Efficiency of intramolecular electronic energy transfer in coumarin bichromophoric molecules

Abstract

Intramolecular energy transfer in bichromorhoric molecules consisting of two coumarins linked by a variable number of methylene groups ( n = 3, 4, 8, 12), was studied with special attention to the effects of n, temperature, viscosity and solvent nature on the efficiency of transfer. The validity of model compounds for the donor and acceptor moieties was carefully examined. Fluorescence polarization experiments revealed that a non-randomicity of mutual orientation of donor and acceptor can only be small, if any. Dual fluorescence from donor and acceptor was observed in propylene glycol whatever the value of n and at any temperature ranging from -60 to 60°C. Fluorescence from the donor was not detectable in dimethylformamide owing to the very low quantum yield of the donor in this solvent. Transfer efficiencies were determined by three steady-state methods and were found to be more dependent on n in dimethylformamide than in propylene glycol. Incomplete energy transfer is clearly shown in the case of dimethylformamide as a solvent. The effects of temperature are weak in the -60, + 60°C range. The results are discussed in light of theories of energy transfer.