Fluorescence behaviour of some 4-substituted halobenzenes

Abstract

The fluorescence characteristics of 4-substituted chloro and fluorobenzenes I and II were studied in isooctane and acetonitrile solutions. It was found that all compounds exhibit a weak (substituent and solvent dependent) fluorescence in the range 305-370 nm with quantum yields 1.2 . 10-2-2.3 . 10-1. The relation between the substituent nature and fluorescence band position may be quantified by log νf~ = ρσp + log νf~0, the magnitude of the shift paralleling the donor strength of the substituent. Fluorescence quantum yields are increased approximately by a factor 2 on going from isooctane to acetonitrile and solvent-induced shifts are proportional to the static dipole moment change Δμ which occurs upon excitation. Radiative decay rate varies only slightly around a mean value of 5 . 107 s-1 and shows no substantial difference between chloro (I) and fluoro (II) derivatives. The non-radiative decay rate (of the order ~ 109 s-1) was found to be about 5 times higher in the case of chloro compounds due to the more efficient S1 - Tn intersystem crossing.