Differentiating Between Dipolarity and Polarizability Effects of Solvents Using the Solvatochromism of Barbiturate Dyes

Abstract

Abstract Barbiturate dyes containing either a dipolar or polarizable chromophoric system have been synthesized and their solvatochromism investigated. The effect of specific and non‐specific solvent interactions on the position of their UV/Vis absorption bands has been evaluated by using the Kamlet–Taft and Catalán solvent parameter sets. Furthermore, the effect on the solvatochromic behaviour of different substitution patterns on the barbiturate moiety has been examined. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)