Excited complex formation between styrenes and tertiary amines

Abstract

Fluorescence quenching by tertiary amines of a series of aromatic olefins all having the same styryl π-electron system leads to the formation of fluorescent exciplexes. The detection of these fluorescent exciplexes suggests a mechanism for the formation of addition products on irradiation of styrene derivatives in the presence of tertiary amines. Rate constants for styrene fluorescence quenching using a range of styrenes indicate the charge-transfer nature of the exciplex. NN-Dimethylaniline fluorescence is quenched by styrene with a rate near to the diffusion rate. However, exciplex emission was not observed.