Charge-Transfer Complexes of Brominated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Charge-transfer complex formation between the donors 1-bromonaphthalene. 9-bromophenanthrene, 9-bromoanthracene, 3-bromopyrene, and 7-bromobenz[a]-anthracene and the acceptors iodine, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, and 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone has been investigated. The positions of the charge-transfer absorption maxima, apparent molar extinction coefficients, and equilibrium constants have been determined in carbon tetrachloride solution and the results compared with those for the corresponding unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The positions of the absorption maxima of the charge-transfer bands of the brominated hydrocarbons were anomalous but the apparent molar extinction coefficients and equilibrium constants were similar to those obtained for the parent hydrocarbons. The strength of charge-transfer bonding in molecular complexes of brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is shown to be of the same order as that in molecular complexes of the unsubstituted hydrocarbons.