Deep-red and near-infrared organic lasers based on centrosymmetric molecules with excited-state intramolecular double proton transfer activity

Organic lasers that emit light in the deep-red and near-infrared(NIR)region are of essential importance in laser communication,night vision,bioimaging,and information-secured displays but are still challenging because of the lack of proper gain materials.Herein,a new molecular design strategy that operates by merging two excited-state intramolecular proton transfer-active molecules into one excited-state double proton transfer(ESDPT)-active molecule was demonstrated.Based on this new strategy,three new materials were designed and synthesized with two groups of intramolecular resonance-assisted hydrogen bonds,in which the ESDPT process was proven to proceed smoothly based on theoretical calculations and experimental results of steady-state and transient spectra.Benefiting from the effective six-level system constructed by the ESDPT process,all newly designed materials showed low threshold laser emissions at approximately 720 nm when doped in PS microspheres,which in turn proved the existence of the second proton transfer process.More importantly,our well-developed NIR organic lasers showed high laser stability,which can maintain high laser intensity after 12000 pulse lasing,which is essential in practical applications.This work provides a simple and effective method for the development of NIR organic gain materials and demonstrates the ESDPT mechanism for NIR lasing.

Monitoring intracellular pH fluctuation with an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer-based ratiometric fluorescent sensor

Intracellular pH is a key parameter related to various biological and pathological processes.In this study,a ratiometric pH fluorescent sensor ABTT was developed harnessing the amino-type excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) process.Relying on whether the ESIPT proceeds normally or not,ABTT exhibited the yellow fluorescence in acidic media,or cyan fluorescence in basic condition.According to the variation,ABTT behaved as a promising sensor which possessed fast and reversible response to pH change without interference from the biological substances,and exported a steady ratiometric signal(I_(478)/I_(546)).Moreover,due to the ESIPT effect,large Stokes shift and high quantum yield were also exhibited in ABTT.Furthermore,ABTT was applied for monitoring the pH changes in living cells and visualizing the pH fluctuations under oxidative stress successfully.These results elucidated great potential of ABTT in understanding pH-dependent physiological and pathological processes.

Theoretical study on the mechanism for the excited-state double proton transfer process of an asymmetric Schiff base ligand

Excited-state double proton transfer(ESDPT)in the 1-[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-hydrazonomethyl]-naphthalen-2-ol(HYDRAVH_(2))ligand was studied by the density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory method.The analysis of frontier molecular orbitals,infrared spectra,and non-covalent interactions have crossvalidated that the asymmetric structure has an influence on the proton transfer,which makes the proton transfer ability of the two hydrogen protons different.The potential energy surfaces in both S_(0)and S_1 states were scanned with varying O-H bond lengths.The results of potential energy surface analysis adequately proved that the HYDRAVH_(2)can undergo the ESDPT process in the S_1 state and the double proton transfer process is a stepwise proton transfer mechanism.Our work can pave the way towards the design and synthesis of new molecules.

Theoretical investigation on the fluorescent sensing mechanism for recognizing formaldehyde: TDDFT calculation and excited-state nonadiabatic dynamics

Inspired by the activity-based sensing method, the hydrazine-modified naphthalene derivative(Naph1) was synthesized and used as a fluorescent probe to detect formaldehyde(FA) in living cells. Through the condensation reaction between the probe Naph1 and analyte FA, researchers observed a ~14 folds enhancement of fluorescent signal around 510 nm in an experiment, realizing the high selectivity and sensitivity detection of FA. However, a theoretical understanding of the sensing mechanism was not provided in the experimental work. Given this, the light-up fluorescent detecting mechanism was in-depth unveiled by performing the time-dependent density functional theory(TDDFT) and the complete active space self-consistent field(CASSCF) theoretical calculations on excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT)and non-adiabatic excited-state dynamics simulation. The deactivation channel of S_1/T_2 intersystem crossing(ISC) was turned off to successfully recognize FA. Insight into the ESIPT-based fluorescent detecting mechanism indicated that ESIPT was essential to light-up fluorescent probes. This work would provide a new viewpoint to develop ESIPT-based fluorescent probes for detecting reactive carbon species in vivo or vitio.

The substituent effect on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer of 3-hydroxychromone

The excited state intramolecular proton transfer of four derivatives(FM, BFM, BFBC, CCM) of 3-hydroxychromone is investigated.The geometries of different substituents are optimized to study the substituent effects on proton transfer.The mechanism of hydrogen bond enhancement is qualitatively elucidated by comparing the infrared spectra, the reduced density gradient, and the frontier molecular orbitals.The calculated electronic spectra are consistent with the experimental results.To quantify the proton transfer, the potential energy curves(PECs) of the four derivatives in S0 and S1 states are scanned.It is concluded that the ability of proton transfer follows the order: FM > BFM > BFBC > CCM.

Theoretical investigation on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer in Me_2N substituted flavonoid by the time-dependent density functional theory method

Time-dependent density functional theory（TDDFT） method is used to investigate the details of the excited state intramolecular proton transfer（ESIPT） process and the mechanism for temperature effect on the Enol＊/Keto＊emission ratio for the Me2N-substited flavonoid（MNF） compound. The geometric structures of the S0 and S1 states are denoted as the Enol, Enol＊, and Keto＊. In addition, the absorption and fluorescence peaks are also calculated. It is noted that the calculated large Stokes shift is in good agreement with the experimental result. Furthermore, our results confirm that the ESIPT process happens upon photoexcitation, which is distinctly monitored by the formation and disappearance of the characteristic peaks of infrared（IR） spectra involved in the proton transfer and in the potential energy curves. Besides, the calculations of highest occupied molecular orbital（HOMO） and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital（LUMO） reveal that the electronegativity change of proton acceptor due to the intramolecular charge redistribution in the S1 state induces the ESIPT. Moreover, the thermodynamic calculation for the MNF shows that the Enol＊/Keto＊emission ratio decreasing with temperature increasing arises from the barrier lowering of ESIPT.

Theoretical Study on Intramolecular Proton Transfer of Perylenequinonoid Derivatives

Intramolecular proton transfer of hypomycin A in the ground state S0 and singlet excited state S1 were calculated by high level quantum chemical method in this letter. It was found that the IPT barriers for I→TS1 are 38.56 kJ/mol in S0 and 8.19 kJ/mol in S1, while those for I→TS4 get approximately 17 kJ/mol higher in S0 and 28 kJ/mol higher in S1. The calculation of IPT rate constants suggests that the experiment observed process of PQD is in S1. The height of the IPT barriers correlate not only with the variance of charge for labile hydrogen, the change of H-bonds length, the change of O-H bonds length and the change of O-O distance, but also with the reactant molecular H-bonds length. Moreover, the correlations are the same for S0 and S1.

Exploring the effect of aggregation-induced emission on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer for a bis-imine derivative by quantum mechanics and our own n-layered integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanics calculations

We theoretically investigate the excited state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) behavior of the novel fluorophore bis-imine derivative molecule HNP which was designed based on the intersection of 1-(hydrazonomethyl)-naphthalene-2-ol and 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde. Especially, the density functional theory(DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory(TDDFT) methods for HNP monomer are introduced. Moreover, the "our own n-layered integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanics"(ONIOM) method(TDDFT:universal force field(UFF)) is used to reveal the aggregation-induced emission(AIE) effect on the ESIPT process for HNP in crystal. Our results confirm that the ESIPT process happens upon the photoexcitation for the HNP monomer and HNP in crystal, which is distinctly monitored by the optimized geometric structures and the potential energy curves. In addition, the results of potential energy curves reveal that the ESIPT process in HNP will be promoted by the AIE effect. Furthermore, the highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO) for the HNP monomer and HNP in crystal have been calculated. The calculation demonstrates that the electron density decrease of proton donor caused by excitation promotes the ESIPT process. In addition, we find that the variation of atomic dipole moment corrected Hirshfeld population(ADCH) charge for proton acceptor induced by the AIE effect facilitates the ESIPT process. The results will be expected to deepen the understanding of ESIPT dynamics for luminophore under the AIE effect and provide insight into future design of high-efficient AIE compounds.

Impact of Polymer Matrix on Polymer Mechanochromism from Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer

Mechanochromic polymers based on non-covalent changes have attracted much attention recently.Herein,we report the impact of inter/intramolecular hydrogen bonds on polymer mechanochromism from the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process.PhMz-NH2-OH and PhMz=2A are designed and obtained by simple and high-yield synthesis,and are connected into polyurethane and poly(methyl acrylate-co-2-ethylhexyl acrylate),respectively.In the initial state,the PhMz-NH2-OH@PU sample shows blue fluorescence from the excited enol form (E*) excitons,owing to intermolecular hydrogen bonds that interrupt the ESIPT reactions but the PhMz=2A@PMA-2-EA sample expresses cyan fluorescence belonging to the excited keto form (K*) emission,implying that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds matter.Furthermore,under stretching,external force can tune the emission of the PhMz=2A@PMA-2-EA sample from K* to E* state.Though external force can putatively still promote a bond rotation,ESIPT reactions remain equivalently interrupted in both the relaxed and stressed states in a hydrogen-bond donating environment.DFT calculation confirms the force-induced increase in dihedral angle for the transition of ESIPT-on/off.Thus,PhMz-NH2-OH@PU and PhMz=2A@PMA-2-EA showed disparate initial ESIPT states and further different responses/sensitivity to force.This study reports a novel and efficient strategy for enriching mechanochromic investigation and extending the applications of ESIPT reactions.

Ab initio investigation of excited state dual hydrogen bonding interactions and proton transfer mechanism for novel oxazoline compound

Owing to the importance of excited state dynamical relaxation, the excited state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) mechanism for a novel compound containing dual hydrogen bond(abbreviated as "1-enol") is studied in this work.Using density functional theory(DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory(TDDFT) method, the experimental electronic spectra can be reproduced for 1-enol compound. We first verify the formation of dual intramolecular hydrogen bonds, and then confirm that the dual hydrogen bond should be strengthened in the first excited state. The photo-excitation process is analyzed by using frontier molecular orbital(HOMO and LUMO) for 1-enol compound. The obvious intramolecular charge transfer(ICT) provides the driving force to effectively facilitate the ESIPT process in the S1 state. Exploration of the constructed S0-state and S1-state potential energy surface(PES) reveals that only the excited state intramolecular single proton transfer occurs for 1-enol system, which makes up for the deficiencies in previous experiment.

溶剂绿7荧光光谱法快速测定四氢呋喃中水含量

为了检测有机溶剂中水含量,利用溶剂绿7在含水的有机溶剂中较易发生激发态分子间质子转移的特性,探讨了溶剂绿7荧光发射峰510、430 nm强度比(I_(510)/I_(430))与四氢呋喃(THF)中水含量的关系,并建立了一种用溶剂绿7荧光光谱快速检测THF中水含量的方法。结果表明,对于特定比例的H_(2)O-THF混合溶液,I_(510)/I_(430)为一定值,并且不随时间的变化而变化;当水体积分数为0.25%~100.00%时,I_(510)/I_(430)(或lg I_(510)/I430)与水体积分数呈现出阶段性的线性关系,该线性关系同样存在于其他水有机溶剂二元混合体系以及水有机溶剂有机溶剂三元混合体系中。溶剂绿7的发射峰强度比I_(510)/I_(430)可以用于有机溶剂中常量水的检测,具有较高的应用价值。

Effect of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding on the ESIPT process in DEAHB molecule

Density functional theory（DFT） and time-dependent density functional theory（TDDFT） methods are used to investigate the influences of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding on excited-state intramolecular proton transfer（ESIPT） for the 4-N,N-（diethylamino）-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde（DEAHB）. The structures of DEAHB and its hydrogenbonded complex in the ground-state and the excited-state are optimized. In addition, the detailed descriptions of frontier molecular orbitals of the DEAHB monomer and DEAHB-DMSO complex are presented. Moreover, the transition density matrix is worked out to gain deeper insight into the orbitals change. It is hoped that the present work not only elaborates different influence mechanisms between intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions on the ESIPT process for DEAHB, but also may be helpful to design and develop new materials and applications involved DEAHB systems in the future.

Recent progress on the excited-state multiple proton transfer process in organic molecules

In contrast to the widely reported excited-state single proton-transfer,excited-state multiple proton transfer(ESMPT)containing two or more intra-or inter-molecular proton transfers has greatly expanded the research scope of the excited-state proton transfers.In recent decades,ESMPT-active organic molecules have attracted much attention owing to their unique photophysical properties,such as large magnitude Stokes shifts and dual emission.These photophysical properties facilitate the application of the organic molecules in organic solid-state lasers,fluorescent probes and sensors,and molecular switches.Herein,we introduce the fundamentals of the ESMPT and review the recent advances in different types of ESMPTs in organic molecules.Finally,we present our conclusions and the future development prospects of the ESMPT in organic molecules.

Influence of intramolecular hydrogen bond formation sites on fluorescence mechanism

The fluorescence mechanism of HBT-HBZ is investigated in this work. A fluorescent probe is used to detect HClO content in living cells and tap water, and its structure after oxidation by HCl O(HBT-ClO) is discussed based on the density functional theory(DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory(TDDFT). At the same time, the influence of the probe conformation and the proton transfer site within the excited state molecule on the fluorescence mechanism are revealed. Combined with infrared vibrational spectra and atoms-in-molecules theory, the strength of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in HBT-HBZ and HBT-ClO and their isomers are demonstrated qualitatively. The relationship between the strength of intramolecular hydrogen bonds and dipole moments is discussed. The potential energy curves demonstrate the feasibility of intramolecular proton transfer. The weak fluorescence phenomenon of HBT-HBZ in solution is quantitatively explained by analyzing the frontier molecular orbital and hole electron caused by charge separation. Moreover, when strong cyan fluorescence occurs in solution, the corresponding molecular structure should be HBT-ClO(T). The influence of the intramolecular hydrogen bond formation site on the molecule as a whole is also investigated by electrostatic potential analysis.

基于激发态分子内质子转移过程的HBT-OMe分子检测HClO的荧光增强机理

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)和含时密度泛函理论(TDDFT)方法,基于连续介质模型,对HBT-OMe分子及其与HClO反应的产物基态和激发态结构及电荷分布等性质进行研究,优化构型结果表明,HBT-OMe分子不能发生质子转移过程而其产物分子则能发生.红外振动光谱与分子共价作用分析进一步证实产物分子能发生质子转移过程.计算的前线分子轨道结果表明:HBT-OMe分子存在扭曲电荷转移(TICT)过程,最高已占据分子轨道(HOMO)和最低未占据分子轨道(LUMO)电荷密度重叠小导致HBT-OMe分子荧光强度弱,结合产物分子势能曲线发现,产物分子质子转移过程能抑制分子的TICT过程,从而使其荧光强度增强.

新型激发态分子内质子转移聚合物的制备与胺类气体的高灵敏检测

目的 基于新的检测机制,构建胺类气体的高灵敏度和高选择性传感器。方法 以2,5-二氨基-1,4-苯二噻吩二盐酸盐、羟基对苯二甲酸和1,10-十二羧酸为原料通过脱水反应制备得到具有激发态分子内质子转移(excited-state intramolecular proton transfer, ESIPT)特性的聚合物,并采用红外光谱对其进行结构表征。通过ESIPT聚合物与胺蒸气的选择性切断乙酰基释放出产生荧光的基团,建立胺蒸气浓度与荧光强度之间的关系,实现食品腐败的高灵敏检测。结果 制备得到ESIPT聚合物具有大的斯托克斯位移(160nm)。在400 nm光照射下, ESIPT聚合物在542 nm处的荧光强度与胺蒸气浓度之间具有良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.98,检出限为11mg/L并具有高选择性。相比较于低温保存下的牛肉,储存于25℃下牛肉的ESIPT薄膜荧光强度更强。结论 该传感器利用其轻便性和对胺蒸气的高灵敏度,可通过检测微生物生长产生的挥发性胺来用于食品腐败监测。

Computational Insights into the Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Reactions in Ortho-hydroxylated Oxazolines

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) reactions of three ortho-hydroxylated oxazolines, 2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-oxazol-2-yl)-phenol(DDOP), 4-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-oxazol-2-yl)-[1,1?-biphenyl]-3-ol(DDOP-C_(6)H_(5)) and 4-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)-3-hydroxy-benzonitrile(DDOP-CN), have been systematically explored by density functional theory(DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory(TDDFT) methods. Two stable configurations(enol and keto forms) are found in the ground states(S_(0)) for all the compounds while the enol form only exists in the first excited states(S_(1)) for the compound modified with electron donating group(-C_(6)H_(5)). In addition, the calculated absorption and emission spectra of the compounds are in good agreements with the experiments. Infrared vibrational spectra at the hydrogen bond groups demonstrate that the intramolecular hydrogen bond O(1)-H(2)···N(3) in DDOP-C_(6)H_(5) is strengthened in the S_(1) states, while the frontier molecular orbitals further reveal that the ESIPT reactions are more likely to occur in the S_(1) states for all the compounds. Besides, the proton transfer potential energy curves show that the enol forms can barely convert into keto forms in the S_(0) states because of the high energy barriers. Meanwhile, intramolecular proton transfer of all the compounds could occur in S_(1) states. The ESIPT reactions of the ortho-hydroxylated oxazolines are barrierless processes for unsubstituted DDOP and electron withdrawing substituted DDOP-CN, while the electron donating substituted DDOP-C_(6)H_(5) has a small barrier, so the electron donating is unfavorable to the ESIPT reactions of ortho-hydroxylated oxazolines.

商业化试剂构建荧光探针用于肼的检测及防伪识别

为了高效准确地检测出环境中的致癌污染物肼,采用商业化的试剂2-羟基-4-甲氧基苯甲醛(XN)作为荧光探针工具。该探针的醛基与肼能发生快速的缩合反应,所得产物因具有希夫碱结构能产生激发态的分子内质子转移(ESIPT)作用,从而开启荧光信号,实现对肼的检测。在水溶液中,探针与肼反应后的最大发射波长位于485 nm,荧光增强20多倍,检测限低至69 nmol/L,检测过程中表现出了非常高的灵敏度和选择性。进一步将探针负载于试纸条上制备出便携工具,可快速方便地对气相中肼含量进行可视化监测。最后凭借探针对肼的高选择性优势,构建了一个简单的防伪模型,展现了探针在荧光防伪识别应用中的潜力。

对苯并噻唑衍生物激发态分子内质子转移的理论研究

首先,通过研究苯并噻唑衍生物N-(3-(苯并[d]噻唑)-2-基)-4-(羟基苯基)苯甲酰胺荧光团(HBTBC)激发态分子在乙腈溶剂中氢键的几何参数变化发现,氢键在第一激发态(S1)时增强。其次,在光诱导激发下,通过乙腈溶剂中HBTBC主分子轨道的能隙以及质子受体和供体周围的电荷转移发现,电荷转移促进了HBTBC的质子转移反应。最后,通过分析势能曲线变化及过渡态数据明确了乙腈溶剂能够促进HBTBC化合物的激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)。

Effects of π-conjugation-substitution on ESIPT process for oxazoline-substituted hydroxyfluorenes

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) molecules are broadly applied to UV absorbers, fluorescence sensing, and lighting materials. In previous work, the fluorescence colors of oxazoline-substituted hydroxyfluorenes and hydroxylated benzoxazole were diversified by adding the π-conjugation. There is intriguing that the mechanism of diversified fluorescence colors induced by ESIPT. Here, the density functional theory(DFT) and time-dependent DFT(TDDFT)are advised to identify the effects of π-conjugation on ESIPT and photophysical properties. The stabilized geometrical configurations, frontier molecular orbitals(FMOs) isosurfaces, and O–H stretching vibration frequency analysis demonstrate that PT processes are more active in S1state. Constructing the minimum energy pathways of ESIPT processes, we find that the calculated peak of enol and keto fluorescence of naphthoxazole(NO–OH) is distinctly bathochromic-shift relative to the oxazoline-substituted hydroxyfluorenes(Oxa–OH) configuration when adding π-conjugation-substitution, and it means that π-conjugation-substitution can diversify the fluorescence color. We hope our studies can establish new channels to devise the ESIPT-based molecules.