Characterization of 2-phenylbenzo[g]quinoxaline derivatives as viscosity-sensitive fluorescent probes

To develop viscosity-sensitive fluorescent probes, five different substituted 2-phenylbenzo[g]quinoxaline derivatives (3a–e) were designed and synthesized by using benzo[g]quinoxaline as a fluorophore and phenyl ring bearing a rotatable single bond as a viscosity-sensitive unit. The fluorescence properties of these compounds were investigated in the media of the ethylene glycol–glycerol mixture with varied viscosity. It is found that 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzo[g]quinoxaline (3d) and 2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-benzo[g]quinoxaline (3e) carrying stronger electron-donating groups in the phenyl ring show more sensitive fluorescence response to viscosity, revealing their potential use in viscosity detection and the key role of the substituted groups. The effects of solvent polarity and pH on the fluorescent properties of 3d and 3e were also discussed. The present study might be useful in developing viscosity-sensitive fluorescent probes.