Molecular fluorescence emission

The most common LC detectors are based on ultraviolet absorption (UV), refractive index (RI) changes, or molecular fluorescence emission. All three are very common phenomena, and the detectors used in LC are, with few exceptions, modifications of existing technology and not based on new principles. This was not the case with GC detectors, many of which were invented specifically for GC. In fact, many of the GC detectors, such as the FID, electron capture, and TID, have been adapted to LC as well. 

The lifetimes of molecular fluorescence emissions are determined by the competition between radiative and nonradiative processes. If the radiative channel is dominant, as in the anthracene molecule, the fluorescence quantum yield is about unity-and the lifetime lies in the nanosecond range. In molecular assemblies, however, due to the cooperative emission of interacting molecules, much shorter lifetimes—in the picosecond or even in the femtosecond range—can theoretically be expected an upper limit has been calculated for 2D excitons [see (3.15) and Fig. 3.7] and for /V-multilayer systems with 100 > N > 2.78 The nonradiative molecular process is local, so unless fluorescence is in resonance by fission (Section II.C.2), its contribution to the lifetime of the molecular-assembly emission remains constant it is usually overwhelmed by the radiative process.118121 The phenomenon of collective spontaneous emission is often related to Dicke s model of superradiance,144 with the difference that only a very small density of excitation is involved. Direct measurement of such short radiative lifetimes of collective emissions, in the picosecond range, have recently been reported for two very different 2D systems ... 

Compounds containing aromatic rings give the most intense and most useful molecular fluorescence emission. While certain aliphatic and alicyclic carbonyl compounds as well as highly conjugate double-bonded structures also fluoresce, there are very few of these compared with the number of fluorescent compounds containing aromatic systems. 

The number of detectors used in LC is quite limited. The three most popular being ultraviolet absorption (UV), refractive index (RI) and molecular fluorescence emission. Other detectors used in LC are thoroughly discussed in an earlier review [26]. 

Figure C 1.5.13. Schematic diagram of an experimental set-up for imaging 3D single-molecule orientations. The excitation laser with either s- or p-polarization is reflected from the polymer/water boundary. Molecular fluorescence is imaged through an aberrating thin water layer, collected with an inverted microscope and imaged onto a CCD array. Aberrated and unaberrated emission patterns are observed for z- and xr-orientated molecules, respectively. Reprinted with pennission from Bartko and Dickson [148]. Copyright 1999 American Chemical Society.

Selectivity The selectivity of molecular fluorescence and phosphorescence is superior to that of absorption spectrophotometry for two reasons first, not every compound that absorbs radiation is fluorescent or phosphorescent, and, second, selectivity between an analyte and an interferant is possible if there is a difference in either their excitation or emission spectra. In molecular luminescence the total emission intensity is a linear sum of that from each fluorescent or phosphorescent species. The analysis of a sample containing n components, therefore, can be accomplished by measuring the total emission intensity at n wavelengths. 

Name of Luciferin Molecular Formula (Mr) Absorption Max. (nm) (e value) Fluorescence Emission Max. (nm) Luminescence Max. (nm) Quantum Yield... 

To qualify the environment into which the colorant molecule is embedded, the actual fluorescence spectrum is compared with the one under standard conditions. If the fluorescence emission spectrum is shifted to longer wavelengths (bathochromic shift), it can be concluded that the molecular enviromnent is of a more polar nature or is polarized by the excited fluorophore. Conversely, a fluorescence shift to shorter wavelengths (hypsochromic shift) indicates a transfer of the fluorophore from a polar... 

Porphyridium species are the sources of fluorescent pink color. The main Porphyridium phycobiliproteins are B-phycoerythrin and b-phycoerythrin. Maximum absorbance of a 1% solution of B-phycoerythrin in a 1-cm cuvette is at 545 inn, and the fluorescence emission peak is at 575 inn molecular weight is 240 kda. Batch culture of Porphyridium species outdoors yields approximately 2(X) mg of colorant per liter of culture after 3 days the phycoerythrin level in the colorant is about 15%. A higher concentration of phycoerythrin, up to 30%, can be achieved under optimal algal culture conditions. 

Fluorescent probes are divided in two categories, i.e., intrinsic and extrinsic probes. Tryptophan is the most widely used intrinsic probe. The absorption spectrum, centered at 280 nm, displays two overlapping absorbance transitions. In contrast, the fluorescence emission spectrum is broad and is characterized by a large Stokes shift, which varies with the polarity of the environment. The fluorescence emission peak is at about 350 nm in water but the peak shifts to about 315 nm in nonpolar media, such as within the hydrophobic core of folded proteins. Vitamin A, located in milk fat globules, may be used as an intrinsic probe to follow, for example, the changes of triglyceride physical state as a function of temperature [20]. Extrinsic probes are used to characterize molecular events when intrinsic fluorophores are absent or are so numerous that the interpretation of the data becomes ambiguous. Extrinsic probes may also be used to obtain additional or complementary information from a specific macromolecular domain or from an oil water interface. 

Detection in CC may be visually for coloured compounds. Different methods can be used to monitor colourless compounds (collecting fractions addition of an inorganic phosphor to the column adsorbent). The detector choice is quite limited, with UV, RI and molecular fluorescence (F) emission being the most popular. A fluorescent column adsorbent is extremely... 

Conjugated boron polymers containing platimnn or palladium atom in the main chain were also prepared by hydroboration polymerization between tetrayne/ metal complex monomers and tripylborane (scheme 16).30 From gel permeation chromatographic analysis [THF, polystyrene (PSt) standards], the number-average molecular weights of the polymers obtained were found to be 9000. The polymers were soluble in common organic solvents such as THF, chloroform, and benzene. The absorption peaks due to tt-tt transition were observed around 390 nm in the UV-vis spectra of these polymers. The fluorescence emission spectra exhibited intense peaks at 490 nm in chloroform. 

Molecular rotors are useful as reporters of their microenvironment, because their fluorescence emission allows to probe TICT formation and solvent interaction. Measurements are possible through steady-state spectroscopy and time-resolved spectroscopy. Three primary effects were identified in Sect. 2, namely, the solvent-dependent reorientation rate, the solvent-dependent quantum yield (which directly links to the reorientation rate), and the solvatochromic shift. Most commonly, molecular rotors exhibit a change in quantum yield as a consequence of nonradia-tive relaxation. Therefore, the fluorophore s quantum yield needs to be determined as accurately as possible. In steady-state spectroscopy, emission intensity can be calibrated with quantum yield standards. Alternatively, relative changes in emission intensity can be used, because the ratio of two intensities is identical to the ratio of the corresponding quantum yields if the fluid optical properties remain constant. For molecular rotors with nonradiative relaxation, the calibrated measurement of the quantum yield allows to approximately compute the rotational relaxation rate kor from the measured quantum yield [Pg.284]

Molecular rotors are fluorophores characteristic for having a fluorescent quantum yield that strongly depends on the viscosity of the solvent [50], This property relies on the ability to resume a twisted conformation in the excited state (twisted intramolecular charge transfer or TICT state) that has a lower energy than the planar conformation. The de-excitation from the twisted conformation happens via a non-radiative pathway. Since the formation of the TICT state is favored in viscous solvents or at low temperature, the probability of fluorescence emission is reduced under those conditions [51]. Molecular rotors have been used as viscosity and flow sensors for biological applications [52], Modifications on their structure have introduced new reactivity that might increase the diversity of their use in the future [53] (see Fig. 6.7). 

FRET manifests itself through the quenching of donor fluorescence and a reduction of the fluorescence lifetime, accompanied by an increase in acceptor fluorescence emission. The efficiency of the energy-transfer process varies in proportion to the inverse sixth power of the distance separating the donor and acceptor molecules. Consequently, FRET measurements can be utilised as an effective molecular ruler for determining distances between molecules labelled with an appropriate donor and acceptor fluorophore, provided they are within lOnm of each other. 

Molecular fluorescence involves the emission of radiation as excited electrons return to the ground state. The wavelengths of the radiation emitted are different from those absorbed and are useful in the identification of a molecule. The intensity of the emitted radiation can be used in quantitative methods and the wavelength of maximum emission can be used qualitatively. A considerable number of compounds demonstrate fluorescence and it provides the basis of a very sensitive method of quantitation. Fluorescent compounds often contain multiple conjugated bond systems with the associated delocalized pi electrons, and the presence of electron-donating groups, such as amine and hydroxyl, increase the possibility of fluorescence. Most molecules that fluoresce have rigid, planar structures. 

A protein of similar molecular weight to that of rat oncomodulin, rat and rabbit parvalbumins, S100, and the vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding proteins has been isolated from chicken gizzard smooth muscle. In this case, however, the fluorescence emission from the four tyrosine residues is quenched by Ca2+ binding.(160) The decrease in fluorescence intensity was used to suggest that there are two different classes of Ca2+binding sites. 

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