Solvatochromism in binary solvent mixtures by means of a penta-tert-butyl pyridinium N-phenolate betaine dye

The solvatochromic behavior of a penta-tert-butyl prydinium N-phenolate betaine dye was studied using UV-visible spectrophotometry in several binary mixture solvents. The solvent polarity parameter, E-T (1) (kcal. mol(-1)) was calculated from the position of the longest-wave length intramolecular charge transfer absorption band of this penta-tert-butyl betaine dye. For binary solvent mixtures, all plots of E-T (1) versus the mole fraction of a more polar component are nonlinear owing to preferential solvation of the probe by one component of the binary solvent mixture. In the computation of E-T (1) it was assumed that the two solvents mixed interact to form a common structure with an E-T (1) value not always intermediate between those of the two solvents mixed. The results obtained are explained by the strong synergism observed for some of the binary mixtures with strong hydrogen bond donors (HBD) solvents such as alcohols.