Optical and Structural Properties of ESIPT Inspired HBT-Fluorene Molecular Aggregates and Liquid Crystals.

In bulk materials, positional isomers not only help in understanding how slight difference in molecular structure alters the crystal packing and optical properties, but also play a key role in developing new type of materials for functional applications. A detailed study on the photophysical properties of fluorene-HBT positional isomers in solution and in the solid state providing a molecular level understanding of the factors which influence fluorescence behavior is reported. Two molecules Ia and IIa were synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction and their photophysical properties were compared to positional isomers Ib and IIb. Crystal structure analyses and density functional theory (DFT) computation studies were performed to understand structure-properties relation and the results reveal that changing substitution pattern has a marked influence on their packing modes and luminescence properties. Strong noncovalent interactions (π-π) in the solid state hamper the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process which causes fluorescence quenching in the solid state (Ia and IIa = Φf, 28-40%; Ib and IIb = Φf, 55-67%). Compounds show solvent-responsive and aggregation induced emission (AIE) properties. Bent structures of Ia with double and symmetric substitution of ESIPT motifs exhibit particularly unique condensed phase upon heating, confirmed as a nematic liquid crystalline phase, and this is the first report on the ESIPT and AIE active liquid crystalline materials with a banana-shaped molecule.

Excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT)-inspired solid state emitters.

Solid state emitters based on excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) have been attracting considerable interest since the past few years in the field of optoelectronic devices because of their desirable unique photophysical properties. The photophysical properties of the solid state ESIPT fluorophores determine their possible applicability in functional materials. Less fluorescence quantum efficiencies and short fluorescence lifetime in the solid state are the shortcomings of the existing ESIPT solid state emitters. Designing of ESIPT chromophores with high fluorescence quantum efficiencies and a long fluorescence lifetime in the solid state is a challenging issue because of the unclear mechanism of the solid state emitters in the excited state. Reported design strategies, detailed photophysical properties, and their applications will help in assisting researchers to overcome existing challenges in designing novel solid state ESIPT fluorophores for promising applications. This review highlights recently developed solid state ESIPT emitters with focus on molecular design strategies and their photophysical properties, reported in the last five years.

Fabrication of Thermoresponsive Nanoactinia Tentacles by a Single Particle Nanofabrication Technique.

Nanowires that are retractable by external stimulus are the key to fabrication of nanomachines that mimick actinia tentacles in nature. A single particle nanofabrication technique (SPNT) was applied over a large area to the fabrication of retractable nanowires (nanoactinia tentacles) composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), which are thermoresponsive and hydrophilic polymers. The nanowires were transformed with increasing temperature from rod-like- to globule-forms with gyration radii of ∼1.5 and ∼0.7 µm, respectively. The transformation of the nanowires was reversible and reproducible under repeated cycles of heating and cooling. The reversible transformation was driven by hydration and dehydration of PNIPAM, the thermoresponsive segments, resulting in coil-to-globule transformation of the segments. The nanoactinia tentacle systems trapped the nanoparticles as a model of living cells under thermal stimulation, and the trapping was controlled by temperature. We present herein a unique nanomachine system which can be applicable to nanoparticle filtering/sensing systems and expandable to large-area functionalization and demonstrate polymer-based nanoactuators via scaling of molecular level coil-to-globule transformation into micron-sizes.

N-2-Aryl-1,2,3-Triazoles: A Novel Class of Blue Emitting Fluorophores-Synthesis, Photophysical Properties Study and DFT Computations.

Novel fluorescent 2-[4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl) phenyl]-2H-naphtho [1,2-d] [1,2,3] triazolyl derivatives were synthesized from 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl) aniline and substituted naphthalen-2-amine. The photophysical properties of the three new fluorophores were evaluated in acetonitrile, methanol, dimethylsulfoxide and N,N-dimethylformamide solvents and were compared with the reported analogs. The compounds show the absorption in the ultraviolet region and the emission in the blue region. The thermal stabilities of these compounds was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. The solvatochromism data are used for ground and excited state dipole moment determination of the synthesized triazoles using Bakhshiev and Bilot-Kawski correlations. The experimental absorption and emission were compared with the theoretical data obtained by DFT and TD-DFT computations and they are well in agreement with each other.

2-Methyl-4-oxo-N-(4-oxo-2-phenyl substituted-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl)-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-5-carboxamides--a new range of fluorescent whiteners: synthesis and photophysical characterization.

Fluorescent quinazolinones were synthesized form ethyl 2-methyl-4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazoline -5-carboxylate intermediate. The photophysical properties of the compounds were evaluated in DMF solvent. The experimental absorption and emission of the compounds were compared with the vertical excitation and emission obtained Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) computation. Application of the fluorescent compounds as a fluorescent brightening agent was tested on polyester fiber. Changes in the electronic transition, energy levels, and orbital diagrams of quinazolin-4(3H)-one analogues were investigated using the DFT computations and were correlated with the experimental spectral data. The experimental absorption and emission wavelengths are in good agreement with those predicted using the DFT and TD-DFT.

TDDFT investigation of the electronic structures and photophysical properties of fluorescent extended styryl push-pull chromophores containing carbazole unit.

Push-pull chromophores attached to carbazole based π-conjugating spacers bearing N-alkylamino donors, cyanovinyl and carbethoxy acceptors have been studied by the means of UV-Visible measurements. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) of these π-conjugated systems has also been tested by investigating the ability of the solute molecules to undergo shifts in their fluorescence emission maxima with increasing solvent polarity. Density Functional Theory [B3LYP/6-31G(d)] and Time Dependent Density Functional Theory [TD-B3LYP/6-31G(d)] computations have been used to have more understanding of the structural, molecular, electronic and photophysical parameters of push-pull dyes. The largest wavelength difference between the experimental and computed electronic absorption maxima was 45 nm. For emission, a largest difference of 61 nm was observed. The ground state and excited state dipole moments in different solvents were determined using experimental solvatochromic data and computed Onsager radii. The dipole moments of the molecules in the excited state were observed to be higher than in the ground state.

Synthesis, photo-physical and DFT studies of ESIPT inspired novel 2-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole.

Novel ESIPT inspired benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole were synthesized from 2,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid and 1,2-phenelenediamine, 2-aminophenol, and 2-aminothiophenol respectively. The synthesized 2-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole are fluorescent and the emission characteristic are very sensitive to the micro-environment. They show a single absorption and dual emission with large Stokes shift originating from excited state intramolecular proton transfer. The absorption-emission characteristics of all these compounds are studied as a function of pH. The change in the electronic transition, energy levels, and orbital diagrams of synthesized compounds were investigated by the molecular orbital calculation and were correlated with the experimental spectral emission. Experimental absorption and emission wavelengths are in good agreement with those predicted using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) [B3LYP/6-31G(d)].

A combined experimental and DFT-TDDFT study of the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) imidazole derivatives.

We report a combined experimental and computational study of the effect of electron donor and acceptor groups on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) imidazole derivatives in solvents of different polarities. The changes in fluorescence properties, electronic transitions and energy levels are analyzed and discussed. The study was complemented using the Density Functional Theory (DFT)-Time Dependent DFT [B3LYP/6-31G(d)] computations. The calculated absorption and emission spectra of the imidazole derivatives are in good agreement with the experiments, thus allowing an assignment of the UV-vis spectra.

Synthesis and photo-physical characteristics of ESIPT inspired 2-substituted benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole fluorescent derivatives.

Novel 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-5-(N,N-diethylamino) phenol, 2-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-5-(N,N-diethylamino) phenol, 2-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-5-(N,N-diethylamino) phenol and their derivatives have been synthesized from p-N,N-diethyl amino salicylaldehyde with different substituted o-phenylenediamine or o-aminophenol or o-aminothiophenol and their photo-physical properties were studied. Effects of solvent polarity in the absorption-emission properties of synthesized compounds were investigated. All these compounds shows excited state intra-molecular proton transfer pathway having single absorption and dual emission characteristics. The fluorescent compounds were characterised by FT-IR, (1)HNMR, (13)C NMR and Mass spectral analysis. TGA analysis showed these compounds are thermally stable up to 200 °C.

Synthesis of new ESIPT-fluorescein: photophysics of pH sensitivity and fluorescence.

ESIPT-inspired benzimidazolyl substituted fluorescein dyes were synthesized. PH-sensitivity was determined by the photophysical property measured at a physiological possible pH range. Fluorescence quantum efficiency values were calculated independently at two different emissions. A rational relationship is defined between fluorescence quantum efficiency and calculated HOMO energy.

Synthesis and photo-physical properties of fluorescent 1,3,5-triazine styryl derivatives.

BACKGROUND: Organic fluorophore contains well-defined D-π-A (Donor-π system-Acceptor) push-pull system have wide application in the field of NLO, OLED and high tech application. Electron donor diphenyl, triphenyl and carbazole conjugated with electron acceptor terminal through π-system were reported recently for high-tech applications. N,N-Dialkyl substituted 1,3,5-triazine also acts as donor keeping this idea in mind we developed D-π-A styryl dyes. RESULTS: Novel "Y"-shaped acceptor-π-donor-π-acceptor type of compounds were synthesized from 4,4'-((6-(4-(diethylamino)phenyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4diyl)bis(oxy)) dibenzaldehyde (DIPOD) as electron donors and different active methylene compounds as electron acceptors by conventional Knoevenagel condensation reaction. Their photophysical and thermal properties were investigated. CONCLUSION: It was found that the strong electron acceptor-donor chromophoric system of these compounds showed high Stoke's shift and excellent thermal stability. Compounds showed positive solvatofluorism behavior from nonpolar to polar solvent. All compounds have good thermal stability.

Synthesis and characterization of novel 2, 2'-bipyrimidine fluorescent derivative for protein binding.

BACKGROUND: Fluorescent dyes with biocompatible functional group and good fluorescence behavior are used as biosensor for monitoring different biological processes as well as detection of protein assay. All reported fluorophore used as sensors are having high selectivity and sensitivity but till there is more demand to synthesized new fluorophore which have improved fluorescence properties and good biocompatibility. RESULTS: Novel 4, 4'-(1, 1'-(5-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-[2, 2'-bipyrimidine]-4, 6-diyl)bis(1H-pyrazol-3, 1-diyl)) dianiline fluorescent dye was synthesized by multistep synthesis from 2-phenylacetonitrile, 2-chloropyrimidine and 2-methoxyphenol. This dye has absorption at 379 nm with intense single emission at 497 nm having fairly good quantum yield (0.375) and Stokes shift. The intermediates and dye were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and Mass spectral analysis. The pyrazole bipyrimidine based fluorescent dye possessing two amino groups suitable for binding with protein is reported. Its utility as a biocompatible conjugate was explained by conjugation with bovine serum albumin. The method is based on direct fluorescence detection of fluorophore-labelled protein before and after conjugation. Purified fluorescent conjugate was subsequently analyzed by fluorimetry. The analysis showed that the tested conjugation reaction yielded fluorescent conjugates of the dye through carbodiimide chemistry. CONCLUSION: In summery synthesized fluorophore pyrazole-bipyrimidine has very good interaction towards protein bovine serum albumin and it acts as good candidate for protein assay.

Synthesis, Characterization, Thermal Properties, and Antimicrobial Activities of 5-(Diethylamino)-2-(5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)phenol and Its Transition Metal Complexes.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of new metal [Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Fe(II)] complexes from 5-(diethylamino)-2-(5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)phenol are described. The newly synthesized ligands were characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, and LC-MS analysis, and metal-ligand complex formations were confirmed by using atomic absorption spectroscopy and elemental analysis. All complexes show significant in vitro antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus strains and in vitro antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger strains by using serial dilution method. The antibacterial activities were expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in µg/mL. Thermal properties and electrochemical behavior of novel transition metal complexes have been studied.