Novel methine cyanine dyes, covering monomethine and bis-monomethine cyanine dyes having the nucleus of benzo-[2,3-b;2',3'-b']-bis-furo-[2,3-d]-imidazoline-3,5,8,10-tetra were synthesized and their structure was investigated. The electronic visible absorption spectra of all the synthesized cyanine dyes were examined in 95% ethanol solution. Solvatochromism and/or halochromism for some selected dyes were investigated in pure solvents owing different polarities (water, dimethylformamide, ethanol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and dioxane) and/or in aqueous universal buffer solutions having varied pH values (1. 45; 2.03; 3.72; 5.09; 7.57; 8.91; 10.20 and 12.04 units), respectively. The structural determination was carried out through the elemental analysis, visible electronic absorption spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, IR, and 1 H NMR spectral data.Keywords: cyanine dyes, methine cyanine dyes, synthesis, absorption spectra, solvatochromism, halochromism.
IntroductionCyanine dyes [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] were and still have been the central focus of scientists in a several fields such as chemistry, biology, physics, biotechnology, engineering, pharmacology and medicine. This is due to their multi-purpose using and applications in a diverse and a broad area. Their usage and/or applications includes photographic sensitizers, laser technology, nucleic acid and protein detection, bactericides and fungicides, intercalating dyes, data storage materials; in optical devices -as photorefractive and photovoltaic sensitive materials, fluorescent probes for bio-membrane fluidity, analytical reagents over wide pH values of media, indicators and/or probes for determining the solvent polarity and as inhibitors for cell growth and cell division.Taking into consideration the above important benefits of cyanine dyes, our main goal in this research paper is the preparation of some new photosensitizers, solvatochromic and halochromic monomethine and bis-monomethine cyanine dyes, as new contribution for the synthesis and spectroscopic investigation in this field and/or may be used and applied in any of the wide application range of cyanine dyes, particularly as photographic sensitizers in photographic