Solvent effect profiles of absorbance and fluorescence spectra of some indole based chalcones.

The photophysical properties of a series of 3-(1'H-Indol-3'-yl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one and its derivatives (indole chalcones) were studied in different solvents. Solvent effects on the absorption and fluorescence spectra were quantified using Reichardt's and bulk solvent polarity parameters and were complemented by the results of the Kamlet-Taft treatment. The observed excited state dipole moment was found to be larger than the ground state dipole moment of these chalcones. The correlation of the solvatochromic Stokes-shifts with the microscopic solvent polarity parameter (E(T)(N)) was found to be superior to that obtained using bulk solvent polarity functions.