Effect of solvent environment on the Photophysics of a newly synthesized bioactive 7-oxy(5-selenocyanato-pentyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one

► Synthesis and photophysical behavior of the bioactive PCM. ► The order of the two close-lying lowest singlet states is modulated by H-bonding interaction in polar solvents. ► In non-polar solvent non-radiative path favor due to mixing of n,π⁎ and π,π⁎ singlet states. ► Quantum chemical calculation has been employed to corroborate with experimental finding.