Intramolecular Phototransfer of Protons and the Quenching of Fluorescence of Derivatives of 2-(Coumarinyl-3)-5-(ortho-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole

The spectral-luminescence properties of ortho-hydroxy derivatives of 2-(coumarinyl-3)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole have been studied. It is shown that the basic reason for the decreased quantum yield of emission for the compounds studied is the high-speed phototransfer of a proton (estimated as 109 s^-1). Fluorescence of the products of this reaction (phototautomers) was not observed. It was confirmed by quantum-chemical calculations that the increase in efficiency of nonradiative dissipation of the electron excitation energy in phototautomeric forms of ortho-hydroxycoumarinyloxadiazoles is explained by an increase in intramolecular donor-acceptor interaction on introduction of the coumarin unit into the molecule. As a result of the high efficiency of nonradiative deactivation of the excited state, the ortho-hydroxyderivatives studied have promise as UV photostabilizers in polymeric materials.