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Guillermo C Bazan

Publications and source records attributed to Guillermo C Bazan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Solid-state optical properties of linear polyconjugated molecules: pi-stack contra herringbone.

The intermolecular arrangement in the solid state and the consequences on the optical and photophysical properties are studied on different derivatives of oligophenylenevinylenes by UV/VIS absorption and angular-resolved polarized fluorescence spectroscopy. Unsubstituted distyrylbenzene (DSB) organizes in a herringbone manner, with the long axes of the molecules oriented in parallel, but the short axes almost perpendicular to each other. Fluorinated distyrylbenzene (F(12)DSB) as well as the DSB:F(12)DSB cocrystals prefer cofacial pi-stacking in the solid state. For all structures, the consequence of the parallel alignment of the transition moments is a strongly blueshifted H-type absorption spectrum and a low radiative rate constant k(F). Significant differences are observed for the emission spectra: the perpendicular arrangement of the short axes in DSB crystals leads to only very weak intermolecular vibronic coupling. Hence the emission spectrum is well structured, very similar to the one in solution. For F(12)DSB and DSB:F(12)DSB, the cofacial arrangement of the adjacent molecules enables strong intermolecular vibronic coupling of adjacent molecules. Thus, an unstructured and strongly redshifted excimerlike emission spectrum is observed. The differences in the electronic nature of the excited states are highlighted by quantum-chemical calculations, revealing the contribution of interchain excitations to the electronic transitions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Probing pi-coupling in molecular junctions.

Charge transport characteristics for metal-molecule-metal junctions containing two structurally related pi-conjugated systems were studied to probe pi-pi interactions in molecular junctions. The first molecule contains a typical pi-conjugated framework derived from phenylene vinylene units, whereas the second has the phenylene vinylene structure interrupted by a [2.2]paracyclophane (pCp) core. Electrochemical investigations were used to characterize the defects and packing density of self-assembled monolayers of the two molecules on gold surfaces and to enable quantitative comparison of their transport characteristics. Current-voltage measurements across molecular junctions containing the two species demonstrate that the pCp moiety yields a highly conductive break in through-bond pi-conjugation. The observed high conductivity is consistent with density functional theory calculations, which demonstrate strong through-space pi-pi coupling across the pCp moiety.

Electrochemistry↗
PubMed2005

Theoretical study of the effects of solvent environment on photophysical properties and electronic structure of paracyclophane chromophores.

We use first-principles quantum-chemical approaches to study absorption and emission properties of recently synthesized distyrylbenzene (DSB) derivative chromophores and their dimers (two DSB molecules linked through a [2.2]paracyclophane moiety). Several solvent models are applied to model experimentally observed shifts and radiative lifetimes in Stokes nonpolar organic solvents (toluene) and water. The molecular environment is simulated using the implicit solvation models, as well as explicit water molecules and counterions. Calculations show that neither implicit nor explicit solvent models are sufficient to reproduce experimental observations. The contact pair between the chromophore and counterion, on the other hand, is able to reproduce the experimental data when a partial screening effect of the solvent is taken into account. Based on our simulations we suggest two mechanisms for the excited-state lifetime increase in aqueous solutions. These findings may have a number of implications for organic light-emitting devices, electronic functionalities of soluble polymers and molecular fluorescent labels, and their possible applications as biosensors and charge/energy conduits in nanoassemblies.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Solvatochromism of distyrylbenzene pairs bound together by [2.2]paracyclophane: evidence for a polarizable "through-space" delocalized state.

A series of compounds were designed and synthesized to examine how through-space and through-bond electron delocalization respond to solvent effects. The general strategy involves the study of "dimers" of the distyrylbenzene chromophore held in close proximity by the [2.2]paracyclophane core and a systematic dissection of the chromophore into components with through-space and through-bond electronic delocalization. Steady state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in a range of solvents reveals a red-shift in emission and an increase in the intrinsic fluorescence lifetime for the emitting state in polar solvents when donor substituents are absent. We propose that through-space delocalization across the [2.2]paracyclophane core is more polarizable in the excited state, relative to the through-bond (distyrylbenzene based) excited state. When strong donors are attached to the distyrylbenzene chromophore, the charge transfer character of the distyrylbenzene-based excited state dominates fluorescence properties.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Synthesis of cationic water-soluble light-harvesting dendrimers.

Four generations of phenylenefluorene (1F)- and phenylenebis(fluorene) (2F)-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were synthesized by coupling activated esters with commercially available PAMAM precursors. Treatment of Boc-terminated pendant groups on the optically active units with 3 M HCl in dioxane yields cationic water-soluble dendrimers. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments with the cationic dendrimers as the donor and double stranded DNA containing a fluorescein label as the acceptor reveal cooperative optical behavior.

DNA↗
PubMed2005

Resonance hyper-Raman excitation profiles of a donor-acceptor substituted distyrylbenzene: one-photon and two-photon states.

Resonance Raman and resonance hyper-Raman spectra of the "push-pull" conjugated molecule 1-(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)-4-(4"-nitrostyryl)benzene in acetone have been measured at excitation wavelengths from 485 to 356 nm (two-photon wavelengths for the nonlinear spectra), resonant with the first two bands in the linear absorption spectrum. The theory of resonance hyper-Raman scattering intensities is developed and simplified using assumptions appropriate for intramolecular charge-transfer transitions of large molecules in solution. The absorption spectrum and the Raman, hyper-Rayleigh, and hyper-Raman excitation profiles, all in absolute intensity units, are quantitatively simulated to probe the structures and the one- and two-photon transition strengths of the two lowest-energy allowed electronic transitions. All four spectroscopic observables are reasonably well reproduced with a single set of excited-state parameters. The two lowest-energy, one-photon allowed electronic transitions have fairly comparable one-photon and two-photon transition strengths, but the higher-energy transition is largely localized on the nitrophenyl group while the lower-energy transition is more delocalized.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

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↗
PubMed2005

Methods for strand-specific DNA detection with cationic conjugated polymers suitable for incorporation into DNA chips and microarrays.

A strand-specific DNA sensory method is described based on surface-bound peptide nucleic acids and water-soluble cationic conjugated polymers. The main transduction mechanism operates by taking advantage of the net increase in negative charge at the peptide nucleic acid surface that occurs upon single-stranded DNA hybridization. Electrostatic forces cause the oppositely charged cationic conjugated polymer to bind selectively to the "complementary" surfaces. This approach circumvents the current need to label the probe or target strands. The polymer used in these assays is poly[9,9'-bis(6''-N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)fluorene-co-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) dibromide], which was specifically designed and synthesized to be compatible with excitation sources used in commonly used DNA microarray readers. Furthermore, the utility of poly[9,9'-bis(6''-N,N,N-trimethylammonium)-hexyl)fluorene-co-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) dibromide] has been demonstrated in homogenous and solid-state assays that involve fluorescence resonance energy transfer to a reporter dye (Cy5) and that can benefit from the light harvesting properties observed in water-soluble conjugated polymers.

DNA↗
PubMed2005

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↗
PubMed2004

Perturbation of fluorescence by nonspecific interactions between anionic poly(phenylenevinylene)s and proteins: implications for biosensors.

The use of anionic water-soluble conjugated polymers (CPs) for sensing the presence of avidin by use of a biotin-modified fluorescence quencher was studied. The molecules involved in the study included poly[2-methoxy-5-(3'-propyloxysulfonate)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] with either lithium (Li+-MPS-PPV) or sodium (Na(+)-MPS-PPV) countercations, the well-defined oligomer pentasodium 1,4-bis(4'(2",4"-bis(butoxysulfonate)-styryl)-styryl)2-butoxysulfonate-5-methoxybenzene (5R5-), the quenchers N-methyl-4,4'-pyridylpyridinium iodide (mMV+) and [N-(biotinoyl)-N'-(acetyl 4,4'-pyridylpyridinium iodide)] ethylenediamine (BPP+), which contains a molecular recognition fragment (biotin) attached to a unit that accepts an electron from a CP excited state, and the proteins avidin, tau, BSA, and pepsin A. Fluorescence quenching experiments were examined in a variety of conditions. Experiments carried out in water and in ammonium carbonate buffer (which ensures avidin/biotin complexation) reveal that nonspecific interactions between the CP and the proteins cause substantial perturbations on the CP fluorescence. The overall findings are not consistent with a simple mechanism whereby avidin complexation of BPP+ leads to encapsulation of the quencher molecule and recovery of Li+-MPS-PPV fluorescence. Instead, we propose that binding of BPP+ to avidin results in the quenching unit attaching to a positively charged macromolecule. Electrostatic attraction to the negatively charged conjugated polymer results in closer proximity to the quencher. Therefore, more enhanced fluorescence quenching is observed.

Avidin↗
PubMed2004

SNP detection using peptide nucleic acid probes and conjugated polymers: applications in neurodegenerative disease identification.

A strategy employing a combination of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes, an optically amplifying conjugated polymer (CP), and S1 nuclease enzyme is capable of detecting SNPs in a simple, rapid, and sensitive manner. The recognition is accomplished by sequence-specific hybridization between the uncharged, fluorescein-labeled PNA probe and the DNA sequence of interest. After subsequent treatment with S1 nuclease, the cationic water soluble CP electrostatically associates with the remaining anionic PNA/DNA complex, leading to sensitized emission of the labeled PNA probe via FRET from the CP. The generation of fluorescent signal is controlled by strand-specific electrostatic interactions and is governed by the complementarity of the probe/target pair. To assess the method, we compared the ability of the sensor system to detect normal, wild-type human DNA sequences, and those sequences containing a single base mutation. Specifically, we examined a PNA probe complementary to a region of the gene encoding the microtubule associated protein tau. The probe sequence covers a known point mutation implicated in a dominant neurodegenerative dementia known as frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), which has clinical and molecular similarities to Alzheimer's disease. By using an appropriate PNA probe, the conjugated polymer poly[(9,9-bis(6'-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumhexylbromide)fluorene)-co-phenylene] and S1 nuclease, unambiguous FRET signaling is achieved for the wild-type DNA and not the mutant sequence harboring the SNP. Distance relationships in the CP/PNA assay are also discussed to highlight constraints and demonstrate improvements within the system.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed2004

Two-photon absorption in three-dimensional chromophores based on [2.2]-paracyclophane.

A series of alpha,omega-bis donor substituted oligophenylenevinylene dimers held together by the [2.2]paracyclophane core were synthesized to probe how the number of repeat units and through-space delocalization influence two-photon absorption cross sections. Specifically, the paracyclophane molecules are tetra(4,7,12,15)-(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)[2.2]paracyclophane (3R(D)), tetra(4,7,12,15)-(4' '-(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)styryl)[2.2]paracyclophane (5R(D)), and tetra(4,7,12,15)-(4' "-(4' '-(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)styryl)styryl)[2.2]paracyclophane (7R(D)). The compounds bis(1,4)-(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)benzene (3R) and bis(1,4)-(4' '-(4'-dihexylaminostyryl)styryl)benzene (5R) were also synthesized to reveal the properties of the "monomeric" counterparts. The two-photon absorption cross sections were determined by the two-photon induced fluorescence method using both femtosecond and nanosecond pulsed lasers as excitation sources. While there is a red shift in the linear absorption spectra when going from the "monomer" chromophore to the paracyclophane "dimer" (i.e., 3R --> 3R(D), 5R --> 5R(D)), there is no shift in the two-photon absorption maxima. A theoretical treatment of these trends and the dependence of transition dipole moments on molecular structure rely on calculations that interfaced time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) techniques with the collective electronic oscillator (CEO) program. These theoretical and experimental results indicate that intermolecular interactions can strongly affect B(u) states but weakly perturb A(g) states, due to the small dipole-dipole coupling between A(g) states on the chromophores in the dimer.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Synthesis of block copolymer segments containing different ratios of ethylene and 5-norbornen-2-yl acetate.

Block copolymerization of ethylene with 5-norbornen-2-yl acetate (1) by the nickel catalyst system [N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)propanamide]Ni(eta1-CH2Ph)(PMe3) (2) and Ni(COD)2 (bis(1,4-cyclooctadiene)nickel) (3) produces a variety of block copolymer structures that demonstrate microphase separation. Typical block copolymerizations were carried out in an autoclave charged with a solution of the catalyst mixture and 1 (0.15 M) in toluene. The autoclave was sealed and exposed to PC2H4 = 50 psi for a period of time (T1). A pressure jump to PC2H4 = 1100 psi was then applied and the reaction allowed to proceed for another predetermined interval (T2). Independent experiments were performed to isolate and examine the molecular weight and comonomer composition of the first block. Narrow molecular weight distributions and the increase of polymer molecular weight with increases in T1 or T2 are consistent with a product in which an initial block is formed at low ethylene pressures and quantitatively converted to a block copolymer by the jump to high pressure. Transmission electron microscopy confirms that the materials are microphase separated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Time-resolved energy transfer in DNA sequence detection using water-soluble conjugated polymers: the role of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions.

We have investigated the energy transfer processes in DNA sequence detection by using cationic conjugated polymers and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes with ultrafast pump-dump-emission spectroscopy. Pump-dump-emission spectroscopy provides femtosecond temporal resolution and high sensitivity and avoids interference from the solvent response. The energy transfer from donor (the conjugated polymer) to acceptor (a fluorescent molecule attached to a PNA terminus) has been time resolved. The results indicate that both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions contribute to the formation of cationic conjugated polymers/PNA-C/DNA complexes. The two interactions result in two different binding conformations. This picture is supported by the average donor-acceptor separations as estimated from time-resolved and steady-state measurements. Electrostatic interactions dominate at low concentrations and in mixed solvents.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Diastereomer assignment of an olefin-linked bis-paracyclophane by ion mobility mass spectrometry.

trans-1,2-Bis([2.2]paracyclophanyl)ethene (1) exists as a pair of diastereomers whose conformations, and thus effective collision cross sections, are quite different. The two forms can be obtained by different transition metal-catalyzed reactions. To assign meso and racemic structures, a novel method is reported in which experimental gas-phase ion mobility data are compared with theoretical structures obtained from molecular mechanics calculations.

Journal Article↗