Triplet Photosensitizers Research Articles

Recent progress in heavy atom-free organic compounds showing unexpected intersystem crossing (ISC) ability.

In this review, recent progress in heavy atom-free triplet photosensitizers was summarized. The general approaches include attaining S1/Tn states sharing similar energy levels or proper molecular geometry to satisfy the angular momentum reservation in intersystem crossing (ISC). ISC via the higher singlet excited state (Sn, n > 1) → Tm (m > 1), which is a rarely reported phenomenon, was also discussed. The ISC of some Bodipy dimers was proposed to be via the 'doubly excited state', but recent studies show that the ISC mechanism of these Bodipy dimers is charge separation/recombination. These new findings in the study of triplet photosensitizers are useful for photovoltaics, photodynamic therapy and photocatalysis, as well as in fundamental photochemistry studies.

Red Light-Triggered CO Release from Mn2(CO)10 Using Triplet Sensitization in Polymer Nonwoven Fabrics.

Applicability of phototherapeutic CO-releasing molecules (photoCORMs) is limited because they are activated by harmful and poorly tissue-penetrating near-ultraviolet light. Here, a strategy is demonstrated to activate classical photoCORM Mn2(CO)10 using red light (635 nm). By mixing in solution a triplet photosensitizer (PS) with the photoCORM and shining red light, energy transfer occurs from triplet excited-state 3PS* to a photolabile triplet state of Mn2(CO)10, which, like under near-UV irradiation, led to complete release of carbonyls. Crucially, such “triplet-sensitized CO-release” occurred in solid-state materials: when PS and Mn2(CO)10 were embedded in electrospun nonwoven fabrics, CO was liberated upon irradiation with low-intensity red light (≤36 mW 635 nm).

Bodipy-Anthracene Dyads as Triplet Photosensitizers: Effect of Chromophore Orientation on Triplet-State Formation Efficiency and Application in Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Upconversion.

Bodipy-anthracene dyads with two chromophores assuming orthogonal geometry to enhance the spin-orbital charge-transfer intersystem crossing (SOCT-ISC) were prepared. The photosensitizers show strong absorption of visible light, efficient triplet-state formation (quantum yield 90%), and a long-lived triplet state (85 μs). The dipole moment orientation exerts significant effect on the ISC efficiency. It is also the first time that photosensitizers based on SOCT-ISC were used for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion. The upconversion quantum yield is up to 15.8%.

Homo- or Hetero-Triplet–Triplet Annihilation? A Case Study with Perylene-BODIPY Dyads/Triads

The photophysical processes of intramolecular “ping-pong” energy transfers in the iodinated reference dyad BDP-I2-Py, as well as the uniodinated dyad BDP-Py and triad BDP-2Py, were studied. For BDP-I2-Py, a forward Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the perylene (Py) unit to the diiodoBDP unit (τ = 7 ps) and a backward triplet energy transfer (TTET, τ = 3 ns) from the diiodoBDP unit to the Py unit were observed. For the BDP-Py and BDP-2Py systems, a FRET (τ = 5–8 ps) and a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) (τ = 1–1.5 ns) were observed in acetonitrile. The uniodinated dyad and triad were used as the triplet energy acceptor and emitter for a triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion with palladium tetraphenyltetrabenzoporphyrin as the triplet photosensitizer. A maximum upconversion quantum yield of 12.6% was observed. Given that the dyad (BDP-Py) contains one BDP unit and one Py unit while the triad (BDP-2Py) contains two Py units and one BDP unit and based on the results from steady-sta...

Intersystem crossing and triplet excited state properties of thionated naphthalenediimide derivatives

Thionated naphthalenediimide (NDI) derivatives with 2,6-dibromo and diaminoalkyl substituents are prepared by treating of 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride with Lawesson's reagent. Red shifted absorption was obtained for all thionated derivates as compared to the respective oxo-compounds. Thionated NDI derivative with 2,6-diamino substituents shows strong absorption at 674nm. Nanosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy confirmed the population of triplet excited state of the thionated compounds upon photoexcitation and the triplet state quantum yield was determined as ΦT = 58%. Thionated derivatives were used for singlet oxygen (1O2) photosensitizing, the compound shows high singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ = 56%) with excitation at 675nm. With femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, the intersystem crossing (ISC) of the thionated NDI was found to take 32ps. Based on TD-DFT computations, the ISC of these heavy atom-free NDI is attributed to the S1 → T2/T3 transition, which is in 1(π-π)* → 3(n-π)* feature, which obeys with El-Sayed rule. Moreover, the S1/T3 state energy gap is 0.02eV, much smaller than that of S1/T1 energy gap (0.86eV). These results are useful for the design of heavy-atom-free triplet photosensitizers.

Polymer-Supported Photosensitizers for Oxidative Organic Transformations in Flow and under Visible Light Irradiation

A 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTZ)-based vinyl cross-linker was synthesized and copolymerized with large excesses of styrene using free radical polymerization to deliver heterogeneous triplet photosensitizers in three distinct physical formats: gels, beads, and monoliths. These photosensitizers were employed for the production of singlet oxygen (1O2) and for the aerobic hydroxylation of arylboronic acids via superoxide radical anion (O2•–), whereby the materials demonstrated good chemical and light stability. BTZ-containing beads and monoliths were exploited as photosensitizers in a commercial flow reactor, and 1O2 production was also demonstrated using direct sunlight irradiation, with a conversion rate comparable to the rates achieved when a 420 nm LED module is used as the source of photons.

Preparation of BODIPY- fullerene and monostyryl BODIPY-fullerene dyads as heavy atom free singlet oxygen generators

Unsubstituted and monostyryl BODIPY- C60 dyads that show absorption in the visible region have been prepared via Bingel Cyclopropanation between BODIPY derivatives and C60 and characterized via mass, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy as novel heavy atom free triplet photosensitizers to generate singlet oxygen. The new photosensitizers contain one and two light-harvesting antennas as well as associated different absorption wavelengths, resulting in high singlet oxygen generation. The panchromatic excitation energy harvested by the BODIPY moieties is funneled into a spin converter (C60), thus ensuring intersystem crossing and population of the triplet state. We found that the BODIPY- C60 dyads can be used as photocatalysts that is singlet oxygen (1O2). In the photooxidation of DPBF the 1O2 photosensitizing abilities of the C60 dyads are greater than the conventional triplet sensitizer methylene blue.

Time-resolved spectral analysis of Radachlorin luminescence in water

We report results of spectral- and time-resolved study of Radachlorin photosensitizer luminescence in water in the spectral range of 950–1350nm and for determination of the photosensitizer triplet state and the singlet oxygen lifetimes responsible for singlet oxygen generation and degradation. At any wavelength within the explored spectral range the luminescence decay contained two major contributions: a fast decay at the ns time scale and a slow evolution at the μs time scale. The fast decay was attributed to electric dipole fluorescence transitions in photosensitizer molecules and the slow evolution to intercombination phosphorescence transitions in singlet oxygen and photosensitizer molecules. Relatively high-amplitude ns peak observed at all wavelengths suggests that singlet oxygen monitoring with spectral isolation methods alone, without additional temporal resolution can be controversial. In the applied experimental conditions the total phosphorescence signal at any wavelength contained a contribution from the photosensitizer triplet state decay, while at 1274nm the singlet oxygen phosphorescence dominated. The results obtained can be used for optimization of the methods of singlet oxygen monitoring and imaging.

Triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion kinetics of C60-Bodipy dyads as organic triplet photosensitizers.

Three new triplet photosensitizers consisting of a bodipy derivative and C60 moieties were synthesized for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion of perylene. With the extension of the π-conjugated structure of the bodipy derivative, the three photosensitizers exhibited different absorption wavelengths, e.g. 517 nm for B-2, 532 nm for B-4, and 557 nm for B-6. The steady-state and transient absorption, steady-state fluorescence, and upconverted fluorescence emission were investigated to reveal step-by-step the dynamic processes of the above systems. The quantum yields of intramolecular energy transfer, intersystem crossing, and triplet-triplet energy transfer were measured. From the upconverted fluorescence emission spectra, the overall quantum yield of the triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion, ΦUC, was determined to be 5.80% for B-2, 7.95% for B-4, and 4.99% for B-6.

Photoswitching of triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion with photo-generated radical from hexaphenylbiimidazole

Photoirradiation generated radical from hexaphenyl-biimidazole (HPBI) was used for reversible switching of triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion, based on quenching of the photosensitizer triplet state by radical-triplet pair mechanism. Upon 365nm irradiation, the TTA upconversion in a system composed by a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivative and perylene, was completely switched off due to quenching of triplet state of photosensitizer by photogenerated radical from HPBI. The upconversion was recovered after leaving the samples in darkness, due to regeneration of HPBI Dimer. The photophysical process involved in the photochromism and photoswitching of TTA upconversion were studied with steady-state UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy.

Synthesis and Properties of Axially Symmetrical Rigid Visible Light-Harvesting Systems Containing [60]Fullerene and Perylenebisimide.

Two visible light-harvesting perylenebisimide (PDI)-[60]fullerene (C60) systems, dyad P1 with one C60 unit and triad P2 with two C60 units, have been synthesized. Both systems are axially symmetrical with a rigid biphenyl linker, ensuring a relatively fixed spatial distance between the donor and acceptor, preventing through-space interaction, and enhancing energy transfer. Steady-state and transient spectroscopy, electrochemistry, as well as theoretical calculations have been used to investigate the electrochemical and photophysical properties of the two systems. Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy demonstrate that the excited state is featured by an efficient intramolecular energy transfer from PDI to C60. Then, the high efficient intrinsic intersystem crossing of C60 eventually leads to the production of the triplet C60. The extensive visible light absorption of PDI in the range of 400-650 nm and the final localization of the excited energy at the triplet C60 make these compounds ideal singlet oxygen inducers. Further investigation shows that the photooxidation capability for both compounds is significantly enhanced with respect to either PDI or C60 and even better than that of the commonly used triplet photosensitizer methylene blue (MB). The double C60 moieties in P2 display a better result, and the photooxidation efficiency of P2 increases 1.3- and 1.4-fold compared to that of P1 and MB, respectively. The combination of a light-harvesting unit with an intersystem crossing unit results in a highly efficient photooxidation system, which opens up a new way to triplet photosensitizer design.

Enhanced Triplet-Triplet Energy Transfer and Upconversion Fluorescence through Host-Guest Complexation.

Perylene-tethered pillar[5]arenes and C60-boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyads were synthesized acting as emitters and organic triplet photosensitizers, respectively, for the purpose of improving the efficiency of triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC). The photophysical properties of the sensitizers (guests) and the emitters (hosts) were not greatly influenced by the chemical modifications except for a notable decrease in the fluorescence quantum yields of the perlyene emitters due to the high local concentration. The perylene-tethered pillar[5]arenes form stable 1:1 complexes with a nitrile-bearing C60-BODIPY dyad, showing association constants as high as 4.0 × 104 M-1. Through host-guest complexation, the efficiencies of both triplet-triplet energy transfer and TTA were significantly enhanced, which overcompensated for the loss of the fluorescence quantum yield of the emitters (hosts). Thus, an improved TTA-UC efficiency of 3.2% was observed even at a diluted concentration of 6 × 10-5 M, demonstrating for the first time the effectiveness of the supramolecular motif for enhancing TTA-UC without varying the inherent photophysical properties of sensitizers and emitters.

Photoactivated Production of Secondary Organic Species from Isoprene in Aqueous Systems.

Photoactivated reactions of organic species in atmospheric aerosol particles are a potentially significant source of secondary organic aerosol material (SOA). Despite recent progress, the dominant chemical mechanisms and rates of these reactions remain largely unknown. In this work, we characterize the photophysical properties and photochemical reaction mechanisms of imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde (IC) in aqueous solution, alone and in the presence of isoprene. IC has been shown previously in laboratory studies to participate in photoactivated chemistry in aerosols, and it is a known in-particle reaction product of glyoxal. Our experiments confirmed that the triplet excited state of IC is an efficient triplet photosensitizer, leading to photosensitization of isoprene in aqueous solution and promoting its photochemical processing in aqueous solution. Phosphorescence and transient absorption studies showed that the energy level of the triplet excited state of IC (3IC*) was approximately 289 kJ/mol, and the lifetime of 3IC* in water under ambient temperature is 7.9 μs, consistent with IC acting as an efficient triplet photosensitizer. Laser flash photolysis experiments displayed fast quenching of 3IC* by isoprene, with a rate constant of (2.7 ± 0.3) × 109 M-1 s-1, which is close to the diffusion-limited rate in water. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that the products formed include IC-isoprene adducts, and chemical mechanisms are discussed. Additionally, oxygen quenches 3IC* with a rate constant of (3.1 ± 0.1) × 109 M-1 s-1.

Degradation of tyrosine and tryptophan residues of peptides by type I photosensitized oxidation

Pterin derivatives are involved in various biological functions, including enzymatic processes that take place in human skin. Unconjugated oxidized pterins are efficient photosensitizers under UV-A irradiation and accumulate in the skin of patients suffering from vitiligo, a chronic depigmentation disorder. These compounds are able to photoinduce the oxidation of the peptide α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), which stimulates the production and release of melanin by melanocytes in skin and hair. In the present work we have used two peptides in which the amino acid sequence of α-MSH was mutated to specifically investigate the reactivity of tryptophan (Trp) and tyrosine residues (Tyr). The parent compound of oxidized pterins (Ptr) was used as a model photosensitizer in aqueous solution at pH5.5 and was exposed to UV-A radiation, a wavelength range where the peptides do not absorb. Trp residue yields N-formylkynurenine and hydroxytryptophan as oxidized products, whereas the Tyr undergoes dimerization and incorporation of oxygen atoms. In both cases, the first step of the mechanism involves an electron transfer from the amino acid to the photosensitizer triplet excited state, Ptr is not consumed and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is released. The role of singlet oxygen produced by energy transfer from 3Ptr⁎ to dissolved O2 was negligible or minor. Other amino acid residues, such as histidine, might be also affected.

Photo-induced electron transfer in a diamino-substituted Ru(bpy)3[PF6]2 complex and its application as a triplet photosensitizer for nitric oxide (NO)-activated triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion.

A system demonstrating Nitric Oxide (NO) activated Triplet-Triplet Annihilation (TTA) upconversion has been devised, based on a substituted [Ru(II)(bpy)3](PF6)2 complex (bpy = 2,2'-dipyridine) bearing a single 1,2-diaminophenyl moiety as an NO activatable triplet photosensitizer (Ru-1), and 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA) as a triplet acceptor/emitter. The excited triplet state of Ru-1 is significantly quenched (ΦT∼ 22%) by a Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) reaction, as confirmed by steady state phosphorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy, and hence Ru-1 does not function as a TTA upconversion sensitizer. However, in the presence of NO/O2, the 1,2-diaminophenyl group of Ru-1 is transformed into a benzotriazole. This inhibits PET, and the triplet state quantum yield is increased to ca. 85%, switching on the TTA upconversion process which increases by 10-fold. These processes were studied using a combination of steady state and time-resolved luminescence together with transient absorption spectroscopy on the nanosecond and femtosecond timescales. The energy level of the charge transfer state (CTS) for Ru-1 was also obtained electrochemically, supporting the PET mechanism of triplet state quenching and hence the lack of TTA upconversion with Ru-1.

Effect of Liposomes on the Kinetics and Mechanism of the Photocatalytic Reduction of Methyl Viologen.

Liposomes are interesting scaffolds for photocatalysis. In particular, charged liposomes were shown to increase the quantum efficiency of photocatalytic reactions involving charged porphyrin photosensitizers and charged electron acceptors. In this work, the effects of adding positively charged liposomes (DMPC/eDMPCCl 1:1) on the mechanism of the photocatalytic reduction of methyl viologen (MV(2+)) by cysteine in the presence of sodium meso-tetra-(4-sulfonato)porphyrinatozinc (Na41) were probed by modeling UV-vis spectroscopy data using a steady-state approximation. By varying the concentration of methyl viologen, we found that the liposomes not only prevent the formation of a 1:1 complex between ground-state photosensitizer 1(4-) and MV(2+) but also that they increase the cage-escape yield in the excited state. Furthermore, the electrostatic repulsion between the liposomes and MV(2+) diminishes by 1 order of magnitude the rate of oxidative quenching of the photosensitizer triplet excited state ((T)1(4-)) by MV(2+). By varying the amount of sacrificial electron donor (cysteine), the effect of liposome addition on the charge recombination reactions could also be studied. Because of the positive charge borne by the photoproduct MV(•+), it was also repelled from the membrane, which significantly slows charge recombination at the surface of the liposome. Overall, compared to a liposome-free solution, the rates of most elementary steps of the photocatalytic reduction of MV(2+) by cysteine are strongly modified when the negative photosensitizer is adsorbed on a positively charged liposome surface. These results not only explain the much higher efficiency of the liposome-containing system but also illustrate the power of supramolecular chemistry for the tuning of photocatalysis.

Highly Efficient Triplet Photosensitizers: A Systematic Approach to the Application of Ir(III) Complexes containing Extended Phenanthrolines.

A series of Ir(III) complexes, based on 1,10-phenanthroline featuring aryl acetylene chromophores, were prepared and investigated as triplet photosensitizers. The complexes were synthesized by Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions using a "chemistry-on-the-complex" method. The absorption properties and luminescence lifetimes were successfully tuned by controlling the number and type of light-harvesting group. Intense UV/Vis absorption was observed for the Ir(III) complexes with two light-harvesting groups at the 3- and 8-positions of the phenanthroline. The asymmetric Ir(III) complex (with a triphenylamine (TPA) and a pyrene moiety attached) exhibited the longest lifetime. Red emission was observed for all the complexes in deaerated solutions at room temperature. Their emission at low temperature (77 K) and nanosecond time-resolved transient difference absorption spectra revealed the origin of their triplet excited states. The singlet-oxygen ((1) O2 ) sensitization and triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA)-based upconversion were explored. Highly efficient TTA upconversion (ΦUC =28.1 %) and (1) O2 sensitization (ΦΔ =97.0 %) were achieved for the asymmetric Ir(III) complex, which showed intense absorption in the visible region (λabs =482 nm, ϵ=50900 m(-1) cm(-1) ) and had a long-lived triplet excited state (53.3 μs at RT).

A Local CC2 and TDA-DFT Double Hybrid Study on BODIPY/aza-BODIPY Dimers as Heavy Atom Free Triplet Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy Applications.

A series of 11 different boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dimers is carefully examined by means of ab initio and Tamm-Dancoff approximated density functional theory methods. Vertical and 0-0 excitation energies along with the tetraradical character of these dimers are determined. Possible application of a series of linked dimers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) was investigated through computing their excitation energies, spin-orbit coupling matrix elements, and singlet-triplet energy gaps. Finally through a systematic investigation of a series of 36 different BODIPY and aza-BODIPY dimers, a new class of near-IR heavy atom free photosensitizers for PDT action is introduced.

Thiol-Activatable Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Upconversion with Maleimide-Perylene as the Caged Triplet Acceptor/Emitter.

Efficient thiol-activated triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion system was devised with maleimide-caged perylene (Py-M) as the thiol-activatable triplet acceptor/emitter and with diiodoBodipy as the triplet photosensitizer. The photophysical processes were studied with steady-state UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, electrochemical properties, and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The triplet acceptor/emitter Py-M shows week fluorescence (ΦF = 0.8%), and no upconversion (ΦUC = 0%) was observed. The quenching of fluorescence of Py-M is due to photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) process from perylene to maleimide-caging unit, which quenches the singlet excited state of perylene. The fluorescence of Py-M was enhanced by 200-fold (ΦF = 97%) upon addition of thiols such as 2-mercaptoethanol, and the ΦUC was increased to 5.9%. The unique feature of this thiol-activated TTA upconversion is that the activation is based on addition reaction of the thiols with the caged acceptor/emitter, and no side products were formed. The previously reported cleavage approach gives side products which are detrimental to the TTA upconversion. With nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we found that the triplet excited state of Py-M was not quenched by any PET process, which is different from singlet excited state (fluorescence) of Py-M. The results are useful for study of the triplet excited states of organic chromophores and for activatable TTA upconversion.

Dual phosphorescent dinuclear transition metal complexes, and their application as triplet photosensitizers for TTA upconversion and photodynamic therapy

A long-lived dual phosphorescence triplet photosensitiser: for TTA upconversion and PDT.