Photophysical Properties of Coumarin‐30 Dye in Aprotic and Protic Solvents of Varying Polarities¶

Experimental results on various photophysical properties of coumarin‐30 (C30) dye, namely, Stokes' shift (Δv), fluorescence quantum yield (τ_f), fluorescence lifetime (τ_f), radiative rate constant (k_f) and nonradiative rate constant (k_nr), as obtained using absorption and fluorescence measurements have been reported. Though in most of the solvents the properties of C30 show more or less linear correlation with the solvent polarity function, Δf= [(ε ‐ 1)/(2ε+ 1) ‐ (n² ‐ 1)/ (2n²+ l)], they show unusual deviations in nonpolar solvents at one end and in high‐polarity protic solvents at the other end. From the solvent polarity and temperature effect on the photophysical properties of the dye, following inferences have been drawn: ( 1 ) in nonpolar solvents, the dye exists in a nonpolar structure, where its 7‐NEt₂ substituent adopts a pyramidal configuration and the amino lone pair is out of resonance with the benzopyrone π cloud; ( 2 ) in medium to higher polarity solvents, the dye exists in a polar intra‐molecular charge transfer structure, where the 7‐NEt₂ group and the 1,2‐benzopyrone moiety are in the same plane and the amino lone pair is in resonance with the benzopyrone π cloud; ( 3 ) in protic solvents, the dye‐solvent intermolecular hydrogen bonding influences the photophysical properties of the dye; and ( 4 ) in high‐polarity protic solvents, the excited C30 undergoes a new activation‐controlled nonradiative deexcitation process because of the involvement of a twisted intra‐molecular charge transfer (TICT) state. Contrary to most other TICT molecules, the activation barrier for this deexcitation process in C30 is observed to increase with solvent polarity. A rational for this unusual behavior has been given on the basis of the solvent polarity‐dependent stabilization and crossing of relevant electronic states and the relative propensity of interconversion among these states.     

Solvent polarity induced structural changes in 2,6-diamino-9,10-anthraquinone dye

Photophysical properties of 2,6-diamino-9,10-anthraquinone (2,6-DAAQ) dye have been investigated in different solvents and solvent mixtures. The fluorescence quantum yields, fluorescence lifetimes, radiative rate constants, nonradiative rate constants and absorption and fluorescence spectral characteristics show unusual deviations in the lower polarity aprotic solvents in comparison to those in other aprotic solvents of medium to higher polarities. The results indicate that the dye exists in different structural forms in the lower and in the medium to higher polarity solvents. Drawing an analogy with the results reported for other amino-substituted dyes, it is inferred that 2,6-DAAQ dye adopts a planar intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) structure in medium to higher polarity solvents, where the amino lone pairs are in good resonance with the anthraquinone pi-cloud. In the lower polarity solvents, however, the dye is inferred to exist in a nonplanar structure where the amino lone pairs are not in good resonance with the anthraquinone pi-cloud. Due to these structural differences, the dye displays significantly different photophysical behavior in the lower polarity solvents than in the other solvents of medium to higher polarities. Supportive evidence for the above structural changes has been obtained from ab initio quantum chemical calculations on the structures of the dye under different conditions. Unusual deviations in the photophysical properties of 2,6-DAAQ dye in protic solvents in comparison to those in aprotic solvents of similar polarities are attributed to the intermolecular hydrogen bonding effect involving the OH groups of the protic solvents and the quinonoid oxygens of the dye.     

Investigations of the solvent polarity effect on the photophysical properties of coumarin-7 dye

Photophysical investigations of coumarin-7 (C7) dye in different solvents using absorption, steady-state fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence measurements reveal the behavioral changes of the dye in nonpolar and other solvents. In moderate to higher polarity solvents, the experimental parameters such as fluorescence quantum yield (Phif), fluorescence lifetime (tauf), radiative rate constant (k(f)), nonradiative rate constant (k(nr)) and Stokes' shift (Deltav) follow almost linear correlations with the Lippert-Mataga solvent polarity parameter Deltaf but show unusual deviations in nonpolar solvents. From the observed results, it is inferred that the dye exists in a planar intramolecular charge transfer structure in moderate to higher polarity solvents, but in nonpolar solvents, the dye exists in a nonplanar structure with its 7-NEt2 group adopting a pyramidal type of configuration. Unlike some of the other coumarin dyes, namely coumarin-120 (C120) (4-CH3-7-NH2-1,2-benzopyrone) and coumarin-151 (C151) 4-CF3-7-NH2-1,2-benzopyrone), which also show similar structural changes in nonpolar and other solvents, the C7 dye does not show any activation-controlled deexcitation process in nonpolar solvents. This is attributed to the very slow flip-flop motion of the 7-NEt2 group of the C7 dye in comparison with the very fast flip-flop motion of the 7-NH2 group in the C120 and C151 dyes. Qualitative potential energy diagrams are presented to rationalize the observed results of C7 dye and to compare these with those of the other dyes such as C120 and C151. A support for the observed results and interpretation has also been obtained from quantum chemical calculations on the structures of the C7 dye.     

Intramolecular charge transfer in pyrromethene laser dyes: photophysical behaviour of PM650.

Absorption and fluorescence (steady-state and time-correlated) techniques are used to study the photophysical characteristics of the pyrromethene 650 (PM650) dye. The presence of the cyano group at the 8 position considerably shifts the absorption and fluorescence bands to lower energies with respect to other related pyrromethene dyes; this is attributed to the strong electron-acceptor character of the cyano group, as is theoretically confirmed by quantum mechanical methods. The fluorescence properties of PM650 are intensively solvent-dependent. The fluorescence band is shifted to lower energies in polar/protic solutions, and the evolution of the corresponding wavelength with the solvent is analysed by a multicomponent linear regression. The fluorescence quantum yield and the lifetime strongly decrease in polar/protic solvents, which can be ascribed to an extra nonradiative deactivation, via an intramolecular charge-transfer state (ICT state), favoured in polar media.     

The role of the ring nitrogen and the amino group in the solvent dependence of the excited-state dynamics of 3-aminoquinoline

The nonradiative rate in 3-aminoquinoline is found to exhibit anomalous solvent dependence, being rather fast in nonpolar solvents and remarkably slower in more polar and especially, more protic ones. The cause of such behavior is investigated by studying the dependence of fluorescence spectral and temporal parameters on the solvent properties such as polarity and hydrogen bonding ability. Complementary quantum mechanical calculations have been performed and the picture that emerges from these studies is that of an excited state with a short radiative lifetime due to the flipping of the amino group. This state is selectively populated in nonpolar, nonhydrogen bonding solvents, but is destabilized with respect to the more polar intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state in polar solvents and even more so in protic solvents and dimethylsulfoxide. The slower nonradiative rates in the ICT state is attributed to the more restricted motion of the amino group in this state. The role of hydrogen bonding of the amino group and the ring nitrogen in stabilization/destabilization of the ICT state and therefore on the nonradiative rate is also explored.     

Thermodynamics and Conformations in the Formation of Excited States and Their Interconversions for Twisted Donor‐Substituted Tridurylboranes

We synthesized a series of donor‐substituted tridurylboranes containing different types and number of chromophores including 1‐pyrene (PB1–3), 3‐carbazole (CBC1–3), or substituted p‐carbazol‐N‐phenyl (CBN3a–c) as various donor–acceptor (D–A) molecules. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these twisted D–A molecules were investigated by means of UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry (CV). Solvent polarity, viscosity, and temperature effects on the fluorescence emission reveal the existence of three types of excited states, and their equilibria and interconversions between three excited states. In increasing order of the charge‐separated extent and the conformational change, three excited states are the locally excited (LE) state, the more planar intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) state, and the more twisted ICT (TICT) state as compared to the ground state. The TICT state undergoes a conformational change with a higher energy barrier over the ICT state. The solvent polarity effect on the state conversion is opposite to the viscosity effect, and temperature effects derive from its resulting changes of polarity and viscosity. For example, the increase of the polarity of the solvent results in excited‐state conversions from the LE state to the ICT state, and/or from the ICT to the TICT state, and an increased viscosity leads to the opposite conversions. On the basis of electrochemical and spectral data, thermodynamics of a possible ICT process were estimated, and correlated with the excited‐state character. Finally, three excited states have been characterized by the conformation, the photophysical properties, and the thermodynamics of the ICT processes.     

Twisting dynamics in the excited singlet state of Michler's ketone

Ultrafast relaxation dynamics of the excited singlet (S(1)) state of Michler's ketone (MK) has been investigated in different kinds of solvents using a time-resolved absorption spectroscopic technique with 120 fs time resolution. This technique reveals that conversion of the locally excited (LE) state to the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state because of twisting of the N,N-dimethylanilino groups with respect to the central carbonyl group is the major relaxation process responsible for the multi-exponential and probe-wavelength-dependent transient absorption dynamics of the S1 state of MK, but solvation dynamics does not have a significant role in this process. Theoretical optimization of the ground-state geometry of MK shows that the dimethylanilino groups attached to the central carbonyl group are at a dihedral angle of about 51 degrees with respect to each other because of steric interaction between the phenyl rings. Following photoexcitation of MK to its S1 state, two kinds of twisting motions have been resolved. Immediately after photoexcitation, an ultrafast "anti-twisting" motion of the dimethylanilino groups brings back the pretwisted molecule to a near-planar geometry with high mesomeric interaction and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character. This motion is observed in all kinds of solvents. Additionally, in solvents of large polarity, the dimethylamino groups undergo further twisting to about 90 degrees with respect to the phenyl ring, to which it is attached, leading to the conversion of the ICT state to the TICT state. Similar characteristics of the absorption spectra of the TICT state and the anion radical of MK establish the nearly pure electron transfer (ET) character of the TICT state. In aprotic solvents, because of the steep slope of the potential energy surface near the Franck-Condon (FC) or LE state region, the LE state is nearly nonemissive at room temperature and fluorescence emission is observed from only the ICT and TICT states. Alternatively, in protic solvents, because of an intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interaction between MK and the solvent, the LE region is more flat and stimulated emission from this state is also observed. However, a stronger hydrogen-bonding interaction between the TICT state and the solvent as well as the closeness between the two potential energy surfaces due to the TICT and the ground states cause the nonradiative coupling between these states to be very effective and, hence, cause the TICT state to be weakly emissive. The multi-exponentiality and strong wavelength-dependence of the kinetics of the relaxation process taking place in the S1 state of MK have arisen for several reasons, such as strong overlapping of transient absorption and stimulated emission spectra of the LE, ICT, and TICT states, which are formed consecutively following photoexcitation of the molecule, as well as the fact that different probe wavelengths monitor different regions of the potential energy surface representing the twisting motion of the excited molecule.     

Tunable solvatochromic response of newly synthesized antioxidative naphthalimide derivatives: intramolecular charge transfer associated with hydrogen bonding effect

The solvatochromic behavior of two newly synthesized naphthalimide derivatives (I and II) which have potential antioxidative activities in anticarcinogenic drug development treatment, has been monitored in protic and aprotic solvents of different polarity applying steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. The compounds exhibit unique photophysical response in different solvent environments. The spectral trends do not appear to originate only from changes in the solvent polarity but also indicate that hydrogen bonding interactions and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) influence the energy of electronic excitation of the compounds. Incorporation of an amino group at C(4) position of the naphthalimide ring in II makes it behave differently from I in terms of spectral characterization and fluorescence efficacy of the systems. The nonradiative relaxation process of the compounds is governed by medium polarity. The ground state geometry, lowest energy transition, and the UV-vis absorption energy of the compounds were studied using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G* level, which showed that the calculated outcomes were in good agreement with experimental data.     

Photophysics of a Coumarin in Different Solvents: Use of Different Solvatochromic Models

This study reported the photophysics of 7‐(diethylamino)coumarin‐3‐carboxylic acid N‐succinimidyl ester (7‐DCCAE) in different neat solvents of varying polarity using steady‐state absorption, fluorescence emission and picosecond time‐resolved spectroscopy. In nonpolar solvents, the dye molecule predominantly exists in nonpolar structure and exhibits very low value of nonradiative decay rate constant (k_nr), demonstrating the emission takes place from S₁‐LE to S₀ ground state. The fluorescence quantum yields, lifetime values of 7‐DCCAE in different solvents are rationalized on the basis of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) followed by twisted intramolecular charge transfer state formation (TICT) as well as specific solute–solvent interactions. Several solvatochromic models (such as Lippert, Dimroth, Kamlet–Taft, Catalán 3P and Catalán 4P models) were used to analyze the solvatochromic shift of 7‐DCCAE in different solvents. The different empirical models show that the observed results are better correlate for nonchlorinated solvents and provide statistically significant best‐fit result. A comparison was done between comparatively new solvatochromic model (Catalán 3P and Catalán 4P model) with Kamlet–Taft model. The ground state structure of the said molecule was optimized by using Density Functional Theory (DFT).     

Photophysics of representative ketocyanine dyes: dependence on molecular structure

Spectral properties of a new fluorescent ketocyanine dye have been discussed. The energy of maximum absorption/fluorescence of the dye exhibits bathochromic shift with increasing polarity of the medium. Both dipolarity-polarisability and hydrogen bond donation interaction contribute to solvation of the dye. Study of fluorescence parameters points to existence of different emitting states of the dye for aprotic and protic solvents. While the emitting state is the (1)(π, π*) state for aprotic solvents, fluorescence supposedly take place from a different emitting state involving H-bond formation in the excited state in protic solvents. Fluorescence parameters of the dye have been compared with those for a structurally similar symmetric ketocyanine dye. The faster decay of the dye relative to its symmetric counterpart has been explained as due to an increase of nonradiative decay.     

Restriction of Molecular Twisting on a Gold Nanoparticle Surface

To understand the photophysical properties of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) states on a gold nanoparticle (Au NP) surface, we have designed and synthesized a new coumarin molecule (C3) that exists both as ICT and TICT states in its excited state in a polar environment. On a Au NP surface, an excited C3 molecule only exists as an ICT state owing to restricted molecular rotation of a diethylamino group; as a result, no conversion from the ICT to TICT state was observed. Selection of the preferential state of a molecule with dual emitting states can be helpful for selected biological applications.     

TICT formation in para- and meta-derivatives of N-phenylpyrrole

The photophysical properties of m- and p-cyano N-phenylpyrrole (m- and p-PBN) are compared. Both compounds show highly red-shifted and strongly forbidden emission in polar solvents, assigned to a charge transfer state. The forbidden nature is indicative of very weak coupling between the two pi-systems, and a twisted emissive structure is suggested (TICT state). Comparison to quantum chemical calculations indicates that the twisted structure possesses an antiquinoid distortion of the benzonitrile group, i.e., the central bonds in the ring are lengthened instead of shortened. m-PBN is the first meta compound which shows a CT emission assignable to a TICT state. It differs from p-PBN by a less exergonic formation of the CT state from the LE/ICT quinoid state. Consequently, it shows only single LE/ICT fluorescence in nonpolar alkane solvents, whereas p-PBN shows dual fluorescence in this solvent (LE/ICT and TICT).     

Time-dependent density functional theory study on hydrogen-bonded intramolecular charge-transfer excited state of 4-dimethylamino-benzonitrile in methanol

The time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method was carried out to investigate the hydrogen-bonded intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) excited state of 4-dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN) in methanol (MeOH) solvent. We demonstrated that the intermolecular hydrogen bond C[triple bond]N...H-O formed between DMABN and MeOH can induce the C[triple bond]N stretching mode shift to the blue in both the ground state and the twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (TICT) state of DMABN. Therefore, the two components at 2091 and 2109 cm(-1) observed in the time-resolved infrared (TRIR) absorption spectra of DMABN in MeOH solvent were reassigned in this work. The hydrogen-bonded TICT state should correspond to the blue-side component at 2109 cm(-1), whereas not the red-side component at 2091 cm(-1) designated in the previous study. It was also demonstrated that the intermolecular hydrogen bond C[triple bond]N...H-O is significantly strengthened in the TICT state. The intermolecular hydrogen bond strengthening in the TICT state can facilitate the deactivation of the excited state via internal conversion (IC), and thus account for the fluorescence quenching of DMABN in protic solvents. Furthermore, the dynamic equilibrium of these electronically excited states is explained by the hydrogen bond strengthening in the TICT state.     

Dual fluorescence of omeprazole: effect of solvents and pH

Absorption, steady state fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence spectra of omeprazole (OMP) have been studied in solvents of different polarity and pH. With an increase in the polarity of the solvents, blue shift is observed in the longer wavelength whereas red shift is noticed in the shorter wavelength band. The dual emission observed in non-polar solvents suggests that the energy of the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state is lower than that of the locally excited (LE) state. The normal Stokes-shifted band originates from the LE state, and the large Stokes-shifted band is due to the emission from a TICT state. The Stokes shift of OMP is correlated with various solvent polarity scales like E_T(30) and f?(D,n).     

Non-covalent interactions of coumarin dyes with cucurbit[7]uril macrocycle: modulation of ICT to TICT state conversion

Non-covalent interaction of coumarin laser dyes, namely coumarin-1 (C1), coumarin-481 (C481) and coumarin-6H (C6H), with a versatile macrocyclic host molecule cucurbit[7]uril (CB7), has been investigated in aqueous solution using photophysical methods. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies illustrate significant enhancements/modifications in the fluorescence yields, lifetimes and spectral features of C1, C481 and C6H on interaction with CB7, and are assigned to 1 : 1 complex formation between the dyes and the CB7 host. The complex formation is mainly driven by charge-dipole interaction, as evident from the binding constant values (K ~ 10(4)-10(5) M(-1)). The large changes in the excited state behaviour of C1 and C481 as compared to C6H in the presence of CB7 indicate that CB7 binds C1 and C481 through the encapsulation of the 7-N,N'-diethylamino group of the dyes and the structural rigidity imposed by this interaction dramatically alters the excited state properties of the dyes by preventing the conversion of their emissive intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state to the non-radiative twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state. The present results direct towards the probable supramolecular approach using water soluble macrocyclic CB7, in the development of aqueous dye laser systems in the blue-green region.     

Role of dipole moment of solvents in formation and stabilization of the TICT states in Coumarin 445 under nitrogen laser excitation

In this paper we report the observation of dual Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) from solutions of 7-ethylamino-4-methyl coumarin dye (Coumarin 445) in certain solvents such as n-butyl acetate, dioxane etc. when pumped by high power nitrogen laser. The two ASE bands appear to be from two different excited species (ICT and TICT conformation) one of which is the precursor of the other. The spectral characteristics of dye Coumarin 445 depend upon the solvent environment. The TICT coumarin photoisomers, which form exciplexes with the solvent molecules, have enough gain to produce amplified spontaneous emission even when there is apparently no detectable fluorescence. The behaviour of this dye in the excited state is studied by measuring the small signal gain and variation of the gain slope with temperature in different solvents. It is observed that polarity of the solvent plays a more dominant role in formation and stabilization of TICT states.     

Spectral and photophysical properties of intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence probe: 4'-dimethylamino-2,5-dihydroxychalcone

The spectral and photophysical properties of a new intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) probe, namely 4′-dimethylamino-2,5-dihydroxychalcone (DMADHC) were studied in different solvents by using steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy. Whereas the absorption spectrum undergoes minor change with increasing polarity of the solvents, the fluorescence spectrum experiences a distinct bathochromic shift in the band position and the fluorescence quantum yield increases reaching a maximum before decrease with increasing the solvent polarity. The magnitude of change in the dipole moment was calculated based on the Lippert–Mataga equation. These results give the evidence about the intramolecular charge transfer character in the emitting singlet state of this compound.     

Photophysical studies of dipolar organic dyes that feature a 1,3-cyclohexadiene conjugated linkage: the implication of a twisted intramolecular charge-transfer state on the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells

A detailed study of the synthesis and photophysical properties of a new series of dipolar organic photosensitizers that feature a 1,3‐cyclohexadiene moiety integrated into the π‐conjugated structural backbone has been carried out. Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on these structurally simple dyes have shown appreciable photo‐to‐electrical energy conversion efficiency, with the highest one up to 4.03 %. Solvent‐dependent fluorescence studies along with the observation of dual emission on dye 4 b and single emission on dyes 4 a and 32 suggest that dye 4 b possesses a highly polar emissive excited state located at a lower‐energy position than at the normal emissive excited state. A detailed photophysical investigation in conjunction with computational studies confirmed the twisted intramolecular charge‐transfer (TICT) state to be the lowest emissive excited state for dye 4 b in polar solvents. The relaxation from higher‐charge‐injection excited states to the lowest TICT state renders the back‐electron transfer process a forbidden one and significantly retards the charge recombination to boost the photocurrent. The electrochemical impedance under illumination and transient photovoltage decay studies showed smaller charge resistance and longer electron lifetime in 4 b ‐based DSSC compared to the DSSCs with reference dyes 4 a and 32 , which further illustrates the positive influence of the TICT state on the performance of DSSCs.     

Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of the Excited States of 1‐Amino‐ and 1‐(N,N‐Dimethylamino)‐fluoren‐9‐ones

The dynamics of the excited states of 1‐aminofluoren‐9‐one (1AF) and 1‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)‐fluoren‐9‐one (1DMAF) are investigated by using steady‐state absorption and fluorescence as well as subpicosecond time‐resolved absorption spectroscopic techniques. Following photoexcitation of 1AF, which exists in the intramolecular hydrogen‐bonded form in aprotic solvents, the excited‐state intramolecular proton‐transfer reaction is the only relaxation process observed in the excited singlet (S₁) state. However, in protic solvents, the intramolecular hydrogen bond is disrupted in the excited state and an intermolecular hydrogen bond is formed with the solvent leading to reorganization of the hydrogen‐bond network structure of the solvent. The latter takes place in the timescale of the process of solvation dynamics. In the case of 1DMAF, the main relaxation pathway for the locally excited singlet, S₁(LE), or S₁(ICT) state is the configurational relaxation, via nearly barrierless twisting of the dimethylamino group to form the twisted intramolecular charge‐transfer, S₁(TICT), state. A crossing between the excited‐state and ground‐state potential energy curves is responsible for the fast, radiationless deactivation and nonemissive character of the S₁(TICT) state in polar solvents, both aprotic and protic. However, in viscous but strong hydrogen‐bond‐donating solvents, such as ethylene glycol and glycerol, crossing between the potential energy surfaces for the ground electronic state and the hydrogen‐bonded complex formed between the S₁(TICT) state and the solvent is possibly avoided and the hydrogen‐bonded complex is weakly emissive.     

Intriguing H-aggregate and H-dimer formation of coumarin-481 dye in aqueous solution as evidenced from photophysical studies

Photophysical properties of coumarin-481 (C481) dye in aqueous solution show intriguing presence of multiple emitting species. Concentration and wavelength dependent fluorescence decays and time-resolved emission spectra and area-normalized emission spectra suggest the coexistence of dye monomers, dimers, and higher aggregates (mostly trimers) in the solution. Because of the efficient intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state to twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state conversion, the dye monomers show very short fluorescence lifetime of ~0.2 ns. Fluorescence lifetimes of dimers (~4.1 ns) and higher aggregates (~1.4 ns) are relatively longer due to steric constrain toward ICT to TICT conversion. Observed results indicate that the emission spectra of the aggregates are substantially blue-shifted compared to monomers, suggesting H-aggregation of the dye in the solution. Temperature-dependent fluorescence decays in water and time-resolved fluorescence results in water-acetonitrile solvent mixtures are also in support of the dye aggregation in the solution. Though dynamic light scattering studies could not recognize the dye aggregates in the solution due to their small size and low concentration, fluorescence up-conversion measurements show a relatively higher decay tail in water than in water-acetonitrile solvent mixture, in agreement with higher dye aggregation in aqueous solution. Time-resolved fluorescence results with structurally related non-TICT dyes, especially those of coumarin-153 dye, are also in accordance with the aggregation behavior of these dyes in aqueous solution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the aggregation of coumarin dyes in aqueous solution. Present results are important because coumarin dyes are widely used as fluorescent probes in various microheterogeneous systems where water is always a solvent component, and the dye aggregation in these systems, if overlooked, can easily lead to a misinterpretation of the observed results.