Photoexcited States of UV Absorbers, Benzophenone Derivatives

Abstract The UV absorption, phosphorescence and phosphorescence‐excitation spectra of benzophenone ( BP ) derivatives used as organic UV absorbers have been observed in rigid solutions at 77 K. The triplet–triplet absorption spectra have been observed in acetonitrile at room temperature. The BP derivatives studied are 2,2′,4,4′‐tetrahydroxybenzophenone ( BP ‐2), 2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzophenone ( BP ‐3), 2,2′‐dihydroxy‐4,4′‐dimethoxybenzophenone ( BP ‐6), 5‐chloro‐2‐hydroxybenzophenone ( BP ‐7) and 2‐hydroxy‐4‐ n ‐octyloxybenzophenone ( BP ‐12). The energy levels and lifetimes of the lowest excited triplet ( T 1 ) states of these BP derivatives were determined from the first peak of phosphorescence. The time‐resolved near‐ IR emission spectrum of singlet oxygen generated by photosensitization with BP ‐7 was observed in acetonitrile at room temperature. BP ‐2, BP ‐3, BP ‐6 and BP ‐12 show photoinduced phosphorescence enhancement in ethanol at 77 K. The possible mechanism of the observed phosphorescence enhancement is discussed. The T 1 states of 2‐hydroxy‐5‐methylbenzophenone, 4‐methoxybenzophenone and 2,4′‐dimethoxybenzophenone have been studied for comparison.