Photophysical properties of novel picrate derivatives--solvent effect

H and (13)C NMR spectra were recorded for some novel picrate derivatives derived from 3,3-dimethyl-2,6-diarylpiperidin-4-ones and 3-benzyl-2,6-diarylpiperidin-4-one. The photophysical properties of the picrate derivatives were studied in several solvents, which include a wide range of apolar, polar and protic media. The observed lower fluorescence quantum yield may be due to an increase in the non-radiative deactivation rate constant. This is attributed due to the presence of increased electrostatic interaction between N-protonated piperidone ring and picryl anion ring so that the picryl anion ring lies perpendicular to the plane of the N-protonated piperidone ring i.e., non co-planarity. Such a geometrical change in the excited state leads to an important Stokes shift, reducing the reabsorption and reemission effects in the detected emission in highly concentrated solutions. The higher fluorescence quantum yield of the picrate derivatives are observed in polar media.