Renato Bozio

Vibrational spectroscopy of molecular constituents of one‐dimensional organic conductors. Tetrathiofulvalene (TTF), TTF+, and (TTF+)2 dimer

An extensive vibrational assignment of TTF and TTF‐d4 is achieved, improving the previously reported one through the use of polarized infrared spectra of single crystals of the monoclinic form. Infrared spectra of the monoclinic and triclinic forms are compared and the different crystal field effects discussed. Powder Raman and infrared spectra of (TTF)Br1.0 and (TTF‐d4)Br1.0, Raman depolarization ratios and infrared spectra of (TTF)ClO4 and (TTF‐d4)ClO4 solutions are reported. The assignment of the ag, b1u, b2u, and b3u fundamental modes of (TTF)+ and (TTF‐d4)+ radicals allows the identification of most of the relevant frequency shifts following the ionization of the TTF structure. The possible use of the ionization shifts for the study of the electronic charge distribution in the conducting TTF systems is considered. The parallel investigation of the concentration effects on the visible and infrared absorption spectra of TTF+ in solution let us to identify anomalous infrared absorptions associated with ...

Novel heterocycle-based two-photon absorbing dyes.

[structure: see text]. The synthesis and nonlinear optical characterization of two novel heteroaromatic-based chromophores is described. The new dyes present an A-pi-D-pi-A general framework, where A is a pi-deficient heteroaromatic ring (pyridine, quinoline, benzothiazole) and D a pi-excessive pyrrolyl moiety. Both systems exhibit large two-photon absorption (TPA) values in the femtoseconds regime (TPA cross section as high as 150 x 10(-50) cm(4) s photon(-1) molecule(-1) with 150 fs laser pulses). Their TPA-based optical limiting activity is also shown.

Push–Pull Organic Chromophores for Frequency‐Upconverted Lasing

Properly designed organic molecules where a p-conjugated bridge is end-capped by an electron-donor and electron-withdrawing group (push‐pull chromophores) can show, under specific conditions, frequency-upconverted lasing emission. Materials based on these dyes are therefore able to convert the emission of a cheap and easily available infrared (IR) laser (e.g., 800 nm radiation) into more useful visible (vis) laser emission via a two-photon absorption induced fluorescence phenomenon. The design of the molecular structure, the substituent effect, and modulation of the electronic and geometric parameters can be used in order to optimize and tune frequency emission and conversion efficiency. Examples of some of the best dyes reported to-date and organic design strategies employed are discussed in this article.

Assessment of Water-Soluble π-Extended Squaraines as One- and Two-Photon Singlet Oxygen Photosensitizers: Design, Synthesis, and Characterization

Singlet oxygen sensitization by organic molecules is a topic of major interest in the development of both efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) and aerobic oxidations under complete green chemistry conditions. We report on the design, synthesis, biology, and complete spectroscopic characterization (vis-NIR linear and two-photon absorption spectroscopy, singlet oxygen generation efficiencies for both one- and two-photon excitation, electrochemistry, intrinsic dark toxicity, cellular uptake, and subcellular localization) of three classes of innovative singlet oxygen sensitizers pertaining to the family of symmetric squaraine derivatives originating from pi-excessive heterocycles. The main advantage of pi-extended squaraine photosensitizers over the large number of other known photosensitizers is their exceedingly strong two-photon absorption enabling, together with sizable singlet oxygen sensitization capabilities, for their use at the clinical application relevant wavelength of 806 nm. We finally show encouraging results about the dark toxicity and cellular uptake capabilities of water-soluble squaraine photosensitizers, opening the way for clinical small animal PDT trials.

Novel heteroaromatic-based multi-branched dyes with enhanced two-photon absorption activityElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental section. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b3/b305995b/

The first examples of heterocycle-based multi-branched dyes with efficient two-photon absorption (TPA) activity are reported; the novel chromophores exhibit large TPA cross sections (as high as 1600 x 10(-50) cm4 s photon(-1) molecule(-1), measured with 150 fs laser pulses at 800 nm); a strong cooperative enhancement in the branched systems with respect to the one-dimensional sub-units is found.

Vibrational behavior of molecular constituents of organic superconductors: TMTSF, its radical cation and the sulphur analogs TMTTF and TMTTF+

The results of an extensive vibrational analysis of tetramethyltetrathiafulvalene (TMTTF) and tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene (TMTSF) and of their radical cations are presented. The polarized infrared absorption spectra of oriented crystalline samples of neutral TMTTF and TMTSF (4000–80 cm−1) are reported and compared with powder and solution spectra. The polarization data are used as a basis for the symmetry assignment of the infrared active fundamental modes. Powder and solution Raman spectra are presented and discussed considering the values of the depolarization ratios measured for some bands. Raman and infrared spectra of powder and solution samples of the (1:1) bromide and perchlorate salts of TMTTF and TMTSF are reported. Vibronic infrared absorptions originated by the coupling of the unpaired electrons to totally symmetric modes are identified and compared with those previously reported for unsubstituted tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) radical systems. The assignment of the normal modes of the radical ca...

Structural properties of Langmuir–Blodgett films of charge transfer salts: Pristine and iodine doped conducting films of (N‐docosyl‐pyridinium)TCNQ

We have investigated the molecular constitution and ordering of Langmuir–Blodgett films prepared by deposition of N‐docosylpyridinium–TCNQ charge transfer salt onto CaF2 substrates and by their subsequent doping with iodine vapor to yield reasonably good (∼10−1 Ω−1 cm−1) conducting films. Optical and electron scanning microscopy of the precursor film show that it is made up of a mosaic of highly crystalline platelets lying flat on the substrate though with random orientation. Structural information at the molecular level is gained by measuring and analyzing the ESR spectra and their angular and temperature dependence as well as the UV‐visible and infrared spectra and their linear dichroism. A triplet fine structure is observed in the ESR spectra of the precursor films with zero field splitting parameters ‖D‖=7.48×10−3 cm−1 and ‖E‖=1.2×10−3 cm−1 and singlet–triplet activation energy J=0.20 eV, markedly different from those of the N‐docosylpyridinium–TCNQ powder salt. The UV‐visible and infrared spectra sho...

Vibrational analysis of spectra of quinonoid molecular ions. Part 3.—Vibrational spectra and assignment of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane radical anion

The Raman and infrared spectra of TCNQ and [2H4]TCNQ radical anions in solution are presented for the first time. The successful assignment of most of the totally symmetric ag modes, obtained directly from the experimental Raman depolarization ratios, corroborates the assignment of the infrared active modes which is based on comparison with the neutral molecules.Radical–radical dimerization in water solution has no relevant influence on the intramolecular fundamentals. The Raman and infrared powder spectra of LiTCNQ and RbTCNQ and of the analogous fully deuterated salts are also reported, and the solid state–solution shifts in the band positions are found not to exceed 15 cm–1.Once the effect of environment on TCNQ– vibrational frequencies had been identified, we were able to evaluate the frequency shifts due to the addition of the extra electron. These shifts of up to about seventy wave numbers are reproduced by a normal coordinate analysis, based on a set of judicious adjustments of the neutral molecule empirical Valence Force Field.The vibrational spectra have been used successfully, as previously with Cs2(TCNQ)3, to demonstrate that in crystalline Cu(TCNQ)2 both neutral and negatively charged TCNQ units are present.

Infrared and Raman spectra of TTF and TTF-d4

Abstract The infrared and Raman spectra of TTF and TTF- d 4 as powder and solution samples are reported. An extensive assignment of the fundamental vibrational modes is presented and discussed in terms of a normal coordinate analysis of the inplane modes. The results obtained allow the calculation of the cartesian displacements of the totally symmetric modes, which are of relevance for the evaluation of the electron-intramolecular vibration linear coupling constants.

Photomodulation of the chiroptical properties of new chiral methacrylic polymers with side chain azobenzene moieties.

We have investigated the photoinduced optical properties of a new class of chiral methacrylic polymers characterised by the presence in the side chain of an optically active pyrrolidinyl ring linked to a trans-azoaromatic system. The homopolymers are enantiomerically pure and their strong optical activity indicates that the macromolecules assume, both in solution and in solid thin films, highly homogeneous conformations with a prevailing chirality. As expected, the studied polymers exhibit reversible linear dichroism and birefringence when irradiated with linearly polarised light. By irradiating with circularly polarised light, we have discovered that it is possible to photomodulate the chiroptical properties of the polymer films. After irradiation with L-polarised light, the CD spectra of the films show a net inversion of their relative sign. The effect is reversible and the original shape of the CD spectra can be restored by pumping with R-polarised radiation. This unexpected new phenomenon can be explained in terms of the ability of the L-polarised radiation to invert the prevailing helicity of the polymeric chains. The observed effect seems to open new possibilities for the use of azobenzene-containing materials as chiroptical switches.