Excited S1 state dipole moments of nitrobenzene and p-nitroaniline from thermochromic effect on electronic absorption spectra

The effect of temperature on the absorption spectra of nitrobenzene (NB) and p-nitroaniline (NA) in 1,2-dichloroethane was studied for temperature ranging from 295 K to 378 K and from 296 K to 408 K, respectively. With temperature increase the absorption bands of both compounds are blue shifted, which is caused by the decrease of permittivity ε and refractive index n. From the band shifts and by using the Bilot and Kawski theory [ L. Bilot, A. Kawski, Z. Naturforsch. 17a (1962) 621] the dipole moments in the excited singlet state μe = 6.59 D of NB and μe = 13.35 D of NA were determined. The influence of polarizability α, the Onsager cavity radius a and dipole moment in the ground state μg on the determined values of μe are discussed. A comparison of the obtained μe values with those of other authors is given. In the case of p-NA a strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) was confirmed.