Abstract
Singlet and triplet excited-state dynamics of anthanthrene and anthanthrone derivatives in solution are studied. Triisopropylsilyl- (TIPS) or H-terminated ethynyl groups are used to tune the singlet and triplet energies to enable their potential applications in singlet fission and triplet fusion processes. Time-resolved optical and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies are used to obtain a mechanistic understanding of triplet formation. The anthanthrene derivatives form triplet states efficiently at a rate (ca. 107 s−1) comparable to radiative singlet fluorescence processes with approximately 30 % triplet yields, despite their large S1-T1 energy gap (>1 eV) and the lack of carbonyl groups. In contrast, anthanthrone has a higher triplet yield (50±10 %) with a faster intersystem crossing rate (2.7 * 108 s−1) because of the n-π* character of the S1←S0 transition. Analysis of time-resolved spin-polarized EPR spectra of these compounds reveals that the triplet states are primarily generated by the spin-orbit-induced intersystem crossing mechanism. However, at high concentrations, the EPR spectrum of the 4,6,10,14-tetrakis(TIPS-ethynyl)anthanthrene triplet state shows a significant contribution from a non-Boltzmann population of the ms=0 spin sublevel, which is characteristic of triplet formation by singlet fission.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1432-1438 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | ChemPlusChem |
Volume | 84 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1 2019 |
Keywords
- anthanthrene
- anthanthrone
- photochemistry
- singlet fission
- spin-orbit intersystem crossing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)