Effects of Substitution on the Phosphorescence Process of Aromatic Carbonyl Compounds

TLDR: In this paper, the 3La(π,π*) state was shown to have a singlet character due to the heavy-atom effect, which accounts for the observation that the phosphorescence spectrum involves out-of-plane-polarized vibrational bands.

Abstract: Phosphorescence and absorption spectra, phosphorescence- and excitation-polarization, spectra and phosphorescence lifetimes were measured at 77°K for benzaldehyde, acetophenone and their eight derivatives with a halogen atom, or a hydroxyl, methoxyl or amino group as a substituent at the para position. In chloro- and bromo-derivatives, the phosphorescent triplet state is of the (n,π*) type, and is mixed with the 1La(π,π*) state by direct spin-orbit interaction, as in the case of the parent carbonyls. In addition, owing to the heavy-atom effect, it gains its singlet character by the mechanism (Remark: Graphics omitted.) which accounts for the observation that the phosphorescence spectrum involves out-of-plane-polarized vibrational bands. Substitution of a more electron-donating hydroxyl, methoxyl, or amino group brings about a change of the phosphorescent state from the 3(n,π*) state to the; 3La(π,π*). The following mechanisms are shown to be important to the 3La(π,π*) state: (Remark: Graphics omitted.) Th...