Phosphorescence and TREPR spectra have been measured for
2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (MNQ), 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ), and 2-methoxynaphthoquinone (MeONQ)
in several matrices at low
temperatures. The |D| value of ZFS parameter
decreases with increasing the electron-donating character
of
the substituent group. For MNQ, the T1 state is
clearly assigned to be 3nπ* in character. The
broad
phosphorescence spectra and minor effects of the matrix polarity on the
ZFS parameters lead to the conclusion
that the character of the T1 states are mainly
3ππ* in DMNQ and MeONQ. The T1 states
of the present
naphthoquinone derivatives have more or less mixed character of the
3nπ* and 3ππ* states.