Moloy Sarkar

Rotational Dynamics of Coumarin-153 and 4-Aminophthalimide in 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Alkylsulfate Ionic Liquids: Effect of Alkyl Chain Length on the Rotational Dynamics

Rotational dynamics of two neutral organic solutes, coumarin-153 (C-153) and 4-aminophthalimide (AP), with only the latter having hydrogen-bond-donating ability, has been investigated in a series of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium alkyl sulfate ionic liquids as a function of temperature. The ionic liquids differ only in the length of the linear alkyl side chain (alkyl = ethyl, butyl, hexyl, and octyl) on the anionic moiety. The present study has been undertaken to examine the role of alkyl side chains on the rotational dynamics of the two solutes in these ionic liquids. Analysis of the results using Stokes-Einstein-Debye hydrodynamic theory indicates that the rotational dynamics of C-153 lies between the stick and slip boundary condition in the ethyl analogue and finally reaches subslip condition as in case of the octyl substituent. The observed rotational behavior of C-153 has been explained on the basis of an increase in the size of the solvent, which offers lower friction for solute rotation. On the other hand, AP shows superstick behavior in the ethyl system and exceeds the stick limit in the octyl derivative. Superstick behavior of AP has been attributed to the specific hydrogen-bonding interaction between AP and the sulfate moiety. Proton NMR investigation confirms the hydrogen-bonding interaction between the N-H hydrogen of AP and the ionic liquid. The decrease in rotational coupling constant values for AP with increasing length of alkyl side chains has been attributed to the decrease in the solute-solvent-specific interaction with an increase in the alkyl side chain length on the sulfate moiety.

Diffusion–Viscosity Decoupling in Solute Rotation and Solvent Relaxation of Coumarin153 in Ionic Liquids Containing Fluoroalkylphosphate (FAP) Anion: A Thermophysical and Photophysical Study

Steady state and time-resolved fluorescence behavior of coumarin153 (C153) has been investigated in two ionic liquids (ILs), namely 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([MOEMPL][FAP]) and 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-methylmorpholinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([MOEMMO][FAP]) in order to find out the viscosity-diffusion decoupling during solvation and rotational relaxation of C153. Thermophysical studies have also been carried out to understand the physicochemical properties of the media. At 293 K, the measured viscosity of [MOEMMO][FAP] is 8 times higher than that of [MOEMPL][FAP]. The data obtained from steady state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements show the deviation of average solvation and rotation times from conventional hydrodynamics. The decoupling of solute and solvent dynamics from medium viscosity is manifested through fractional viscosity dependence (η) of the measured average solvation () and rotation () times: [proportionality] (η/T)(p) (x denotes solvation or rotation and T is the temperature) covering the p value 0.69 < p < 0.85 for solvent relaxation and 0.48 < p < 1.10 for solute rotation. The excitation wavelength dependent fluorescence studies have been performed to correlate the experimental findings with the heterogeneity of the medium. While the excitation wavelength dependent time-resolved fluorescence studies of coumarin153 reveal a very similar variation of average solvation time with a change in excitation wavelengths for both the ionic liquids, the steady state excitation wavelength dependent measurements of 2-amino-7-nitrofluorene (ANF) show a higher (630 cm(-1)) shift of the fluorescence maximum for highly viscous ionic liquid as compared to that (430 cm(-1)) of another much less viscous ionic liquid. The recent theoretical (Chem. Phys. Lett.2011, 517, 180) and experimental (J. Chem. Phys.2012, 136, 174503) findings and the outcome of the excitation wavelength dependent fluorescence measurements in the present case seem to suggest that both static and dynamic heterogeneity may play an important role in the observed viscosity-diffusion (d-η) decoupling for highly viscous ionic liquid.

Studies on the solvation dynamics of coumarin 153 in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium alkylsulfate ionic liquids: dependence on alkyl chain length.

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence behavior of coumarin 153 (C153) is investigated in a series of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium alkylsulfate ([C(2)mim][C(n)OSO(3)]) ionic liquids differing only in the length of the linear alkyl chain (n = 4, 6, and 8) in the anion. The aim of the present study is to understand the role of alkyl chain length in solute rotation and solvation dynamics of C153 in these ionic liquids. The blueshift observed in the steady-state absorption and emission maxima of C153 on going from the C(4)OSO(3) to the C(8)OSO(3) system indicates increasing nonpolar character of the microenvironment of the solute with increasing length of the alkyl side chain of the anion of the ionic liquids. The average solvation time is also found to increase on changing the substituent from butyl to octyl, and this is attributed to the increase in the bulk viscosity of the ILs. A steady blueshift of the time-zero maximum of the fluorescence spectrum with increasing alkyl chain length also indicates that the probe molecule experiences a less polar environment in the early part of the dynamics. Rotational dynamics of C153 are also analyzed by using the Stokes-Einstein-Debye (SED), Gierer-Wirtz (GW), and Dote-Kivelson-Schwartz (DKS) theories. Analyses of the results seem to suggest decoupling of the rotational motion of the probe from solvent viscosity.

Toward Understanding Solute–Solvent Interaction in Room-Temperature Mono- and Dicationic Ionic Liquids: A Combined Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Rotational relaxation dynamics of nonpolar perylene, dipolar coumarin 153, and a negatively charged probe, sodium 8-methoxypyrene-1,3,6-sulfonate (MPTS), have been investigated in a dicationic ionic liquid, 1,6-bis-(3-methylimidazolium-1-yl)hexane bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([C6(MIm)2][NTf2]2), and a structurally similar monocationic ionic liquid, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([C6MIm][NTf2]), to have a comprehensive and a quantitative understanding on the solute-solvent interaction in these media. Analysis of the rotational relaxation dynamics data by Stokes-Einstein-Debye (SED) hydrodynamic theory reveals that perylene rotation is found to be the fastest compared to the other two probes and shows slip to sub-slip behavior, coumarin 153 rotation lies between the stick and slip boundary, and MPTS shows a superstick behavior in [C6MIm][NTf2]. Interestingly, MPTS exhibits a normal SED hydrodynamics in dicationic [C6(MIm)2][NTf2]2, in spite of the fact that dicationic ionic liquid contains two cationic sites bearing acidic hydrogen (C2-H) which may be available to form stronger interaction with the negatively charged MPTS. The difference in the rotational diffusion behavior of these three probes is a reflection of their location in different distinct environments of these ILs. Superstick behavior of MPTS in monocationic IL has been attributed to its specific hydrogen bonding interaction with the corresponding imidazolium cation. The relatively faster rotational behavior of MPTS in dicationic IL has been explained by resorting to mass spectrometry. Mass spectral analysis demonstrates that positively charged (imidazolium) sites in dicationic IL are strongly associated with negatively charged bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide anion (NTf2(-)), which in turn makes it difficult for imidazolim cation to have stronger hydrogen bonding interaction with bulkier negatively charged molecule MPTS.

Probing the Aggregation Behavior of Neat Imidazolium-Based Alkyl Sulfate (Alkyl = Ethyl, Butyl, Hexyl, and Octyl) Ionic Liquids through Time Resolved Florescence Anisotropy and NMR and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Study

Aggregation behavior of a series of neat 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium alkyl sulfate (alkyl = ethyl, butyl, hexyl, and octyl) ionic liquids has been investigated through combined time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, 1-D and 2-D NMR spectroscopy, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Interestingly, experimentally measured rotational relaxation times (τr) for ethyl, butyl, hexyl and octyl systems are measured to be 2.25, 1.64, 1.36, and 1.32 times higher than the estimated (from Stokes-Einstein-Debye theory) values for the same respective systems. This indicates that the emitting species is not the monomeric imidazolium moiety rather an associated species, and volume of the rotating fluorescing species decreases even though the length of the alkyl moiety on the anions is increased. The shift in the (1)H proton signal as well as a change in the width of the same signal upon dilution of the neat ionic liquids indicates that ionic liquids exist in the aggregated form. Further investigation through the 2D-ROESY experiment shows that interaction between imidazolium and sulfate is relatively stronger in the ethyl system than that of the longer octyl system. FCS measurements independently show that the hydrodynamic volume decreases with an increase in the anion chain length. The NMR and FCS results are consistent with the findings of the fluorescence anisotropy study.

Understanding Structure–Property Correlation in Monocationic and Dicationic Ionic Liquids through Combined Fluorescence and Pulsed-Field Gradient (PFG) and Relaxation NMR Experiments

Steady state, time-resolved fluorescence and NMR experiments are carried out to gain deeper insights into the structure-property correlation in structurally similar monocationic and dicationic room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). The excitation wavelength dependent fluorescence response of fluorophore in 1-methy-3-propyllimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide [C3MIm][NTf2] is found to be different from that of 1,6-bis(3-methylimidazolium-1-yl)hexane bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide [C6(MIm)2][NTf2]2 and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide [C6MIm][NTf2]. The outcomes of the present solvent dynamics study in [C3MIm][NTf2] when compared with those in [C6(MIm)2][NTf2]2 and in [C6MIm][NTf2] from our previous studies (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2014, 16, 12918-12928) indicate the involvement of dipolar rotation of imidazolium cation during solvation. To correlate the findings of solvation dynamics study with the dipolar rotation of the imidazolium ring, pulsed-field gradient (PFG)-NMR technique for translational diffusion coefficient measurement and (1)H as well as (19)F spin-lattice relaxation measurements are employed. NMR investigation reveals that an ultrafast component of solvation can be related to the dipolar rotation of imidazolium cation; hence, the role of dipolar rotation of cations in governing the dynamics of solvation in ILs cannot be ignored. Analysis of the rotational relaxation dynamics data by the Stokes-Einstein-Debye hydrodynamic theory unveils distinctive features of solute-solvent interaction in [C3MIm][NTf2] and [C6(MIm)2][NTf2]2.

Investigation of the influence of alkyl side chain length on the fluorescence response of C153 in a series of room temperature ionic liquids

The fluorescence response of coumarin 153 (C153) has been investigated in a series of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) with systematic variation of alkyl chain length (ethyl, butyl and hexyl) to examine the effect of the alkyl side chain length of the cationic moiety on solute and solvent relaxation dynamics. Physicochemical properties associated with the present RTILs are estimated at different temperatures. While the viscosity values increase with increasing alkyl chain length, density values decrease with increasing length of alkyl side chain. Steady state fluorescence measurements reveal that C153 experiences more nonpolar microenvironments with an increase in the alkyl chain length. Time resolved studies have demonstrated that the lengths of alkyl side chain have a noticeable role in governing the solvation dynamics in these media. It has been observed that the average solvent relaxation time estimated for these RTILs can be better correlated when both the size of the alkyl chains and the bulk viscosity of the respective RTILs are considered. Interestingly, apart from the viscosity effect, a negligible influence of alkyl chain length has been observed for rotational diffusion of C153.

Analyte interactions with a new ditopic dansylamide-nitrobenzoxadiazole dyad: a combined photophysical, NMR, and theoretical (DFT) study.

We report herein the synthesis and photophysical studies on a new multicomponent chemosensor dyad comprising two fluorescing units, dansylamide (DANS) and nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD). The system has been developed to investigate receptor-analyte binding interactions in the presence of both cations and anions in a single molecular system. A dimethyl amino (in the DANS unit) group is used as a receptor for cations, and acidic hydrogens of sulfonamide and the NBD group are used as receptors for anions. The system is characterized by conventional analytical techniques. The photophysical properties of this supramolecular system in the absence and presence of various metal ions and nonmetal ions as additives are investigated in an acetonitrile medium. Utility of this system in an aqueous medium has also been demonstrated. The absorption and fluorescence spectrum of the molecular system consists of a broad band typical of an intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) transition. A low quantum yield and lifetime of the NBD moiety in the present dyad indicates photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between DANS and the NBD moiety. The fluorescence intensity of the system is found to decrease in the presence of fluoride and acetate anions; however, the quenching is found to be much higher for fluoride. This quenching behavior is attributed to the enhanced PET from the anion receptor to the fluorophore moiety. The mechanistic aspect of the fluoride ion signaling behavior has also been studied by infrared (IR) and (1)H NMR experiments. The hydrogen bonding interaction between the acidic NH protons of the DPN moiety and F(-) is found to be primarily responsible for the fluoride selective signaling behavior. While investigating the cation signaling behavior, contrary to anions, significant fluorescence enhancement has been observed only in the presence of transition-metal ions. This behavior is rationalized by considering the disruption of PET communication between DANS and the NBD moiety due to transition-metal ion binding. Theoretical (density functional theory) studies are also performed for the better understanding of the receptor-analyte interaction. Interestingly, negative cooperativity in binding is observed when the interaction of this system is studied in the presence of both Zn(2+) and F(-). Fluorescence microscopy studies also revealed that the newly developed fluorescent sensor system can be employed as an imaging probe in live cells.

Probing the microscopic aspects of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate ionic liquid and its mixture with water and methanol: a photophysical and theoretical (DFT) study.

Considering the potential of mixed ionic liquid-cosolvent systems in wide range of applications, photophysical and theoretical studies on an industrially important ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate (BMIMTFA), and also its mixture with water and methanol have been investigated. Two organic dipolar solutes coumarin 153 (C153) and 2-aminonitrofluorene (ANF) have been used as the probe molecule for the present study. Steady-state absorption and emission spectral behavior of C153 has not been significantly influenced by both the cosolvents. However, excitation wavelength dependent measurements with ANF in the BMIMTFA-water and BMIMTFA-methanol show entirely different photophysical response. For BMIMTFA-methanol system the average solvation and rotational time is found to be less than that in BMIMTFA-water system. Quite interestingly, time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements reveal two different solute-solvent coupling constant (Cobs) even if same mole fraction of water and methanol is used for the mixed solvent systems. Theoretical calculations also reveal stronger intermolecular interaction between IL and methanol than that between IL and water. The present combined photophysical and theoretical calculations seem to suggest different microscopic structural organization in the two binary systems.

Ion interactions with a new ditopic naphthalimide-based receptor: a photophysical, NMR and theoretical (DFT) study.

A new multi-component chemosensor system comprising a naphthalimide moiety as fluorophore is designed and developed to investigate receptor-analyte binding interactions in the presence of metal and non-metal ions. A dimethylamino moiety is utilized as receptor for metal ions and a thiourea receptor, having acidic protons, for binding anions. The system is characterized by conventional analytical methods. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the system consist of a broad band typical for an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The effects of various metal-ion additives on the spectral behavior of the present sensor system are examined in acetonitrile. It is found that among the metal ions studied, alkali/alkaline earth-metal ions and transition-metal ions modulate the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the system. As an additional feature, the anion signaling behavior of the system in acetonitrile is studied. A decrease in fluorescence efficiency of the system is observed upon addition of fluoride and acetate anions. Fluorescence quenching is most effective in the case of fluoride ions. This is attributed to the enhancement of the photoinduced electron transfer from the anion receptor to the fluorophore moiety. Hydrogen-bond interactions between the acidic NH protons of the thiourea moiety and the F(-) anions are primarily attributed to the fluoride-selective signaling behavior. Interestingly, a negative cooperativity for the binding event is observed when the interactions of the system are studied in the presence of both Zn(2+) and F(-) ions. NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations are also carried out to better understand the receptor-analyte binding.