Solution and supersonic jet studies of the intramolecular exciplex of dinaphthyl propanes

The newly synthesized dinaphthyl propanes: 1,3-di-(2-naphthyl)-propane and 1-(1-naphthyl), 3-(2-naphthyl)-propane were studied spectroscopically under supersonic jet conditions and in solution. Under supersonic jet conditions , both molecules exhibit abroad, structureless fluorescence excitation spec trum and relatively short non-exponential decay of the highly red shifted f luorescence, consistent with strong interchromophore coupling in the excite d state, resulting in, at least, partial excitation directly into an excipl ex-like state. These observations are in contrast to the observed spectra a nd fluorescence decay of all other dinaphthalene bichromophoric molecules. Solution studies support these findings. The optimal flexible sandwich type geometry of both molecules is probably responsible for the observed excipl ex state stabilization. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.