Synthesis and Characterization of the Photophysical Properties of Novel Heterocyclic Imines

Imine derivatives are an important class of compounds due their biological and optical properties making them suitable for several applications as chemosensor, photochromic, two-photon absorption (TPA) and nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Additionally, Schiff bases can be used as ligands, able to complex with different metals in various oxidation states, showing great catalytic activity. Imines having intramolecular hydrogen-bonding are a versatile class of compounds for the design of optical materials since proton transfer in these systems origin the change of their optical properties.As part of an on-going research to develop efficient heterocyclic systems for optical applications (NLO, photochromic, chemosensor, etc) we report in this communication the synthesis and the photophysical characterization of heterocyclic imines 1 and 2 functionalized with thiadiazole or benzothiazole as acceptor groups linked to an aryl ring.AcknowledgementsThanks are due to Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT-Portugal) and FEDER-COMPETE for financial support through Centro de Química [PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011 (F-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-022716)] and a PhD grant to M.C.R. Castro (SFRH/BD/78037/2011). The NMR spectrometer Bruker Avance III 400 is part of the National NMR Network and was purchased with funds from FCT and FEDER. We are also grateful to the Instituto da Educação of Universidade do Minho for providing the laboratory infrastructure necessary for the development of this work.