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Wiley, ChemPhysChem, 15(9), p. 2221-2229, 2008

DOI: 10.1002/cphc.200800352

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Cyano Analogues of 7-Azaindole: Probing Excited-State Charge-Coupled Proton Transfer Reactions in Protic Solvents

This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Abstract

The interplay between excited-state charge and proton transfer reactions in protic solvents is investigated in a series of 7-azaindole (7AI) derivatives: 3-cyano-7-azaindole (3CNAI), 5-cyano-7-azaindole (5CNAI), 3,5-dicyano-7-azaindole (3,5CNAI) and dicyanoethenyl-7-azaindole (DiCNAI). Similar to 7AI, 3CNAI and 3,5CNAI undergo methanol catalyzed excited-state double proton transfer (ESDPT), resulting in dual (normal and proton transfer) emission. Conversely, ESDPT is prohibited for 5CNAI and DiCNAI in methanol, as supported by a unique normal emission with high quantum efficiency. Instead, the normal emission undergoes prominent solvatochromism. Detailed relaxation dynamics and temperature dependent studies are carried out. The results conclude that significant excited-state charge transfer (ESCT) takes place for both 5CNAI and DiCNAI. The charge-transfer specie possesses a different dipole moment from that of the proton-transfer tautomer species. Upon reaching the equilibrium polarization, there exists a solvent-polarity induced barrier during the proton-transfer tautomerization, and ESDPT is prohibited for 5CNAI and DiCNAI during the excited-state lifespan. The result is remarkably different from 7AI, which is also unique among most excited-state charge/proton transfer coupled systems studied to date.