Michelle L. Hamilton

Energy dispersive XAFS: characterization of electronically excited states of copper(I) complexes.

Energy dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy (ED-XAS), in which the whole XAS spectrum is acquired simultaneously, has been applied to reduce the real-time for acquisition of spectra of photoinduced excited states by using a germanium microstrip detector gated around one X-ray bunch of the ESRF (100 ps). Cu K-edge XAS was used to investigate the MLCT states of [Cu(dmp)2]+ (dmp =2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) and [Cu(dbtmp)2]+ (dbtmp =2,9-di-n-butyl-3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) with the excited states created by excitation at 450 nm (10 Hz). The decay of the longer lived complex with bulky ligands, was monitored for up to 100 ns. DFT calculations of the longer lived MLCT excited state of [Cu(dbp)2]+ (dbp =2,9-di-n-butyl-1,10-phenanthroline) with the bulkier diimine ligands, indicated that the excited state behaves as a Jahn–Teller distorted Cu(II) site, with the interligand dihedral angle changing from 83 to 60° as the tetrahedral coordination geometry flattens and a reduction in the Cu–N distance of 0.03 Å.

Synthesis and Photophysical Study of a [NiFe] Hydrogenase Biomimetic Compound Covalently Linked to a Re-diimine Photosensitizer.

The synthesis, photophysics, and photochemistry of a linked dyad ([Re]-[NiFe2]) containing an analogue ([NiFe2]) of the active site of [NiFe] hydrogenase, covalently bound to a Re-diimine photosensitizer ([Re]), are described. Following excitation, the mechanisms of electron transfer involving the [Re] and [NiFe2] centers and the resulting decomposition were investigated. Excitation of the [Re] center results in the population of a diimine-based metal-to-ligand charge transfer excited state. Reductive quenching by NEt3 produces the radically reduced form of [Re], [Re]− (kq = 1.4 ± 0.1 × 107 M–1 s–1). Once formed, [Re]− reduces the [NiFe2] center to [NiFe2]−, and this reduction was followed using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. The concentration dependence of the electron transfer rate constants suggests that both inter- and intramolecular electron transfer pathways are involved, and the rate constants for these processes have been estimated (kinter = 5.9 ± 0.7 × 108 M–1 s–1, kintra = 1.5 ± 0.1 × 105 s–1). For the analogous bimolecular system, only intermolecular electron transfer could be observed (kinter = 3.8 ± 0.5 × 109 M–1 s–1). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies confirms that decomposition of the dyad occurs upon prolonged photolysis, and this appears to be a major factor for the low activity of the system toward H2 production in acidic conditions.

Calculating singlet excited states: Comparison with fast time-resolved infrared spectroscopy of coumarins

In contrast to the ground state, the calculation of the infrared (IR) spectroscopy of molecular singlet excited states represents a substantial challenge. Here, we use the structural IR fingerprint of the singlet excited states of a range of coumarin dyes to assess the accuracy of density functional theory based methods for the calculation of excited state IR spectroscopy. It is shown that excited state Kohn-Sham density functional theory provides a high level of accuracy and represents an alternative approach to time-dependent density functional theory for simulating the IR spectroscopy of singlet excited states.

Dynamic structural science: recent developments in time-resolved spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography

To understand the mechanism of biological processes, time-resolved methodologies are required to investigate how functionality is linked to changes in molecular structure. A number of spectroscopic techniques are available that probe local structural rearrangements with high temporal resolution. However, for macromolecules, these techniques do not yield an overall high-resolution description of the structure. Time-resolved X-ray crystallographic methods exist, but, due to both instrument availability and stringent sample requirements, they have not been widely applied to macromolecular systems, especially for time resolutions below 1 s. Recently, there has been a resurgent interest in time-resolved structural science, fuelled by the recognition that both chemical and life scientists face many of the same challenges. In the present article, we review the current state-of-the-art in dynamic structural science, highlighting applications to enzymes. We also look to the future and discuss current method developments with the potential to widen access to time-resolved studies across discipline boundaries.

Structural and spectroscopic characterisation of the spin crossover in [Fe(abpt)2(NCS)2] polymorph A

A crystallographic and solid state spectroscopic study of the spin crossover behaviour of [Fe(abpt)2(NCS)2] (abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole) polymorph A is reported. Structural features including crystallographic cell parameters, bond lengths and distortion parameters are monitored between 375 K and 30 K and crystal structures are reported at seven temperatures across the spin transition. In addition, the light induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) metastable high spin structure, HS*, is reported at 30 K by continuous irradiation with a 670 nm, 5 mW CW laser during the data collection. Relaxation of the HS* state at 30 K with the laser switched off is found to occur within ∼4000 s in accordance with the literature. High pressure single crystal datasets are also reported to examine the effect of pressure on the spin transition. Single crystal variable temperature UV-Vis spectroscopy and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy support the crystallographic evidence relating to the spin crossover transition presented herein. Strain analysis of the lattice parameters yields the temperature dependence of the spin order parameter, indicating strong spin–lattice coupling to give a volume strain of up to ∼4% and a shear strain of up to ∼1.5%. These, in turn, are responsible for changes in elastic constants by up to ∼35%.

Time-resolved Crystallographic Developments Utilising Detector Gating Techniques

The X-ray scattering process occurs on the time scale of about 10-18 seconds; the complete data collection is in the order of hours at synchrotron sources and consequently gives a time-averaged structure of the crystalline material. Previously on beamline I19 at Diamond Light Source we have used a method which involves mechanically chopping the X-ray beam to produce a pulsed source. The pulsed X-ray beam can then be used to probe the crystal a short period after the sample has been photo-activated by a laser beam. This method can be repeated changing the period between the laser (pump) and X-ray pulse (probe) until the entire time series is obtained. Beamline I19 in collaboration with the Dynamic Structural Sciences Consortium at the Research Complex at Harwell have designed a novel strategy to collect an entire time-series (zero to 100 ms) in one data collection utilising the fast image collection time of the Pilatus detector. The 300K Pilatus detector has a readout out time of 2.7 ms and can be gated down to 200 ns. This means that we can use this gating (instead of the mechanical chopper) to obtain single crystal time-resolved structures. This technique shortens the data collection time and as the entire series is obtained from one crystal during the same data collection, this reduces decay and scaling issues.