Synthesis and spectral characteristics of two novel intramolecular charge transfer fluorescent dyes

The synthesis and absorption/fluorescence properties of two novel intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) compounds of (fluorene-2-yl)-(9-ethylcarbazole-3-yl) ketene and 1-phenyl-3-(fluorenone-2-yl)-5-(9-ethylcarbazole-3-yl)-2-pyrazoline were reported. The primary structure of the target compounds was characterized by IR and H-1 NMR. The systems contained a fluorenone or a propenon group as an electron acceptor (A) and an N-ethylcarbazole and a pyrazoline group as electron donors (D). From the emissive properties it was concluded that the electronic coupling between D and A was sufficient to allow charge transfer in these molecules. The ICT maximal emission displayed a large wavelength shift and Stokes shifts increased in response to the increase of the solvent Polarity. The highly solvatochromic properties made the two compounds of great interest as new classes of fluorescent probes, electroluminescent and electrofax materials. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.