Photophysical properties of 2'-hydroxychalcones of 2-cinnamoyl-4-nitro-1-naphthol series

2’-Hydroxychalcones of 2-cinnamoyl-4-nitro-1-naphthol series were obtained by the condensation between 2-acetyl- 4-nitro-1-naphthol and benzaldehydes. The presence of the 4-positioned nitro group in the 1-hydroxy-2-naphthyl fragment contributes to the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) fluorescence of these 2’-hydroxy- chalcones in the solid state. Compound with dimethyl- amino substituent, 2-(4-dimethylaminocinnamoyl)-4-nitro- 1-naphthol, also demonstrates ESIPT in solution.