Negative solvatochromism of a series of pyridinium phenolate betaine dyes with increasing steric hindrance

The negative solvatochromism of a series of pyridinium phenolates betaine dyes is investigated using three approaches: (a) empirical, based on the empirical solvent polarity parameter ET(30); (b) semi-empirical, based on the π∗, α, β set of parameters used in Kamlet–Taft’s Solvatochromic Comparison Method (SCM); and (c) physical, by means of the Onsager reaction-field model of solvents. Comparison of the obtained correlations underscored the roles of both the two tert-butyl groups ortho to the oxygen atom and the interplanar angle between the phenyl rings on the very blue shifts observed as the polarity increases.