Fluorescence behavior of chromones containing several protolytic centers 3-Thiazolylchromones: Emission band assignment and pH dependent effects

Fluorescence properties of 3-thiazolylchromones (TC) were studied in the wide H(0)/pH range -10 to 12. It was found that the number of the excited TC protolytic forms exceeds their quantity in the ground state. The formation of the new emitting species was explained as the result of the dramatic changes in the acid-base characteristics of three protolytic centers of TC molecules under the electronic excitation. The quantum chemical evaluation of the relative thermodynamic stability of all the possible excited TC acid-base forms aiming to find out, which of them should be the most energetically favorable, was made. The assignment of the experimentally observed emission bands to the above mentioned acid-base forms of 3-thiazolylchromones was carried out. The pH/H(0) ranges, where all of the detected protolytic forms could be observed, were determined. The dissociation and protonation constants of 3-thiazolylchromones in the ground and excited states were estimated. The most probable mechanism of the excited TC cation-tautomer formation was discussed.