Intramolecular fluorescence quenching of anthracene by heterocyclic ligands

Abstract

The 9-anthryl and 9-anthrylmethyl groups and their 10-methyl derivatives have been used to form quaternary salts of some pyridines and N-methylimidazole. The imidazolium compounds exhibit normal anthracenic fluorescence but the pyridinium materials show efficient intramolecular quenching. An electron transfer mechanism is advanced which accounts for these phenomena.