Ultrafast spectroscopy reveals the effects of confinement on the excited-state photoisomerization dynamics for a series of alkyl-substituted trans-stilbenes encapsulated in the hydrophobic cavity of an aqueous supramolecular organic host-guest complex. Compared with the solvated compounds, encapsulated trans-stilbenes have broader excited-state absorption spectra, excited-state lifetimes that are 3-4 times longer, and photoisomerization quantum yields that are 1.7-6.5 times lower in the restricted environment. The organic capsule disrupts the equilibrium structure and restricts torsional rotation around the central C═C double bond in the excited state, which is an important motion for the relaxation of trans-stilbene from S to S. The location and identity of alkyl substituents play a significant role in determining the excited-state dynamics and photoisomerization quantum yields by tuning the relative crowding inside the capsule. The results are discussed in terms of distortions of the ground- and excited-state potential energy surfaces, including the topology of the S-S conical intersection.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.9b03285 | DOI Listing |
J Fluoresc
December 2024
Centre for Nano and Material Sciences, Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, Jain Global Campus, Ramanagaram, Bangalore, 562112, Kanakpuram, Karnataka, India.
In this study, a series of new methoxy ester functionalized core fluorinated, chloro-fluorinated azobenzene derivatives were synthesized. The molecular structures of the azobenzene derivatives (3a-3c and 4a-4c) were confirmed through various analytical methods, with variations in the alkoxy chain length on one end of the aromatic ring. Optical absorption studies of 3a, 3b revealed π-π* transitions around 368-392 nm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Phys Chem B
December 2024
Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
The photoisomerization dynamics of azo-escitalopram, a synthetic photoswitchable inhibitor of the human serotonin transporter, is investigated in both gas-phase and water. We use the trajectory surface hopping method─as implemented in SHARC─interfaced with the floating occupation molecular orbital-configuration interaction semiempirical method to calculate on-the-fly energies, forces, and couplings. The inclusion of explicit water molecules is enabled using an electrostatic quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics framework.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChem Sci
November 2024
Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Universität Wien A-1090 Vienna Austria
Recent developments in quantum computing are highly promising, particularly in the realm of quantum chemistry. Due to the noisy nature of currently available quantum hardware, hybrid quantum-classical algorithms have emerged as a reliable option for near-term simulations. Mixed quantum-classical dynamics methods effectively capture nonadiabatic effects by integrating classical nuclear dynamics with quantum chemical computations of the electronic properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Phys Chem Lett
December 2024
Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Control and Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
Designing a model of retinal isomerization in rhodopsin, the first step in vision, that accounts for both experimental transient and stationary state observables is challenging. Here, multiobjective Bayesian optimization is employed to refine the parameters of a minimal two-state-two-mode () model describing the photoisomerization of retinal in rhodopsin. The optimized retinal model predicts excitation wavelength-dependent fluorescence spectra that closely align with experimentally observed non-Kasha behavior in the nonequilibrium steady state.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngew Chem Int Ed Engl
December 2024
Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The, Netherlands.
The mobility of proteins in the bilayer membrane is affected by (local) changes in lipid environment, which is important to their biological functioning. Artificial molecular systems that-to some extent-imitate tasks of membrane-embedded proteins are increasingly developed, however, they are usually controlled through responsive units in their core structure. Here we present an alternative approach based on an amphiphilic stiff-stilbene derivative that enables control of membrane fluidity by light.
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