Advances in Physical Chemistry
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 6737494, 7 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6737494

Research Article

A Group Theoretical and Quantum Chemical Study of Electronic Absorption and Fluorescence, Vibrational Spectra, and Conformations of Trimethine Cyanine Dye Molecules

Vita Solomko,¹ Petro Kondratenko,² and Yuriy Lopatkin¹

¹Department of General and Theoretical Physics, Sumy State University, 2 Rimsky-Korsakov Street, Sumy 40007, Ukraine
²Department of Theoretical Physics, Aerospace Institute, National Aviation University, 1 Kosmonavta Komarova Prospekt, Kiev 03680, Ukraine

Received 13 October 2015; Revised 30 November 2015; Accepted 8 December 2015

Academic Editor: Sergei Tretiak

Copyright © 2016 Vita Solomko et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

The energetic structures and conformations of trimethine cyanine dye molecules were investigated. For research, group theoretical and quantum chemical calculation methods were used. The theoretical group analysis of electronic and vibrational structure of molecules was carried out. Also, the energetic structures and conformations of the molecule of this dye were studied. Research shows that the investigated molecule may reside in three different conformational states, one of which is highly symmetric (symmetry ) and the other two with low symmetry. The third conformer is characterized by lowering of binding energy of the electronic system by 0.23 eV, and the long-wavelength absorption band is shifted to lower energies. Also the group theoretical analysis of the trimethine cyanine molecule had allowed systematizing the vibrational and electronic quantum transitions and identifying the bands in the absorption spectra. It is shown that the excitation of the molecule in -state causes trans-cis-isomerization. The presence of the barrier of ~0.1 eV allows the fluorescence process to compete with isomerization process, but isomerization causes a decrease in the fluorescence quantum yield of the dye.

1. Introduction

The absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra of solutions of polymethine dyes have been studied quite extensively and described in scientific papers [1–6], since this class of dyes is widely used in practice [7, 8]. And yet, the energy structure of the molecules of these dyes was not enough studied, which does not allow us to definitely interpret the fluorescence spectra of the higher excited states that are typical of this class of dyes. The conformational structure and way of the transition of the molecule from one conformation to another which affect the quantum yield of fluorescence were not described in detail.

Aims of this work are to describe the results of the investigation of excited states and conformational transformations, for example, model of the molecule, Dioksazoltrimethinecyanine cation (I) (see Scheme 1).

Scheme 1

2. Materials and Methods

For research, the software package with a powerful graphical user interface for molecular modeling and study of intermolecular interactions HyperChem (Release 8.0.6) was used, in particular the method AM1 [9], which has proved popular in the study of relaxation process of molecules with highly excited states [10–14].

2.1. Theoretical Group Analysis of the Electronic and Vibrational Structure of the Molecule (I)

In the ground state molecule (I) has a symmetric structure, which is described by the group of symmetry . For the understanding of the electronic and vibrational structure of this molecule, it was needed to analyze in the framework of group symmetry of the molecular orbital (MO) and the vibrational modes of the molecule (I). The results of this analysis are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Table characters of the group and assignment to him coordinate axes, broadcasts (), rotation (), the number of vibrational modes (), and σ- and π-MO molecule (I).

1
1
1
1
y
1
0
22
21
25
0

1
1
−1
−1

0
1
10
9
0
6

1
−1
1
−1
x
1
1
22
20
23
0

1
−1
−1
1
z
1
1
12
10
0
7

1
−1
1
−1

1
1
1
1

1
−1
−1
1

3
−1
1
1

3
−1
−1
−1

66
−2
22
2

σ-MO
48
2
48
2

π-MO
13
−1
−13
1

It follows from Table 1 that the total number of degrees of freedom distributed over representations is as follows: , 22, , 10, , 22, and , 12. In this work calculations of all vibrational frequencies were carried out. Some of them show themselves in the infrared spectra (polarizations , , and ) and Raman spectra (, , , , , and ). But inasmuch only fully symmetric vibrations take part in the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra; these vibrations are given in the table. In Table 2 fully symmetrical vibrations of molecules (I) are shown.

Table 2: Symmetric vibrations of the molecule (I).

Number
Frequency,
cm⁻¹
Localization of vibrations
Intensity

1
70
Two polynomial carried pendulum oscillations, changing the angle of the C-C-C-center
0.049

2
300
Folding: fragments move forward; methine bridge changes the angles
0.078

3
405
Methine bridge and ring in antiphase
0.011

4
829
Synchronous changing of angles O-C-N and central C-C-C
0.29

5
927
Vibrations angle O-C-C in rings
2.1

6
1067
Vibrations of methine angles bond and length O-C-N
0.084

7
1147
Pendulum oscillations of C-H groups in the rings
24

8
1196
Vibrations of the molecule along -axis.
0.23

9
1280
Vibrations lengths S-O-S
2.5

10
1320
Pendulum oscillations of N-H are accompanied by vibrations of the bonds and the methine bridge
2.0

11
1325
Symmetric pendulum vibrations of C-H bonds bridge
2.4

12
1418
Vibrations rings along ; central heating C atoms along .
0.63

13
1512
Horizontal vibrations C-N
0.096

14
1590
The length of the C-N and C-C-C
16

15
1686
C-C rings
3.8

16
1864
Bonds rings with the methine bridge
44

17
3129
All three groups C-H bridge in antiphase with the central C-H
17

18
3162
All three C-H groups in the bridge phase
70

19
3207
Two upper C-H bonds in the ring
150

20
3254
Two lower C-H bonds in the ring
53

21
3497
Two N-H- bonds
180

During the formation of the electronic structure of molecules 48 σ-MO and 13 π-MO are formed. In this case, the number of filled electrons MO is 33. 8 of which belong to π-MO, and the rest are in σ-MO. All the processes that we shall be interested in occur in the range from MO number 29 to MO number 43. Symmetry and nature of the MO are shown in Table 3.

Table 3: Symmetry MO.

Number of MO
Symmetry and the type of MO

29
MO

30
π-MO

31
π-MO

32
π-MO

33
π-MO

34
π-MO

35
π-MO

36
π-MO

37
π-MO

38
MO

39
σ-MO

40
MO

41
σ-MO

42
π-MO

43
MO

Considering these data, we can find the polarization of the quantum transitions between separate MO and determine quantum transitions which are forbidden by symmetry (Table 4).

Table 4: The polarization of the quantum transitions between MO.

МО
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43

29
Z
—
z
—

z

30

z
—
z
—

z

31

—
z
—
z

—

32

z
—
z
—

z

33

—
z
—
z

—

It turned out that quantum transitions with polarization along -axis correspond to π → -quantum transitions. Moreover, since the integral of the overlap between π and -MO is close to zero, these quantum transitions significantly weakened. The quantum transitions which are forbidden by symmetry are marked with the dashed line.

We present the structure of four MO of those listed in Table 3 (see Scheme 2).

Scheme 2

2.2. The Energy Structure and Conformation of Molecule

Consideration of symmetry of MO (Table 3) shows that σ-MO may relate to representations and ; on the other hand, π-MO may relate to representations and . Quantum transitions between σ-MO and π-MO can be permitted by symmetry but forbidden by space (the overlap integral between σ-MO and π-MO is close to zero, since the MO are oriented in mutually perpendicular directions).

As σ-MO and π-MO may be responsible for the absorption and emission of the molecule, only σ-MO is responsible for the formation of dissociative potential surfaces and photodissociation processes. On the other hand, only π-MO processes are responsible for cis-trans-isomerization.

In this paper we consider the isomerization processes and their impact on radiative processes in the excited molecules.

In the case of trimethine dyes, three isomers can be isolated: trans (I), cis (II) and cis-cis (III) (see Scheme 3).

Scheme 3

The trans-isomer is a flat, highly symmetric molecule, while the other isomers are characterized by low symmetry. Furthermore, cis-isomer has a small angle (~8°) between the planes of the two rings and angles in the methine bridge increased (from left to right: about 128.653 and about 128.754, and the angle of trans is about 123.097). This provides a reduction in repulsion energy between hydrogen atoms, which would otherwise overlap.

The angles in the thrimethine bridge of the cis-cis-isomer from left to right: about 129.345°, 133.993°, and 129.552°. Moreover, trimethine bridges are twisted, and the rings are almost not turned (see Scheme 4).

Scheme 4

The binding energy of the electron system in the molecule of I is −2.170.9248 kcal/mol = −94.14 eV, that of molecule II is −2.170.7688 kcal/mol = −94.1336 eV, and that of molecule III is −2.165.0604 kcal/mol = −93.8861 eV. If we expand cis-isomer II bridge at about 90, we define the energy of the transition state to be equal to −2.148.3517 kcal/mol. So, we can assume that the first two isomers in thermodynamic equilibrium will be equally represented in the dye solution, whereas the third isomer, the binding energy of which is at least 5.3084 kcal/mol = 0.23 eV, shall be present in small amounts (). However, this fact does not exclude the involvement of this isomer in the process of photoisomerization.

In the process of conversion of the isomer I into isomer II the magnitude of the molecule dipole moment varies, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: The dependence of the magnitude of dipole moment of the molecule (I) from the rotation angle of the molecule fragments around C-C in the methine group.

Since we are considering cation (I), then charge distribution in it, which determines the magnitude of the dipole moment, will determine the structure of the solvation shell in the dye solution, and this in turn may affect the structure of the isomer and its interaction with the solvent, further stabilizing the isomer.

In the case where isomer III dipole moment is 1.4135 D, during the transition from isomer I to isomer II, dependence of the dipole magnitude moment of the rotation angle around C-C bond is almost symmetric, reaching the maximum value at 90-degree orientation of fragments of the molecule. Enlarged magnitude of dipole moment in both cases of isomerization at 90-degree orientation of the molecule fragments is indicative of the possibility of increasing the energy of the transition state interactions with solvent molecules, thus reducing the height of the potential barrier to the dark transition between the isomers.

Investigation of the energy structure of the isomers in excited states (Figures 2 and 3) showed that in the ground state there is a barrier between the two isomers, with height of 20.5 kcal/mol = 0.89 eV. This value may be somewhat reduced due to the interaction with the solvent. However, this value indicates a very low rate of establishment of thermodynamic equilibrium between the isomers.

Figure 2: The angular dependence of the energy of the ground and excited singlet states of the molecule (I) isomer in the transition from I to II isomer.

Figure 3: The angular dependence of the energy of the ground and triplet excited states of the molecule (I) isomer in the transition from I to II isomer.

Excitation of molecule (I) in -state will lead to a decrease in the barrier height to 2.39 kcal/mol = 0.104 eV. With such magnitude of barrier, (Boltzmann factor is 0.016) photoisomerization will compete with radiating process, whereby the long-wavelength fluorescence quantum yield of polymethine dyes does not exceed 0.55 [15, 16].

Figure 2 shows the data for the quantum transitions into the singlet-excited state up to the highest π-MO number 42, because it has a disintegrating character for C-C bonds of trimethine fragment. However, this MO did not contribute to cis-trans-isomerization of molecule (I), as its disintegrating character stayed for the second isomer.

As for the triplet states, excited state corresponding to the excitation of an electron from π-MO 33 on σ-MO 38 can cause isomerization of the molecule. Its intersection with state (π → MO transition between number 33 → numbers 35 and 37), which led to the splitting of the energy levels, should not significantly affect the ability to flow isomerization from this state. Interaction between these triplet states has become possible because the rotation of one relative to the other moiety of the molecule greatly reduced the symmetry of the molecule and mixed π- and σ-MO.

Reference [9] noted that, under the influence of light, a photoisomer is created and long-wavelength band is shifted to lower energies with a short lifetime ( sec); at that, photoisomer is formed with low quantum yield. However, the main channel of decrease of the fluorescence quantum yield is considered nonradiative dissipation of excitation energy.

The results of this work testify that the first two isomers are stable and have → -absorption bond in the same spectral region, and the third one may be unstable, and its corresponding absorption band is shifted to longer wavelengths. Photoisomerization processes between the first two isomers will enhance the probability of nonradiative transitions, since the 90-degree orientation of fragments of the molecule and the energy gap between and are significantly reduced. Nonradiative processes should behave analogously at the transition from the second isomer to the third one. In all the these processes, the probability of the third isomer will be insignificant, since the excitation of the first isomer as a result will lead to the creation of equal probability of the first and second isomers, and the excitation of the second isomer can lead to the creation of all three isomers. As a consequence, a third isomer is created with a small quantum yield.

In the case of the plane geometry of molecule (I) in the absorption spectrum bands corresponding to the transition between quantum MO numbers 33 and 34 (long-wavelength absorption band) as well as between MO numbers 33 and 37 should appear (Figure 2). Other quantum transitions that lie between these transitions are characterized by a small oscillator strength and therefore do not appear in the absorption spectra.

In isomer II, the long-wavelength absorption band is in the same spectral region as that in isomer I, but instead of a single absorption band, noted above, there are two bands (Table 5), since in this case the oscillator strength π → transition is between MO numbers 33 and 35 which increased by almost an order of magnitude.

Table 5: Singlet-singlet quantum transitions in isomers I and II.

trans-Isomer
cis-Isomer

Type of transition
, nm, ()
Type of transition
, nm, ()

S ₀ → S ₁  π → π (33 → 34)
482.7 (1.0418)
π → π (33 → 34)
481.0 (0.8252)

S ₀ → S ₂  π → σ (33 → 38)
330.7 (0.0000)
π → σ (33 → 38 33 → 39 32 → 39)
324.0 (0.0011)

S ₀ → S ₃  π → σ (33 → 39 32 → 38)
322.1 (0.0064)
π → σ (33 → 38 33 → 39 32 → 38)
321.5 (0.0059)

 →    (33 → 35 32 → 34)
287.4 (0.0141)
(33 → 35)
292.6 (0.1068)

S ₀ → S ₅  π → σ (33 → 40 32 → 41)
281.2 (0.0000)
π → σ (33 → 40 33 → 41)
279.0 (0.0031)

S ₀ → S ₆  3π → σ (3 → 41 32 → 40)
274.3 (0.0000)
π → π (32 → 34)
273.5 (0.0228)

S ₀ → S ₇  π → π (33 → 35 32 → 34)
270.5 (0.0121)
π → σ (33 → 41)
272.7 (0.0160)

S ₀ → S ₈  π → π (33 → 36)
269.9 (0.0285)
(33 → 36 33 → 37)
266.7 (0.1628)

S ₀ → S ₉   (33 → 37)
266.0 (0.3301)
π → π (33 → 37 32 → 36)
266.3 (0.0772)

S ₀ →   π → π (33 → 42)
238.3 (0.0000)
π → π (31 → 34)
236.0 (0.0139)

S ₀ →   π → π (31 → 34)
235.9 (0.0123)
π → π (33 → 42)
232.0 (0.0897)

For us it is important to determine which quantum transition may be responsible for the short-wave fluorescence band.

Analysis of the nature of the second (apparent) absorption band indicates that the corresponding π → (33 → 37) quantum transition cannot provide the fluorescence of the highly excited states, as other π → transitions are placed below.

For fluorescence the transition → might be responsible, but in this case the large Stokes shift (increased 2.800 cm⁻¹) must be observed. Relative of this transition following the transition → (of -state) is shifted to 3750 cm⁻¹, which, given the spatial band, will not contribute to rapid internal conversion. By analyzing the experimental results, it can be seen that high-energy band fluorescence is really characterized by a large Stokes shift [17, 18]. Consequently, we conclude that this is responsible for (33 → 35) transition.

We have considered above the totally symmetric vibrations of molecule (I), which will give the structure of long-wavelength band in the absorption spectrum. The transition of the molecule to the other geometric structures (conformations) is accompanied by a significant lowering of the symmetry of the molecules. This will facilitate the possibility of manifestation of the electronic absorption spectrum of other vibrational frequencies of the molecule and, consequently, change the shape of the long-wavelength absorption band.

3. Conclusions

On the basis of the conducted researches of energetic structure and processes of photoisomerization of trimethine cyanine dye (I) we can conclude the following:(1)Molecule (I) may reside in three different conformational states, one of which is highly symmetric (symmetry ) and the other two with low symmetry. In this case, two conformers (trans- and cis-conformers) have in the ground state almost the same energy of the electronic system and the same position long-wavelength absorption band. The third conformer is characterized by lower 0.23 eV binding energy of the electronic system, and the long-wavelength absorption band is shifted to lower energies.(2)The group theoretical analysis of molecule (I) allowed systematizing the vibrational and electronic quantum transitions and identifying the bands in the absorption spectra.(3)It is shown that the excitation of the molecule in -state causes trans-cis-isomerization. The presence of the barrier height of ~0.1 eV allows the process fluorescence to compete with isomerization process, but isomerization causes a decrease in the fluorescence quantum yield of the dye. Since there are two stable isomers and one unstable isomer, photoisomerization processes with low quantum yield lead to the creation of unstable isomer. The probability of nonradiative processes on each channel increases, which reduces the fluorescence quantum yield of the dye in the isomerization process.(4)Investigation of the absorption spectra of the isomers in the UV region of the spectrum showed that in the isomer of I a single absorption band manifested with a large value of the oscillator strength ( = 0.33), the excitation of which can fix the short-wavelength fluorescence with a significant Stokes shift. Calculation showed that close to this absorption band at lower energies there are other quantum transitions with small oscillator strength, that pertain both to a π → and to π → quantum transitions. In the second isomer, one of such π → transitions have sufficient appreciable oscillator strength (), whereas in the first one, there is a less order of magnitude. Relaxation of excitation in this state may result in a large Stokes shift of high energy fluorescence.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

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