Solute − solvent repulsion effects on the absorption spectra of anthracene in n-hexane investigated under high pressure.

[Display omitted] • Important effect of repulsive interactions for absorption spectra. • Relation of barochromic and solvatochromic effects. • Dielectric Onsager model description of pressure effects on absorption. • Barochromic results for anthracene in liquid and solid n-hexane. The band positions in the UV–VIS absorption spectra of compressed solution of anthracene in n-hexane significantly depend not only on the dispersive but also on the repulsive solute–solvent interactions, what has so far been omitted. Their strength is determined not only by the solvent polarity but also by Onsager cavity radius changing with pressure. The results obtained for anthracene show that repulsive interactions should be included in the interpretation of barochromic and solvatochromic results of aromatic compounds. We show that the barochromic studies in the liquid solvent can be an alternative to solvatochromic studies, e.g. to determine the polarizability of organic molecules in the electronic excited state. The pressure-induced polarity change in n-hexane exceeds that induced by the exchange of n-alkane solvents between n-pentane and n-hexadecane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]