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.

Regulation of Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Process and Photophysical Properties for Benzoxazole Isothiocyanate Fluorescent Dyes by Changing Atomic Electronegativity

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT)is favored by researchers because of its unique optical properties.However,there are relatively few systematic studies on the effects of changing the electronegativity of atoms on the ESIPT process and photophysical properties.Therefore,we selected a series of benzoxazole isothiocyanate fluorescent dyes(2-HOB,2-HSB,and 2-HSe B)by theoretical methods,and systematically studied the ESIPT process and photophysical properties by changing the electronegativity of chalcogen atoms.The calculated bond angle,bond length,energy gap,and infrared spectrum analysis show that the order of the strength of intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the three molecules is 2-HOB<2-HSB<2-HSe B.Correspondingly,the magnitude of the energy barrier of the potential energy curve is 2-HOB>2-HSB>2-HSe B.In addition,the calculated electronic spectrum shows that as the atomic electronegativity decreases,the emission spectrum has a redshift.Therefore,this work will offer certain theoretical guidance for the synthesis and application of new dyes based on ESIPT properties.

近红外ESIPT型有机荧光探针的设计合成及其应用

荧光探针检测因其在活体样品中的高灵敏度、高分辨率和实时检测成像等优势备受关注,广泛应用于化学检测、临床和生物成像等领域。近红外小分子荧光探针具有低背景干扰、高灵敏度和深组织穿透性等优势,不仅能够克服传统荧光探针的局限性,还能在生物成像中展现其特有的优势,因此受到越来越多领域的关注。与传统荧光染料相比,具有激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)机制的化合物具有较大的Stokes位移,可以有效消除内滤光作用和荧光自吸收效应,降低自身荧光的干扰,从而提高分子探针检测的灵敏性。此外,这类化合物具有较强的位点可修饰性,可以通过分子对接等方法更好地优化光学性能。因此,本文结合了近红外和ESIPT等优点,设计并合成了一种近红外ESIPT型有机小分子荧光探针,并研究了其在水合肼检测中的可行性。

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.

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.

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.

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.

A DFT/TD-DFT study of effect of different substituent on ESIPT fluorescence features of 2-(2’-hydroxyphenyl)-4-chloromethylthiazole derivatives

Based on density functional theory(DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory(TD-DFT), the effects of substituent on the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) process and photophysical properties of 2-(2’-hydroxyphenyl)-4-chloromethylthiazole(HCT) are studied. The electron-donating group(CH_(3), OH) and electronwithdrawing group(CF_(3), CHO) are introduced to analyze the changes of intramolecular H-bond, the frontier molecular orbitals, the absorption/fluorescence spectra, and the energy barrier of ESIPT process. The calculation results indicate that electron-donating group strengthens the intramolecular H-bond in the S_(1) state, and leads to an easier ESIPT process. The electron-withdrawing group weakens the corresponding H-bond and makes ESIPT process a little harder. Different substituents also affect the photophysical properties of HCT. The electron-withdrawing group(CF_(3), CHO) has a little effect on electronic spectra. The electron-donating group(CH_(3), OH) red-shifts both the absorption and fluorescence emission peaks of HCT, respectively, which causes the Stokes shift to increase.

一种具有AIE+ESIPT双重属性的席夫碱类荧光探针的合成及在铜离子检测中的应用

设计合成了一种具有聚集诱导发光(AIE)和激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)双重属性的席夫碱类荧光探针1。该探针在聚集态下发橙色荧光并表现出较大的斯托克斯(Stokes)位移。实验结果表明,探针1对Cu^(2+)有较高的选择性和灵敏度,检测限为95 nmol/L。Job’s plot曲线分析和质谱结果表明,探针1和Cu^(2+)结合形成1∶1的配合物,阻断了分子原有的ESIPT过程,最终导致荧光淬灭。该探针可用于实际水样中Cu^(2+)的检测。

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.

基于激发态分子内质子转移的新一代荧光探针

对被誉为多参数、多功能的第二代荧光探针3羟基黄酮类衍生物的光物理特性及其在微环境极性、微相变和相分离、膜电位测定等方面的实际应用做了比较详尽的介绍。

激发态分子内质子转移化合物的性能及作为荧光化学传感器的应用研究

本文简述了激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)化合物的理论研究进展,并对其作为荧光化学传感器的应用作了简要的综述,列举了一些代表性的工作,以期对该类化合物的后续研究工作有所帮助.

水杨醛衍生物激发态下的质子转移过程及在荧光探针领域的应用

从电子结构控制理论出发,通过在酚羟基对位引入吸电子取代基团稳定水杨醛中激发态的酮式构象,制备了目标化合物5-对氰基苯基-水杨醛(CN-SA).光谱测试结果显示,CN-SA表现出典型的ESIPT态荧光分子特性,而且辐射跃迁过程的酮式分配比例显著提高,荧光强度和颜色变化明显.CN-SA的荧光光谱不但能够对外围溶剂环境进行选择性识别,而且对溶解和聚集过程(聚集效应)及外围氢键形成能力的变化(pH效应和阴离子效应)等具有特异性响应,其变化可以定量表达.CN-SA仅通过结构微调即实现醇-酮构象的显著变化,可作为一个简单的多重刺激响应型荧光探针.

2-(2′-羟苯基)苯并噁唑氨基衍生物电子结构和光谱性质的理论研究

采用量子化学方法优化了间位和对位2-(2′-羟苯基)苯并噁唑氨基取代衍生物(4-AHBO和5-AHBO)基态的第一单重激发态所有可能的稳定构型,分析了这些异构体在不同溶剂中的相对稳定性.利用含时密度泛函理论(TDDFT)的不同泛函,计算了4-AHBO和5-AHBO各异构体在溶剂中的吸收与发射光谱,考察了它们的电子结构和光谱特征.结果表明,4-AHBO(5-AHBO)的双荧光不是由同一种异构体发射的,而是来源于不同异构体的发射:长波区的荧光由酮式构型发射,短波区的发射则可能由四种醇式异构体共同产生.另外,也解释了5-AHBO在质子溶剂中光谱异常的原因,分析了不同氨基取代位和溶剂极性的变化对各异构体构型、光谱性质及电子结构的影响.理论预测的光谱与实验结果一致.

Analyzing excited-state processes and optical signatures of a ratiomeric fluorine anion sensor: a quantum look

Recently, the spectroscopic signatures of a benzoselenadiazole derivative have been investigated in the framework of designing a new ratiometric fluoride sensor （Saravanan et al., Org Lett, 2014, 16： 354-357）. It was suggested that this sensor is un- dergoing excited-state intramolecular proton transfer. In this work, we provide a new look at these experimental data, using a state-of-the-art time-dependent density fimctiona/theory approach to mimic the spectroscopic signatures. New insights about the nature of the excited-state processes are obtained.

基于激发态分子内质子转移的新型聚集诱导荧光探针用于硫化氢的检测及细胞成像

该文使用4-乙酰氨基苯甲醛和碳酸肼一步法合成了一种具有聚集诱导荧光(AIE)特性的高效新型荧光探针1。通过荧光发射光谱、紫外光谱、粒度粒径分析、扫描电子显微镜和DFT理论计算讨论了探针1的AIE特性,证明了探针的发光机理是激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)效应。探针1在DMSO-H_(2)O(1∶9,体积比),p H 7.4(PBS,0.2 mol/L)体系中可定量检测0~25μmol/L范围内的H_(2)S,检出限为0.27μmol/L。此外,探针1不仅成功用于实际样品中H_(2)S的检测,还可应用于活He La细胞中外源性H_(2)S的荧光成像。并将其用于构建超灵敏逻辑门。利用探针1制备的简单便携经济的检测试纸,能够实时有效地视觉检测H_(2)S。该研究有望为各种生理过程和食品样品中H_(2)S的检测提供可靠有效的新思路与新方法。

Tactfully revealing the working mechanisms on a tetraarylimidazole derivative:AIE characteristic,ESIPT process and ICT effect integrating in one molecule

Recently,a novel tetraarylimidazole derivative 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-(4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-phenol(be called MHBT herein)was architectured by our research group showing the fascinating synergy of aggregation-induced emission(AIE)characteristic,excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT)mechanism and intramolecular charge transfer(ICT)effect.Nevertheless,a detailed and reasonable interpretation of its mechanisms both in theory is urgently needed.Consequently,to unveil the working mechanism meticulously,herein,we tactfully applied density functional theory(DFT)and time-dependent density functional theory(TD-DFT)methods to illuminate the underlying mechanisms in different solvent conditions.After optimizing the structures,the geometric parameters of hydrogen bonds(HBs),the infrared(IR)vibrational spectrum,the reduced density gradient(RDG)isosurfaces were calculated in detail,vividly explaining how the enhancement of HBs behaved as the driving force to proceed ESIPT process.Simultaneously,the frontier molecular orbitals(FMOs)combined with the potential energy curves(PECs)were conducted to interpretate the role and character of ICT and ESIPT in molecule MHBT.Further,the PECs of MHBT for dihedral angles in different organic solvents were calculated to compare the dominant torsion degree,rationalizing the AIE phenomenon from the view of the restriction of intramolecular rotation process.This work may well underpin the understanding of the interaction between different mechanisms in fluorescent dyes and thereby provide meaningful guideline for the design and construction of ideal molecules.

激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)发色团修饰的树枝形聚合物合成及光物理研究

设计合成了0～4代外围修饰激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)发色团的聚酰胺-胺树枝形聚合物G0～G4,化合物结构经过IR,1H NMR,13C NMR和MS表征.稳态光谱研究表明,树枝形聚合物在四氢呋喃溶液中形成了聚集体,发色团酮式发光随着化合物代数增大呈先增加后减小的变化.质子化树枝形聚合物G1-H～G4-H能溶于水,并在水中形成20 nm左右的聚集体,发色团在聚集体疏水区中构象受限,仅发射酮式发光,并且发光强度受树枝形聚合物分子大小的影响.

Functional decoration on a regenerable bifunctional porous covalent organic framework probe for rapid detection and adsorption of copper ions

Developing fluorescence porous probe for detecting and eliminating Cu^(2+) contamination in water or biosystem is an essential research project that has attracted considerable attention.However,improving the fluorescence detecting efficiency while enhancing the adsorption capacity of the porous probe is of great challenge.Herein,a bifunctional two-dimensional imine-based porous covalent organic framework(TTP-COF)probe was designed and synthesized from 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene(TAPB)and 2,4,6-Triformylphloroglucinol(TP)ligand.TTP-COF displayed rapid detection of Cu^(2+)(limit of detection(LOD)=10 nmol·L^(−1) while achieving a high adsorption capacity of 214 mg·g^(−1)(pH=6)at room temperature with high reusability(>5 cycles).The key roles and contributions of highπ-conjugate and delocalized electrons in TABP and functional–OH groups in TP were proved.More importantly,the fluorescence quenching mechanism of TTP-COF was studied by density functional theory theoretical calculations,revealing the crucial role of intramolecular hydrogen bonds among C=N and–OH groups and the blocking of the excited state intramolecular proton transfer process in detecting process of Cu^(2+).

Near-infrared organic lasers with ultra-broad emission bands by simultaneously harnessing four-level and six-level systems

Organic lasers with broad emission bands in near-infrared(NIR)region are crucial for their applications in laser communication,night-vision as well as bioimaging owing to the abundance of selectable lasing wavelengths.However,for most organic gain materials,gain regions are limited in a small wavelength range because of the fixed energy level systems.Herein,we design a strategy to realize NIR organic lasers with broad emission bands based on tunable energy level systems induced by cascaded excited-state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT).A novel gain material named DHNN was developed,which can undergo a cascaded double-ESIPT process supporting four-level and six-level systems simultaneously.By doping DHNN into polystyrene microspheres,NIR lasers with tunable emission bands can be achieved based on the careful modulation of microcavities.Finally,organic lasers with an ultra-broad emission band ranging from 700 nm to 900 nm was successfully achieved by harnessing four-level and six-level systems simultaneously.