UV Absorption and Luminescence Spectra of [2.2]Paracyclophane Phenyl Derivatives

UV absorption, fluorescence emission and excitation, and fluorescence excitation synchronous scanning spectra at 298 K and fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra at 77 K were measured for solutions of 4-phenyl- (I) and 4,12-(II), 4,15- (III), and 4,16-diphenyl derivatives (IV) of [2.2]paracyclophane. Analysis of absorption spectra shows that they are determined by two types of chromophores (biphenyl and paracyclophane). It was shown that their weak long wavelength band (310–340 nm) and fluorescence band are governed by the same electron transition from the ground to an excimer-like excited state, as in the case of the unsubstituted macrocycle. Phenyl substitution shows only a weak influence on the energy of this transition. Strong absorption bands of I–IV at 230–310 nm originate from electronic transitions of biphenyl groups in these molecules. The strong bands of isomeric II–IV (with two biphenyl chromophores) differ significantly. It was supposed that this phenomenon was caused by different resonance interaction between electron oscillators (transitions) of the two biphenyl chromophores leading to different splitting of their excited states.