Solvatochromic Studies of Fluorescein Dianion in N,N-Dimethylformamide/Water and Dimethylsulphoxide/Water Mixtures

Abstract

The absorption, excitation and fluorescence spectra of the fluorescein dianion (FL^2?) in N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF)/water (H₂O) and Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO)/H₂O solvent mixtures have been investigated. It is found that the absorption λ_max and emission maxima EX, _nax are both hypsochromic shifted when the H₂O content in the solvent mixtures increases. However, the shoulder peaks λ_s remain constant at 483. 5nm within the range of H₂O mole fraction, x= 0 to 0. 518 in a DMF/H₂O solvent mixture and at 484. 4nm within the range, x=0 to 0. 304, in a DMSO/H₂O mixture. Further increases in H₂O content, cause a hypsochromic shift in λ_s. The molar energies for the electronic transition from the ground state (S₀) to S₁, the first excited singlet state, (E_T(1)) and to S₂, the 2nd excited singlet state, (E_T(2)) of FL^2?in the solvent mixtures are also plotted against x. Linear straight lines and intersection points are observed at x=0. 73 for E_T(1) and at x=0. 51 for E_T(2) in the DMF/H₂O mixture and at x=0. 71 for E_T(1) and at x=0. 31 &; 0. 69 for E_T(2) in the DMSO/H₂O mixture. Hydrogen-bonding stabilization effects are used to explain the above observations. The variation in relative fluorescence quantum yields of S₁ and S₂ of FL^2? with x in the aprotic solvent-H₂O mixtures to FL^2? in pure aprotic solvent are determined and discussed.