Makoto Takezaki

A Simple Dyad Exhibiting Microsecond Charge-Separation in Non-Polar Solvents

A simple photovoltaic device in which two chromophoric components are assembled by Zn–N coordination yields a charge-separated state with microsecond lifetime upon photoexcitation in non-polar solvents. Characterization of the electron transfer dynamics using time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy suggests that the unusual longevity is due to charge recombination occurring between states with different electron spin character. Control of electron spin may provide a novel paradigm for optimizing light-induced charge-separation processes.

Diffusion-Facilitated Direct Determination of Intrinsic Parameters for Rapid Photoinduced Bimolecular Electron-Transfer Reactions in Nonpolar Solvents

Bimolecular fluorescence-quenching reactions involving electron-transfer between electronically excited 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine (TPP*) and 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) or 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) were investigated using a set of alkane solvents that enabled the rapid reaction kinetics to be probed over a wide viscosity range, while minimizing changes in other relevant solvent parameters. Relative diffusion coefficients and reaction distances were recovered directly from analysis of fluorescence decay curves measured on a nanosecond time scale. The electron transfer from TPP* to BQ requires reactant contact, consistent with tightly associated exciplex formation in these nonpolar solvents. In contrast, electron transfer from TPP* to NQ displays a clear distance dependence, indicative of reaction via a much looser noncontact exciplex. This difference is attributed to the greater steric hindrance associated with contact between the TPP*/NQ pair. The diffusion coefficients recovered from fluorescence decay curve analysis are markedly smaller than the corresponding measured bulk relative diffusion coefficients. Classical hydrodynamics theory was found to provide a satisfactory resolution of this apparent discrepancy. The calculated hydrodynamic radii of TPP and NQ correlate very well with the van der Waals values. The hydrodynamic radius obtained for BQ is a factor of 6 times smaller than the van der Waals value, indicative of a possible tight cofacial geometry in the (TPP(+)/BQ(-))* exciplex. The present work demonstrates the utility of a straightforward methodology, based on widely available instrumentation and data analysis, that is broadly applicable for direct determination of kinetic parameter values for a wide variety of rapid bimolecular fluorescence quenching reactions in fluid solution.

Metal ion dependent fluorescence quenching in a crown ether bridged porphyrin–fullerene dyad

The fluorescence decay kinetics from a benzonitrile solution of a dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether bridged porphyrin-fullerene dyad has been studied in the presence of a range of metal ions. Dual-exponential fluorescence decay behaviour has been attributed to conformational flexibility of the molecule influencing quenching interactions between the photo-excited porphyrin and fullerene. Additions of sodium, potassium and lithium ions significantly modulate the observed fluorescence decay processes while the larger tetrabutylammonium ion has only a minor affect. The results are discussed in terms of ion inclusion within the crown ether affecting both the bridge conformational properties and donor-acceptor electronic interactions.

Synthesis of 1,2-Bis(2-aryl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethynes via 5-exo-Digonal Double Cyclization Reactions of 1,4-Bis(2-isocyanophenyl)buta-1,3-diyne with Aryl Grignard Reagents

New π-conjugated 1,2-bis(2-aryl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethynes 1a-j having various substituents on the two aryl groups were efficiently synthesized via unusual 5-exo-digonal double isocyanide-acetylene cyclization reactions of 1,4-bis(2-isocyanophenyl)buta-1,3-diyne 3 and aryl Grignard reagents (R-MgBr, R = C6H5 (1a), 4-H3CC6H4 (1b), 2-H3CC6H4 (1c), 3-MeOC6H4 (1d), 3-(CH3)2NC6H4 (1e), 4-F3CC6H4 (1f), 4-FC6H4 (1g), 3-FC6H4 (1h), 4-PhOC6H4 (1i), and 2-Naph (1j)) in 19-85% yields. The UV-vis spectra were rationalized in detail using time-dependent DFT and single point calculations. The fluorescence emission peaks for 1a-j were observed at around 450 nm. Especially for 1f and 1j, those spectra displayed broad emission bands and relatively large Stokes shifts (3977-4503 cm-1), indicating the contribution of an intramolecular charge transfer. The absolute quantum yields (0.50-0.62) of 1a-j were higher than those of parent 8 (0.19) and 2-phenyl-1H-indole (0.11). The electrochemical features for 1a-j were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The frontier molecular orbital levels for 1a-j were estimated based on the combination of oxidation potentials, UV-vis, and DFT calculated data. The structural property of 1,2-bis(2-phenyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyne 1a was characterized by several spectroscopic methods and finally determined by X-ray analysis of a single crystal of 1a recrystallized from ethyl acetate. The structural features of 1a-j were also supported by DFT calculations.

Dual Emission and Mechanofluorochromism of a V-Shaped π-System Composed of Disulfonyl-Substituted Dibenzocyclooctatetraenes

A series of dibenzocyclooctatetraenes 6 bearing phenylethynyl and phenylsulfonyl groups were synthesized from bromo-substituted formylbenzyl sulfone 4 via cyclic dimerization of 4 and Sonogashira coupling of the resulting dibromocyclooctatetraene 3 with terminal acetylenes. The diamino derivative 6b exhibited dual emission with emission maxima at 436 and 547 nm. Furthermore, in the fluorescence of 6b, solvatofluorochromism was observed in response to solvent polarity, whereas in the solid states, mechanofluorochromism was observed.

Effect of Diffusion on the Photoinduced Reaction between a Tetra-Anionic Porphyrin and Methylviologen Cation in Methanol

The quenching of the fluorescence decay of electronically excited 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl- 21H, 23H-porphinetetrasulfonate (TPPS (4-)*) in the presence of methylviologen cations (MV (2+)) was measured at various ionic strengths in methanol. Analysis of the fluorescence decay curves revealed strong evidence for the presence of a second fluorescent species over the entire range of ionic strength used in this work, which is attributed to solvent-separated ion pairs (TPPS (4-)-S-MV (2+)). Transient effects of the fluorescence decays were analyzed, and values for the effective reaction distance, R NH, and the diffusion coefficients, D, were obtained. Diffusion coefficients were independently measured for TPPS (4-) and MV (2+) using the Taylor dispersion method. The values for D obtained by the analysis of the transient effect were found to be smaller than those for the sum of the diffusion coefficients of TPPS (4-) and MV (2+) obtained by the Taylor dispersion method and a possible explanation for this result is given.

Interactions between a tetraanionic porphyrin and the methylviologen dication in methanol studied by fluorescence quenching reaction

Abstract Fluorescence decay curves for 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-21H,23H-porphine tetraanion (TPPS4−) have been measured in the absence and presence of the methylviologen dication (MV2+) with various ionic strengths in methanol. In the presence of MV2+ the fluorescence decays can be expressed by a double exponential function, I(t = I1exp(−t/τ1) + I2exp(−t/τ2). The contribution by the faster decay component to the total fluorescence signal increases with increasing MV2+ concentration. The faster decay process is attributed to fluorescence from the excited state of a solvent-separated ion pair (SSIP) formed between TPPS4− and MV2+, and the slower process is attributed to fluorescence from free TPPS4− ions in the solution. Rate constants for the quenching of fluorescence from free TPPS4− by MV2+ (kq) and formation constants for the SSIP (KSSIP) were calculated and both are found to decrease with increasing ionic strength. The decrease in kq and KSSIP values can be interpreted in terms of the shielding of electrostatic attraction between the ions.

Immunochromatographic assay using gold nanoparticles for measuring salivary secretory IgA in dogs as a stress marker

Abstract The concentration of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) is a well-known stress marker for humans. The concentration of salivary sIgA in dogs has also been reported as a useful stress marker. In addition, salivary sIgA in dogs has been used to determine the adaptive ability of dogs for further training. There are conventional procedures based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring salivary sIgA in dogs. However, ELISA requires long assay time, complicated operations and is costly. In the present study, we developed an immunochromatographic assay for measuring salivary sIgA in dogs using a dilution buffer containing a non-ionic surfactant. We determined 2500-fold dilution as the optimum condition for dog saliva using a phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.2) containing non-ionic surfactant (3 wt% Tween 20). The results obtained from the saliva samples of three dogs using immunochromatographic assay were compared with those obtained from ELISA. It was found that the immunochromatographic assay is applicable to judge the change in salivary sIgA in each dog. The immunochromatographic assay for salivary sIgA in dogs is a promising tool, which should soon become commercially available for predicting a dogs psychological condition and estimating adaptive ability for training as guide or police dogs.