Symmetry- and Solvent-Dependent Photophysics of Fluorenes Containing Donor and Acceptor Groups (Postprint)

Three two-photon absorption (2PA) dyes (donor−π–donor (DPA2F), donor−π–acceptor (AF240), and acceptor−π–acceptor (BT2F); specifically, D is Ph2N–, A is 2-benzothiazoyl, and the π-linker is 9,9-diethylfluorene) are examined in a variety of aprotic solvents. Because the 2PA cross section is sensitive to the polarity of the local environment, this report examines the solvent-dependent linear photophysics of the dyes, which are important to understand before probing more complex solid-state systems. The symmetrical dyes show little solvent dependence; however, AF240 has significant solvatochromism observed in the fluorescence spectra and lifetimes and also the transient absorption spectra. A 114 nm bathochromic shift is observed in the fluorescence maximum when going from n-hexane to acetonitrile, whereas the lifetimes increase from 1.25 to 3.12 ns. The excited-state dipole moment for AF240 is found to be 20.1 D using the Lippert equation, with smaller values observed for the symmetrical dyes. Additionally, t...