Synthesis and physico-chemical properties of highly conjugated azo-aromatic systems. 4-(azulen-1-yl)-pyridines with mono- and bis azo-aromatic moieties at C3-position of azulene

Highly conjugated azo-aromatic systems have been prepared in high to moderate yields by linking mono- and bis-azo aromatic fragments to 4-(Rn-azulen-1-yl)-2,6-dimethyl-pyridine. The synthesized pi-extended systems have been studied by NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis and electrochemistry. Systematic increase of the conjugation along the azobenzene skeleton has affected the spectral properties of the azophenyl substituted 4-(azulen-1-yl)-pyridine. The synthesized compounds exhibit a bathochromic shift of the visible absorption maxima with the increase of the conjugating skeleton and introduction of an electron-withdrawing group. The electrochemical behavior revealed a high stability toward oxidation owing to the higher polarization induced by the azulenylpyridine moiety. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.