Photophysical properties of a boron analogue of coumarin

Abstract

In this report, we present a study into the structure and electronic properties of difluoroboronsalicylaldoxime (DFBS), a boron-based structural analog of coumarin. The modification of the heterocyclic ring of coumarin with boron results in a compound with similar structural parameters and molecular orbitals to coumarin. DFT and TDDFT calculations reveal a significant stabilization of the LUMO in DFBS; this is supported by a ∼40 nm red shift of the lowest electronic transition in the absorption spectrum. Interestingly, DFBS is emissive, while unmodified coumarin is effectively non-radiative. Comparisons between DFBS, emissive coumarin variants, and unmodified coumarin suggest that the charge transfer character of the transition contributes to the fluorescence.