Acetylacetone (AcAc) exists as a mixture of enol and keto tautomers. Besides providing a good example for the study of tautomerization, it is a model system for investigating intramolecular hydrogen bonds in its enol form. Trapping AcAc in the soft para-Hydrogen (pH2 ) environment brings out new opportunities to investigate its properties. Infrared spectra of the samples give a good characterization of the two stable enol and keto tautomers. The keto/enol ratio in solid pH2 is found to be higher than in other matrices. While vibrational bands of keto are narrow, those of enol are broad, reflecting the intrinsic properties of the enol which exhibits three entangled large amplitude motions (two methyl torsions and the intramolecular hydrogen transfer). Surprisingly, narrowing of some of these bands is observed in a slow time evolution. This effect is interpreted as a consequence of nuclear spin conversion in the hydrogen atoms of the methyl groups, giving access to AcAc species differing by their nuclear spin symmetry. This offers new pertinent investigations on the large amplitude motions, especially on the intramolecular hydrogen transfer. AcAc/pH2 samples have been irradiated by UV laser beams. Irradiation at 266 nm induces isomerization from the stable chelated enol form to non chelated conformers, similarly to the case of other matrices. A clear IR signature of the conformers is obtained thanks to the pH2 host. Irradiation at 248 nm induces the enol/keto tautomerization. The kinetics of this interconversion highlights a non-direct process. Fragmentation is clearly observed under irradiation at 193 nm, followed by chemical reaction with the hydrogen host.

[pt] Os semicondutores à base de TiO2 atualmente em desenvolvimento na área de fotodegradação de poluentes apresentam limitações para viabilização comercial. Os desafios encontrados são, i) tornar mais eficiente a absorção de luz na faixa visível para fotogeração dos pares elétrons livres e buracos, ii) elevação da área superficial e iii) redução da taxa de recombinação elétrons livres-buracos. Este estudo focou na síntese e caracterização de um novo nanohíbrido, sensível a luz visível à base de nanofolhas de ferrititanato esfoliadas e de nanopartículas de TiO2 (anatásio) conjugadas com acetilacetona (ACAC), controlando a razão molar de titânio nos dois componentes, além de abordar diferentes rotas de síntese do nanohíbrido e estudar os componentes separadamente. Os nanohíbridos foram sintetizados pelas rotas de mistura física e de química branda sendo nomeados como MF e HM-1 respectivamente, considerando as razões molares de [Ti]anatásio/[Ti]ferrititanato de 10, 5 e 2. Todos os nanohíbridos apresentaram elevada área superficial (superior a 100 m2/g) e restauração parcial da estrutura pilarizada. Os nanohíbridos com maior razão molar de [Ti]anátasio/[Ti]ferrititanato apresentaram maior eficiência de foto-oxidação dos gases poluentes NOx, bem como a MF apresentou maior eficiência que a HM-1. O nanohíbrido com melhor desempenho, a MF de razão 10, obteve uma conversão após 5 min de aproximadamente 80 por cento e apresentou redução gradativa de conversão até 25 por cento após 2h. Contudo, o componente isolado TiO2-ACAC calcinado a 300 graus C promoveu a sensibilização do anatásio em todo o espectro visível, tendo área superficial de 137 m2/g e uma conversão do NOx superior a 95 por cento, com redução gradativa da conversão até 38,5 por cento após 2h. Os resultados do anatásio modificado podem ser compreendidos pela combinação da estrutura nanométrica, da elevada área superficial e, principalmente, pela presença de ligações de titânia com acetilacetona superficiais em monocamadas maximizando e estabilizando a fotogeração de pares elétrons/buracos. Enquanto odesempenho inferior dos nanohíbridos pode ser atribuído a presença devacâncias de oxigênio e íons de Fe3+ atuando como centros de recombinação reduzindo a formação de radicais oxidantes. / [en] Currently, the development of TiO2-based semiconductors carry out drawback at photocatalytic commercial applications for photodegradation of pollutants gases. The photocatalytic limitations are i) inefficient absorption of visible light that inhibits the photogeneration of free electron and hole pairs, ii) small surface area and iii) high rate of electron to hole recombination. The aim of this study was the synthesis and characterization of a new visible light sensitive nanohybrids based on ferrititanate exfoliated nanosheets and a charge transfer complex (TiO2-ACAC) by controlling the [Ti] anatase/[Ti] ferrititanate molar ratio and applying two different synthesis route. Besides, it was studied the individual components. The nanohybrids were synthesized through physical mixture route and soft chemical route, named respectively as MF and HM-1. The molar ratios used in this work were 10, 5 and 2. All of the heterostructures presented high surface area (higher than 100m2/g) and partial restacking of lamellar structure. The nanohybrids with higher molar ratio and synthesized through physical mixture showed the greatest photocatalytic activity with more efficient photo-oxidation of gas NOx than the nanohybrids synthesized through soft chemical route. The nanohybrid with better performance, the MF with ratio 10, obtained a NO conversion of approximately 80 percent after 5min and gradual reduction of conversion to 25 percent after 2h. Nevertheless, the TiO2-ACAC nanoparticles component calcined at 300 C degrees presented total sensitivity at the range of visible light, surface area of 137m2/g and conversion higher than 95 percent with partial photocatalytic deactivation to 38.5 percent after 2h. The results of TiO2-ACAC system studied can be described due to its nanometric structure, high surface area and, mainly, for the presence of strongly interacting between acetylacetone with Ti ions from anatase surface, while maximized and stabilized the photogeneration of electron-hole pairs and reactive oxidizing species (ROS), .O2 -. However, the lower performance of the nanohybrids ascribed to the oxygen vacancies and Fe3+ ions that acting as electron trapping center reducing the formation of ROS.

L’acétylacétone (AcAc) existe sous deux formes tautomères, énol et kéto. Sous sa forme énol chélaté, c’est une des molécules les plus simples présentant une liaison hydrogène intramoléculaire. Nous l’avons isolée dans la matrice « quantique » de parahydrogène (pH2) pour étudier ses propriétés en bénéficiant des avantages spécifiques de ce solide cryogénique. Les spectres infrarouges apportent une caractérisation claire des formes énol et kéto. Le rapport kéto/énol est plus important en matrice de pH2 que dans les autres matrices. Les bandes du kéto sont fines alors que certaines bandes de l’énol sont très larges à cause de la présence de la liaison hydrogène. Plusieurs bandes s’affinent très lentement avec le temps. Cet effet surprenant a été interprété en terme de conversion nucléaire de spin dans un groupement méthyle d’AcAc, donnant accès aux spectres de niveaux de torsion différents. Les résultats offrent alors un nouveau moyen d’investigation des mouvements de grande amplitude de la molécule (mouvements couplés de torsion des méthyles et du transfert d’hydrogène interne). La photolyse UV des matrices AcAc/pH2 a été étudiée. Une irradiation à 266 nm conduit à l’isomérisation de l’énol sous différentes formes non chélatées ; des spectres très bien résolus de ces formes sont obtenus grâce aux propriétés du pH2 solide. En irradiant à 248 nm, on observe la tautomérisation vers la forme kéto, l’étude cinétique démontrant que le processus n’est pas direct à partir de l’énol chélaté. Enfin, une irradiation à 193 nm provoque la fragmentation de la molécule, processus qui peut être suivi de réactions avec l’hydrogène de la matrice. / Acetylacetone (AcAc) exists as a mixture of enol and keto tautomers. Besides providing a good example for the study of tautomerization, it is a model system for investigating intramolecular hydrogen bonds in its enol form. Trapping AcAc in the soft para-Hydrogen (pH2 ) environment brings out new opportunities to investigate its properties. Infrared spectra of the samples give a good characterization of the two stable enol and keto tautomers. The keto/enol ratio in solid pH2 is found to be higher than in other matrices. While vibrational bands of keto are narrow, those of enol are broad, reflecting the intrinsic properties of the enol which exhibits three entangled large amplitude motions (two methyl torsions and the intramolecular hydrogen transfer). Surprisingly, narrowing of some of these bands is observed in a slow time evolution. This effect is interpreted as a consequence of nuclear spin conversion in the hydrogen atoms of the methyl groups, giving access to AcAc species differing by their nuclear spin symmetry. This offers new pertinent investigations on the large amplitude motions, especially on the intramolecular hydrogen transfer. AcAc/pH2 samples have been irradiated by UV laser beams. Irradiation at 266 nm induces isomerization from the stable chelated enol form to non chelated conformers, similarly to the case of other matrices. A clear IR signature of the conformers is obtained thanks to the pH2 host. Irradiation at 248 nm induces the enol/keto tautomerization. The kinetics of this interconversion highlights a non-direct process. Fragmentation is clearly observed under irradiation at 193 nm, followed by chemical reaction with the hydrogen host.

Triarylborane Functionalized Dicyanovinyl and Acetylacetone Based Molecular Platforms: Building Blocks for Multiple Anion Sensors and Efficient Phosphorescence Emitters The main objective of this thesis is to design a simple strategy for triarylborane based multiple anion sensors and development of triarylborane incorporated phosphorescent metal complexes. The thesis consists of eight chapters and the contents of each chapter are given below. Chapter 1 This chapter gives a general introduction to recent advances relevant to the theme of the thesis. A review of the fundamental characteristics of triarylboranes and their applications in various fields such as chemical sensors and optoelectronics is presented. Advances in boron chemistry in the areas such as anion sensors, solid state emissive and phosphorescence materials are discussed in detail. The scope of the thesis is outlined at the end of the chapter. Chapter 2 The second chapter deals with the general experimental techniques and synthetic procedures followed in this thesis. Chapter 3 This chapter deals with a rational design strategy for differential identification of fluoride and cyanide ions using TAB based sensors. In general, most of the triarylboranes give similar optical responses towards fluoride and cyanide ions as they follow similar sensing mechanism. In order to circumvent this problem, two TAB-DCV conjugates (1 and 2) are designed and synthesised. The DCV unit is highly specific for cyanide ion owing to the presence of electrophilic carbon center. Probes 1 and 2 differ in steric crowding around the boron center. The less crowded boron center in 1 binds with fluoride as well as with cyanide ions giving similar optical response (luminescence is quenched in presence of F¯ and CN¯). In the case of 2, selectivity of boron center towards fluoride is tuned by increasing the steric crowding around the boron unit. The dicyanovinyl unit acts as selective sensing site for cyanide ions. As a result, 2 gives different fluorogenic response towards the anions F¯ and CN¯ which were considered as interfering anions in TAB based sensor chemistry. Thus, a modular design principle is developed for differential identification of fluoride and cyanide ions using TAB. Chapter 4 In this chapter, detailed photophysical studies of TAB-amine-DCV conjugates and colorimetric discrimination of fluoride and cyanide ions are discussed. Presence of amine based donor between the two electron deficient sites enhances the electronic conjugation in 3−5. Since there are two different acceptor sites with a common donor, two distinct charge transfer transition bands are observed in the visible region of electromagnetic spectrum. The absorption and emission spectra of these compounds show pronounced sensitivity to solvent polarity, signifying large excited state dipolmonents. Anion binding studies confirms that these compounds are highly selective towards fluoride and cyanide ions. Fluoride ions selectively interact with boron center and block the corresponding charge transfer transition thereby leading to a distinct colour change which is observable by naked eye. On the other hand, cyanide interacts with boron as well as DCV unit and blocks both the charge transfer transitions which results in disappearance of colour. Hence, compounds 4 and 5 exhibit different colorimetric signals for fluoride and cyanide ions. Since the absorption bands of 3 do not fall in the visible region, it does not show any colorimetric response towards the aforementioned anions. The anion sensing mechanisms are established by 1H, and 19F NMR studies. Chapter 5 This chapter presents a systematic study of the effect of length of π-electronic conjugation on the optical properties and anion sensing abilities of a series of TAB-oligothiophene-DCV conjugates (6−8). Their absorption as well as emission bands undergo redshift upon increasing the number of thiophene units between TAB and DCV units as the π-electronic conjugation in 6−8 is greatly dependent on the number of thiophene units. Their fluorescence emission is highly sensitive to solvent polarity. In the case of 6, the emission band undergoes a redshift with reduced intensity. In the case of 7 the emission band undergoes a redshift but the intensity is not affected by solvent polarity. In the case of 8, the emission band undergoes redshift with enhanced intensity in polar solvents. Interestingly, 7 and 8 show solvent viscosity dependent fluorescence. Structural reorganisation is restricted in viscous medium and results in enhanced emission for 7 and 8. Further, these compounds exhibit selective response towards the fluoride and cyanide ions with different colorimetric responses. Test strips made up of probes 7 and 8 have potential application in identifying fluoride and cyanide ions in aqueous medium. Chapter 6 This chapter describes synthesis and optical characterisation of triarylborane incorporated acetylacetone (acacH) ligands (9, 10) and their borondifluoride complexes (11, 12). AcacH ligands and BF2 complexes show solvent dependent emission phenomena due to the involvement of charge transfer transition. Their optical properties are highly dependent on molecular conformations. Complex with duryl spacer (12) exhibits more red shifted emission in polar solvents due to the enhanced charge transfer transition facilitated by twisted rigid geometry. In presence of fluoride and cyanide ions, the borondifluoride complexes are not stable. The anions concomitantly interact with tricoordinate boron as well as acac-BF2 unit to give rise to complex pattern of photoluminescence spectral changes during the titration experiment. The binding pathway and the possible species involved are established with the help of 1H, 19F and 11B NMR spectral studies in presence of the anions. Complexes 11 and 12 act as selective chemodosimetric sensors for fluoride and cyanide ions. Chapter 7 In this chapter, the synthesis and optical characterisations of triarylborane conjugated cyclometalated platinum complexes are discussed. A series of square planar platinum complexes are synthesised with different cyclometalating ligands. Complexes (13−18) exhibit a range of luminescence from green to red in solution as well as in the solid state. Their emission intensities are highly sensitive towards atmospheric oxygen suggesting that they originate from a triplet excited state. A maximum of 85% quantum yield is observed for complex 15 in solution state while complex 14 showed a maximum of 58% quantum yield in solid state. Complexes with rigid molecular conformation (14, 16 and 18) showed higher luminescence quantum yield than those having phenyl spacer (13, 15 and 17). The sterically encumbered boryl (-BMes2) group significantly reduces π-π stacking between the square planar entities. Thus, complexes 13−18 show bright luminescence in solid state compared to model complexes without boryl group. The effect of Lewis acidic boron center on luminescence behaviour is explored by fluoride binding studies. Chapter 8 This chapter is divided into two parts. Part-I describes the synthesis and optical characterisation of triarylborane conjugated cyclometalated iridium complexes (19−24). They are brightly luminescent in solution state with high sensitivity towards atmospheric oxygen. Complex 20 shows a highest quantum yield of 91%. Interestingly, under ambient atmospheric conditions, they exhibit a rare type of dual emission. Life time data suggest that the lower energy emission band originates from cyclometalated iridium based triplet excited state while higher energy emission band originates from boryl ased singlet excited state. Fluoride binding at the boron site results in luminescence quenching; evidently, tri-coordinate boron has a major contribution to the luminescence features of these iridium complexes. Part-II deals with synthesis of triarylborane conjugated pyrazole ligand (25) and its binuclear iridium complexes (26−28) in which two iridium centers are bridged by hydroxo as well as pyrazolato ligands. These binuclear iridium complexes exhibit higher luminescence quantum yield than TAB-acac-Iridium complexes (mononuclear complexes; part I). Binding of fluoride ions at the boron center has a minor impact on their luminescence nature. High sensitivity of their luminescence towards atmospheric oxygen indicates the involvement of triplet excited state in their emission process.

<p>In this thesis we have performed core-electron spectroscopy studies of gas phase molecular systems starting with smaller diatomic, continuing with triatomic and extending our research to more complex polyatomic ones. We can subdivide the results presented here into two categories: the first one focusing on electronic fine structure and effect of the chemical bonds on molecular core-levels and the other one dealing with nuclear dynamics induced by creation of a core hole. In our research we have mostly used synchrotron radiation based techniques such as X-ray Photoelectron (XPS), X-ray Absorption (XAS), normal and Resonant Auger (AES and RAS, respectively) and Energy-Selected Auger Electron PhotoIon COincidence (ES-AEPICO) spectroscopies.</p><p>We have demonstrated that resonant Auger spectroscopy can be used to aid interpretation of the features observed in XAS for Rydberg structures in the case of Cl₂ and C1s⁻¹π*¹ states of allene molecules. The combined use of high-resolution spectroscopy with <i>ab initio</i> calculations can help the interpretation of strongly overlapped spectral features and disentangle their complex profiles. This approach enabled us to determine the differences in the lifetimes for core-hole 2p sublevels of Cl₂ which are caused by the presence of the chemical bond. We have shown that contribution in terms of the Mulliken population of valence molecular orbitals is a determining factor for resonant enhancement of different final states and fragmentation patterns reached after resonant Auger decays in N₂O.</p><p>We have also performed a systematic study of the dependence of the C1s resonant Auger kinetic energies on the presence of different substituents in CH₃X compounds. For the first time we have studied possible isomerization reaction induced by core excitation of acetylacetone. We could observe a new spectral feature in the resonant Auger decay spectra which we interpreted as a signature of core-excitation-induced keto-enol tautomerism.</p>

In this thesis we have performed core-electron spectroscopy studies of gas phase molecular systems starting with smaller diatomic, continuing with triatomic and extending our research to more complex polyatomic ones. We can subdivide the results presented here into two categories: the first one focusing on electronic fine structure and effect of the chemical bonds on molecular core-levels and the other one dealing with nuclear dynamics induced by creation of a core hole. In our research we have mostly used synchrotron radiation based techniques such as X-ray Photoelectron (XPS), X-ray Absorption (XAS), normal and Resonant Auger (AES and RAS, respectively) and Energy-Selected Auger Electron PhotoIon COincidence (ES-AEPICO) spectroscopies. We have demonstrated that resonant Auger spectroscopy can be used to aid interpretation of the features observed in XAS for Rydberg structures in the case of Cl2 and C1s−1π*1 states of allene molecules. The combined use of high-resolution spectroscopy with ab initio calculations can help the interpretation of strongly overlapped spectral features and disentangle their complex profiles. This approach enabled us to determine the differences in the lifetimes for core-hole 2p sublevels of Cl2 which are caused by the presence of the chemical bond. We have shown that contribution in terms of the Mulliken population of valence molecular orbitals is a determining factor for resonant enhancement of different final states and fragmentation patterns reached after resonant Auger decays in N2O. We have also performed a systematic study of the dependence of the C1s resonant Auger kinetic energies on the presence of different substituents in CH3X compounds. For the first time we have studied possible isomerization reaction induced by core excitation of acetylacetone. We could observe a new spectral feature in the resonant Auger decay spectra which we interpreted as a signature of core-excitation-induced keto-enol tautomerism.