Remote Sensitized Photoisomerization via Through‐Bond Triplet–Triplet Energy Transfer Mediated by a Salt Bridge in a Supramolecular Dyad

Abstract

A supramolecular dyad, BP-(amidinium-carboxylate)-NBD is constructed, in which benzophenone (BP) and norbornadiene (NBD) are connected via an amidinium-carboxylate salt bridge. The photophysical and photochemical properties of the assembled BP-(amidinium-carboxylate)-NBD dyad are examined. The phosphorescence of the BP chromophore is efficiently quenched by the NBD group in BP-(amidinium-carboxylate)-NBD via the salt bridge. Time-resolved spectroscopy measurements indicate that the lifetime of the BP triplet state in BP-(amidinium-carboxylate)-NBD is shortened due to the quenching by the NBD group. Selective excitation of the BP chromophore results in isomerization of the NBD group to quadricyclane (QC). All of these observations suggest that the triplet-triplet energy transfer occurs efficiently in the BP-(amidinium-carboxylate)-NBD salt bridge system. The triplet-triplet energy transfer process proceeds with efficiencies of approximately 0.87, 0.98 and the rate constants 1.8x10(3) s(-1), and 1.3x10(7) s(-1) at 77 K and room temperature, respectively. The mechanism for the triplet-triplet energy transfer is proposed to proceed via a "through-bond" electron exchange process, and the non-covalent bonds amidinium-carboxylate salt bridge can mediate the triplet-triplet energy transfer process effectively for photochemical conversion.