10.1039/c4cc00805g
The research aims to develop solvatochromic dyes capable of detecting hydrogen-bond-donating solvents, such as water, independent of polarity. The purpose is to overcome the challenge of monitoring hydrogen bonding interactions separately from polarity, as both factors influence molecular conformations, reaction rates, and chemical equilibria. The researchers synthesized two organic dyes, 6-(3-aminophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine (MADAT) and its acetylated analog, AMADAT, which exhibit unique solvatochromism due to the triazine architecture. These dyes show significant bathochromic shifts in their emission spectra when exposed to protic solvents, indicating their potential to monitor hydrogen-bonding interactions. The study concludes that these new solvatochromic dyes can be used to monitor hydrogen-bonding interactions without the influence of environmental polarity, and that the triazine architecture can be a basis for developing a range of new solvatochromic materials for detecting hydrogen-bond-donating species.