Spectroscopic studies on some chromones
Absorption and luminescence spectra were measured for chromone, 4-chromanone, and four photoproducts formed by the addition of extramolecular multiple bonds to photo-excited chromone. Absorption spectra in polar and non-polar solvents at room temperature revealed a low lying n → π* singlet transition in all of these systems. The cycloaddition products and 4-chromanone showed a weak fluorescence in polar solvents which was not observed in non-polar solvents, suggesting a solvent reordering, or at least increased mixing of low lying n,π* and π,π* singlet states. No fluorescence could be detected from chromone in either type of solvent. At 77 °K in polar solvents, all of these systems displayed a concentration independent, intense phosphorescence of intermediate lifetime (25 to 200 ms). The lifetime data, combined with the vibrational analyses of the phosphorescence spectra, phosphorescence polarization results, and oxygen induced singlet–triplet absorption spectra support the concept of a lowest energy triplet state of mixed orbital character. More detailed studies on chromone demonstrated a concentration dependent phosphorescence in non-polar solvents, with the "normal" chromone phosphorescence dominant below 10−4 M. At higher concentrations a lower energy, broad band phosphorescence was observed, which in spite of physical aggregation in the ground state, can be ascribed to a chromone exciplex.