American Chemical Society, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 14(110), p. 4638-4648, 2006
DOI: 10.1021/jp060072y
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Quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) calculations and spectral data were employed to investigate the possibility of the excited-state double proton transfer (ESDPT) in lumichrome crystals. The calculations in a lumichrome dimer predict a transfer of a proton in the first excited state, leading to a cation-anion pair. The presently reported X-ray structure of 1,3-dimethyllumichrome and its complex solid-state luminescence indicate that also in this molecule intermolecular hydrogen bonds might be involved in the photophysics. The long-wavelength emission in lumichrome crystals peaked at 530 nm is attributed to excited-state proton transfer, whereas a wider emission band in methylated lumichrome derivatives peaked at 560 nm is attributed to ions formed upon photoexcitation of the crystals.