Study of spectral and fluorescent properties and isomerization of merocyanines containing nitrile groups as acceptors

Abstract

The spectral, fluorescent, and photochemical properties of new merocyanines containing nitrile groups as acceptors have been studied. Positive solvatochromism is observed for most of these compounds; however, for the dye containing three nitrile groups as acceptors—polyenic aminotrinitrile—negative solvatochromism is observed: the absorption spectrum is shifted to shorter wavelengths with increasing the solvent polarity. In all solvents used, the fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectra of the merocyanines almost do not depend on the excitation and fluorescence registration wavelengths, respectively. Using the flash photolysis method, the formation of photoisomers of the merocyanines has been detected and the kinetics of their decay in solvents of different polarity has been studied. Backward (dark) isomerization of the photoisomers has been shown to take place more slowly in nonpolar solvents.