Synthesis, single crystal X-ray, spectroscopic (FT-IR, UV–vis, fluorescence, 1H &13C NMR), computational (DFT/B3LYP) studies of some imidazole based picrates

Abstract

2,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium picrate (1), 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium picrate (2), 2-(4-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium picrate (3) were synthesised. These compounds 1–3 were characterized by elemental, FT-IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR analyses. The structure of compound 3 was further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The studies reveal that the molecule is associated with weak NH⋯O and CH⋯N and van der Waals interactions which are responsible for the formation and strengthening of supramolecular assembly. The nature of the interactions and their importance are explored using the Hirshfeld surface method. The physicochemical properties of the compounds 1–3 were evaluated by UV–vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. According to thermal data the salts possess excellent thermal stabilities with decomposition temperatures ranging from 220 to 280 °C. Second-harmonic generation (SHG) results exposed that the picrates 1–3 were about 1.13–1.50 times greater than potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP). Here we also used Density functional theory (DFT) calculations in order to investigate the opto-electronic properties. The obtained theoretical results validate with available experimental data.