Solvatochromic Behavior of a Sterically Hindered 4-aminonaphthalimide Dye

Abstract

The solvatochromism of the 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide fluorophore is well established, with the wavelengths of maximum absorption and maximum emission showing a hypochromic shift as the dielectric constant of the solvent decreases. We have synthesized a new naphthalimide dye Poster Presentations: Natural and Physical Sciences 81 with bulky 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TMP) groups at both the 4-, and N- positions. In preliminary trials, we have observed this dye exhibits solvatochromic behavior that differs from what we expected on the basis of precedent. Herein, we report our findings of the solvatochromic behavior of this dye compared to a naphthalimide dye with sterically undemanding n-butyl substituents in the same positions.