Novel 6-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) benzo[a]phenazin-5-ol Derivatives with Dual Emission and Large Stokes Shift Synthesis, Photophysical Properties and Computational Studies.

Novel phenazine containing dyes were obtained by the condensation of 5-hydroxybenzo[a]phenazine-6-carbaldehyde and 5-chloro-benzo[a]phenazine-6-carbaldehyde with 1,2-diaminobenzene. The dyes were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, elemental analysis and mass spectra. The UV-vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of the dyes were studied in solvents of differing polarity; the dyes exhibited excited state intra molecular proton transfer. The structural changes due to excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) phenomenon in terms of bond angle, bond distances and geometry were investigated with the help of DFT computations. The computed absorption and emission were in agreement with the experimental absorption and emission.