Theoretical Analysis of the Electronic Ground and Excited Franck-Condon State of 2-Alkylamino-(3, 5, or 6)-Methyl-4-Nitropyridine N-oxides

We theoretically characterised properties of the electronic ground and excited Franck-Condon state of 2-alkylamino-(3, 5, or 6)-methyl-4- -nitropyridine N-oxides. The obtained results of time-dependent density functional theory calculations are consistent with the experimental absorption spectra. The nature of the lowest excited states of the considered N-oxides molecules is discussed. Two excited singlet states (in the midst of four lowest states) have the charge-transfer character. These states have different charge-transfer contribution of the two electron donor groups to the same electron acceptor. In consequence, different conditions for the promotion of intramolecular proton transfer in excited state are created in each case

Theoretical Analysis of the Electronic Ground and Excited Franck-Condon State of 2-Alkylamino-(3, 5, or 6)-Methyl-4-Nitropyridine N-oxides

We theoretically characterised properties of the electronic ground and excited Franck-Condon state of 2-alkylamino-(3, 5, or 6)-methyl-4- -nitropyridine N-oxides. The obtained results of time-dependent density functional theory calculations are consistent with the experimental absorption spectra. The nature of the lowest excited states of the considered N-oxides molecules is discussed. Two excited singlet states (in the midst of four lowest states) have the charge-transfer character. These states have different charge-transfer contribution of the two electron donor groups to the same electron acceptor. In consequence, different conditions for the promotion of intramolecular proton transfer in excited state are created in each case

Intramolecular proton-transfer processes starting at higher excited states: a fluorescence study on 2-butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide in nonpolar solutions

This article describes the exceptional photophysics of 2-butylamino-6- methyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide (2B6M). It is known from the literature that this compound may undergo excited-state intra- or intermolecular protontransfer reactions. In nonpolar solvents, 2B6M exhibits an unusual fluorescence behavior: there is a substantial difference between the relative band intensities of the excitation and absorption spectra. Furthermore, in emission two bands are observed, and their relative intensities depend on the excitation wavelength, thus violating the Kasha-Vavilov rule. It is the objective of this research to interpret these results. For this purpose, steady-state fluorescence excitation and emission spectra in the liquid state were recorded and quantum yields were determined for the two types of emission. In addition, absorption spectra were measured at room temperature and under low-temperature conditions. Finally, fluorescence lifetimes of the emitting species were determined using the time-correlated single photon counting technique. The results suggest that in the liquid state only one (monomeric) ground state species dominates, which can emit via two different pathways (from the normal and the tautomeric excited state). The excitation spectra point at two different internal proton-transfer processes, one starting at the

Cryogenic fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy studies on monomeric and dimeric species of 2-butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide

2-Butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine-N-oxide (2B6M) belongs to a group of compounds that can undergo not only excited-state intra-, but also intermolecular proton transfer. The latter of course requires the presence of dimeric species. Previously, we have shown that for 2B6M in aprotic non-polar solvents in the liquid state such dimers play no role. Under these conditions, only one single monomeric species exists, exhibiting anomalous fluorescence behavior, i.e. proton transfer not only starting from the lowest excited electronic singlet state, but also from higher excited states. However, we also noted that under frozen, crystalline matrix conditions more species show up in the spectra. In order to study this multi-species system in more detail, we present absorption and fluorescence experiments on 2B6M, recorded in n-octane at various temperatures between 293 and 5 K. High-resolution spectra are included, not only in fluorescence but also in absorption. We demonstrate that under cryogenic conditions three species can be discerned, two of these providing high-resolution spectra with their main 0-0 lines around 452 and 465 nm, respectively. A detailed vibrational analysis of their emission spectra is included. The third species gives broad-banded spectra, in absorption extending to about 520 nm with its long-wavelength maximum around 460 nm, in emission with a maximum around 535 nm. We tentatively assign the three species to a monomer, a H-bonded dimer and a strongly interacting (π-π-stacked) dimer, respectively. We conclude from the excitation spectra that (anomalous) intramolecular proton transfer at higher excited states is still operative under cryogenic conditions. Indications for excited-state intermolecular proton transfer in the stacked dimeric species were not found. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Two ground state conformers of the proton sponge 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene revealed by fluorescence spectroscopy and ab-initio calculations

The S1 S0 transitions of the "proton sponge" 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene have been studied by experiment and ab initio calculations. Fluorescence excitation and single vibronic level emission spectroscopy on the sample seeded in a supersonic expansion lead to the conclusion that the molecule can adopt two conformations in the ground state. This conclusion is supported by ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G* level. The most stable conformer is shown to carry the spectroscopic characteristics of the naphthalene chromophore, while torsional motions of the dimethylamino groups dominate the spectroscopy of the other conformer

Femtosecond Studies of Charge-Transfer Mediated Proton Transfer in 2-Butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-Oxide

Abstract: We have unraveled the effects of an amino substituent in the ortho position on the excited-state dynamics of 4-nitropyridine N-oxide by studying the picosecond fluorescence kinetics and femtosecond transient absorption of a newly synthesized compound, 2-butylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide, and by quantum chemical calculations. Similar to the parent compound, the S1 state of the target molecule has significant charge-transfer character and shows a large (~8000 cm-1) static Stokes shift in acetonitrile. Analysis of the experimental and the theoretical results leads, however, to a new scenario in which this intramolecular charge transfer triggers in polar, aprotic solvents an ultrafast (around 100 fs) intramolecular proton transfer between the amino and the N-O group. The electronically excited N-OH tautomer is subsequently subject to solvent relaxation and decays with a lifetime of ~150 ps to the ground state

Crystal Structure, Spectroscopic, and Theoretical Studies of 2-Methylamino-6-Methyl-4-Nitropyridine N-oxide

The structure and electronic spectra of 2-methylamino-6-methyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide (2M6M) were investigated. The X-ray structure of 2M6M molecule shows that it crystallizes in the monoclinic system of the P