Integrating theory and practice in the design of new trisazotriaryl compounds

Herein, we report an experimental and theoretical investigation of the physicochemical properties of trisazotriaryl molecules. This work is heavily focused on the influence of the tautomerism effect and the structural modifications on the β-D-glucosyl Yariv molecule. The modifications were designed to make trisazotriaryl soluble in nonpolar solvents and improve electron donor ability. From an experimental standpoint, the modified molecules were characterized using spectroscopy techniques, such as infrared and ultraviolet-visible absorbance, photoluminescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance. From a theoretical perspective, density functional theory calculations provided more profound insight into the structural, spectroscopic, and electronic properties. Therefore, through a combined experimental and theoretical methodology, we elucidated some critical aspects of both the β-D-glucosyl Yariv and its modified counterparts, such as the tautomer-leaning preference on solvent media and higher stabilities on tautomeric forms, band gaps of indirect nature, and the nature of the excitonic transitions.