Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brian S. Rolczynski, Sebastian A. Diaz, Young C. Kim, Igor L. Medintz, Paul D. Cunningham, Joseph S. Melinger
Summary: Structural DNA nanotechnology offers a promising approach to control material functions through modular structures and Hamiltonians. Characterizing parameters of chromophore networks, such as vibronic Hamiltonian, molecular positions, and environmentally induced energy broadening, is essential for optimizing their functionalities. Study methods include steady-state optical measurements, physical modeling, and genetic algorithms, with temperature-dependent optical measurements aiding in further characterization of spectral broadening. Results reveal quantum mechanical delocalization crucial for functions like coherent energy transport and quantum information applications.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ashish Sharma, Stavros Athanasopoulos, Yun Li, Samuel N. Sanders, Elango Kumarasamy, Luis M. Campos, Girish Lakhwani
Summary: This study investigates interchromophoric interactions in pentacene dimers using magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy. By analyzing experimental MCD spectra, the molecular structure of the bridging units was found to affect the through-space Coulombic and through-bond exchange interactions. The results demonstrate the significant through-bond interactions in dimers with conjugated molecules as bridging units, which promote the overall electronic coupling in the system.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ashish Sharma, Stavros Athanasopoulos, Yun Li, Samuel N. Sanders, Elango Kumarasamy, Luis M. Campos, Girish Lakhwani
Summary: This article uses magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy to investigate interchromophoric interactions in pentacene dimers. By analyzing experimental MCD spectra, it reveals how the molecular structure of the bridge affects the interactions in the system, and outlines a general relationship between the geometry of pentacene dimers and their MCD response.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Samarth Vadia, Johannes Scherzer, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Alexander Hoegele
Summary: Chirality is a fundamental asymmetry phenomenon observed in chiral optical elements that exhibit asymmetric response to circularly polarized light. Recent developments include nanoplasmonic systems with broken-mirror symmetry and circular dichroism through polarization-contrasting optical absorption. Excitons in atomically thin semiconductors offer an alternative route to circular dichroism through spin-valley polarized excitons. This study demonstrates the transfer of polarization-contrasting optical transitions from excitons in monolayer WSe2 to proximal plasmonic nanodisks through coherent coupling, resulting in magneto-induced circular dichroism. This research highlights the potential of exciton-plasmon interfaces for applications in information processing, nonlinear optics, and sensing.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tariq Sheikh, Shabnum Maqbool, Parikshit Kumar Rajput, Pankaj Mandal, Angshuman Nag
Summary: The introduction of chirality in layered hybrid perovskites breaks the symmetry of their inorganic sub-lattices, resulting in intriguing optical properties. In this study, the effect of chirality on the excitonic photoluminescence of chiral (R- and S-alpha-MBA)(2)PbI4 at cryogenic temperatures was investigated. The induced chirality was found to split the excitonic emissions below 150 K. Additionally, (R- and S-alpha-MBA)(2)PbI4 exhibited wavelength-tunable second harmonic generation (SHG) that strongly depended on the polarization angle of the incident light.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qin Yang, Josef Kapitan, Petr Bour, Julien Bloino
Summary: Combining Raman scattering and Raman optical activity (ROA) with computer simulations allows for the characterization of chiral molecules' fine structure and physicochemical properties. This study presents an accurate and simple approach based on three-quanta anharmonic perturbative mode, showing the significance of anharmonic Raman and ROA spectroscopies in understanding chiral molecules' vibrations and calibrating computational models.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tao Wu, Josef Kapitan, Petr Bour
Summary: Chiral metal complexes have rich photophysical properties and are important for various applications. This study combines experimental and computational approaches to investigate the energies and transition moments of excited electronic states in two chiral metal complexes. The experimental protocol involves multiple techniques, and a formula for subtracting interfering effects is provided. Density functional theory calculations are used to analyze the spectra and reveal the geometric and electronic structures of the molecules. This insight into molecular electronic states can be useful for understanding and manipulating the photochemical properties of metal-containing complexes, biomolecules, and supramolecules.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Peter C. Sercel, Alexander L. Efros
Summary: We theoretically demonstrate that giant magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) can be observed in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors with Rashba splitting and a perpendicular magnetic field. This phenomenon is reflected in the calculated absorption coefficients for transitions between Landau levels (LLs) of conduction and valence bands. The giant MCD signal is attributed to the unique magnetic field dependence of the lowest LL in the presence of the Rashba term. Another characteristic of Rashba splitting is a decrease in the exciton diamagnetic shift caused by the Rashba terms. The analysis of the exciton dispersion at nonzero momentum reveals mixed magneto-impulse terms resulting in a negative diamagnetic shift, which can be observed in the exciton photoluminescence.
Article
Optics
G. P. Katsoulis, Z. Dube, P. B. Corkum, A. Staudte, A. Emmanouilidou
Summary: We propose a measure that quantifies chirality in the ionization process of achiral atoms and validate it under realistic experimental conditions. This measure is based on the sign of the scalar triple product of the electron final momentum and the probability of ionization, integrated over all momentum components.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kristina Frizyuk, Elizaveta Melik-Gaykazyan, Jae-Hyuck Choi, Mihail Petrov, Hong-Gyu Park, Yuri Kivshar
Summary: The study focused on the nonlinear response of a dimer composed of two identical Mie-resonant dielectric nanoparticles illuminated normally by circularly polarized light. A general theory describing hybridization of multipolar modes of the coupled nanoparticles was developed, revealing nonvanishing nonlinear circular dichroism (CD) in the second-harmonic generation (SHG) signal enhanced by the multipolar resonances in the dimer. Experimental results obtained for the AlGaAs dimers placed on an engineered substrate supported the multipolar hybridization theory.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniele Toffoli, Marco Medves, Giovanna Fronzoni, Emanuele Coccia, Mauro Stener, Luca Sementa, Alessandro Fortunelli
Summary: This study reports a computational investigation on the chiro-optical spectra of chiral gold nanowires at the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) level. The results demonstrate that intense plasmonic circular dichroism (CD) can be achieved by coupling two chiral nanowires. The analysis of individual component maps and induced charge densities fully rationalize these findings.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
P. Radhakrishnan, B. Geisler, K. Fuersich, D. Putzky, Y. Wang, S. E. Ilse, G. Christiani, G. Logvenov, P. Wochner, P. A. van Aken, E. Goering, R. Pentcheva, E. Benckiser
Summary: The study uses resonant x-ray reflectometry to investigate the electronic structure of YVO3/LaAlO3 heterostructure, revealing an artificial, layered orbital polarization phenomenon where the occupation of orbitals near LaAlO3 interface planes is reversed compared to the central part of YVO3. This phenomenon is stable down to 30 K and is attributed to a combination of epitaxial strain and spatial confinement by the LaAlO3 layers.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Kosuke Oki, Masayoshi Takase, Nagao Kobayashi, Hidemitsu Uno
Summary: The synthesized HPHAC exhibits unique electronic properties, undergoing reversible multistep oxidations at low potentials and forming various ionic salts and charge-transfer complexes. The compound demonstrates clear aromaticity and shows distinctive absorption characteristics in UV-vis/NIR spectra.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zetan Cao, Jia He, Chuangwei Jiao, Zhiwen Liu, Linfeng Xu, Cheng Zheng, Simin Peng, Bin Chen
Summary: In this study, the enantioselective synthesis of intrinsically chiral perovskite-like CsCuCl3 nanocrystals was achieved at room temperature using chiral amino acids as additives in an antisolvent crystallization method. The resulting D-/L-ligand-induced enantiomeric nanocrystals exhibited characteristic chiroptical responses. By adjusting the amino acid types and Cs/Cu feed ratios, the chiroptical activity of the nanocrystals could be controlled. This research opens up new pathways for the controllable synthesis of intrinsically chiral inorganic materials and provides a better understanding of the origins of precursor-ligand-associated chiral discrimination and crystallization phenomena.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zetan Cao, Jia He, Chuangwei Jiao, Zhiwen Liu, Linfeng Xu, Cheng Zheng, Simin Peng, Bin Chen
Summary: Enantiomeric control of intrinsically chiral inorganic nanocrystals was achieved through enantioselective synthesis using chiral amino acids. The chiroptical activity of the nanocrystals could be tailored by adjusting the Cs/Cu feed ratios and amino acid types. This strategy enables the controllable synthesis of intrinsically chiral inorganics and provides insights into the origins of chiral discrimination and crystallization phenomena.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Maximiliane Horz, Hafiz M. A. Masood, Hendrik Brunst, Javier Cerezo, David Picconi, Hannah Vormann, Madhava Shyam Niraghatam, Luuk J. G. W. van Wilderen, Jens Bredenbeck, Fabrizio Santoro, Irene Burghardt
Summary: In this study, we investigate the two-photon-induced vibronic transitions in polyatomic molecules using the VIbrationally Promoted Electronic Resonance experiment. Theoretical and experimental methods are employed to compute the vibronic spectra and analyze the intensity distribution in the two-photon experiment. The results demonstrate the importance of interference between Franck-Condon and Herzberg-Teller effects in this process.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Laura Pedraza-Gonzalez, Leonardo Barneschi, Michal Marszalek, Daniele Padula, Luca De Vico, Massimo Olivucci
Summary: We propose a computational protocol, implemented through a general Python-based driver, for fast and automated screening of hybrid QM/MM models of rhodopsins as fluorescent probes. The protocol is benchmarked using experimentally measured absorption and emission spectra of different rhodopsin variants. We demonstrate that the protocol can reproduce observed trends in fluorescence and select potentially fluorescent rhodopsins, although it has limitations as a black-box tool. The protocol can also be used for mechanistic investigations of fluorescence enhancement effects associated with S1/S2 states or coupling of S0/S1 wave functions.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ke-Feng Zhang, Nidal Saleh, Michal Swierczewski, Arnulf Rosspeintner, Francesco Zinna, Gennaro Pescitelli, Celine Besnard, Laure Guenee, Thomas Burgi, Jerome Lacour
Summary: A chiral bispyrene macrocycle was synthesized for intermolecular excimer fluorescence upon aggregation using a double hydrothiolation method followed by intramolecular oxidation. High stereoselectivity was achieved for the thiol-ene additions under templated conditions. The structural evolution upon aggregation was monitored by ECD/CPL.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Krzysztof Nowak, Olaf Morawski, Francesco Zinna, Gennaro Pescitelli, Lorenzo Di Bari, Marcin Gorecki, Marek Grzybowski
Summary: Chiral fluorescent macrocycles, consisting of dimethyl 2,5-diaminoterephthalate units, can be easily synthesized from inexpensive building blocks. Depending on the concentration, the reaction mainly produces a paracyclophane-like dimer or a triangular trimer. These macrocycles exhibit fluorescence in solution and the solid state, with red-shifted maxima as the size of the macrocyclic ring decreases. Chirality affects their absorption and emission of circularly polarized light.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gianluigi Albano, Francesco Zinna, Andrea Taddeucci, Maria Annunziata M. Capozzi, Gennaro Pescitelli, Angela Punzi, Lorenzo Di Bari, Gianluca M. Farinola
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Haritha Asha, James A. Green, Luciana Esposito, Fabrizio Santoro, Roberto Improta
Summary: This study uses the FrDEx model to simulate the ECD spectra of guanine-rich DNA sequences in quadruple helices with different topologies. The parameters of the FrDEx Hamiltonian are obtained from TD-DFT calculations with the M052X functional. The FrDEx spectra are in good agreement with the TD-DFT ones and show improvement compared to a standard excitonic Hamiltonian. The inclusion of the inner K+ cation in the calculation affects the ECD spectra.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Yi-Jie Zhai, Zhen-Zhen Zhou, Lin-Lin Gao, Jian-Nan Li, Gennaro Pescitelli, Jin-Ming Gao, Wen-Bo Han
Summary: Six new dimeric spiciferones (1-6) and four known metabolites (7-10) were produced by the lichen-associated fungus Phaeosphaeria sp. The new structures were determined through spectroscopic analysis, and their absolute configurations were established using electronic circular dichroism calculations. Compounds 1 and 3-6 represent the first instances of ethylidene-bridged dimers from the building blocks 4H-chromene-4,7(8H)-dione and alpha-pyrone, and compound 2 is a unique homodimer of spiciferone. Compounds 1, 2, and 5-9 exhibited significant growth inhibition on the dicot weed-like plant Arabidopsis thaliana at a concentration of 100.0 μM. Notably, compound 8 showed the strongest inhibitory activity against the fresh weight and root elongation of A. thaliana, with IC50 values of 32.04 and 26.78 μM, respectively, while compounds 1, 8, and 9 promoted the growth of A. thaliana at lower concentrations. Additionally, compounds 2 and 6 exhibited weak inhibition on the root elongation of the monocot rice, while compounds 1 and 8 exhibited dose-dependent growth-promoting effects on the shoot and root elongation of rice.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Francesco Segatta, Daniel Aranda Ruiz, Flavia Aleotti, Martha Yaghoubi, Shaul Mukamel, Marco Garavelli, Fabrizio Santoro, Artur Nenov
Summary: This paper presents an accurate and efficient approach for calculating the linear and nonlinear optical spectroscopy of a closed quantum system. The method includes the effect of ultrafast nonadiabatic dynamics by numerically propagating the nuclear wave packet. The expressions for the evaluation of response functions are recast in a general form and validated using the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method. The application to pyrene reveals the remarkable influence of ultrafast nonadiabatic dynamics on spectral line shapes.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gianluigi Albano, Andrea Taddeucci, Gennaro Pescitelli, Lorenzo Di Bari
Summary: This review provides an overview of electronic circular dichroism imaging (ECDi), circularly polarized luminescence imaging (CPLi), and vibrational circular dichroism imaging (VCDi) and their applications in thin films, with a focus on chiral organic dye case studies. These instrumental techniques are valuable for mapping and understanding the supramolecular structures in thin films of chiral organic materials.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David Pal, Celine Besnard, Adiran de Aguirre, Amalia I. Poblador-Bahamonde, Gennaro Pescitelli, Jerome Lacour
Summary: Hydrogen bonding plays a significant role in chemical reactions, conformation, and stereochemistry. This study introduces a novel dye, tetranitrofluorenone oximate, which can visually detect hydrogen-bond donating species and quickly determine the strength of hydrogen bonding by monitoring hypsochromic shifts. The molecule also exhibits atropisomeric conformations, and enantiopure bis-thioureas are found to be the most effective hydrogen bond donors for chiral induction, as demonstrated by electronic circular dichroism and time-dependent density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, bis-thioureas are used as chiral reagents in asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, with the electronic circular dichroism sensing of stereoinduction serving as an indirect method to select the most effective hydrogen bond donor for asymmetric synthesis.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Medicinal
Gennaro Pescitelli, Lorenzo Di Bari, Jerome Lacour, Reiko Oda, Nina Berova, Oliver Trapp, Simona Collina
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Gianluigi Albano, Laura Antonella Aronica, Gennaro Pescitelli, Lorenzo Di Bari
Summary: In this study, we synthesized a series of structurally related chiral oligothiophenes with a 1,4-diketo-3,6-diarylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole (DPP) unit as the central core. These oligothiophenes were functionalized with the same (S)-3,7-dimethyl-1-octyl chains on the nitrogen atoms of lactam moieties, differing only in the number of lateral thiophene units. We evaluated the aggregation modes of these chiral systems through UV-Vis absorption and ECD spectroscopies in solution aggregation conditions and as thin films, highlighting the impact of pi-conjugation length on their chiroptical properties. The study also revealed that the number of thiophene units attached to the DPP core affects both the propensity to aggregation and the helicity of aggregates.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gianluigi Albano, Francesco Zinna, Andrea Taddeucci, Maria Annunziata M. Capozzi, Gennaro Pescitelli, Angela Punzi, Lorenzo Di Bari, Gianluca M. Farinola
Summary: We have investigated the effect of achiral substituents on the chiral supramolecular architectures of diketopyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,2,3-1H-triazole (DPP) dyes. By decorating the same chiral DPP motif with different substituent groups, we observed significant differences in optical, chiroptical, electrochemical and thermal properties among the three dyes. Our findings provide valuable insights for the development of chiral organic opto-electronics and other innovative technological applications.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alessio Gabbani, Andrea Taddeucci, Marco Bertuolo, Francesco Pineider, Laura Antonella Aronica, Lorenzo Di Bari, Gennaro Pescitelli, Francesco Zinna
Summary: Magnetic circular dichroism can elucidate the molecular interactions and structural parameters of organic chiral materials, making it a valuable tool for studying supramolecular order and structure-property relationships.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Daniele Padula, Alessandro Landi, Giacomo Prampolini
Summary: Recent advances in non-fullerene acceptors have improved the efficiency of organic photovoltaics. This study computationally characterizes the supramolecular structure and electron transfer properties of a promising non-fullerene acceptor and its derivatives. The findings suggest that alkyl side chains primarily impact crystal packing rather than dynamic disorder, leading to improved electron transfer integrals and charge mobilities.