Photogrammetry of Ultrafast Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Pathways in the Fungal Pigment Draconin Red

Proton transfer processes of organic molecules are key to charge transport and photoprotection in biological systems. Among them, excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reactions are characterized by quick and efficient charge transfer within a molecule, resulting in ultrafast proton m...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Janak Solaris, Taylor D. Krueger, Cheng Chen, Chong Fang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/8/3506
_version_ 1797604067353034752
author Janak Solaris
Taylor D. Krueger
Cheng Chen
Chong Fang
author_facet Janak Solaris
Taylor D. Krueger
Cheng Chen
Chong Fang
author_sort Janak Solaris
collection DOAJ
description Proton transfer processes of organic molecules are key to charge transport and photoprotection in biological systems. Among them, excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reactions are characterized by quick and efficient charge transfer within a molecule, resulting in ultrafast proton motions. The ESIPT-facilitated interconversion between two tautomers (PS and PA) comprising the tree fungal pigment Draconin Red in solution was investigated using a combination of targeted femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) and excited-state femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (ES-FSRS) measurements. Transient intensity (population and polarizability) and frequency (structural and cooling) dynamics of –COH rocking and –C=C, –C=O stretching modes following directed stimulation of each tautomer elucidate the excitation-dependent relaxation pathways, particularly the bidirectional ESIPT progression out of the Franck–Condon region to the lower-lying excited state, of the intrinsically heterogeneous chromophore in dichloromethane solvent. A characteristic overall excited-state PS-to-PA transition on the picosecond timescale leads to a unique “W”-shaped excited-state Raman intensity pattern due to dynamic resonance enhancement with the Raman pump–probe pulse pair. The ability to utilize quantum mechanics calculations in conjunction with steady-state electronic absorption and emission spectra to induce disparate excited-state populations in an inhomogeneous mixture of similar tautomers has broad implications for the modeling of potential energy surfaces and delineation of reaction mechanisms in naturally occurring chromophores. Such fundamental insights afforded by in-depth analysis of ultrafast spectroscopic datasets are also beneficial for future development of sustainable materials and optoelectronics.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T04:40:56Z
format Article
id doaj.art-02fdd30ee8654262af9088ffc8599b89
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1420-3049
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T04:40:56Z
publishDate 2023-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj.art-02fdd30ee8654262af9088ffc8599b892023-11-17T20:39:58ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-04-01288350610.3390/molecules28083506Photogrammetry of Ultrafast Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Pathways in the Fungal Pigment Draconin RedJanak Solaris0Taylor D. Krueger1Cheng Chen2Chong Fang3Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USADepartment of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USADepartment of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USADepartment of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USAProton transfer processes of organic molecules are key to charge transport and photoprotection in biological systems. Among them, excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reactions are characterized by quick and efficient charge transfer within a molecule, resulting in ultrafast proton motions. The ESIPT-facilitated interconversion between two tautomers (PS and PA) comprising the tree fungal pigment Draconin Red in solution was investigated using a combination of targeted femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) and excited-state femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (ES-FSRS) measurements. Transient intensity (population and polarizability) and frequency (structural and cooling) dynamics of –COH rocking and –C=C, –C=O stretching modes following directed stimulation of each tautomer elucidate the excitation-dependent relaxation pathways, particularly the bidirectional ESIPT progression out of the Franck–Condon region to the lower-lying excited state, of the intrinsically heterogeneous chromophore in dichloromethane solvent. A characteristic overall excited-state PS-to-PA transition on the picosecond timescale leads to a unique “W”-shaped excited-state Raman intensity pattern due to dynamic resonance enhancement with the Raman pump–probe pulse pair. The ability to utilize quantum mechanics calculations in conjunction with steady-state electronic absorption and emission spectra to induce disparate excited-state populations in an inhomogeneous mixture of similar tautomers has broad implications for the modeling of potential energy surfaces and delineation of reaction mechanisms in naturally occurring chromophores. Such fundamental insights afforded by in-depth analysis of ultrafast spectroscopic datasets are also beneficial for future development of sustainable materials and optoelectronics.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/8/3506dyes and pigmentsnaphthoquinonesultrafast spectroscopyquantum chemical calculationsbidirectional proton transferphotochemistry
spellingShingle Janak Solaris
Taylor D. Krueger
Cheng Chen
Chong Fang
Photogrammetry of Ultrafast Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Pathways in the Fungal Pigment Draconin Red
Molecules
dyes and pigments
naphthoquinones
ultrafast spectroscopy
quantum chemical calculations
bidirectional proton transfer
photochemistry
title Photogrammetry of Ultrafast Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Pathways in the Fungal Pigment Draconin Red
title_full Photogrammetry of Ultrafast Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Pathways in the Fungal Pigment Draconin Red
title_fullStr Photogrammetry of Ultrafast Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Pathways in the Fungal Pigment Draconin Red
title_full_unstemmed Photogrammetry of Ultrafast Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Pathways in the Fungal Pigment Draconin Red
title_short Photogrammetry of Ultrafast Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Pathways in the Fungal Pigment Draconin Red
title_sort photogrammetry of ultrafast excited state intramolecular proton transfer pathways in the fungal pigment draconin red
topic dyes and pigments
naphthoquinones
ultrafast spectroscopy
quantum chemical calculations
bidirectional proton transfer
photochemistry
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/8/3506
work_keys_str_mv AT janaksolaris photogrammetryofultrafastexcitedstateintramolecularprotontransferpathwaysinthefungalpigmentdraconinred
AT taylordkrueger photogrammetryofultrafastexcitedstateintramolecularprotontransferpathwaysinthefungalpigmentdraconinred
AT chengchen photogrammetryofultrafastexcitedstateintramolecularprotontransferpathwaysinthefungalpigmentdraconinred
AT chongfang photogrammetryofultrafastexcitedstateintramolecularprotontransferpathwaysinthefungalpigmentdraconinred