Solvent effects on the spectroscopic properties of styrylquinolinium dyes series.

The study on the relationship between the structure and spectroscopic properties of styrylquinolinium dyes were carried out by measuring the electronic visible absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectra of quinoline based hemicyanine dyes. The influence of the solvent on absorption and emission spectra and the solvatochromic properties, observed for both ground and first excited states, for all the dyes were applied for the evaluation of their excited state dipole moments. The ground state dipole moments of dyes under the study were established by applying ab initio calculations. The measured, using solvatochromic methods, excited state dipole moments of tested hemicyanines are in the range from 5.38 to 18.90 D and the change in the dipole moments caused by excitation were found to differ from 1.88 to 6.64 D. It was observed that for all tested dyes the dipole moments of the excited states were higher than those of a ground states. The fluorescence lifetime measurements with picosecond resolution was performed for entire series of hemicyanine dyes possessing different dialkylamino groups attached to the phenyl ring. The average lifetimes of the dye fluorescence, determined from the measured data by multi-order exponential decay curve fitting, were in the range from about 120 to 1200 ps at the fluorescence peak wavelength. The fluorescence lifetime measurements were performed for dyes in ethyl acetate solutions. The time-resolved fluorescence spectra measurements allowed to propose the mechanism of the dyes excited states deactivation.

Bischromophoric styrylpyridinium dyes. Spectroscopic properties of 1,3-bis-[4-(p-N,N-dialkylaminostyryl)pyridinyl]propane dibromides.

The photophysical properties of newly synthesized bischromophoric solvatochromic stilbazolium dyes, 1,3-bis-[4-(p-N,N-dialkylaminostyryl)pyridinyl]propane dibromides (C1-C9), were studied in a series of solvents and their spectroscopic properties were compared with structurally related, monochromophoric styrylpyridinium dyes (SP1-SP9). The position of the UV-vis absorption spectra maximum of novel dyes is only slightly solvent polarity dependent in contrast to the fluorescence spectra that show pronounced solvatochromic effect demonstrated by a large Stokes shifts. The influence of the solvent on absorption and emission spectra, and the solvatochromic properties observed for both ground and first excited states for all the dyes were used for the evaluation of their excited state dipole moments. The ground state dipole moments of both mono- and bischromophoric dyes were established by applying ab initio calculations. The calculations and measurements unexpectedly show that the bischromophoric dyes are characterized by ground state dipole moments being equal to about half of that characterizing their monomeric equivalents, while the excited state dipole moments of bischromophoric dyes are about 10-25% higher in comparison to their monomeric equivalents.

Stilbene-like molecules as fluorescent probes applied for monitoring of polymerization process.

2-(p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)benzoxazole (OS), 2-(p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)-benzothiazole (SS) and 2-(p-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)naphtiazole (PS) were prepared and their absorption and fluorescence spectra were measured in various solvents at room temperature. On the basis of the solvatochromic behavior the ground state (mu(g)) and excited state (mu(e)) dipole moments of these pN,N-dimethylaminostyryl derivatives were evaluated. The dipole moments (mu(g) and mu(e)) were estimated from solvatochromic shifts of absorption and fluorescence spectra as function of the dielectric constant (epsilon) and refractive index (n) of applied solvents. The absorption spectra only slightly are affected by the solvent polarity in contrast to the fluorescence spectra that are highly solvatochromic and display a large Stokes shift. The analysis of the solvatochromic behavior of the fluorescence spectra as function of Deltaf (epsilon, n) revealed that the emission occurs from a high polarity excited state. The large dipole moment change along with the strongly red-shifted fluorescence, as the solvent polarity is increased, demonstrate the formation of an intramolecular charge transfer state (ICT). Compounds under the study were used as fluorescence probes for monitoring the kinetics of polymerization. The study on the changes in fluorescence intensity and spectroscopic shifts of studied compounds were carried out during thermally initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and during photoinitiated polymerization of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol triacrylate (TMPTA).

Relationship between structure and photoinitiating abilities of selected bromide salts of 2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (IMP): influence of the solvent and the substitution in benzaldehyde on the course of its reaction with IMP.

2-Oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinium bromide and its C3-substituted derivatives have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and quantum chemical calculations. Their potential as photoinitiators for free-radical polymerization has been investigated experimentally and compared with theoretical results. It has been established that the course of the reaction that introduces the substituted benzylidene group to the imidazole ring is different in the protic and dipolar aprotic solvents, and also depends on the character of the substituent, as the energy change in the reaction favours either R1R2C=CHR3 or R1R2CH-CH(OCH3)R3 formation.

The experimental studies on the determination of the ground and excited state dipole moments of some hemicyanine dyes.

The ground state (mu(g)) and excited state (mu(e)) dipole moments of 15 hemicyanine dyes were studied at room temperature. They were estimated from solvatochromic shifts of the absorption and the fluorescence spectra as function of the solvent dielectric constant (epsilon) and refractive index (n). In this paper we applied the Stokes shift phenomena not only for the determination of the difference in the dipole moment of excited state and ground state, but to determine the value of polarizability alpha as well. The obtained results show that excited state dipole moments of hemicyanine dyes are in the range from 5 to 15 Debye, and the difference between the excited and ground state dipole moments vary from 1 to 7 Debye. The excited and ground state dipole moments difference (mu(e)-mu(g)) obtained for selected dyes are positive. It means that the excited states of the dyes under the study are more polar than the ground state ones. Additionally, the value of both polarizability (alpha) and the Onsager radius (a) of each investigated hemicyanine dye molecule are determined, and the ratio of alpha/a(3) for each dye were calculated, which oscillate from 0.29 to 5.21. The increase in dipole moment has been explained in terms of the nature of excited state and its resonance structure.

The synthesis and the solvent and substituent effect on the spectroscopic characteristic of 3-ethyl-2-(p-substitued styryl)benzothiazolium iodides.

The photophysical and photochemical properties of p-substitued 2-styryl-ethylbenzothiazolium iodides, possessing different electron-withdrawing or electron-donating groups are described. The dyes were prepared by the condensation of 3-ethyl-2-methylbenzothiazole salts with p-substituted benzaldehydes. The synthesis of suitable substrates is presented as well. We describe here the absorption, emission spectra and the luminescence quantum yield of hemicyanine dyes (SH) measured in 11 different organic solvents of varying polarity. Molecular structure of the synthesized dyes was established by (1)H NMR, electronic absorption and fluorescence spectrometry. The spectral data confirmed that all the compounds exist in E-configuration of their styryl residues. The planar molecular conformation is typical for the compounds with five-membered side aromatic moieties (for example benzothiazole). The compounds possessing N-alkyl substituent in phenyl ring, in contrast to the compounds with other substituents, exhibit low fluorescence quantum yield in THF solution. This indicates that for N-alkyl derivatives the non-radiative processes are much more effective than the radiative ones. The electronic absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of tested dyes demonstrate high sensitivity to the nature of substituent introduced into the aromatic ring.

New type of bonding formed from an overlap between pi aromatic and pi C=O molecular orbitals stabilizes the coexistence in one molecule of the ionic and neutral meso-ionic forms of imidazopyridine.

New bis(imidazo)pyridine dye has been synthesized and tested as a potential photoinitaitor for free-radical polymerization induced with the visible emission of an argon ion laser. The X-ray analysis based on data collected at 170 and 130 K, as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations, revealed the presence of two different forms of imidazopyridine rings within the same molecule. These two forms of the same moiety had not only different geometries but different electronic structures as well. One of the imidazopyridine rings was in the ionic form, while the other was in the meso-ionic form. DFT calculations provided an explanation for such an observed phenomena. The averaging of ionic and meso-ionic forms of imidazopyridine rings within the same molecule is hindered because of an attractive interaction between them. Analysis of electronic density revealed that, indeed, a new type of bonding is formed as the result of an overlap between pi aromatic and pi C=O molecular orbitals. This bonding, like the hydrogen bond, is primarily of electrostatic character, and its energy was estimated at 3.5 kcal/mol.

Developing of fluorescence probes based on stilbazolium salts for monitoring free radical polymerization processes. II.

The series of 1-methyl-4-(4-aminostyryl)pyridinium perchlorates was investigated as fluorescent probes for the monitoring of the free radical polymerization progress. The study on the changes in fluorescence intensity and spectroscopic shifts of studied compounds were carried out during thermally initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The purpose of these studies was to find a relationship between the structure of fluorophore and the changes in their fluorescence shape and intensity observed during the monomer conversion into polymer. The probes under the study during the course of polymerization increase their fluorescence intensity at least one order of magnitude. Such increase qualified the tested probes as good fluorescence probes.

Unexpected Hofmann elimination in the benzophenone-(phenylthio)acetic tetrabutylammonium salt photoredox system.

The triplet state of benzophenone was quenched by the tetrabutylammonium salt of (phenylthio)acetic acid in acetonitrile solutions. The quenching event, following laser flash photolysis, resulted in the formation of a transient ion pair consisting of the benzophenone radical anion and the tetrabutylammonium cation. Subsequently this ion pair decays with the quaternary ammonium cation undergoing a Hofmann elimination to form butane-1 and tributylamine, which were detected in steady-state irradiation. This appears to be the first report of an ion pair consisting of a benzophenone radical anion and an organic cation (nonradical), in addition to the first report of a photoinduced Hofmann elimination in quaternary ammonium ions.