Emissive urea compounds with varying π-conjugation lengths were studied for their effect on excited-state intermolecular proton-transfer reactions with anions. Extended π-conjugation increases the ESPT rate constants and promotes tautomer formation.
Cyclodextrins, saccharides, and ethanol were examined to assess the effects of hydroxy groups on the ESPT reaction. Differences in the fluorescent behaviors indicate varying interactions between the hydroxy compounds and complexes.
50 years after Th. Förster, 5 years after D. Huppert and M. Eigen: proton transfer as one of the best studied chemical reactions is still under debate and paves the way for new developments in physical and theoretical chemistry.
ortho-, meta- and para-aminobiphenyl isomers undergo distinctly different photochemical reactions involving proton transfer, which are driven by excited-state antiaromaticity relief.
Excited-state proton transfer and ion pair dynamics is controlled by solvent polarity in organic solvents. Polar solvents facilitate full separation into free ion pairs while only solvent-separated ion pairs are formed in low polarity solvents.