Influence of trimethoxy-substituted positions on fluorescence of heteroaryl chalcone derivatives

Three series of heteroaryl chalcones, (E)-1-(2-pyridyl)-3-(X) prop-2-en-1-one (Ia-Ic), (E)-1-(2-thienyl)-3-(X)prop-2-en-1-one (IIa-IIc), and (E)-1-(2-furyl)-3-(X) prop-2-en-1-one (IIIa-IIIc), where X = 2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl (for series a), X = 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl (for series b), and X = 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl (for series c) were synthesised using basic catalysed aldol condensation and characterised using (1)H NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies. Compound IIa was also characterised by single crystal X-ray analysis. The absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of these compounds revealed that the absorption and fluorescence depended on the heterocycle rings and trimethoxy-substituted phenyl rings linked to the enone system. The position of methoxy groups substantially affected the fluorescent properties. Compounds Ia-IIIa containing the 2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl moiety exhibited the red-shift phenomenon and strong emission fluorescence. (C) 2011 Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences