Alexey I. Tolmachev

Enhanced Intersystem Crossing Rate in Polymethine-Like Molecules: Sulfur-Containing Squaraines versus Oxygen-Containing Analogues

Two different approaches to increase intersystem crossing rates in polymethine-like molecules are presented: traditional heavy-atom substitution and molecular levels engineering. Linear and nonlinear optical properties of a series of polymethine dyes with Br- and Se-atom substitution, and a series of new squaraine molecules, where one or two oxygen atoms in a squaraine bridge are replaced with sulfur atoms, are investigated. A consequence of the oxygen-to-sulfur substitution in squaraines is the inversion of their lowest-lying ππ* and nπ* states leading to a significant reduction of singlet-triplet energy difference and opening of an additional intersystem channel of relaxation. Experimental studies show that triplet quantum yields for polymethine dyes with heavy-atom substitutions are small (not more than 10%), while for sulfur-containing squaraines these values reach almost unity. Linear spectroscopic characterization includes absorption, fluorescence, quantum yield, anisotropy, and singlet oxygen generation measurements. Nonlinear characterization, performed by picosecond and femtosecond laser systems (pump-probe and Z-scan measurements), includes measurements of the triplet quantum yields, excited state absorption, two-photon absorption, and singlet and triplet state lifetimes. Experimental results are in agreement with density functional theory calculations allowing determination of the energy positions, spin-orbital coupling, and electronic configurations of the lowest electronic transitions.

Nature of the absorption bands of pyrylocyanines: heteroanalogues and isomers

Abstract The investigation of electron transition nature in pyrylocyanines and their heteroanalogues was carried out by spectral and quantum-chemical methods. The electron distribution diagrams have been used in order to determine the transition localization. The first transition is localized within the polymethine chain, and the higher ones are mainly localized within the end groups. It has been shown that the D 2h symmetry of the Huckel hamiltonian of γ-isomeric dyes had lead to quasi-generation of higher electron transitions, contrary to α-isomers being of C 2v symmetry.

Optimization of the Double Pump–Probe Technique: Decoupling the Triplet Yield and Cross Section

The double pump-probe technique (DPP), first introduced by Swatton et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 1997, 71, 10], is a variant of the standard pump-probe method but uses two pumps instead of one to create two sets of initial conditions for solving the rate equations, allowing a unique determination of singlet- and triplet-state absorption parameters and transition rates. We investigate the advantages and limitations of the DPP theoretically and experimentally and determine the influence of several experimental parameters on its accuracy. The accuracy with which the DPP determines the triplet-state parameters improves when the fraction of the population in the triplet state relative to the ground state is increased. To simplify the analysis of the DPP, an analytical model is presented, which is applicable to both the reverse saturable and the saturable absorption regimes. We show that the DPP is optimized by working in the saturable absorption regime. Although increased accuracy is in principle achievable by increasing the pump fluence in the reverse saturable absorption range, this can cause photoinduced decomposition in photochemically unstable molecules. Alternatively, we can tune the excitation wavelength to the spectral region of larger ground-state absorption, to achieve similar accuracy. This results in an accurate separation of triplet yield and excited-state absorption cross section. If the cross section at another wavelength is then desired, a second pump-probe experiment at that wavelength can be utilized given the previously measured triplet yield under the usually valid assumption that the triplet yield is independent of excitation wavelength.

Molecular and crystal structure of pyrylium squarylium dyes

The crystal structures of new dyes: 4-[[3-[[2,6-bis-(tert-butyl)-4H-pyran-4-ylidene]methyl]-2-oxido-4-oxo2-cyclobuten-]-ylidene]methyl]2,6-bis(tert-butyl)pyrylium (I) and its thio analog (II) were determined. Crystal data: space group P1 (I), P21/n (II); a = 5.960(9) Å (I), 10.400(4) Å (II); b = 9.366(3) Å (I), 12.242(4) Å (II); c = 13.948(3) Å (I), 14.482(6) Å (II); α = 70.43(2)° (I), 90.0° (II); ß = 84.82(9)° (I), 94.65(3)° (II); γ = 79.10(9)° (I), 90.0° (II); V = 720.0 Å3 (I), 1837.7 Å3 (II); Z = I (I), 2 (II); dcalc = 1.131 g/cm3 (I), 086 g/cm3 (II); R1(F) 0.049 (I), 0.045 (II). The substituents are trans-oriented relative to the planar 4-membered ring. Bond length distribution points to a considerable electron density delocalization over the whole molecule except the But groups. The pyrane rings are oriented differently relative to the central group; in II the rings lie in the same plane which is rotated through 7.7° with respect to the central fragment, whereas in I they lie in parallel planes which are 1.38 Å apart and deviate from the central fragment to opposite sides, forming with it dihedral angles of 12.8°. These conformational differences are possibly the result of the action of crystal field forces. In I molecules are arranged as overlapping stacks, whereas in II the pairwise parallel dye molecules are oriented in such a way that their long molecular axes are perpendicular to the long axes of the neighboring pair, resulting in a herringbone packing.

Nature of the absorption bands of pyrylocyanines.2. Influence of t-Bu, Ph and Th ring substituents

Abstract The effects of t-Bu, Ph and Th substituents on the absorption spectra of α-and γ-pyrylocyanines and their heteroanalogues have been investigated using experimental and quantum-chemical methods. It has been found that changes in the position of the absorption band depend on the electronegativity of the ring heteroatom (O, S, N CH3), polymethine length, and the position of the bond between the chain and the end group. In the case of dye molecules, the effect of two substituents was additive, in contrast to the corresponding salts of the intial heterocycles. An explanation for the significant shifts in the absorption maximum of the thienylcyanines has been presented.

Nonlinear optical study of oxygen-sulfur squaraines

Replacing oxygen with sulfur in a squaraine bridge compound leads to a large increase in triplet yield (and triplet-state absorption) while maintaining the already enhanced two-photon absorption as well as the singlet excited-state absorption.