Abstract

We have synthesized four novel highly conjugated and fluorescent compounds, 2-(phenyl)-3-(4-diphenylaminophenyl)acrylonitrile (I), 2-(2´-pyridyl)-3-(4-diphenylamino-phenyl)acrylonitrile (II), 2-(3´-pyridyl)-3-(4-diphenylaminophenyl)acrylonitrile III) and 2-(4´-pyridyl)-3-(4-diphenylaminophenyl)acrylonitrile (IV) by the Knoevenagel condensation.  In solution, the UV-vis spectra showed two maxima for each compound, one at ~296-300 nm and the other at ~403-428 nm. The compounds showed fluorescence emission in CHCl₃ solution as well as in the state solid. The fluorescence quantum yield for the compounds in powder form showed values ranging from 0.07-0.11.  Structures were confirmed with IR, MS, and NMR spectroscopy. Molar coefficient absorption, absorbance, fluorescence emission spectra and fluorescence quantum yield (F_f) were compared to evaluate the effects of the diphenylamino-substituents and the position of nitrogen on the electronic properties of phenylpyridylacrylonitriles compounds

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