Tracking Photoinduced Charge Redistribution in a Cu(I) Diimine Donor–Bridge–Acceptor System with Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy

Understanding electron density migration along excited-state pathways in photochemical systems is critical for optimizing solar energy conversion processes. In this study, we investigate photoinduced electron transfer (PET) in a covalently linked donor–bridge–acceptor (D-B-A) system, where [Cu(I)-bi...

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Main Authors: Sean A. Roget, Wade C. Henke, Maxwell Taub, Pyosang Kim, Jonathan T. Yarranton, Xiaosong Li, Karen L. Mulfort, Lin X. Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Photochem
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7256/5/2/16
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author Sean A. Roget
Wade C. Henke
Maxwell Taub
Pyosang Kim
Jonathan T. Yarranton
Xiaosong Li
Karen L. Mulfort
Lin X. Chen
author_facet Sean A. Roget
Wade C. Henke
Maxwell Taub
Pyosang Kim
Jonathan T. Yarranton
Xiaosong Li
Karen L. Mulfort
Lin X. Chen
author_sort Sean A. Roget
collection DOAJ
description Understanding electron density migration along excited-state pathways in photochemical systems is critical for optimizing solar energy conversion processes. In this study, we investigate photoinduced electron transfer (PET) in a covalently linked donor–bridge–acceptor (D-B-A) system, where [Cu(I)-bis(1,10-phenanthroline)]<sup>+</sup> acts as an electron donor, and anthraquinone, tethered to one of the phenanthroline ligands via a vibrationally active ethyne bridge, behaves as an electron acceptor. Visible transient absorption spectroscopy revealed the dynamic processes occurring in the excited state, including PET to the acceptor species. This was indicated by the spectral features of the anthraquinone radical anion that appeared on a timescale of 30 ps in polar solvents. Time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy of the alkyne vibration (CC stretch) of the ethyne bridge provided insight into electronic structural changes in the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) state and along the PET reaction coordinate. The observed spectral shift and enhanced transition dipole moment of the CC stretch demonstrated that there was already partial delocalization to the anthraquinone acceptor following MLCT excitation, verified by DFT calculations. An additional excited-state TRIR signal unrelated to the vibrational mode highlighted delocalization between the phenanthroline ligands in the MLCT state. This signal decayed and the CC stretch narrowed and shifted towards the ground-state frequency following PET, indicating a degree of localization onto the acceptor species. This study experimentally elucidates charge redistribution during PET in a Cu(I) diimine D-B-A system, yielding important information on the ligand design for optimizing PET reactions.
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spelling doaj-art-20583c4525b14cf4a48eb0897ee3ffbe2025-08-20T03:27:36ZengMDPI AGPhotochem2673-72562025-06-01521610.3390/photochem5020016Tracking Photoinduced Charge Redistribution in a Cu(I) Diimine Donor–Bridge–Acceptor System with Time-Resolved Infrared SpectroscopySean A. Roget0Wade C. Henke1Maxwell Taub2Pyosang Kim3Jonathan T. Yarranton4Xiaosong Li5Karen L. Mulfort6Lin X. Chen7Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USAChemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USADepartment of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USAChemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USAChemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USADepartment of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USAChemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USAChemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USAUnderstanding electron density migration along excited-state pathways in photochemical systems is critical for optimizing solar energy conversion processes. In this study, we investigate photoinduced electron transfer (PET) in a covalently linked donor–bridge–acceptor (D-B-A) system, where [Cu(I)-bis(1,10-phenanthroline)]<sup>+</sup> acts as an electron donor, and anthraquinone, tethered to one of the phenanthroline ligands via a vibrationally active ethyne bridge, behaves as an electron acceptor. Visible transient absorption spectroscopy revealed the dynamic processes occurring in the excited state, including PET to the acceptor species. This was indicated by the spectral features of the anthraquinone radical anion that appeared on a timescale of 30 ps in polar solvents. Time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy of the alkyne vibration (CC stretch) of the ethyne bridge provided insight into electronic structural changes in the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) state and along the PET reaction coordinate. The observed spectral shift and enhanced transition dipole moment of the CC stretch demonstrated that there was already partial delocalization to the anthraquinone acceptor following MLCT excitation, verified by DFT calculations. An additional excited-state TRIR signal unrelated to the vibrational mode highlighted delocalization between the phenanthroline ligands in the MLCT state. This signal decayed and the CC stretch narrowed and shifted towards the ground-state frequency following PET, indicating a degree of localization onto the acceptor species. This study experimentally elucidates charge redistribution during PET in a Cu(I) diimine D-B-A system, yielding important information on the ligand design for optimizing PET reactions.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7256/5/2/16photoinduced electron transfertransition metal complexesultrafast IR spectroscopyMLCT statecopper complexes
spellingShingle Sean A. Roget
Wade C. Henke
Maxwell Taub
Pyosang Kim
Jonathan T. Yarranton
Xiaosong Li
Karen L. Mulfort
Lin X. Chen
Tracking Photoinduced Charge Redistribution in a Cu(I) Diimine Donor–Bridge–Acceptor System with Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy
Photochem
photoinduced electron transfer
transition metal complexes
ultrafast IR spectroscopy
MLCT state
copper complexes
title Tracking Photoinduced Charge Redistribution in a Cu(I) Diimine Donor–Bridge–Acceptor System with Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy
title_full Tracking Photoinduced Charge Redistribution in a Cu(I) Diimine Donor–Bridge–Acceptor System with Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy
title_fullStr Tracking Photoinduced Charge Redistribution in a Cu(I) Diimine Donor–Bridge–Acceptor System with Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Tracking Photoinduced Charge Redistribution in a Cu(I) Diimine Donor–Bridge–Acceptor System with Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy
title_short Tracking Photoinduced Charge Redistribution in a Cu(I) Diimine Donor–Bridge–Acceptor System with Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy
title_sort tracking photoinduced charge redistribution in a cu i diimine donor bridge acceptor system with time resolved infrared spectroscopy
topic photoinduced electron transfer
transition metal complexes
ultrafast IR spectroscopy
MLCT state
copper complexes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7256/5/2/16
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