Effect of addition of trifluoroacetic acid on the photophysical properties and photoreactions of aromatic imides

The UV and IR spectra of N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide in benzene showed a two-step consecutive complexation (hydrogen bond formation) with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The equilibrium constant K1 for the first complexation in benzene was determined from the UV spectrum to be 48 M−1. The fluorescence intensities of the imide in benzene were found to be remarkably enhanced by the addition of TFA. Furthermore, photochemical cyclobutane formation of the imide with styrene in benzene was enhanced by the addition of TFA. Enhancement of the fluorescence intensity and the photoreaction of the imide by complexation with TFA was explained by a decrease of the efficiency of the intersystem crossing from 1(ππ∗) to 3(nπ∗), that results from an increase in the energy of the 3(nπ∗) level due to the complexation.