Unusual solvent effects on the fluorescence quenching rate constants of a thioxanthone derivative by n-butylamine and isoprene

The fluorescence quenching rate constants of a thioxanthone derivative by two electron donors (n-butylamine and isoprene) were studied in eighteen solvents of different polarity. Both the empirical polarity parameter ET(30) and the more elaborate solvatochromic comparative method (SCM) π*, α, β (used without any precautions) failed to explain the relevant data. However, when in the frame of the SCM the sequential procedure is applied, unexpected solvent effects were revealed for hydroxylic solvents. These effects can be well accounted for by introducing a parameter χ for the whole set of solvents studied, equal to one or zero, depending on whether OH groups are involved or not in the quenching mechanism. A clue to the introduction of the parameter χ is presented.