Fluorescence spectroscopic studies on substituted porphyrins in homogeneous solvents and cationic micellar medium

Steady state and time-resolved fluorescence properties of porphyrin appended 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and thiazoles were described in homogeneous medium as well as in presence of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The electron withdrawing substituent on the porphyrin moiety in both the cases make a donor–spacer–acceptor type of intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) system resulting substantial quenching in porphyrin fluorescence due to partial energy migration towards the acceptor in the excited state. The increase in fluorescence yield as well as appreciable difference in fluorescence decay behavior in aqueous buffer solution of pH 4.2 from that in chloroform solution is believed due to partial protonation of the porphyrin ring. All the investigated systems show preferential binding into the interfacial region of the micellar sub-domain with varying degree of penetration depending on the nature of the substituent. Almost 2–4 fold increase in fluorescence yield for the probes is explained on the basis of restricted flexibility and corresponding decrease in total nonradiative rate inside the micellar interface layer. ► Synthesis and detail fluorescence studies of a series of porphyrin appended 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and thiazoles. ► Comparison of homogeneous solvent study with that in CTAB. ► Substantial porphyrin fluorescence quenching in donor–spacer–acceptor type system. ► Preferential binding of the substituted porphyrins in micellar sub-domain. ► Appreciable increase in fluorescence yield in micellar interface layer is due to decrease in total nonradiative rate.