Optical sensitivity of electrospun fibers containing quinoxalines derived with metal ion chelating agent

Abstract

Fluorescent chromophores are generally known to have planar and rigid π-conjugation systems, and we have been interested in the chemistry of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic molecules for many years. Quinoxaline was the representative fluorophore, and several quinoxaline derivative compounds were reported over the recent years. Quinoxaline can easily change their absorption or emission wavelength by oxidation among proton and nitrogen of the quinoxaline ring. In addition, it has been proved that many types of metal chelating ligand substituents such as dipyrrole, terpyridine, and crown-ether rings can control electronic levels of those fluorephores. In this study, we designed and synthesized several 2,3-distyrylquinoxaline derivatives with each have a substituent of alkyl groups which have different electron-donating abilities and aza-crown ether, a chelating agent with metal-cation. The chromophoric system of these compounds, and the substituent effects on their absorption spectra in a solution, were studied. And we approached the application to nanofibers by electrospinning which contained the synthesized colorants mentioned above.