Electronic spectroscopy of highly-polar aromatics. V. The polar excimer of N,N-dialkyl-p-cyanoaniline

The fluorescence spectra of N, N-dialkyl-p-cyanoanilines in fluid media have been re-examined. The long-wavelength fluorescence, previously attributed to a solvated ¹L_a → ¹A₁ fluorescence, is interpreted as an excimer fluorescence, an assignment which is supported by concentration dependence studies and quenching experiments. The temperature dependence of the excimer/ monomer fluorescence intensity ratio indicates that excimer formation is a diffusion controlled process. The binding energy of the excimer is found to be independent of the nature of the solvent and to be smaller than those values estimated for excimers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Solvent viscosity, solvent polarity and specific solvent-solute interactions affect the excimer/monomer fluorescence intensity and these effects are interpreted. The geometry of the excimer is also discussed.