Fluorescence Study of Excited-State Relaxation Processes of 2-Pyridyl-5-Aryloxazoles

Abstract

Anomalously high fluorescence spectrum Stokes' shifts of 2(4-pyridyl)-5-(4-methylphenyl)oxazole, 2(4-pyridyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)oxazole, 2(4-pyridyl)-5-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)oxazole have been found. The fluorescence spectra of the compounds studied are shifted to longer wavelengths as the solvent dielectric constant increases. The dipole moments of these compounds increase by 3–4 times upon excitation. The fluorescence spectra of the compounds investigated are shifted to shorter wavelengths, and the fluorescence quantum yields increase as the temperature decreases. The fluorescence rate constant of 2(4-pyridyl)-5-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)oxazole changes slightly as the temperature decreases from 293 K (relaxed state) to 114 K (mainly nonrelaxed state). It was concluded that the anomalously high fluorescence Stokes' shift of 2-pyridyl-5-aryloxazole derivatives is caused by solvent orientation relaxation.