The interplay of intersystem crossing and internal conversion in quadrupolar tetraarylpyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles

Abstract

Adding nitro groups to aromatic compounds usually quenches their fluorescence via intersystem crossing (ISC) or internal conversion (IC). Herein, we investigated centrosymmetric 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles linked to variously substituted nitro-heteroaryls. A 1,4-orientation of the nitro substituent versus the electron rich 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole core invokes a strong fluorescence in non-polar solvents and intense two-photon absorption while a 1,3-orientation of push–pull substituents results in a dramatic hypsochromic shift of absorption, weak, bathochromically shifted emission and weak two-photon absorption. The combined experimental and computational study indicates that the primary responsible factors are: (1) the difference in electron density distribution in the LUMO; (2) the difference in μ₁₀. IC is a dominant mechanism of non-radiative dissipation of energy in all these dyes but as long as the distribution of electron density within the HOMO and LUMO is delocalized on the 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole core as well as on the nitroaromatic moieties its rate is slower than the fluorescence rate in non-polar solvents.