2-(2-巯苯基)苯并噁唑分子内质子转移取代基电子效应的密度泛函理论研究

在B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)和TDB3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)//CIS/6-31G(d,p)水平上研究了2-(2-巯苯基)苯并噁唑及其衍生物基态和激发态分子内质子转移现象,并探讨取代基电子效应对分子内质子转移的影响,研究结果表明,在基态时,硫醇式异构体为优势构象,供电子取代基使基态分子内正向质子转移能垒(烯醇式→酮式)升高;而吸电子取代基则可降低能垒,有利于基态分子内质子转移并有助于硫酮式异构体的稳定.在激发态时,硫酮式结构为优势构象,所研究的2-(2-巯苯基)苯并噁唑化合物及衍生物均可以发生无能垒或低能垒(≤1.5kJ/mol)的激发态分子内质子转移.巯苯基部分是激发态失活的主要活性部分,供电子基团有利于激发态的质子转移,吸电子基团使激发态跃迁困难,不利于激发态的质子转移.     

Femtosecond dynamics on 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-diethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole: solvent polarity in the excited-state proton transfer.

Detailed insights into the excited-state enol(N*)-keto(T*) intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction in 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-diethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole (HABT) have been investigated via steady-state and femtosecond fluorescence upconversion approaches. In cyclohexane, in contrast to the ultrafast rate of ESIPT for the parent 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (>2.9+/-0.3 x 10(13) s(-1)), HABT undergoes a relatively slow rate (approximately 5.4+/-0.5 x 10(11) s(-1)) of ESIPT. In polar aprotic solvents competitive rate of proton transfer and rate of solvent relaxation were resolved in the early dynamics. After reaching the solvation equilibrium in the normal excited state (N(eq)*), ESIPT takes place with an appreciable barrier. The results also show N(eq)*(enol)<-->T(eq)*(keto) equilibrium, which shifts toward N(eq)* as the solvent polarity increases. Temperature-dependent relaxation dynamics further resolved a solvent-induced barrier of 2.12 kcal mol(-1) for the forward reaction in CH(2)Cl(2). The observed spectroscopy and dynamics are rationalized by a significant difference in dipole moment between N(eq)* and T(eq)*, while the dipolar vector for the enol form in the ground state (N) is in between that of N(eq)* and T(eq)*. Upon N-->N* Franck-Condon excitation, ESIPT is energetically favorable, and its rate is competitive with the solvation relaxation process. Upon reaching equilibrium configurations N(eq)* and T(eq)*, forward and/or backward ESIPT takes place with an appreciable solvent polarity induced barrier due to differences in polarization equilibrium between N(eq)* and T(eq)*.     

A time-dependent density functional theory study on the excited state behavior of a novel T2(OH)B molecule

A novel pH-sensitive fluorescent probe T₂(OH)B was selected to theoretically investigate its excited state hydrogen bonding effects and excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. First, it was verified that one intramolecular hydrogen bond is formed spontaneously in T₂(OH)B itself. Given the geometrical changes, we further confirm that the hydrogen bond should be strengthened in the first excited state. When it comes to the photoexcitation process, we present the charge redistribution around hydrogen bonding moieties facilitate the ESIPT tendency. The increased electronic densities around acceptor promote the attraction of hydrogen protons. The potential energy barrier in the constructed potential energy curves reveals that the ESIPT process of the T₂(OH)B system should be ultrafast. And comparing several nonpolar solvents, we deem solvent polarity plays little role in the ESIPT reaction. Furthermore, we also search the S₁-state transition state structure along with the ESIPT path, based on which we simulate the intrinsic reaction coordinate path. We not only confirm the ESIPT mechanism presented in this work but also clarify the ultrafast excited state process and explain previous experiment. We sincerely hope that our theoretical work could guide novel applications based on the T₂(OH)B system in future.     

Different ESIPT Mechanisms for Angular‐Shaped Quinacridone in Toluene and Dimethyl Formamide (DMF) Solvents: A Theoretical Study

Adopting density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods, we investigat and present two different excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanisms of angular‐quinacridone (a‐QD) in both toluene and DMF,theoretically. Comparing the primary structural variations of a‐QD involved in the intramolecular hydrogen bond, we conclude that N1–H2⋯O3 should be strengthened in the S₁ state, which may facilitate the ESIPT process. Particularly, in toluene, the S₁‐state‐stable a‐QD enol* could not be located because of the non‐barrier ESIPT process. Concomitantly, infrared vibrational spectral analysis further verified the stability of the hydrogen bond. In addition, the role of charge–transfer interaction has been addressed under the frontier molecular orbitals (MOs), which depicts the nature of the electronic excited state and supports the ESIPT reaction. The potential energy curves according to variational N1–H2 coordinate demonstrates that the proton transfer process should occur spontaneously in toluene; however, in DMF, a low potential energy barrier of 0.493 kcal/mol is needed to complete the ESIPT reaction. Although this barrier of 0.493 kcal/mol is too low to make an important impact on the ESIPT reaction, just because of the existence of barrier, ESIPT mechanisms in toluene and DMF are different.     

Excited state proton transfer reaction of two new intramolecularly hydrogen bonded Schiff bases at room temperature and 77K.

Two new orthohydroxy Schiff bases, 7-phenylsalicylidene benzylamine (PSBA) and 7-ethylsalicylideneaniline (ESA) have been synthesized. The excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and the structure of PSBA and ESA in its crystalline form and in the solvents n-hexane, n-heptane and 1,4-dioxane have been investigated by means of absorption, emission and nanosecond spectroscopy at room temperature and 77K. One ground state species has been detected both in neutral and basic solutions of both PSBA and ESA: the cis-enol form with an intramolecular hydrogen bond. The ESIPT and formation of keto tautomer are evidenced by a large Stokes shifted emission (approximately 12000 cm(-1)) at room temperature only in the case of ESA. On the other hand the keto tautomer is the predominant species at 77K in a solid matrix and as a solid sample at room temperature both in the case of ESA and PSBA. In the case of both ESA and PSBA the more intense, higher energy emission is due to the species which has not undergone ESIPT and attributed mainly due to cis-enol form. The trans-enol form is also observed by changing the excitation wavelength. Both the compounds are found to undergo a structural change to a zwitterionic and intermolecular hydrogen bonded form in the presence of a strong base like triethylamine. From the nanosecond measurements and quantum yield of fluorescence we have estimated the decay rates of proton transfer reaction in the case of PSBA. Our theoretical calculation at the AM1 level of approximation shows that the ground singlet state has a rather large activation barrier both in the case of PSBA and ESA. The barrier height is much lower on the corresponding excited singlet surface only in the case of ESA. The process is predicted to be endothermic in the ground state and exotherrmic in the excited singlet state.     

TD-DFT study on fluoride-sensing mechanism of 2-(2'-phenylureaphenyl)benzoxazole: the way to inhibit the ESIPT process

The fluoride-sensing mechanism of the sensor 2-(2'-phenylurea-phenyl)benzoxazole (PUBO) has been investigated by means of the TD-DFT method. The present theoretical study indicates that there is an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process in the sensor PUBO. The added fluoride anion could capture the proton in the free N-H moiety instead of the hydrogen-bonding one. The experimental UV/Vis and fluorescence spectra (J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 62) are well reproduced by the calculated vertical excitation energies in the ground state and the first singlet excited state. For example, the calculated emission wavelength of PUBO at 534 nm is very close to the fluorescence band at 554 nm. Furthermore, we theoretically confirmed that the added fluoride anions could inhibit the ESIPT process in PUBO. But different from the classical ESIPT-inhibition mechanism, the ESIPT process in the sensor PUBO is inhibited by the high energy barrier of its deprotonated form rather than by the absence of the transferred proton.     

A physiochemical study of azo dyes: DFT based ESIPT process

Azo linked dye derivatives were synthesized and characterized by NMR, mass and elemental analysis. An excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in hydroxy Schiff base has been analyzed, and found that two distinct ground state isomers of I and II are responsible for the observed dual emission. DFT calculation on energy, dipole moment, charge distribution of the rotamers in the ground and excited states support the ESIPT process. PES calculation indicates that the energy barrier for the interconversion of two rotamers is too high in the excited state than the ground state. By varying the addition of base concentration to hydroxy Schiff base, two isobestic points were found which confirm the equilibrium among the trans enol form, anion and the cis enol form. Fluorescence quenching with metal ions reveal that hydroxy Schiff base can be used as a new fluorescence sensor to detect the Cu(2+) ion.     

Role of nitrogen substitution in phenyl ring on excited state intramolecular proton transfer and rotamerism of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole: a theoretical study

A comparative study of 2-(2'-hydroxy-3'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (2',3'-HPyBI), 2-(3'-hydroxy-4'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (3',4'-HPyBI), 2-(4'-hydroxy-3'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (4',3'-HPyBI), 2-(3'-hydroxy-2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (3',2'-HPyBI), and 2-(5'-hydroxy-4'-pyrimidinyl)benzimidazole (5',4'-HPymBI) with 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (HPBI) was performed theoretically to evaluate the effect of nitrogen substitution in the phenolic ring on the photophysics and rotamerism of HPBI. Density functional theory (DFT) and configuration interaction singles (CIS) combined with time-dependent DFT were employed for ground and excited state studies, respectively. Different possible molecular forms were considered for each molecule viz., cis-enol, trans-enol, open-enol, and keto forms. The computational results revealed that cis-enol is the most stable form in the ground state for all the molecules except in 2',3'-HPyBI. In 2',3'-HPyBI, K-2 keto is the most stable form. Water molecule assisted interconversions between different forms of 2',3'-HPyBI were examined theoretically. Excitation and emission energies for all the forms have been calculated theoretically and the values are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The calculations show that intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) is endothermic in the ground state while it is exothermic in the first excited singlet state (except 5',4'-HPymBI). The barrier for the excited state ESIPT reaction increases with nitrogen substitution. Torsional rotation between the benzimidazole and the pyridinyl∕pyrimidinyl rings in the S(1) state depicts that twisted-keto structures involve charge transfer from the hydroxypyridinyl∕hydoxypyrimidinyl to the benzimidazole ring. However, the formation of twisted-keto is not energetically favored in these systems.     

Theoretical investigation of the photophysics of methyl salicylate isomers

The photophysics of methyl salicylate (MS) isomers has been studied using time-dependent density functional theory and large basis sets. First electronic singlet and triplet excited states energies, structure, and vibrational analysis were calculated for the ketoB, enol, and ketoA isomers. It is demonstrated that the photochemical pathway involving excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) from the ketoB to the enol tautomer agrees well with the dual fluorescence in near-UV (from ketoB) and blue (from enol) wavelengths obtained from experiments. Our calculation confirms the existence of a double minimum in the excited state pathway along the O-H-O coordinate corresponding to two preferred energy regions: (1) the hydrogen belongs to the OH moiety and the structure of methyl salicylate is ketoB; (2) the hydrogen flips to the closest carboxyl entailing electronic rearrangement and tautomerization to the enol structure. This double well in the excited state is highly asymmetric. The Franck-Condon vibrational overlap is calculated and accounts for the broadening of the two bands. It is suggested that forward and backward ESIPT through the barrier separating the two minima is temperature-dependent and affects the intensity of the fluorescence as seen in experiments. When the enol fluoresces and returns to its ground state, a barrier-less back proton transfer repopulates the ground state of methyl salicylate ketoB. It is also demonstrated that the rotamer ketoA is not stable in an excited state close to the desired emission wavelength. This observation eliminates the conjecture that the near-UV emission of the dual fluorescence originates from the ketoA rotamer. New experimental results for pure MS in the liquid state are reported and theoretical results compared to them.     

Effect of alkyl substituents on excited state intramolecular proton transfer dynamics of jet-cooled bis(benzoxazolyl)phenoles

Structural factors affecting the dynamics of the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) are studied for alkyl derivatives of 2,5-bis(2-benzoxazolyl)phenol. Two fluorescence bands with equal decay times are observed in solution, while only one--emitted by the phototautomer--in supersonic jet. All evidence indicates the existence of a potential barrier in the S(1) state. Upon deuteration of the OH group the laser induced fluorescence (LIF) excitation spectra become much sharper as a result of slowing down the proton transfer reaction. Two conformers (rotamers) of each compound in the ground state were detected using hole burning technique. With a help of theoretical calculations three vibrations were identified as the most active ones in reducing the distance between two heavy atoms, N and O, involved in H-bond formation. The widths of (0,0) transitions in LIF excitation spectra decrease with increasing size or number of alkyl substituents at terminal aromatic rings. The corresponding calculated rate constants of ESIPT reaction ( approximately 10(12) s(-1)) decrease approximately three times upon the substituent effect. In contrast, model compound 2,5-bis(2-benzoxazolyl)-4-methoxyphenol (BBMP) with OCH(3) parasubstituent in central ring slows down the ESIPT reaction to such an extent that double, primary and phototautomeric, fluorescences coexist.     

Rotamerisation and intramolecular proton transfer of 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazole, 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)imidazole and 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)thiazole: a theoretical study

Semi-empirical (AM1-SCI) calculations have been performed on 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazole (HPO), 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)imidazole (HPI) and 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)thiazole (HPT) to rationalise the photophysical behaviour of the compounds exhibiting intramolecular rotation as well as excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). The calculations reveal that there is a gradual variation in the properties from HPO to HPT through HPI so far as the existence of the rotational isomers in the ground state is concerned. While HPO gives rise to two stable rotamers (I and II) in all the common solvents, there is only one stable species for HPT in the S₀ state. For HPI, rotamer II is possible only in the isolated state and/or in solvents of low polarity, but in high polar solvents it gives rise to the normal form (I) only. For all the molecules in the series, however, intramolecular proton transfer (IPT) takes place in the lowest excited singlet (S₁) and the triplet (T₁) states. Combination of the rotamerism and ESIPT gives rise to multiple fluorescence bands for the fluorophores. Theoretical assignments have been made for the excitation, fluorescence and phosphorescence bands. Simulated potential energy curves (PEC) in different electronic states reveal that the IPT process is feasible in either of the S₁ and T₁ states but not in the ground state. The ESIPT reaction has been found to be favoured both thermodynamically and kinetically in these electronic states compared to the ground state. However, quantum mechanical tunnelling has been proposed for the prototropic reaction to proceed in the excited states.     

Enol-keto tautomerism of aromatic photochromic Schiff base N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-p-phenylenediamine: ground state equilibrium and excited state deactivation studied by solvatochromic measurements on ultrafast time scale

A photochromic symmetric Schiff base, N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-p-phenylenediamine, is proposed as a probe for the study of solvent dependent enol-keto tautomerism in the ground and excited states. The ground state equilibrium between the enol-keto tautomers is found to depend mainly not on polarity but on the proton donating ability of the solvent. Upon selective excitation of each of these tautomers, the same excited state of a keto tautomer is created: in enol, after the ultrafast excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), reaction, and in keto tautomer, directly. Then some part (<30%) of excited molecules are transferred to the photochromic form in its ground state. The evidence of another ultrafast deactivation channel in the excited enol tautomer competing with ESIPT has been found. The solvent does not influence the ESIPT dynamics nor the efficiency of the creation of the photochrome.     

Rotational energy barrier of 2-(2',6'-dihydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole: a case study by NMR

2-(2'-Hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO) derivatives represent an important class of luminescent materials, as they can undergo excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). The material's ESIPT properties are dependent on the ratio of two different rotamers, whose interconversion is poorly understood. By using HBO derivative 4, the rotational energy barrier of 2- (2',6'-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole is determined to be 10.5 kcal/mol by variable-temperature NMR. Although a HBO derivative typically exhibits two rotamers with O···H-O (e.g., 1a) and N···H-O bonding (e.g., 1b), correlation of NMR with fluorescence data reveals that the rotamer with N···H-O bonding is predominant in the solution.     

Path integral ground state study of finite-size systems: application to small (parahydrogen)N (N=2-20) clusters

We use the path integral ground state method to study the energetic and structural properties of small para-H2 clusters of sizes ranging from 2 to 20 molecules. A fourth order formula is used to approximate the short imaginary-time propagator and two interaction potentials are considered. Our results are compared to those of exact basis set calculations and other quantum Monte Carlo methods when available. We find that for all cluster sizes considered, our results show a lower ground state energy than literature values obtained by diffusion Monte Carlo and variational Monte Carlo. For the dimer and trimer, ground state energies are in good agreement with exact results obtained using the discrete variable representation. Structural properties are found to be insensitive to the choice of interaction potential. We explore the use of Pekeris coordinates to analyze the importance of linear arrangement in trimers and for trimers within clusters of larger size.     

Photobase-Driven Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) in a Strapped π-Electron System

We report a new design strategy for an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) fluorophore that can be used in acidic media. A photobasic pyridine-centered donor-acceptor-donor-type fluorophore is combined with a basic trialkylamine “strap”. In the presence of an acid, protonation occurs predominantly at the amine moiety in the ground state. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of a pre-organized intramolecular hydrogen-bonded structure between the resulting ammonium moiety and the pyridine ring. Upon excitation, the intramolecular charge-transfer transition increases the basicity of the pyridine moiety in the excited state, resulting in proton transfer from the amine to the pyridine moiety. Consequently, the fluorophore takes on a polymethine-dye character in the ESIPT state, which gives rise to significantly red-shifted emission with an increased fluorescence quantum yield.     

Excited state (formal) intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in p-hydroxyphenyl ketones mediated by water

Evidence is presented that show p-hydroxyphenyl ketones 6–8 undergo excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT, via the singlet excited state), mediated by water, which formally transfers the phenol proton to the carbonyl oxygen of the ketone. ESIPT was not observed in neat CH₃CN. The ESIPT process in aqueous media generates the corresponding p-quinone methides 9–11 (and the corresponding conjugate bases (phenolate ions) 12–14), as detected by laser flash photolysis (LFP). It competes effectively with intersystem crossing to the excited triplet state. The respective p-methoxyphenyl ketones 15 and 16 failed to undergo the reaction consistent with the expected lack of proton transfer in these systems. Results for the biphenyl ketone 8 indicate that formal ESIPT can also take place over an extended range, suggesting that the process is likely general for all p-hydroxyaromatic ketones which opens up the possibility for designing photoswitchable processes based on this general phenomenon.     

2-(2′-氨基苯基)苯并咪唑衍生物分子内质子转移理论研究:取代基效应

研究了2-(2′-氨基苯基)苯并咪唑(APBI)氨基中一个H被CH3(E-C),SiH3(E-OSi),NH2(E-N),COH(E-CO),NO2(E-NO2),CF3(E-F),CN(E-CN3),OMe(E-OMe),COCH3(E-CC),Ts(E-S),p-CH3C6H4CO(E-C=O)和p-CH3C6H4NHCO(E-NH)取代后,其基态及激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)性质的变化规律.结果表明各衍生物基态最稳定构型为烯醇式构型E,次稳定构型旋转异构体R,酮式构型K只有当取代基为E-CN3,E-F,E-NO2,E-N,E-OMe和E-S时才存在.基态各环的核独立化学位移(NICS)研究表明取代基的引入会影响APBI环电子离域性.所有APBI衍生物都能发生激发态分子内质子转移,当引入取代基为E-CN3,E-N或E-OMe时,所得的APBI衍生物S1态分子内质子转移是无能垒过程;引入取代基为E-C,E-C=O或E-OSi时,对APBI的ESIPT势能面基本无影响,而当取代基为E-CC,E-NH,E-CO,E-F,E-NO2和E-S时,使得S1态APBI的K*构型能量低于E*.     

4-(9-蒽基)-6-辛氧基-1,3,5-三嗪-2-胺的合成及其在酸性介质中的光谱行为研究

以2,4-二氯-6-辛氧基-1,3,5-三嗪为原料,经Kumada偶联及胺化两步反应合成了三嗪胺衍生物:4-(9-蒽基)-6-辛氧基-1,3,5-三嗪-2-胺(AOOTA),总产率为38%.通过紫外-可见吸收光谱及荧光光谱研究了氯仿溶液中AOOTA在乙酸(HOAc)及三氟乙酸(TFA)作用下的光谱行为.研究发现AOOTA与HOAc在基态及激发态下均不能发生双氢键作用,而AOOTA与TFA相互作用基态下形成双氢键复合物,激发态下由于分子中蒽基及辛氧基与三嗪环间的C-C单键以及C-O单键的自由旋转,从而使得AOOTA与TFA分子间不能形成有效的氢键相互作用.     

Unraveling solvent-dependent hydrogen bonding interaction and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer behavior for 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenol: A theoretical study

Organic chemosensors with excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) behavior have attracted much attention because it has great potential in a wide range of applications. Considering the paramount behavior of excited-state relaxation, in this work, we mainly focus on deciphering photo-induced hydrogen bonding effects and ESIPT mechanism for the novel 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenol (mCzOH) dye. Considering the effects of different solvents on excited-state dynamics of mCzOH flurophore, we adopt four solvents with different polarities. Analyses of fundamental structural changes, infrared (IR) vibrational spectra, and core valence partition index between S₀ and S₁ state, we confirm hydrogen bond O H···N of mCzOH should be enhanced via photoexcitation. Especially, the increase of solvent polarity could promote hydrogen bonding strengthening degree. Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) resulting from photoexcitation qualitatively facilitates the ESIPT occurrence to a large extent. For further checking and probing into ESIPT mechanism, via constructing potential energy curves (PECs) in four solvents, we clarify the ESIPT behavior for mCzOH. Most worthy of mention is that polar solvent plays critical roles in lowering potential barrier of ESIPT reaction and in facilitating ESIPT process. We not only clarify the detailed excited-state process, but also present the solvent-polarity-dependent ESIPT mechanism for mCzOH fluorophore.     

Very Efficient Generation of Quinone Methides through Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer to a Carbon Atom

Irradiation of 2-phenyl-1-naphthol (6) in CH(3) CN/D(2) O (3:1) leads to very efficient incorporation of deuterium at the ortho-positions of the adjacent phenyl ring (overall Φ=0.73±0.07), along with minor incorporation at the naphthalene positions 5 and 8. These finding are explained by excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) from the phenolic OH group to the corresponding carbon atoms, the main pathway giving rise to quinone methide (QM) 7, which has been characterized by LFP (τ≈20?ns; 460?nm). The ESIPT reaction paths have been explored with the second order approximate coupled cluster (CC2) method. In nonprotic solvents the ESIPT from the naphthol O-H to the ortho-position of the phenyl ring proceeds in a barrierless manner along the (1) L(a) energy surface via a conical intersection with the S(0) state, delivering 7. In aqueous solvent, clusters with H(2) O are formed wherein proton transfer (PT) to solvent and a H(2) O-mediated relay mechanism gives rise to naphtholates and QMs. The results are compared with 2-phenylphenol (3) that also undergoes barrierless ESIPT giving a QM via a conical intersection. However, due to an unfavorable conformation in the ground state, the quantum efficiency for ESIPT of 3 is significantly lower (Φ for D-exchange=0.041). These results show that ESIPT from phenol to carbon need not be an intrinsically inefficient process.