The electron donor-acceptor exciplex of N,N-dimethylaniline and 1,4,6-trimethylnaphthalene

Exciplex fluorescence between N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) and 1,4,6-trimethylnaphthalene (1,4,6-TMN) in isooctane was studied at room and elevated temperatures. This new exciplex, resulting from the association of the DMA donor to the TMN acceptor, was characterized by steady-state and time-resolved emission fluorescence spectroscopy. Temperature-dependent measurements of the exciplex fluorescence reveal that the quenching mechanism leading to exciplex formation is sufficiently favorable to permit the exciplex to exist at temperatures approaching 150°C. These results presage the utility of the DMA-TMN system as a new and viable diagnostic for the visualization of the gas/liquid distribution in flows.