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Alexander Mikhailovsky

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander Mikhailovsky.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Control of interchain contacts, solid-state fluorescence quantum yield, and charge transport of cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes by choice of anion.

Simple procedures are provided for exchanging charge-compensating ions in conjugated polyelectrolytes by progressive dilution of the original species and for determining the degree of ion exchange by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. By using these methods, the bromide ions in poly[(9,9-bis(6'-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumbromide)hexyl)fluorene-co-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)]were exchanged with BF4-, CF3SO3-, PF6-, BPh4-, and B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4- (BArF4-). Absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and PL quantum yields (Phi) were measured in different solvents and in solid films cast from methanol. Examination of the resulting trends, together with the spectral bandshapes in different solvents, suggests that increasing the counteranion (CA) size decreases interchain contacts and aggregation and leads to a substantial increase of Phi in the bulk. Size analysis of polymers containing Br- and BArF4- in water by dynamic light scattering techniques indicates suppression of aggregation by BArF4-. Nanoscale current-voltage measurements of films using conducting atomic force microscopy show that hole mobilities and, more significantly, charge injection barriers are CA dependent. These results show that it is possible to significantly modify the optoelectronic properties of conjugated polyelectrolytes by choosing different counterions. A parent conjugated backbone can thus be fine-tuned for specific applications.

Anions↗

A two-photon antenna for photochemical delivery of nitric oxide from a water-soluble, dye-derivatized iron nitrosyl complex using NIR light.

The experiments described here demonstrate the use of two-photon excitation (TPE) to sensitize nitric oxide (NO) release from a dye-derivatized iron/sulfur/nitrosyl cluster Fe2(mu-RS)2(NO)4 (Fluor-RSE, RS = 2-thioethyl ester of fluorescein) with near-infrared (NIR) light in the form of femtosecond pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser. TPE at 800 nm leads both to weak fluorescence from the organic chromophore at lambda(max) = 532 nm and to NO labilization from the cluster. Since the emission from the reference compound Fluor-Et (the ethyl ester of fluorescein) under identical conditions (50/50 CH3CN/phosphate buffer (1 mM) at pH 7.4) is considerably more intense, the weaker emission from Fluor-RSE and the NO generation indicate that the fluorescein excited states initially formed by TPE are largely quenched by energy transfer to the cluster core. The two-photon absorption (TPA) cross section of Fluor-RSE at 800 nm was determined to be delta = 63 +/- 7 GM via the TPA photoluminescence technique. This can be compared to the TPA cross section of 36 GM reported for fluorescein dye in pH 11 aqueous solution and of 32 +/- 3 GM for Fluor-Et measured under conditions comparable to those used for Fluor-RSE. Pulse intensity dependence studies showed that the quantity of NO released from the latter as the result of NIR photoexcitation follows a quadratic relationship to excitation intensity, consistent with the expectation for a TPE process. These studies demonstrate the potential utility of a two-photon antenna for sensitization of the photochemical release of an active agent (in this case, NO) from a photoactive pro-drug.

Fluoresceins↗

Solvent effects on the two-photon absorption of distyrylbenzene chromophores.

A series of organic- and water-soluble distyrylbenzene-based two-photon absorption (TPA) fluorophores containing dialkylamino donor groups at the termini was designed, synthesized, and characterized. The central core was systematically substituted to modulate intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). These molecules allow an examination of solvent effects on the TPA cross section (delta) and on the TPA action cross section. In toluene, the delta values follow the order of ICT strength. The effect of solvent on delta is nonmonotonic: maximum delta was measured in an intermediate polarity solvent (THF) and was lowest in water. We failed to find a correlation between the observed solvent effect and previous theoretical predictions. Hydrogen bonding to the donor groups and aggregation of the optical units in water, which are not included in calculational analysis, may be responsible for the discrepancies between experimental results and theory.

Absorption↗

Two-photon absorption in aqueous micellar solutions.

Addition of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration increases the fluorescence quantum yield and the two-photon absorption cross-section of charged [2.2]paracyclophane chromophores containing pairs of D-pi-D chromophores. The resulting spectra in the micellar solutions are very similar to those obtained for neutral isostructural analogues in toluene. The measured etadelta values are 1300 GM for 1C and 1920 GM for 2C, which are comparable or larger to those in toluene. These results highlight possible misleading interpretation of two-photon-induced emission for evaluating the concentration of labeled substrates used in two-photon microscopy and provide guidelines for designing molecular structures with optimized two-photon action cross-sections in water.

Acetates↗

Water-soluble [2.2]paracyclophane chromophores with large two-photon action cross sections.

A series of alpha,omega-donor-substituted distyrylbenzene dimers held together by the [2.2]paracyclophane core were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Different substituents were chosen to modulate the strength of the donor nitrogen groups and to allow the molecules to be either neutral and soluble in nonpolar organic solvents or charged and water-soluble. The specific neutral structures are (in order of decreasing donor strength) 4,7,12,15-tetra[N,N-bis(6' '-chlorohexyl)-4'-aminostyryl]-[2.2]paracyclophane (1N), 4,7,12,15-tetra[(N-(6' '-chlorohexyl)carbazol-3'-yl)vinyl]-[2.2]paracyclophane (2N), and 4,7,12,15-tetra[N,N-bis(4' '-(6' ''-chlorohexyl)phenyl)-4'-aminostyryl]-[2.2]paracyclophane (3N). The charged species are 4,7,12,15-tetra[N,N-bis(6' '-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)-4'-aminostyryl]-[2.2]paracyclophane octaiodide (1C), 4,7,12,15-tetra[(N-(6' '-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)carbazol-3'-yl)vinyl]-[2.2]paracyclophane octaiodide (2C), and 4,7,12,15-tetra[N,N-bis(4' '-(6' ''-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)phenyl)-4'-aminostyryl]-[2.2]paracyclophane octaiodide (3C). Two-photon excitation spectra, measured using the two-photon induced fluorescence technique, show in toluene the following trend for the two-photon cross sections (delta): 3N > 2N > 1N. In water the delta values follow the same order, 3C approximately 2C > 1C, but are smaller (approximately one-third). Significantly, the fluorescence quantum yield (eta) in water decreases much more for 1, relative to 2 and 3. The two-photon action cross sections (deltaeta) of 2C and 3C are 294 GM and 359 GM, respectively. These values are among the highest reported thus far. These results show that, to maximize the deltaeta in this class of chromophores, one needs to fine-tune the magnitude of the charge transfer character of the excited state, to minimize fluorescence quenching in polar media.

Benzene Derivatives↗

The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) gate: a time-resolved study.

The two-step energy-transfer process in a self-assembled complex comprising a cationic conjugated polymer (CCP) and a dsDNA is investigated by using pump-dump-emission spectroscopy and time-correlated single-photon counting; energy is transferred from the CCP to an ethidium bromide (EB) molecule intercalated into the dsDNA through a fluorescein molecule linked to one terminus of the DNA. Time-dependent anisotropy measurements indicate that the inefficient direct energy transfer from the CCP to the intercalated EB results from the near orthogonality of their transition moments. These measurements also show that the transition moment of the fluorescein spans a range of angular distributions and lies between that of the CCP and EB. Consequently, the fluorescein acts as a fluorescence resonance energy-transfer gate to relay the excitation energy from the CCP to the EB.

DNA↗

Photochemical production of nitric oxide via two-photon excitation with NIR light.

Herein we demonstrate the successful photochemical generation of nitric oxide via two-photon excitation (TPE) from the supramolecular complex PPIX-RSE ({mu-S,mu-S'-protoporphyrin-IX-bis(2-thioethyl)diester]tetranitrosyl-diiron). The TPE fluorescence spectra indicate efficient energy transfer from the PPIX antennae to the iron sulfur nitrosyl cluster. Further evidence of NO release is demonstrated using a nitric oxide specific electrode and ESI+ MS.

Electrodes↗

Shape-adaptable water-soluble conjugated polymers.

Cationic water-soluble conjugated polymers with a non "rigid-rod" aspect ratio can be prepared by Suzuki coupling condensation polymerization of 2,7-dibromo-9,9-bis(6'-bromohexyl)fluorene and varying ratios of p- and m-phenyl diboronic acids, followed by reaction with trimethylamine. The resulting polymers are designated MnPm+, where the subscripts in Mn and Pm correspond to the ratio of meta and para linkages, respectively. Absorption and fluorescence spectra indicate facile energy transfer via interachain or intrachain mechanisms. The emission of MnPm+ with m > 50 matches that of M0P100+. Excitations ultimately reside in the polymer segments with largest number of para linkages. FRET experiments show that the polymers with a more flexible structure are better donors to fluorescein-labeled double-stranded DNA. Similar results are obtained when intercalated ethidium bromide is used as the acceptor. These results indicate that there is better spatial registry between the flexible conjugated polymers and the secondary structure of DNA.

Cations↗