Molecular geometry optimization, two-photon absorption and electrochemistry of new diphenylethylene derivatives linking with benzophenone moiety through ether covalent bond.

This paper presents the molecular geometry optimization, two-photon absorption and electrochemistry of new dyes containing benzophenone part, including 4-(p-benzoyl-benzyloxy)yl-4'-nitro-diphenylethylene (C1), 4-[N-methyl-N-(2-(p-benzoyl-benzyloxy)yl-ethyl]-4'-nitro-diphenylethylene (C2), 4-[N-ethyl-N-(2-(p-benzoyl-benzyloxy)yl-ethyl]-4'-nitro-diphenylethylene (C3), and 4-N, N-bis[(2-(p-benzoyl-benzyloxy)yl-ethyl]-4'-nitro-diphenyl ethylene (C4). The molecular structural parameters show that the coplanarity of diphenylethylene moiety is diminished in the excited state for C1, while it is enhanced for C2, C3 and C4. The electron density distribution of frontier orbital suggests that the derivatives exhibit (π, π) transition with internal charge transfer character, and the extent of charge transfer of C2, C3 and C4 is larger than that of C1. The derivatives display remarkable two-photon absorption (TPA) induced up-converted emission under 800 nm Ti: Sapphire femtosecond laser excitation. The maximal TPA emission wavelength of C2, C3 and C4 is red-shifted with respect to that of C1. TPA cross sections of C2, C3 and C4 are larger than those of C1. The cyclic voltammograms and the fluorescence lifetimes of the derivatives were determined and discussed.