Synthesis, characterization and photophysical studies of a novel schiff base bearing 1, 2, 4-Triazole scaffold

• The synthesized schiff base derivative has a more polarized excited state.
• The spectral shifts in excitation and emission spectra are controlled by the strength of hydrogen bond donor (α).
• Photon induced charge transfer (PICT) in the excited state.
• Computational studies were used to explore electronic transitions.

A novel Schiff base derivative containing 1, 2, 4-triazole nucleus (TMPIMP) was synthesized from 4- [1,2,4] triazol-1-ylmethyl-phenylamine and salicylaldehyde in the presence of glacial acetic acid in an ethanolic medium. The synthesized compound was characterized by 1H-NMR, IR and UV spectral analysis. The excitation and emission spectra of triazolyl methyl phenyl imino methyl phenol (abbreviated as TMPIMP) were recorded in various solvents to investigate their solvatochromic behaviour. Dipole moments of the two electronic states of TMPIMP were calculated from solvatochromic spectral shifts. These were correlated with refractive index (η) and dielectric constant (ε) of various solvents. Theoretical calculations were performed to estimate the excited state dipole moment on the basis of different solvent correlation methods, like the Bilot–Kawski, Bakhshiev, Lippert–Mataga, Kawski–Chamma-Viallet and Reichardt methods. The dipole moment in the excited state was found to be higher than that in the ground state due to a substantial redistribution of electron densities and charges. Using a multiple regression analysis, the solvent–solute interactions were determined by means of Kamlet Taft parameters (α, β, π*). Computational studies were performed by Gaussian 09 W software using a time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) in order to calculate the atomic charges and frontier molecular orbital energies in the solvent phase. The calculations indicated that the dipole moment of the molecule in an excited state is much higher than that in a ground state. The chemical stability of TMPIMP was determined by means of chemical hardness (η) using HOMO-LUMO energies. The reactive centers in the molecule were also identified by molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) 3D plots as a result of TD-DFT computational analysis.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide