Examining the spectroscopic features and quantum chemical computations of a Quinoline derivative: Experimental and theoretical insights into the photophysical characteristics

The solvatochromic studies in a Quinoline derivative molecule namely Quinolin-8-ol (QO) have been carried out at ambient temperature using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The QO molecule shows the bathochromic shift with increase in solvent polarity demonstrating pi -> pi* transition. The solvatochromic data coupled with quantum mechanical calculations has been used to estimate change in dipole moment of the molecule after excitation. It has been found that excited state dipole moment is greater than the corresponding ground state dipole moment. Further, it is observed that excited and ground state dipole moments are parallel. The chemical reactivity and kinetic stability of QO molecule are investigated using Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis shows proton transfer within the selected donor-acceptor depicting large energy of stabilization for QO molecule. The calculated Fukui functions infer the local softness and local eletrophilicity index of QO molecule. The theoretically simulated UV-Vis absorption spectrum of QO molecule matches well with the experimental spectrum.