Luminescence characteristics of new substituted coumarins

Fluorescence spectra at 298 and 77 K and phosphorescence spectra at 77 K have been measured for five new compounds. Fluorescence and phosphorescence quantum yields have been measured by comparison with a standard (8-methoxypsoralen). Phosphorescence lifetimes at 77 K have been found for 2-hydrazyl-3,4-cyclopentyl-14,14-dimethylpryanocoumarin (1.60 msec); 2-hydrazyl-3,4-cyclohexyl-7-methoxycoumarin (1.35); 3,4-phenyl-4′,5′-cyclohexylpsoralen (2.50); 4′-methyl-3,4-cycloheptylpsoralen (1.10); and 4′,5′-dimethyl-3,4-cyclohexylpsoralen (1.25). The basic channel of energy deactivation for 3,4-phenyl-4′,5′-cyclohexylpsoralen; 4′-methyl-3,4-cycloheptylpsoralen; and 4′,5′-dimethyl-3,4-cyclohexylpsoralen is radiative transfer. Energies of the lowest excited triplet states have been calculated using an INDO/S quantum-chemical method.