Synthesis and photophysical studies on a new fluorescent phenothiazine‐based derivative

Abstract A new typical phenothiazine compound functionalized with thienyl‐indandione derivative (PTZTID) was synthesized and characterized using spectral analysis (ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) light, infrared (IR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 13C NMR tools). The UV–vis absorption spectra of the PTZTID solution in 1,4‐dioxane showed two absorption bands attributed to localized aromatic π–π* transitions of conjugated aromatic moieties and intramolecular charge transfer with the characteristics of a π–π* transition. The fluorescence spectra exhibited a maximum emission wavelength at 580 nm. The effect of concentration on photophysical properties took the form of a minor hypsochromic shift, which was attributed to some extent to the occurrence of H‐type aggregation of the PTZTID derivative. Binary solvent effects on the spectroscopic behaviour of PTZTID were measured at different H2O/1,4‐dioxane ratios. Similarly, when increasing the water content, a hypsochromic shift was observed that resulted from H‐type aggregation. Furthermore, geometry and electronic configurations of PTZTID were studied at density functional theory /B3LYP level and indicated that the compound had a nonplanar (butterfly structure).