Radiationless deactivation of the excited phototautomer form and molecular structure of ESIPT-compounds

Abstract

Correlation between the character of electronic density redistribution in the excited normal and phototautomer forms, which are involved in the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction, and the rates of primary photoprocesses—proton phototransfer and radiationless deactivation of the phototautomer form—was analysed on the qualitative level. It was revealed that noticeable improvement of fluorescence properties of ESIPT molecules could be achieved by directed modification of their chemical structure, most importantly by the introduction of electron withdrawing substituents into their proton donor moieties. Several facts are presented in favour of the last statement.