A simple preparation of Cd(17)S(4)(SCH(2)CH(2)OH)(26) clusters in aqueous solution leads to the formation of colorless blocky crystals. X-ray structure determinations revealed a superlattice framework built up of covalently linked clusters. This superlattice is best described as two enlarged and interlaced diamond or zinc blende lattices. Because both the superlattice and the clusters display the same structural features, the crystal structure resembles the self-similarities known from fractal geometry. The optical spectrum of the cluster solution displays a sharp transition around 290 nanometers with a large absorption coefficient ( approximately 84,000 per molar per centimeter).

The X-ray crystallographic, optical spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties of a newly synthesized class of boron-diindomethene (BDI) dyes and their tetrahydrobicyclo precursors (bc-BDP) are presented. The BDI chromophore was designed to show intensive absorption and strong fluorescence in an applicationary advantageous spectral range. Its modular architecture permits fusion of a second subunit, for example, a receptor moiety to the dye's core to yield directly linked yet perpendicularly prearranged composite systems. The synthesis was developed to allow facile tuning of the chromophore platform and to thus adjust its redox properties. X-ray analysis revealed a pronounced planarity of the chromophore in the case of the BDIs, which led to a remarkable close packing in the crystal of the simplest derivative. On the other hand, deviation from planarity was found for the diester-substituted bc-BDP benzocrown that exhibits a "butterfly"-like conformation in the crystal. Both families of dyes show charge- or electron-transfer-type fluorescence-quenching characteristics in polar solvents when equipped with a strong donor in the meso-position of the core. These processes can be utilized for signaling purposes if an appropriate receptor is introduced. Further modification of the chromophore can invoke such a guest-responsive intramolecular quenching process, also for receptor groups of low electron density, for example, benzocrowns. In addition to the design of various prototype molecules, a promising fluoroionophore for Na+ was obtained that absorbs and emits in the 650 nm region and shows a strong fluorescence enhancement upon analyte binding. Furthermore, investigation of the remarkable solvatokinetic fluorescence properties of the "butterfly"-like bc-BDP derivatives suggested that a second intrinsic nonradiative deactivation channel can play a role in the photophysics of boron-dipyrromethene dyes.

The photophysical properties of several newly synthesized 1-benzothiazole-3-(4-donor)-phenyl-substituted prop-2-en-1-ones (substituted chalcones) are studied as a function of solvent polarity, temperature, and metal ion by employing steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. To investigate the effect of bulkiness and donor strength of the anilino moiety on the spectroscopic properties of these dyes, the spectroscopic behavior of the 4-N-dimethylamino (DMA), the 4-N-tetraoxa-monoaza-15-crown-5 (A15C5), and the 4-N-tetrathiamonoaza-15-crown-5 (AT 4 15C5) derivatives as well as the 3-julolidino (Jul) analogue is compared. Absorption and fluorescence measurements reveal that the strength of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process increases on the order of AT 4 15C5 < A15C5 ∼ DMA < Jul. The slight but significant differences between the two crowned dyes are well-supported by the results of the X-ray structure analysis, where oxa aza and thia aza crowns show essentially different geometries. For both fluoroionophores, this variation of heteroatom substitution pattern of the receptor induces specific cation selectivities. The spectroscopic effects accompanying complexation and the different binding sites are studied by steady-state and time-resolved optical spectroscopy as well as NMR spectroscopy. Whereas the probe carrying a tetraoxa monoaza 15-crown-5 receptor shows cation-induced fluorescence enhancement in the presence of alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions, its tetrathia analogue binds selectively to Hg II , Ag I , and Cu II in acetonitrile. Moreover, an increase in fluorescence is observed for the latter probe even upon coordination to the widely known fluorescence quencher Hg II . Besides receptor complexation, chelate formation in the benzothiazole-carbonyl acceptor part of these intrinsic fluorescent probes is possible, leading to a chromoionophoric signaling behavior in the near-infrared (NIR).

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