Ultra-fast excited-state dynamics of substituted -naphthalene azo moieties.

In this work we untangle the ultrafast deactivation of high-energy excited states in four naphthalene-based azo dyes. Through systematic photophysical and computational study, we observed a structure-property relationship in which increasing the electron donating strength of the substituent leads to longer lived excited states in these organic dyes and faster thermal reversion from the to configuration. In particular, azo dyes 1-3 containing less electron donating substituents show three distinct excited-state lifetimes of ∼0.

Elucidation of complex triplet excited state dynamics in Pd(II) biladiene tetrapyrroles.

Pd(II) biladienes have been developed over the last five years as oligotetrapyrrole complexes that support a rich triplet photochemistry. In this work, we have undertaken the first detailed photophysical interrogation of three homologous Pd(II) biladienes bearing different combinations of methyl- and phenyl-substituents on the frameworks' sp-hybridized -carbon (, the 10-position of the biladiene framework). These experiments have revealed unexpected excited-state dynamics that are dependent on the wavelength of light used to excite the biladiene.

Synthesis, Electrochemistry, and Photophysics of Pd(II) Biladiene Complexes Bearing Varied Substituents at the sp-Hybridized 10-Position.

A set of Pd(II) biladiene complexes bearing different combinations of methyl- and phenyl-substituents on the sp-hybridized -carbon (the 10-position of the biladiene framework) was prepared and studied. In addition to a previously described Pd(II) biladiene complex bearing geminal dimethyl substituents a the 10-position (), homologous Pd(II) biladienes bearing geminal methyl and phenyl substituents () and geminal diphenyl groups() were prepared and structurally characterized. Detailed electrochemical as well as steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic experiments were undertaken to evaluate the influence of the substituents on the biladiene's tetrahedral -carbon.

Proton-controlled non-exponential photoluminescence in a pyridylamidine-substituted Re(I) complex.

Chemical intuition and well-known design principles can typically be used to create ligand environments in transition metal complexes to deliberately tune reactivity for desired applications. However, intelligent ligand design does not always result in the expected outcomes. Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of a tricarbonyl rhenium (2,2'-bipyridine) 4-pyridylamidine, Re(4-Pam), complex with unexpected photophysical properties.

Short Excited-State Lifetimes Enable Photo-Oxidatively Stable Rubrene Derivatives.

A series of rubrene derivatives were synthesized and the influence of the side group in enhancing photo-oxidative stability was evaluated. Photo-oxidation half-lives were determined via UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, which revealed thiophene containing derivatives to be the most stable species. The electron affinity of the compounds did not correlate with stability as previously reported in literature.

Modulating absorption and charge transfer in bodipy-carbazole donor-acceptor dyads through molecular design.

Three bodipy-based (BDP = 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene) donor-acceptor dyads were designed and synthesized, and their ground-state and photophysical properties were systematically characterized. The electronic coupling between the BDP chromophore and an electron-donating carbazole (Carb) moiety was tuned by attachment via the meso and the beta positions on the BDP core, and through the use of various chemical linkers (phenyl and alkynyl) to afford mesoBDP-Carb, mesoBDP-phen-Carb, and betaBDP-alk-Carb. meso-Substituted dyads were found to retain ground-state absorption features of the unsubstituted BDP.

Anthracene-based azo dyes for photo-induced proton-coupled electron transfer.

Herein, we report a new donor-acceptor system for photo-induced proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) that leverages an azo linkage as the proton-sensitive component and anthracene as a photo-trigger. Electrochemistry shows a change in the reduction potential with addition of acid. However, photochemistry is invariant to the absence or presence of acid.