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Recombination and regeneration dynamics in Fe-NHC-sensitized DSSCs revealed incomplete injection and the detrimental effect of photoinjected electron recapture by the I3-form of the redox electrolyte on performance. Importantly, the use of additives in the electrolyte allowed the best efficiency ever recorded for an iron-based DSSC to be reached.

Near-term quantum computers are expected to facilitate material and chemical research through accurate molecular simulations. Several developments have already shown that accurate ground-state energies for small molecules can be evaluated on present-day quantum devices. Although electronically excited states play a vital role in chemical processes and applications, the search for a reliable and practical approach for routine excited-state calculations on near-term quantum devices is ongoing. Inspired by excited-state methods developed for the unitary coupled-cluster theory in quantum chemistry, we present an equation-of-motion-based method to compute excitation energies following the variational quantum eigensolver algorithm for ground-state calculations on a quantum computer. We perform numerical simulations on H-2, H-4, H2O, and LiH molecules to test our quantum self-consistent equation-of-motion (q-sc-EOM) method and compare it to other current state-of-the-art methods. q-sc-EOM makes use of self-consistent operators to satisfy the vacuum annihilation condition, a critical property for accurate calculations. It provides real and size-intensive energy differences corresponding to vertical excitation energies, ionization potentials and electron affinities. We also find that q-sc-EOM is more suitable for implementation on NISQ devices as it is expected to be more resilient to noise compared with the currently available methods. Department of Energy (DOE) [DE-SC0019199]; NSF [1839136]; Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) [20200056DR]; National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy [89233218CNA000001] Published version This research was supported by the Department of Energy (DOE). E. B. and N. J. M. acknowledge Award No. DE-SC0019199, and S. E. E. acknowledges support from the NSF, award number 1839136. A. A. would like to thank Dr Luke Bertels for helpful discussions. The authors thank the Advanced Research Computing (ARC) facility at Virginia Tech for the computational infrastructure. A. K., Y. Z., L. C., S. T., and P. A. D. are thankful for the support from the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) under project number 20200056DR. LANL is operated by Triad National Security, LLC, for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (contract no. 89233218CNA000001).

A data survey on experimental fluorescence quantum yields of (multi)substituted dicyano-distyrylbenzenes in fluid solution evidences that non-radiative decay increases with the Franck-Condon energy (E-FC), being opposite to the conventional energy gap law. Quantum-chemistry indicates that this is controlled by access to the conical intersection (CI) following the Bell-Evans-Polanyi principle as a first-step approximation for this family of molecules; the variations in E-FC among the different compounds are found to be decisive, while those of E-CI are estimated to be weaker or even enhancing the effect. The current findings may have significant consequences for the design of molecules for organic solid state emitters.

In this article we revisit our recent picosecond and femtosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) experiments, probing the ultrafast electronic and geometric evolution of photoexcited haem proteins, namely ferrous Nitrosyl Myoglobin (MbNO) and ferric Cytochrome c (Cyt c). We show through these two examples, combined with results from ultrafast optical spectroscopy, the universal behavior of the excited state dynamics of ferric and ferrous complexes. Regardless of the type of ligand, its dissociation or lack thereof, or the metal oxidation state, the photoexcited system relaxes through a cascade of excited spin states leading to formation of a high spin state, which in the case of the haem is a domed porphyrin.

Measuring viscosity and temperature on the microscale is a challening yet very important task, in materials sciences and in biology alike. In this perpsective we review and discuss fluorescent microviscosity sensors, termed ‘molecular rotors’, that offer a convenient way of measuring microscopic viscosity and sometimes may even be used to measure microscopic temperature in addition to viscosity. We discuss how temperature in combination with various solvent properties can affect microviscosity measurements and we review possible action mechanisms that make molecular rotors sensitive to multiple parameters of their environment. Overall, we reveal a complicated, yet exciting, behaviour of molecular rotors at different viscosity, temperature and solvent properties on the microscale and how this behaviour can be explained and exploited.

The first coordination sphere of Ir(III) 2,2′-bipyridine / 2-phenylpyridine complexes can be tuned to achieve either C– or N–chelation in ratios that range between 0/6 and 3/3. Of particular interest is the synthesis of Ir(III) complexes bearing a 2,2′-bipyridine ligand coordinated in a N,C3 pattern, leaving an exposed pyridine moiety, accessible for acid-base chemistry or coordination to a second transition metal center. The protonated forms of these “rolled-over” Ir(III) complexes were isolated in a straight-forward procedure using trifluoroacetic acid. The photophysical, photochemical and electrochemical properties of both the protonated and unprotonated Ir(III) complexes were investigated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies, as well as by density functional theory calculations. The nature of the excited states was shown to depend on both the ligand coordination pattern and protonation state of the complex. In addition, the unprotonated and protonated analogues were efficiently quenched by hydroquinone and benzoquinone in acetonitrile with quenching rate constants close to the solvent diffusion limit. The results presented herein have direct implications for proton sensitive photoredox chemistry and the development of photo-acids and photo-bases.

[EN] Through-bond triplet exciplex formation in donor-acceptor systems linked through a rigid bile acid scaffold has been demonstrated on the basis of kinetic evidence upon population of the triplet acceptors (naphthalene, or biphenyl) by through-bond triplet-triplet energy transfer from benzophenone., Financial support from the Spanish Government (Grants SEV-2012-0267, CTQ2012-38754-C03-03, CTQ2013-47872-C2-1-P and JCI-2011-09926), EU (PCIG12GA-2012-334257), Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeo Program), and Technical University of Valencia (VLC/Campus, ASIC-UPV for computational facilities and Predoctoral FPI fellowship for P. Miro) is gratefully acknowledged.

The challenges of simulating extreme ultraviolet (XUV)-induced dissociation dynamics of organic molecules on a multitude of coupled potential energy surfaces are discussed for the prototypical photoionization of benzene. The prospects of Koopmans' theorem-based electronic structure calculations in combination with classical trajectories and Tully's fewest switches surface hopping are explored. It is found that a Koopmans' theorem-based approach overestimates the CH dissociation barrier and thus underestimates the fragmentation yield. However, the nonadiabatic population dynamics are in good agreement with previous approaches, indicating that the Koopmans' theorem based potentials are well described around the Franck-Condon point. This is explicitly tested for the ground state potential of the benzene cation employing CASPT2 calculations, for which very good agreement is found. This work highlights the need for efficient electronic structure approaches that can treat medium-sized organic molecules with a multitude of coupled excited states and several dissociation channels.

Through a combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) approach, we evaluate the photodynamics of the mono- and dithiolated azobenzenes when they are chemisorbed on a gold surface. The analysis of steric effects suggests that the presence of the surface influences the photoisomerization process of the chemisorbed monothiolated azobenzene. In particular, the trans -> cis quantum yields decrease, and the n?* state lifetimes become longer. The approach to the twisted conical intersection needed for the isomerization is hindered when the molecule is attached to a substrate because of the van der Waals interactions with the surface. For the cis isomer, the cis -> trans photoisomerization quantum yield is almost unaffected, since this isomer is not flat, and thus the interaction with the surface is less remarkable. Dithiolated azobenzene can photoisomerize both trans -> cis and cis -> trans, also when doubly linked to the surface, preserving the two bonds with the gold atoms: the flexibility of the central azo-moiety enables the molecule to photoisomerize without any bond breaking. The quantum yields in this case are even higher than in the monothiolated case, probably because of the strained initial conformation, which must adapt to the available distances between the anchoring sites.

This study presents a computational investigation of the initial step of the dimethyldihydropyrene (DHP) to cyclophanediene (CPD) photoinduced ring-opening reaction using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). In particular, the photochemical path corresponding to the formation of the CPD precursor (CPD*) on the zwitterionic state is scrutinized. The TD-DFT approach was first validated on the parent compound against accurate ab initio calculations. It confirms that CPD* formation is efficiently quenched in this system by an easily accessible S2/S1 conical intersection located in the vicinity of the CPD* minimum and leading to a locally excited state minimum responsible for DHP luminescence. Increased ring-opening quantum yields were observed in benzo[e]-fused-DHP (DHP-1), isobutenyl-DHP (DHP-2), and naphthoyl-DHP (DHP-3). The calculations show that CPD* formation is much more favorable in these systems, either due to an inversion of electronic states in DHP-1, suppressing the formation of the locally excited state, or due to efficient stabilization of CPD* on the S1 potential energy surface in DHP-2 and DHP-3. Both effects can be combined in a rationally designed benzo[e]-fused-naphthoyl-DHP (DHP-4) for which we anticipate an unprecedented efficiency.

A series of 1,2,3-triazole linked donor–acceptor chromophores are prepared by Click Chemistry from ene–yne starting materials. The effects of three distinct chemical variations are investigated: enhancing the acceptor strength through oxidation of the sulphur atom, alteration of the double bond configuration, and variation of the triazole substitution pattern. A detailed photophysical characterization shows that these alterations have a negligible effect on the absorption while dramatically altering the emission wavelengths. In addition, strong solvatochromism is found leading to significant red shifts in the case of polar solvents. The experimental findings are rationalized and related to the electronic structure properties of the chromophores by time-dependent density functional theory as well as the ab initio algebraic diagrammatic construction method for the polarization propagator in connection with a new formalism allowing to model the influence of solvation onto long-lived excited states and their emission energies. These calculations highlight the varying degree of intramolecular charge transfer character present for the different molecules and show that the amount of charge transfer is strongly modulated by the conducted chemical modifications, by the solvation of the chromophores, and by the structural relaxation in the excited state. It is, furthermore, shown that enhanced charge separation, as induced by chemical modification or solvation, reduces the singlet–triplet gaps and that two of the investigated molecules possess sufficiently low gaps to be considered as candidates for thermally activated delayed fluorescence.

Conjugated porphyrin dimers have emerged as versatile viscosity‐sensitive fluorophores that are suitable for quantitative measurements of microscopic viscosity by ratiometric and fluorescence lifetime‐based methods, in a concentration‐independent manner. Here, we investigate the effect of extended conjugation in a porphyrin‐dimer structure on their ability to sense viscosity and temperature. We show that the sensitivity of the fluorescence lifetime to temperature is a unique property of only a few porphyrin dimers.

We numerically investigate the nonlinear dynamic properties of an exclusive excited-state (ES) emission quantum dot (QD) laser under optical injection. The results show that, under suitable injection parameters, the ES-QD laser can exhibit rich nonlinear dynamical behaviors, such as injection locking (IL), period one (P1), period two (P2), multi-period (MP), and chaotic pulsation (CP). Through mapping these dynamic states in the parameter space of the frequency detuning and the injection coefficient, it can be found that the IL occupies a wide region and the dynamic evolution routes appear in multiple forms. Via permutation entropy (PE) calculation to quantify the complexity of the CP state, the parameter range for acquiring the chaos with high complexity can be determined. Moreover, the influence of the linewidth enhancement factor (LEF) on the dynamical state of the ES-QD laser is analyzed. With the increase of the LEF value, the chaotic area shrinks (expands) in the negative (positive) frequency detuning region, and the IL region gradually shifts towards the negative frequency detuning.

International audience; The synthesis and new optical features of three indan-1,3-dione class structures is reported. The simple arylmethylene-1,3-indandione structure 2-(4-diethylaminobenzylidene)indan-1,3-dione was used to design two linked structures: 1,3-bis-{3-hydroxy-4-[4-diethylamino-1-(1,3-dioxoindan-2-ylmethylene) benzen-3-yloxy]-1-thiabuthyl}benzene and 4,4-bis-({3-hydroxy-4-[4-diethylamino-1-(1,3-dioxoindan-2-ylmethylene)benzen-3-yloxy]-1-thiabutyl}phenyl}sulfide. In contrast to the simple compound, which readily crystallized, the linked derivatives remained in an amorphous phase and are considered as molecular glasses with respective glass transition temperatures 88 and 100 degrees C. For non-linear optical investigations samples were prepared as a guest-host system in polycarbonate matrix (10%). The Maker-fringe technique was used to investigate the third harmonic generation at a wavelength of 355 nm (YAG laser). Third-order non-linear susceptibility chi((3)) values were extracted 5.75.10(-21) m(2) V-2, 8.60.10 (-21) m(2) V-2, 16.85.10(-21) m(2) V-2 for these respective indandiones while modeling the experimental results. To evaluate the susceptibility of the indan-1,3-dione derivatives third harmonic generation a comparative experiment for a reference azodye in polycarbonate was performed. The results show an important feature - higher molecular second order hyperpolarizability for the linked structures. NMR, MS, IR, UV-VIS, XRD and elemental analysis were used to structurally characterize the new compounds and ellipsometry was applied to interpret the non-linear optical results.

The behavior toward oxygen sensing of nano- composites made of the aluminum oxide-hydroxide nano- structured solid support (AP200/19) and neutral blue emitting cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes was studied. The results are compared with the same dyes immobilized in polystyrene films. Since the photoluminescence of the complexes is totally quenched for oxygen concentrations just over 10%, these systems using the blue region of the visible spectrum are promising for oxygen detection at low concentration. In particular, dyes supported into the AP200/19 provide the best sensitivity to oxygen concentration, with the possibility to detect oxygen below 1% O2 in gas (0.01 bar).

Light-driven molecular motors convert light into mechanical energy through excited-state reactions. Unidirectional rotary molecular motors based on chiral overcrowded alkenes operate through consecutive photochemical and thermal steps. The thermal (helix inverting) step has been optimized successfully through variations in molecular structure, but much less is known about the photochemical step, which provides power to the motor. Ultimately, controlling the efficiency of molecular motors requires a detailed picture of the molecular dynamics on the excited-state potential energy surface. Here, we characterize the primary events that follow photon absorption by a unidirectional molecular motor using ultrafast fluorescence up-conversion measurements with sub 50 fs time resolution. We observe an extraordinarily fast initial relaxation out of the Franck-Condon region that suggests a barrierless reaction coordinate. This fast molecular motion is shown to be accompanied by the excitation of coherent excited-state structural motion. The implications of these observations for manipulating motor efficiency are discussed.

Spectroscopic studies on jet cooled 3-methylisoquinoline using fluorescence excitation and dispersed fluorescence methods were carried out. The effect of methyl substitution on the excited state behavior of isoquinoline is focused. Methyl torsional behavior and the effect on torsional potential of methyl group due to excited states mixing are addressed. The possible explanations of the observed intensity pattern of the torsional transitions in the fluorescence excitation spectrum are also presented.

A detailed photophysical characterization of a couple of new perylene imide derivatives, a carboxylic trisimide PIx, and an asymmetrically substituted carboxylic bisimide PIa is presented. PIx and PIa have the lowest singlet excited state just below 2.6 eV. The dyes are remarkably fluorescent (phi(f) = 0.37 +/- 0.03 for PIa and phi(f) = 0.58 +/- 0.04 for PIx in toluene), but they also display an efficient intersystem crossing. This leads to typical excited triplet photophysics/photochemistry, with intense,triplet state absorption spectra and efficient singlet oxygen ((1)Delta(g)) photosensitization. (phi(Delta) = 0.68 +/- 0.02 for PIa and 0.44 +/- 0.02 for PIx in toluene). On the basis of the measured phi(Delta), a phi(isc) of 0.65 +/- 0.02 for PIa and 0.43 +/- 0.02 for PIx in toluene is derived. PIx reduces at 0.58, eV vs SCE, almost similarly to the,corresponding symmetrically substituted perylene bisimide PI0, but unlike the latter, it has the first oxidation potential above +1.9 V. PIa is more electron rich and displays a more difficult first reduction at -0.95 V with a more facile oxidation at +1.75 V, similar to that of the parent PI0. The absorption spectra of the excited singlet and triplet states and that of electrochemically generated monoanions are reported.

Sensitized triplet–triplet annihilation in multicomponent organic systems is already demonstrated to be suitable for obtaining effi cient up-conversion in solution with excitation power densities comparable to solar irradiance, but loses effi ciency in the solid state. Here, it is demonstrated that it is possible to reduce this limitation by incorporating a standard bicomponent system in polymer nanoparticles. The confi nement of all of the involved photophysical processes in a nanometer-scale volume makes each nanoparticle a single and isolated high-effi ciency up-converting unit. As a consequence, these dualdye-loaded nanoparticles can be used to produce drop-cast fi lms, as well as dopants for polymeric matrices, preserving the performances of the starting moieties in solution.

The syntheses and the electrochemical spectroscopic properties of a suite of asymmetrical bistridentate cyclometalated Ru(II) complexes bearing terminal triphenylamine (TPA) substituents are reported. These complexes, which contain structural design elements common to both inorganic and organic dyes that exhibit superior power conversion efficiencies in the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), are broadly formulated as [Ru(II)(L-2,5'-thiophene-TPA-R(1))(L-R(2))](+) [L = tridentate chelating ligand (e.g., 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (tpy); deprotonated forms of 1,3-di(pyridin-2-yl)benzene (Hdpb) or 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Hpbpy)); R(1) = -H, -Me, -OMe; R(2) = -H, -CO(2)Me, -CO(2)H]. The following structural attributes were systematically modified for the series: (i) electron-donating character of the terminal substituents (e.g., R(1) = -H, -Me, -OMe) placed para to the amine of the "L-2,5'-thiophene-TPA-R(1)" ligand framework; (ii) electron-withdrawing character of the tridentate chelate distal to the TPA-substituted ligand (e.g., R(2) = -H, -CO(2)Me, -CO(2)H); and (iii) position of the organometallic bond about the Ru(II) center. UV-vis spectra reveal intense and broad absorption bands arising from a collection of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) and TPA-based intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) transitions that, in certain cases, extend beyond 800 nm. Electrochemical data indicate that the oxidative behavior of the TPA and metal chelate units can be independently modulated except in cases where the anionic phenyl ring is in direct conjugation with the TPA unit. In most cases, the anionic character of the cyclometalating ligands renders a metal-based oxidation event prior to the oxidation of the TPA unit. This situation can, however, be reversed with an appropriately positioned Ru-C bond and electron-rich R(1) group. This finding is important in that this arrangement confines the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to the TPA unit rather than the metal, which is optimal for sensitizing TiO(2); indeed, a remarkably high power conversion efficiency (η) in the DSSC (i.e., 8.02%) is measured for the TPA-substituted pbpy(-) chelate where R(1) = -OMe. These results provide a comprehensive strategy for improving the performance of bistridentate Ru sensitizers devoid of NCS(-) groups for the DSSC.

A new family of highly soluble electrophosphorescent dopants based on a series of tris-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes (1-4) of 2-(carbazol-3-yl)-4/5-R-pyridine ligands with varying molecular dipole strengths have been synthesized. Highly efficient, solution-processed, single-layer, electrophosphorescent diodes utilizing these complexes have been prepared and characterized. The high triplet energy poly(9-vinylcarbazole) PVK is used as a host polymer doped with 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4-tert-butyl-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) for electron transport. Devices with a current efficiency of 40 cd A(-1) corresponding to an EQE of 12% can thus be achieved. The effect of the type and position of the substituent (electron-withdrawing group (CF3) and electron-donating group (OMe)) on the molecular dipole moment of the complexes has been investigated. A correlation between the absorption strength of the singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((MLCT)-M-1) transition and the luminance spectral red shift as a function of solvent polarity is observed. The strength of the transition dipole moments for complexes 1-4 has also been obtained from TD-DFT computations, and is found to be consistent with the observed molecular dipole moments of these complexes. The relatively long lifetime of the excitons of the phosphorescence (microseconds) compared to the charge-carrier scattering time (less than nanoseconds), allows the transition dipole moment to be considered as a "quasi permanent dipole". Therefore, the carrier mobility is sufficiently affected by the long-lived transition dipole moments of the phosphorescent molecules, which are randomly oriented in the medium. The dopant dipoles cause positional and energetic disorder because of the locally modified polarization energy. Furthermore, the electron-withdrawing group CF3 induces strong carrier dispersion that enhances the electron mobility. Therefore, the strong transition dipole moment in complexes 3 and 4 perturbs both electron and hole mobilities, yielding a reduction in exciton formation and an increase in the device dark current, thereby decreasing the device efficiency. UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/I013695/1)

We have studied spectroscopic properties of the 16 kDa red carotenoid protein (RCP), which is closely related to the orange carotenoid protein (OCP) from cyanobacteria. Both proteins bind the same chromophore, the carotenoid 3′-hydroxyechinenone (hECN), and the major difference between the two proteins is lack of the C-terminal domain in the RCP; this results in exposure of part of the carotenoid. The excited-state lifetime of hECN in the RCP is 5.5 ps, which is markedly longer than in OCP (3.3 ps) but close to 6 ps obtained for hECN in organic solvent. This confirms that the binding of hECN to the C-terminal domain in the OCP changes conformation of hECN, thereby altering its excited-state properties. Hydrogen bonds between the C-terminal domain and the carotenoid are also absent in the RCP. This allows the conformation of hECN in the RCP to be similar to that in solution, which results in comparable excited-state properties of hECN in solution. The red-shift of the RCP absorption spectrum is most likely due to aggregation of RCP induced by hydrophobic nature of hECN that, when exposed to buffer, stimulates formation of assemblies minimizing contact of hECN with water. We suggest that the loss of the C-terminal domain renders the protein amphipathic, containing both hydrophobic (the exposed part of hECN) and hydrophilic (N-terminal domain) regions, and may help the RCP to interact with lipid membranes; exposed hECN can penetrate into the hydrophobic environment of the lipid membrane, possibly to provide additional photoprotection.

A rigid star-shaped tetrachromophoric trimetallic complex engineered from a 5,5',10,10',15,15'-hexabutyltruxene platform functionalized in the 2,7,12 positions with three different metal centers, namely, a terpyridine-Pt(II) ethynylene unit and Ru(II) and Os(II) bipyridine centers, was synthesized in a controlled fashion and characterized by (1)H NMR and mass spectrometry. The protocol was devised in such a way that key mono and dinuclear model complexes and two reference truxene ligands could also be prepared. Room temperature (RT) optical absorption and RT and 77 K luminescence studies were performed on the truxene ligands, the trimetallic species, the various mono- and binuclear complexes and precursors lacking the truxene fragment; RT nanosecond transient absorption measurements were also carried out in particular cases. The electronic properties of the Ru and Os subunits in the arrays were found to be unaffected by the presence of the truxene core whereas direct linking of the Pt subunit to the truxene via the σ-alkyne bond markedly influences the spectroscopic behavior of the Pt center. Remarkably the truxene phosphorescence was clearly established in the two ligands (lifetime of 4.3 s for the mono ethynyl-bipy substituted truxene and 17.5 ms for the bis ethynyl-bipy substituted truxene) and also detected in the Pt-containing complexes PtL' (model Pt-truxene) and Pt-Os (Pt-truxene-Os dyad) at low temperature. This is attributed to the closeness in energy of the Pt (3)CT level and the truxene triplet at low temperature and to the spin-orbit coupling induced by the Pt heavy atom. Transient absorbance measurements evidenced the population of the Pt-based triplet in the Pt-truxene mononuclear complex PtL' at room-temperature. For the trimetallic complex, where the various centers exhibit an energy gradient for the local excited levels, and following an approach based on the use of selected excitation of the components, an initial energy transfer was found to occur from the central truxene unit toward the peripheral Pt, Ru, and Os metal-based centers. Subsequent Pt-based and Ru-based excited state depletion contributes to the final sensitization of the low-lying Os triplet excited state; the excited state dynamics for these multicascade processes are examined in detail.

We discuss two techniques of ultrafast X-ray science implemented at synchrotrons with application to the study of the real-time dynamics of chemical systems in solution. Time-resolved X-ray scattering and absorption offer complementary ways to study geometrical structural changes in a wide variety of systems. We present a few examples that demonstrate their ability to obtain structural information on timescales ranging from milliseconds down to hundreds of femtoseconds. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Six new thiophene oligomers, here designated as tripodal-like oligothienyl imidazoles, were synthesized and have been investigated in ethanol solution at room and low temperature. The oligomers bear a common core where two or more thiophenes are linked to one or more imidazole unit which further links through its alpha position to a different number of incremental thiophene units. The study involves a comprehensive spectral and photophysical investigation where the properties of the singlet and triplet states have been investigated regarding absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence, transient triplet-triplet absorption together with all relevant quantum yields (fluorescence, internal conversion, intersystem crossing and singlet oxygen) and lifetimes. In addition, DFT quantum chemical calculations were performed to gain a detailed understanding of the molecular geometry and optical properties of the investigated oligomers. From the overall data, the radiative (kF) and radiationless (kNR, kIC and kISC) rate constants have been determined and it is shown that, in contrast with the parent oligothiophenes, the radiative competes with the radiationless deactivation channels. The results show that, by comparison with the oligothiophene counterparts, there is an augment of the relative contributions of the internal conversion and fluorescence processes relative to the S1~~T1 intersystem crossing. Phosphosphorescence emission was found for the simplest member of the investigated compounds, with a low quantum yield and a lifetime of 8 picos. The data also show that the introduction of a 4,5-dithienyl-imidazole moiety in a bi- or terthiophene oligomer results in, respectively, a 20-fold and a 3-fold increase of the fluorescence quantum yield relative to their oligothiophene counterparts., Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)

Vibrational energy transport in a short 3(10)-helical peptide is studied by time-resolved femtosecond infrared spectroscopy. The C-D vibrations of decadeuterated leucine incorporated in the helical chain are excited, and the subsequent flow of vibrational energy through the helix is monitored by employing C horizontal lineO probes at various distances from the heat source as local thermometers. The C-D modes are not resonant to the C horizontal lineO modes, neither directly nor through any Fermi resonance, thereby suppressing resonant energy transfer directly along the C horizontal lineO oscillators of the peptide backbone. In contrast to our previous work (J. Phys. Chem. B 2008, 112, 9091), we no longer find any substantial difference in the vibrational energy transport efficiency after high- or low-energy excitation. That is, the heat diffusion constant of (2.0 +/- 0.5) A(2) ps(-1) is the same as that after depositing vibrational energy through the ultrafast internal conversion of a covalently bound chromophore.

We report a combined experimental and computational study of new rhenium tricarbonyl complexes based on the bidentate heterocyclic N–N ligands 2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[ d ]-X-azole (X = N–CH 3 , O, or S) and 2-(benzo[ d ]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline (X = N–CH 3 , O, or S). Two sets of complexes are reported. Chloro complexes, described by the general formula Re(CO) 3 [2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[ d ]-X-azole]Cl (X = N–CH 3 , 1 ; X = O, 2 ; X = S, 3 ) and Re(CO) 3 [2-(benzo[ d ]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]Cl (X = N–CH 3 , 4 ; X = O, 5 ; X = S, 6 ) were synthesized heating at reflux Re(CO) 5 Cl with the appropriate N–N ligand in toluene. The corresponding pyridine set {Re(CO) 3 [2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo-X-azole]py}PF 6 (X = N–CH 3 , 7 ; X = O, 8 ; X = S, 9 ) and {Re(CO) 3 [2-(benzo[ d ]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]py}PF 6 (X = N–CH 3 , 10 ; X = O, 11 ; X = S, 12 ) was synthesized by halide abstraction with silver nitrate of 1 – 6 followed by heating in pyridine and isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. All complexes have been fully characterized by IR, NMR, electrochemical techniques and luminescence. The crystal structures of 1 and 7 were obtained by X-ray diffraction. DFT and time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations were carried out for investigating the effect of the organic ligand on the optical properties and electronic structure of the reported complexes.

A series of quasilinear dinuclear complexes incorporating ruthenium(II)- and osmium(II)-tris(2,2'-bipyridine) units has been prepared in which the individual metal-containing moieties are separated by 3,4-dibutyl-2,5-diethenylthiophene spacers and end-capped by 3,4-dibutyl-2-ethenylthiophene subunits; related ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) mononuclear complexes have also been prepared where one bpy unit is likewise end-capped by 3,4-dibutyl-2-ethenylthiophene subunits [bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine]. Overall, mononuclear species, labeled here Ru and Os, and dinuclear species, RuRu, OsOs, and RuOs, have been prepared and investigated. Their electrochemical behavior has been studied in CH3CN solvent and reveals ethenylthiophene-centered oxidations (irreversible steps at > +1.37 V vs SCE), metal-centered oxidations (reversible steps at +1.30 V vs SCE for Ru(II/III) and +0.82 V vs SCE for Os(II/III)), and successive reduction steps localized at the substituted bpy subunits. The spectroscopic studies performed for the complexes in CH3CN solvent provided optical absorption spectra associated with transitions of ligand-centered nature (LC, from the bpy and ethenylthiophene subunits) and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer nature (MLCT), with the former dominating in the visible region (400-600 nm). While the constituent ethenylthiophene-bpy ligands are strong fluorophores (fluorescence efficiency in CH2Cl2 solvent, phi em = 0.49 and 0.39, for the monomer and the dimer, respectively), only weak luminescence is observed for each complex in acetonitrile at room temperature. In particular, (i) the complexes Ru and RuRu do not emit appreciably, and (ii) the complexes Os, OsOs, and RuOs exhibit triplet emission of 3Os --> L CT character, with phi em in the range from 10-3 to 10-4. These features are rationalized on the basis of the role of nonemissive triplet energy levels, 3Th, centered on the ethenylthiophene spacer. These levels appear to lie lower in energy than the 3Ru --> L CT triplet levels, and in turn higher in energy than the 3Os --> L CT triplet levels, along the sequence 3Ru --> L CT > 3Th > 3Os --> L CT.

Detailed ab initio calculations were performed on two structurally different cerium(III) single-molecule magnets (SMMs) to probe the origin of magnetic anisotropy and to understand the mechanism of magnetic relaxations. The complexes (Ce III {Zn II (L)}2(MeOH))BPh4 (1) and (Li(dme)3) (Ce III (cot'')2 )( 1 ;L = N,N,O,O-tetradentate Schiff base ligand; 2; DME = dimethoxyethane, COT'' = 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)cy- clooctatetraenyldianion), which are reported to be zero-field and field-induced SMMs with effective barrier heights of 21.2 and 30 K respectively, were chosen as examples. CASSCF + RASSI/SINGLE_ANISO calculations unequivocally suggest that mJ j� 5/2i and j� 1/2i are the ground states for complexes 1 and 2, respectively. The origin of these differences is rooted back to the nature of the ligand field and the sym- metry around the cerium(III) ions. Ab initio magnetisation blockade barriers constructed for complexes 1 and 2 expose a contrasting energy-level pattern with significant quantum tunnelling of magnetisation between the ground state Kramers doublet in complex 2. Calculations performed on several model complexes stress the need for a suitable ligand environment and high symmetry around the ceriu- m(III) ions to obtain a large effective barrier.

Claudine Katan ‘s present address : CNRS UMR6082 FOTON, INSA de Rennes, 20 avenue des Buttes de Coësmes, CS 70839, 35708 RENNES cedex 7, France; International audience; We present a joint theoretical and experimental work aimed to understand the spectroscopic behavior of multipolar dyes of interest for nonlinear optics (NLO) applications. In particular, we focus on the occurrence of broken-symmetry states in quadrupolar organic dyes and their spectroscopic consequences. To gain a unified description, we have developed a model based on a few-state description of the charge-transfer processes characterizing the low-energy physics of these systems. The model takes into account the coupling between electrons and slow degrees of freedom, namely, molecular vibrations and polar solvation coordinates. We predict the occurrence of symmetry breaking in either the ground or first excited state. In this respect, quadrupolar chromophores are classified in three different classes, with distinctively different spectroscopic behavior. Cases of true and false symmetry breaking are discriminated and discussed by making resort to nonadiabatic calculations. The theoretical model is applied to three representative quadrupolar chromophores: their qualitatively different solvatochromic properties are connected to the presence or absence of broken-symmetry states and related to two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections. The proposed approach provides useful guidelines for the synthesis of dyes for TPA application and represents a general and unifying reference frame to understand energy-transfer processes in multipolar molecular systems, offering important clues to understand basic properties of materials of interest for NLO and energy-harvesting applications.

The syntheses, structural features, electrochemical behavior, absorption spectra, and photophysical properties of five mononuclear complexes [(terpy)Ru(terpy-DEDBTn-terpy)](2+), RuTn, and five binuclear complexes [(terpy)Ru(terpy-DEDBTn-terpy)Ru(terpy)](4+), RuTnRu, are reported, where n varies from 1 to 5 so that the metal-metal distance is estimated to be 42 Angstrom for the largest binuclear complex, RuT5Ru (terpy is 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine and DEDBT is 2,5-diethynyl-3,4-dibutylthiophene). The metal-centered oxidation potentials for the mononuclear and binuclear species are slightly more positive than for the reference [Ru(terpy)(2)](2+) complex, owing to the withdrawing nature of the back-to-back terpyridine ligands incorporating the repeat diethynyl-thiophene units. Comparison of the reduction potentials for the mononuclear and binuclear complexes reveals that the reduction steps are localized either at the terpy fragments of the T, ligands or at the terpy peripheral ligands. The spectroscopic results (absorption spectra at room temperature, luminescence spectra and lifetimes at room temperature and at 77 K) in acetonitrile solvent are consistent with the establishment of electronic delocalization within the oligomeric diethynyl-thiophene fragments (DEDBT,) of the T, ligands; however, the results also indicate that the terpy units of these ligands and the DEDBT, fragments are not strongly coupled. Both at room temperature and at 77 K, the 3 metal-to-ligand charge-transfer luminescence of RuTn and RuTnRu complexes is strongly depressed in the larger species with respect to what happens for n less than or equal to 2 (where the luminescence quantum yield is phi approximate to 10(-4)); this is discussed in terms of the possible intervention of triplet levels localized at the oligothiophene DEDBTn fragments.

The excited-state relaxation processes of an amino-substituted triphenylbenzene derivative (p-EFTP) and its biphenyl-model compound (p-EFBP) were investigated by femtosecond polarized transient absorption spectroscopy. The S 1 –S n absorption was detected upon pumping at 360 nm and probing at 470 nm. Both compounds presented a polarization-dependent component in the transient decay. For p-EFBP a decay time of 97±20 ps was obtained which agrees with the rotational diffusion time determined by time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy. For the symmetric p-EFTP a decay time of 8±2 ps was detected. This value correlates with the intramolecular dipole reorientation time deduced from time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements.

Characterizing the geometric and electronic structures of individual photoexcited dye molecules in solution is an important step towards understanding the interfacial properties of photo-active electrodes. The broad family of "red sensitizers" based on osmium(II) polypyridyl compounds often undergoes small photo-induced structural changes which are challenging to characterize. In this work, X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy with picosecond temporal resolution is employed to determine the geometric and electronic structures of the photoexcited triplet state of [Os(terpy)2]2+ (terpy: 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine) solvated in methanol. From the EXAFS analysis, the structural changes can be characterized by a slight overall expansion of the first coordination shell [OsN6]. DFT calculations supports the XTA results. They also provide additional information about the nature of the molecular orbitals that contribute to the optical spectrum (with TD-DFT) and the near-edge region of the X-ray spectra.

Using a combination of electrochemical, spectroscopic and computational techniques, we have explored the fundamental properties of a series of ruthenium diimine complexes designed for coupling with other molecules or surfaces for electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing applications. With appropriate choice of ligand functionality, it is possible to manipulate emission wavelengths while keeping the redox ability of the complex relatively constant. DFT calculations show that in the case of electron withdrawing substituents such as ester or amide, the excited state is located on the substituted bipyridine ligand whereas in the case of alkyl functionality it is localised on a bipyridine. The factors that dictate annihilation ECL efficiency are interrelated. For example, the same factors that determine ΔG for the annihilation reaction (i.e. the relative energies of the HOMO and LUMO) have a corresponding effect on the energy of the excited state product. As a result, most of the complexes populate the excited state with an efficiency (Φex) of close to 80% despite the relatively wide range of emission maxima. The quantum yield of emission (Φp) and the possibility of competing side reactions are found to be the main determinants of ECL intensity. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Several important aspects of fluorescence decay analysis are addressed and tested against new experimental measurements. A simulated-annealing method is described for deconvoluting the instrument response function from a measured fluorescence decay to yield the true decay, which is more convenient for subsequent fitting. The method is shown to perform well against the conventional approach, which is to fit a convoluted fitting function to the experimentally measured decay. The simulated annealing approach is also successfully applied to the determination of an instrument response function using a known true fluorescence decay (for rhodamine 6G). The analysis of true fluorescence decays is considered critically, focusing specifically on how a distribution of decay constants can be incorporated in to a fit. Various fitting functions are applied to the true fluorescence decays of 2-aminopurine in water-dioxane mixtures, in a dinucleotide, and in DNA duplexes. It is shown how a suitable combination of exponential decays and non-exponential decays (based on a Gamma distribution of decay constants) can provide fits of equal quality to the conventional multi-exponential fits used in the majority of previous studies, but with fewer fitting parameters. Crucially, the new approach yields decay-constant distributions that are physically more meaningful than those corresponding to the conventional multi-exponential fit. The methods presented here should find wider application, for example to the analysis of transient-current or optical decays and in Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET).

The role of the seam of intersection between the lowest (pi,pi*) and (n,pi*) excited states in the decay of electronically excited singlet thymine has been investigated with ab initio complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations and direct dynamics variational multiconfiguration Gaussian (DD-vMCG) quantum dynamics on the full-dimensional CASSCF surface, with 39 degrees of freedom. The seam has a sloped-to-peaked topography, and the dynamics at the different segments of the seam have been studied by varying the initial conditions of the propagation. When the wave packet is directed to the peaked segments, part of it traverses the seam, stays on the (pi,pi*) state and heads towards decay to the ground state. In contrast to this, when the wave packet is driven to sloped seam segments it bounces back to the minimum of the (pi,pi*) state. Significant population transfer to the (n,pi*) state is observed in both cases. The results suggest that a sloped-to-peaked topography can be used to control photochemical reactivity, by driving the wave packet to different regions of the seam where a different outcome of the propagation can be expected.

A dyad (C3-NI) based on corrole and naphthalene bisimide has been synthesized and its photoreactivity compared to that of the model component corrole (C3) and naphthalene bisimide (NI) in solvents of different polarity: toluene (TL) and dichloromethane (DCM). The major emitting species in NI solutions, in TL, is identified as a dimeric species (lambda = 470 nm, tau = 2.3 ns) but traces of monomer can also be detected (lambda ca. 390 nm, tau = 40 ps). In DCM the major emitting component is the monomer (lambda = 383 nm, tau = 20 ps) but traces of different aggregates (lambda = 540 and 570 nm, tau = 4.5 and 11 ns) are present. C3 has a fluorescence nearly unaffected by solvent polarity, with a maximum around 655 and a lifetime of 3.5 or 3.8 ns in DCM and TL, respectively. The dyad C3-NI does not appear to be affected by aggregation problems in any of the solvents. Excitation of the imide component in C3-NI (C3-1NI) results in an energy transfer to corrole (1C3-NI) with rate k = 2.0 x 10(11) s(-1) in both solvents. The latter state reacts further via a LUMO-LUMO electron transfer to the naphthalene bisimide yielding the charge separated state C3+-NI- (k = 1.8 x 10(9) s(-1) in TL and k = 3.7 x 10(9) s(-1) in DCM). The same type of reactivity is displayed by direct excitation of the corrole moiety in the dyad to 1C3-NI. C3+-NI- decays with a rate comparable to that of its formation in DCM (k = 4.0 x 10(9) s(-1) in DCM), precluding its accumulation, whereas it decays with a slower rate in TL (k = 7.1 x 10(8) s(-1)). The charge separated state recombines to the ground singlet state; recombination to the triplet state of corrole (excited state at the lowest energy) is in fact excluded on the basis of the experimentally determined triplet yields. The failure of the commonly used methods in the calculation of CS energy levels in apolar solvents is confirmed.

The need to visualize molecular structure in the course of a chemical reaction, a phase transformation or a biological function has been a dream of scientists for decades. The development of time-resolved X-ray and electron-based methods is making this true. X-ray absorption spectroscopy is ideal for the study of structural dynamics in liquids, because it can be implemented in amorphous media. Furthermore, it is chemically selective. Using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) in laser pump/X-ray probe experiments allows the retrieval of the local geometric structure of the system under study, but also the underlying photoinduced electronic structure changes that drive the structural dynamics. Recent developments in picosecond and femtosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy applied to molecular systems in solution are reviewed: examples on ultrafast photoinduced processes such as intramolecular electron transfer, low-to-high spin change, and bond formation are presented.

The photodynamics along the main decay paths of thymine after excitation to the lowest pi,pi* state have been studied with MS-CASPT2 calculations and semiclassical CASSCF dynamics calculations including a surface hopping algorithm. The static calculations show that there are two decay paths from the Franck-Condon structure that lead to a conical intersection with the ground state. The first path goes directly to the intersection, while the second one is indirect and involves a minimum of the pi,pi* state, a small barrier, and a crossing between the pi,pi* and n,pi* states. From the static calculations, both paths have similar slopes. The dynamics calculations along the indirect path show that, after the barrier, part of the trajectories are funneled to the intersection with the ground state, where they are efficiently quenched to the ground state. The remaining trajectories populate the n,pi* state. They are also quenched to the ground state in less than 1 ps, but the static calculations show that the decay rate of the n,pi* state is largely overestimated at the CASSCF level used for the dynamics, Overall, these results suggest that both direct and indirect paths contribute to the subpicosecond decay components found experimentally. The indirect path also provides a way for fast population of the n,pi* state, which will account for the experimental picosecond decay component

The synthetic approach, electrochemical behavior, and optical absorption and emission properties are reported of the Pt-bipyridine-acetylide/Ru-bipyridine complex [(dbbpy)Pt{(ebpy)Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)](4+), PtRu(2), the Pt-bipyridine-acetylide/Os-bipyridine analogue, PtOs(2), and the Pt/Ru/Os complex [(dbbpy)Pt(ebpy)(2)Ru(bpy)(2)Os(bpy)(2)](4+), PtRuOs; ebpy is 5-ethynylbpy, dbbpy is 4,4'-ditertiobutylbpy, and bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine. These triads are investigated in acetonitrile solvent by comparing their electrochemical and spectroscopic properties with those of the mononuclear species [(dbbpy)Pt(ebpy)(2)], Pt, [Ru(ebpy)(bpy)(2)](2+), Ru, and [Os(ebpy)(bpy)(2)](2+), Os. Results of X-ray analysis of Pt are reported, which show the planar arrangement of this unit that features two free bpy sites. The absorption spectra of the triads and the mononuclear species show that light at 452 or 376 nm can be employed to observe luminescence spectra of these complexes; for the observation of emission lifetimes, nanoled sources at 465 and 373 nm are employed. With lambda(exc) = 452 (and 465) nm, one selectively produces Ru -> bpy/ebpy CT (RuLCT) or Os -> bpy/ebpy CT states (OsLCT); MLCT is a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer. With lambda(exc) = 376 (and 373) nm, one populates Pt -> dbbpy CT and intraligand charge transfer (ILCT, involving the ebpy fragment) levels, in addition to Ru(II)- or Os(II)-centered excited states, in aliquots that are estimated from comparison of the absorption features of the components. Upon excitation with light at 376 (and 373) nm, the optical studies of PtRu(2), PtOs(2), and PtRuOs reveal full quenching of the Pt-based emission and occurrence of efficient photoinduced energy transfer, leading to exclusive MLCT emission from the ruthenium and osmium centers. In particular, PtRuOs is found to exhibit a Ru- and Os-based dual luminescence, whose intensities ratio is consistent with a Pt -> Os intramolecular energy transfer step being 3-6 times faster than the Pt -> Ru one.

In photosynthesis, sunlight energy is converted into a chemical potential by an electron transfer sequence that is started by an excited state and ultimately yields a long-lived charge-separated state. This process can be reproduced by carefully designed multicomponent artificial arrays of three or more components, and the stored energy can be used to oxidize or reduce molecules in solution, to inject electrons or holes, or to create an electron flow. Therefore, the process is important both for artificial-photosynthesis research and for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. Molecular arrays for photoinduced charge separation often use chromophores that resemble the natural ones. However, new synthetic components, including transition metal complexes, have had some success. This Account discusses the use of bis-terpyridine (tpy) metal complexes as assembling and functional units of such multicomponent arrays. M(tpy)2(n+) complexes have the advantage of yielding linear arrays with unambiguous geometry. Originally, Ru(tpy)2(2+) and Os(tpy)2(2+) were used as photosensitizers in triads containing typical organic donors and acceptors. However, it soon became evident that the relatively low excited state of these complexes could act as an energy drain of the excited state of the photosensitizer and, thus, seriously compete with charge separation. A new metal complex that preserved the favorable tpy geometry and yet had a higher energy level was needed. We identified Ir(tpy)2(3+), which displayed a higher energy level, a more facile reduction that favored charge separation, a longer excited-state lifetime, and strong spectroscopic features that were useful for the identification of intermediates. Ir(tpy)2(3+) was used in arrays with electron-donating gold porphyrin and electron-accepting free-base porphyrins. A judicious change of the free-base porphyrin photosensitizer with zinc porphyrin allowed us to shape the photoreactivity and led to charge separation with unity yield and a lifetime on the order of a microsecond. In a subsequent approach, an Ir(tpy)2(3+) derivative was connected to an amine electron donor and a bisimide electron acceptor in an array 5 nm long. In this case, the complex acted as photosensitizer, and long-lived charge separation over the extremities (100 micros, nearly independent of the presence of oxygen) was achieved. The efficiency of the charge separation was modest, but it was improved later, after a modification aiming at decoupling the donor and photosensitizer components. This study represents an example of how the performances of an artificial photofunctional array can be modeled by a judicious design assisted by a detailed knowledge of the systems.

The photochemistry of three structurally very similar triphenylmethylsilanes 1, 2, 3 [p-X - C6H4 - CPh2- SiMe3: X = PhCO, 1; H, 2; Ph(OCH2CH2O) C, 3] is described by means of 248 and 308 nm nanosecond laser. ash photolysis (ns-LFP), femtosecond LFP, EPR spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy (fluorescence, phosphorescence), ns-pulse radiolysis (ns-PR), photoproduct analysis studies in MeCN, and X-ray crystallographic analysis of the two key-compounds 1 and 2. The photochemical behavior of 1, 2 and 3 is discussed and compared with that of a fourth one, 4, bearing on the p-position an amino group ( X = Me2N) and whose detailed photochemistry we reported earlier (J. Org. Chem., 2000, 65, 4274 - 4280). Silane 1 undergoes on irradiation with 248 and 308 nm laser light a fast photodissociation of the C - Si bond giving the p-(benzoyl) triphenylmethyl radical ( 1(center dot)) with a rate constant of k(diss) = 3 x 10(7) s(-1). The formation of 1(center dot) is a one-quantum process and takes place via the carbonyl triplet excited state with high quantum yield (Phi(rad) = 0.9); the intervention of the triplet state is clearly demonstrated through the phosphorescence spectrum and quenching experiments with ferrocene (k(q) = 9.3 x 10(9) M-1 s(-1)), Et3N ( 1.1 x 10(9) M-1 s(-1)), and styrene (3.1 x 10(9) M-1 s(-1)) giving quenching rate constants very similar to those of benzophenone. For comparative reasons radical 1(center dot) was generated independently from p-( benzoyl) triphenylmethyl bromide via pulse radiolysis in THF and its absorption coefficient at lambda(max) = 340 nm was determined (epsilon = 27770 M-1 cm(-1)). We found thus that the p-PhCO-derivative 1 behaves similar to the p- Me2N one 4 ( the latter giving the p-( dimethylamino) triphenylmethyl radical with Phi(rad) = 0.9), irrespective of their completely different ground state electronic properties. In contrast, compounds 2, 3 that bear only the aromatic chromophore give by laser or lamp irradiation both, (i) radical products [ Ph3Ccenter dot and p-Ph(OCH2CH2O)C-C6H4 -C((center dot)) Ph-2, respectively] after dissociation of the central C - Si bond ( Phi(rad) = 0.16), and ( ii) persistent photo-Fries rearrangement products ( of the type of 5-methylidene-6-trimethylsilyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene) absorbing at 300 - 450 nm and arising from a 1,3-shift of the SiMe3 group from the benzylic to the ortho-position of the aromatic ring (Phi approximate to 0.85 for 2). Using fs-LFP on 2 we showed that the S-1 state recorded at 100 fs after the pulse decays on a time scale of 500 fs giving Ph3C center dot through C - Si bond dissociation. In a second step and within the next 10 ps trityl radicals either escape from the solvent cage ( the quantum yield of Ph3C center dot formation Phi(rad) = 0.16 was measured with ns- LFP), or undergo in-cage recombination to photo-Fries products. Thus, singlet excited states (S-1) of the aromatic organosilanes ( 2, 3) prefer photo-Fries rearrangement products, while triplet excited states ( 1, 4) favor free radicals. Both reactions proceed via a common primary photodissociation step ( C - Si bond homolysis) and differentiate obviously in the multipliciy of the resulting geminate radical pairs; singlet radical pairs give preferably photo-Fries products following an in-cage recombination, while triplet radical pairs escape the solvent cage ( MeCN). The results demonstrate the crucial role which is played by the chromophore which prescribes in a sense, ( i) the multiplicity of the intervening excited state and consequently that of the resulting geminate radical pair, and ( ii) the dominant reaction path to be followed: the benzophenone-and anilino-chromophore present in silanes 1 and 4, respectively, impose effective intersystem crossing transitions (k(isc) = 10(11) s(-1) and 6 x 10(8) s(-1), respectively) leading to triplet states and finally to free radical products, while the phenyl chromophore in 2 and 3, possessing ineffective isc (k(isc) = 6 x 10(6) s(-1)) leads to photo-Fries product formation via the energetic high lying S-1 state [approximate to 443 kJ mol(-1) (106 kcal mol(-1))]. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences

This paper describes expeditious stepwise synthesis of polynuclear complexes based on heteroleptic iridium(iii) and osmium(ii) fragments linked to a central Pt(ii) module via a spirobifluorene-bridge using a strategy based on the construction of preformed complexes. The luminescence features of the final multi-chromophoric array, i.e. a tetrad consisting of spirobifluorene-bridged Pt, Ir and Os complexes, have been studied by comparison with the features of reference complexes bearing two identical luminophores (Ir or Os) at the periphery. The (3)MPtLCT and (3)LC states of the Pt and spiro ligand undergo fast energy transfer into the (3)MIrLCT or the (3)MOsLCT state in the Pt-M2 (M = Ir or Os) arrays, whereas the (3)LC and the (3)MPtLCT states function as energy reservoirs for the metal excited states close in energy, resulting in a pronounced increase of the excited state lifetimes of these arrays. The tetrad efficiently works as an antenna system where the collected light energy is transferred to the Os unit acting as the final collector.

"A photophysical, electrochemical and computational study has been performed on a homologous series of cyclometallated Pd(II) (1a-f) and Pt(II) (2a-f) complexes of general formula [(C, N) M(O, O)]; (H(C, N) = azobenzene, 2-phenylpyridine, benzo[ h] quinoline; M = Pd, Pt; H(O, O) = acetylacetone, hexafluoroacetylacetone). Experimental and computational data have shown the strong influence exerted by electronegativity of the ancillary ligand on the frontier orbitals of the complexes, such an effect being enhanced for the Pt(II) species."

The small Stokes shift and weak emission in the solid state are two main shortcomings associated with the boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) family of dyes. This study presents the design, synthesis and luminescent properties of boron difluoro complexes of 2-aryl-5-alkylamino-4-alkylaminocarbonylthiazoles. These dyes display Stokes shifts (Delta lambda, 77-101 nm) with quantum yields (phi(FL)) up to 64.9 and 34.7 % in toluene solution and in solid state, respectively. Some of these compounds exhibit dual fluorescence and room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emission properties with modulable phosphorescence quantum yields (phi(PL)) and lifetime (tau(p) up to 251 mu s). The presence of intramolecular H-bonds and negligible pi-pi stacking revealed by X-ray crystal structure might account for the observed large Stokes shift and significant solid-state emission of these fluorophores, while the enhanced spin-orbit coupling (SOC) of iodine and the self-assembly driven by halogen bonding, pi-pi and C-H center dot center dot center dot pi interactions could be responsible for the observed RTP of iodine containing phosphors.

A multitechnique investigation of the determination of the order of magnitude of the second and third order NLO response of [5-[(4-dimethylaminophenyl)ethynyl]-15-[(4-nitrophenyl)ethynyl]-10,20-diphenylporphyrinato]nickel(II) (1) is reported with the aim to produce self consistent evidence for a significant NLO response of this kind of push-pull porphyrin chromophore. The experimental multitechnique approach is based on the EFISH technique, working with a non-resonant incident wavelength of 1.907 μm, on the solvatochromic method and finally on a vibrational method, avoiding any fluorescence or resonance interference. A theoretical MNDO-TDHF evaluation of the zero-frequency quadratic and cubic hyperpolarizabilities of an ab initio optimized planar structure is also reported. The order of magnitude of the quadratic hyperpolarizability of (1) at zero frequency (β0), was found to be significantly lower than that reported for the corresponding Cu (II) or Zn (II) complexes with the same push-pull porphyrin chromophore.

The mechanism of aggregation-induced emission, which overcomes the common aggregation-caused quenching problem in organic optoelectronics, is revealed by monitoring the real time structural evolution and dynamics of electronic excited state with frequency and polarization resolved ultrafast UV/IR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The formation of Woodward-Hoffmann cyclic intermediates upon ultraviolet excitation is observed in dilute solutions of tetraphenylethylene and its derivatives but not in their respective solid. The ultrafast cyclization provides an efficient nonradiative relaxation pathway through crossing a conical intersection. Without such a reaction mechanism, the electronic excitation is preserved in the molecular solids and the molecule fluoresces efficiently, aided by the very slow intermolecular charge and energy transfers due to the well separated molecular packing arrangement. The mechanisms can be general for tuning the properties of chromophores in different phases for various important applications.

We review our recent studies of excited state structures and dynamics of chemical and biological systems with pico- and femtosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the liquid phase.