Three rhodamine derivatives exhibiting electrofluorochromic properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and UVeVis/fluorescence spectroelectrochemistry. Rhodamine 101 (Rh101, compound 1) was used as a reference model. In compound 2, the carboxylate anion of Rh101 was replaced by an alkyne moiety to allow further functionalization. The compound 3 was prepared from 2 by conversion of the alkyne to a triazole group bearing an alkyl chain with an alcohol function. These three rhodamine derivatives exhibited similar electrochemical behaviors. Their mono-electronic reductions produced the corresponding radical species which were stable on the time-scale of cyclic voltammetry. Additional reduction of electrogenerated radicals produced unstable anions which underwent subsequent chemical reaction, most likely protonation. Based on cyclic voltammetry investigations, absorption and fluorescence spectroelectrochemistry were then performed on compounds 1, 2, 3 and their parent reduced radicals 1a, 2a, 3a. UVeVis spectroelectrochemistry, combined with TD-DFT calculation, confirmed the formation of radicals upon mono-electronic reduction of starting rhodamines. Fluorescence spectroelectrochemistry showed that, contrary to their parent molecules, electrogenerated radicals were non-fluorescent. Electrochemical fluorescence extinction was successfully achieved with all studied compounds. Moreover, compound 1 underwent on/off switching between fluorescent and nonfluorescent states repeatedly. Also, recovery of fluorescence in compound 3 was observed, which open interesting opportunities for the development of versatile rhodamine-based probes.
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L’électrofluorochromisme : quand l’électrochimie rencontre la fluorescence !
References:
Electrochemical switching fluorescence emission in rhodamine derivatives
Martina Cízkova, Laurent Cattiaux, Jean-Maurice Mallet, Eric Labbé, Olivier Buriez
Electrochimica Acta 260 (2018) 589-597
doi : 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.12.104
Electrochemical switching fluorescence emission in rhodamine derivatives