Hydrocarbons, aromatic emission quantum yields

With spectroscopic methods it is possible to obtain information about the conformation of hydrocarbon-DNA complexes. The fluorescence quantum yields of aromatic hydrocarbons are greatly reduced when they bind to DNA in intercalated conformations. Figure 3 shows how the intensity of the emission spectrum of DMA decreases with increasing concentrations of DNA in 15% methanol. (In Figure 3 and throughout this discussion DNA concentrations and association constants have been reported in terms of PO molarity unless otherwise indicated. The solution content of organic solvents is given in percent volume.)... 

However, the heavy atom effect can be small for some aromatic hydrocarbons if (i) the fluorescence quantum yield is large so that de-excitation by fluorescence emission dominates all other de-excitation processes (ii) the fluorescence quantum yield is very low so that the increase in efficiency of intersystem crossing is relatively small (iii) there is no triplet state energetically close to the fluorescing state (e.g. perylene)10 . 

Without interactions with potential host molecules and in diluted solutions to avoid excimeric formations, pyrene presents in solution an intense and anisotropic fluorescence, as well as a high fluorescence quantum yield [34-37], Direct evidence of ground-state interactions of pyrene with potential host molecules is provided by the emission spectra. The vibrational structure of the emission spectrum of pyrene is constituted by five fine peaks, named I, I2, h, I4, and I5 (Fig. 13.2) [38]. An increase of the intensity of peak Ii is observed in polar solvents, while I, is solvent insensitive. Thus, the evolution of the ratio of intensities /1//3 gives information on the evolution of the polarity of the environment close to molecular pyrene, and consequently on the encapsulation of this guest in a host molecular or supramolecular object [39]. This sensitivity of pyrene, and of peri-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules in general, to the polarity of the environment is a photophysic property that is extensively used to study host-guest interactions [40]. 

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