Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of Anthracenecarboxylic Acids. II. 1- and 2-Anthroic Acids

The absorption and fluorescence spectra of 1- and 2-anthroic acids (1- and 2-anthracenecarboxylic acids) in alcoholic solvents have been observed as a function of solute concentration. It was revealed that 1- and 2-anthroic acids form hydrogen-bonded dimers in their ground states. The equilibrium constants for dimer formation are : 1.2×104 mol−11 for 1-anthroic acid in methanol and 2.0×104 mol−11 for 2-anthroic acid in ethanol. Owing to dimer formation, the lowest frequency absorption band of 1-anthroic acid was uniformly displaced to the red, while that of 2-anthroic acid was distinctly resolved into two bands. The band assignment was confirmed by the method of photoselection. No excimer-type fluorescence was observed in 1- and 2-anthroic acids. The lack of mirror-symmetry relationship between the absorption and fluorescence spectra of 1-anthroic acid is explained by the geometrical relaxation in its excited state.