title: Solvatochromism of distyrylbenzene pairs bound together by [2.2]paracyclophane: evidence for a polarizable "through-space" delocalized state.
abstract: A series of compounds were designed and synthesized to examine how through-space and through-bond electron delocalization respond to solvent effects. The general strategy involves the study of "dimers" of the distyrylbenzene chromophore held in close proximity by the [2.2]paracyclophane core and a systematic dissection of the chromophore into components with through-space and through-bond electronic delocalization. Steady state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in a range of solvents reveals a red-shift in emission and an increase in the intrinsic fluorescence lifetime for the emitting state in polar solvents when donor substituents are absent. We propose that through-space delocalization across the [2.2]paracyclophane core is more polarizable in the excited state, relative to the through-bond (distyrylbenzene based) excited state. When strong donors are attached to the distyrylbenzene chromophore, the charge transfer character of the distyrylbenzene-based excited state dominates fluorescence properties.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers and Organic Solids, Department of Materials and Chemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara, 93106, USA.
authors.forename: Janice W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Han Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Guillermo C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Bazan