime and neutral donors.

Liquid - liquid extraction of Cobalt (II) from aqueous hydrochloric acid medium by the use of oxime derivative of beta-hydroxy naphthaldehyde in o-xylene medium is being reported. The ligand was synthesized and characterized in our laboratory. The typical pH range of extraction of Co (II) by the ligand - donor combination was seen to be between 8 - 9. The effect of different donors like dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphonate and the effect of various diluents on the extraction of Co(II) by the present method were studied in detail. The binary adduct formation constant (log kex) in the organic phase was found to be 3.182. The overall equilibrium constant (log K) for the ternary species [Co(A)(DMSO)(Cl)], [Co(A)(TOPO)(Cl)] and [Co(A)(phosphonate)(Cl)] were estimated to be 6.42, 6.22 and 6.25 respectively. The trend in equilibrium constants were in accordance with their basic character, i.e., (DMSO > or = TOPO approximately/= phosphonate). The results were extrapolated in the determination of Cobalt in pharmaceutical drugs and cobalt bearing ore samples.

NMR spectrometric study of molecular complex formation of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with a number of phosphine oxides.

Molecular complex formation between [60]- and [70]fullerenes with a series of phosphine oxides, namely, tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide, triphenyl phosphine oxide and tri-n-butyl phosphine oxide has been studied in CCl4 medium by NMR spectrometric method. Both [60]- and [70]fullerenes have been shown to form 1:1 adducts with the above series of phosphine oxides. Formation constants (K) for all the complexes have been determined from the systematic variation of NMR chemical shifts of specific protons of the donors in presence of [60]- and [70]fullerenes. Trends in the values of K suggest that [70]fullerene binds stronger with the phosphine oxides relative to [60]fullerene.