Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of tetraphenylethylene studied by semiclassical simulation

Detailed simulation study is reported for the excited-state dynamics of photoisomerization of cis-tetraphenylethylene (TPE) following excitation by a femtosecond laser pulse. The technique for this investigation is semiclassical dynamics simulation, which is described briefly in the paper. Upon photoexcitation by a femtosecond laser pulse, the stretching motion of the ethylenic bond of TPE is initially excited, leading to a significant lengthening of ethylenic bond in 300 fs. Twisting motion about the ethylenic bond is activated by the energy released from the relaxation of the stretching mode. The 90 degrees twisting about the ethylenic bond from an approximately planar geometry to nearly a perpendicular conformation in the electronically excited state is completed in 600 fs. The torsional dynamics of phenyl rings which is temporally lagging behind occurs at about 5 ps. Finally, the twisted TPE reverts to the initial conformation along the twisting coordinate through nonadiabatic transitions. The simulation results provide a basis for understanding several spectroscopic observations at molecular levels, including ultrafast dynamic Stokes shift, multicomponent fluorescence, viscosity dependence of the fluorescence lifetime, and radiationless decay from electronically excited state to the ground state along the isomerization coordinate.     

Computational characterization of low-lying states and intramolecular charge transfers in N-phenylpyrrole and the planar-rigidized fluorazene

Low-lying states and intramolecular charge transfers in N-phenylpyrrole (PP) and its planar-rigidized derivative fluorazene (FPP) have been investigated by ab initio methodologies. On the basis of calculations, properties of the excited states and plausible dual-fluorescence mechanisms have been elucidated. Present results show that S2 as a key state is involved in the consecutive photophysical processes. The S2 state is easily populated under excitation. In the polar MeCN solution, S2 can evolve to either a lower-energy locally excited state or a lower-energy solvated intramolecular charge-transfer state (S-ICT). The former emits a normal fluorescence back to the ground state, and the latter is exclusively responsible for the red-shifted fluorescence band. Calculations reveal that the emissive ICT states in both FPP and PP have similar geometric features, an elongated N-phenyl bond, a pyramidal carbon atom linking the pyrrole ring, and a quinonoid phenyl ring. The twisting of molecule around the N-phenyl bond is not necessary for the intramolecular charge transfer. Predicted absorption and emission spectra are in reasonable agreement with the experimental observations.     

Relaxation dynamics of 2,7- and 3,6-distyrylcarbazoles in solutions and in solid films: mechanism for efficient nonradiative deactivation in the 3,6-linked carbazole

We performed time-resolved spectral investigations of two distyrylcarbazole derivatives, 2,7- and 3,6-distyrylcarbazole (2,7-DPVTCz and 3,6-DPVTCz, respectively), in dilute toluene solution and in solid films mixed with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The lifetime of 2,7-DPVTCz in its excited state in solution is approximately 100 times as great as that of 3,6-DPVTCz, consistent with their photophysical nature. The former shows intense emission, but the latter is nearly nonfluorescent in a free environment. Moreover, the lifetime of 3,6-DPVTCz in its excited state increased also approximately 100 times when the molecule was encapsulated in a 3,6-DPVTCz/PMMA solid film, indicating that intramolecular motion of the molecule significantly affects the observed relaxation dynamics in a confined environment. Calculations on the excited states indicate that an efficient intersystem crossing is activated upon twisting of the bridged C-C single bond in a free 3,6-linked carbazole; such efficient deactivation is impractical in 2,7-linked carbazole or for 3,6-linked carbazole in a PMMA matrix. Information obtained from experiments on femtosecond fluorescence enables us to distinguish crucial relaxation processes in the excited state for a profound understanding of the details of vibrational and electronic relaxations of 3,6-DPVTCz in solution.     

Synthesis and properties of covalently linked thiaporphyrin-ferrocene conjugates

Four examples of ferrocene-thiaporphyrin conjugates in which the ferrocenyl group was covalently connected either directly at meso-position of thiaporphyrin or to meso-phenyl group of thiaporphyrin via ethyne bridge were prepared by coupling bromo- or iodo thiaporphyrin with α-ethynylferrocene under mild Pd(0) coupling conditions. NMR, absorption and electrochemical studies indicated that the thiaporphyrin and ferrocenyl units interact strongly in ethyne bridged porphyrin-ferrocene conjugates but the interaction is very weak in phenyl ethyne bridged porphyrin-ferrocene conjugates. The steady state fluorescence studies indicated that the fluorescence yields are reduced to 50% in phenyl ethyne conjugates but the fluorescence is completely quenched in ethyne bridged conjugates. The partial or complete quenching of porphyrin fluorescence in these conjugates is due to electron transfer from ferrocene unit to excited state of porphyrin sub-unit. Oxidation of ferrocene to ferrocenium ion with an oxidizing agent in ethyne bridged conjugates resulted in a recovery of porphyrin fluorescence.     

Comparative studies of the trans-cis photoisomerizations of azobenzene and a bridged azobenzene

Using density-functional-based molecular dynamics simulations, we have performed comparative studies of the trans-cis isomerizations of azobenzene and bridged azobenzene (B-Ab) 5,6-dihydrodibenzo[c,g][1,2]diazocine induced by nπ* electronic excitation. The quantum yields found in our calculations, 45% for the bridged azobenzene versus 25% for azobenzene, are consistent with the experiment. Both isomerization processes involve two steps: (1) Starting from the trans structure, each molecule moves on its S(1) excited-state potential energy surface, via rotation around the NN bond, to an avoided crossing near the S(1)/S(0) conical intersection, where de-excitation occurs. (2) Subsequently, in the electronic ground state, there is further rotation around the NN bond, accompanied by twisting of the phenyl rings around their CN bonds, until the cis geometry is achieved. Because of its lower symmetry and smaller initial CNNC dihedral angle, the bridged azobenzene has a much shorter lifetime for the S(1) excited state, about 30 fs, as compared to about 400 fs for azobenzene. However, we find that the complete isomerizations have approximately the same time scales. Although the bridging feature in trans-B-Ab does not hinder rotation around the NN bond in step 1, it makes twisting of the two phenyl rings around the CN bonds much slower in step 2.     

Probing the photochemical mechanism in photoactive yellow protein

Selectively bridged model compounds related to the chromophore in photoactive yellow protein have been synthesized where the single bond adjacent to the benzene ring (bond 1) and where both bond 1 and the adjacent double bond (bond 2) are bridged. They were compared to the nonbridged reference compound regarding their photophysical properties using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence at various temperatures. Quantum chemical calculations were additionally performed and showed that several conformers are populated in the ground state. The neutral model compounds show that the nonradiative deactivation channel is linked to both single- and double-bond twisting. The relative importance of single-bond twisting is increased for the corresponding deprotonated hydroxy compounds with an enhanced donor character. The simultaneous photochemical activity of both single and double bonds explains the ease of photochemical isomerization in the confined environment of the natural PYP protein and also of the primary step in the vision process in rhodopsin.     

Theoretical study of photoinduced singlet and triplet excited states of 4-dimethylaminobenzonitrile and its derivatives

Singlet and triplet low-lying states of the 4-dimethylaminobenzonitrile and its derivatives have been studied by the density functional theory and ab initio methodologies. Calculations reveal that the existence of the methyl groups in the phenyl ring and the amino twisting significantly modify properties of their excited states. A twisted singlet intramolecular charge-transfer state can be accessed through decay of the second planar singlet excited state with charge-transfer character along the amino twisting coordinate or by an intramolecular charge-transfer reaction involved with a locally first excited singlet state. Plausible charge-transfer triplet states and intersystem crossing processes among singlet and triplet states have been explored by spin-orbit coupling calculations. The intersystem crossing process was predicted to be the dominant deactivation channel of the photoexcited 4-dimethylaminobenzonitrile.     

Twisting dynamics in the excited singlet state of Michler's ketone

Ultrafast relaxation dynamics of the excited singlet (S(1)) state of Michler's ketone (MK) has been investigated in different kinds of solvents using a time-resolved absorption spectroscopic technique with 120 fs time resolution. This technique reveals that conversion of the locally excited (LE) state to the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state because of twisting of the N,N-dimethylanilino groups with respect to the central carbonyl group is the major relaxation process responsible for the multi-exponential and probe-wavelength-dependent transient absorption dynamics of the S1 state of MK, but solvation dynamics does not have a significant role in this process. Theoretical optimization of the ground-state geometry of MK shows that the dimethylanilino groups attached to the central carbonyl group are at a dihedral angle of about 51 degrees with respect to each other because of steric interaction between the phenyl rings. Following photoexcitation of MK to its S1 state, two kinds of twisting motions have been resolved. Immediately after photoexcitation, an ultrafast "anti-twisting" motion of the dimethylanilino groups brings back the pretwisted molecule to a near-planar geometry with high mesomeric interaction and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character. This motion is observed in all kinds of solvents. Additionally, in solvents of large polarity, the dimethylamino groups undergo further twisting to about 90 degrees with respect to the phenyl ring, to which it is attached, leading to the conversion of the ICT state to the TICT state. Similar characteristics of the absorption spectra of the TICT state and the anion radical of MK establish the nearly pure electron transfer (ET) character of the TICT state. In aprotic solvents, because of the steep slope of the potential energy surface near the Franck-Condon (FC) or LE state region, the LE state is nearly nonemissive at room temperature and fluorescence emission is observed from only the ICT and TICT states. Alternatively, in protic solvents, because of an intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interaction between MK and the solvent, the LE region is more flat and stimulated emission from this state is also observed. However, a stronger hydrogen-bonding interaction between the TICT state and the solvent as well as the closeness between the two potential energy surfaces due to the TICT and the ground states cause the nonradiative coupling between these states to be very effective and, hence, cause the TICT state to be weakly emissive. The multi-exponentiality and strong wavelength-dependence of the kinetics of the relaxation process taking place in the S1 state of MK have arisen for several reasons, such as strong overlapping of transient absorption and stimulated emission spectra of the LE, ICT, and TICT states, which are formed consecutively following photoexcitation of the molecule, as well as the fact that different probe wavelengths monitor different regions of the potential energy surface representing the twisting motion of the excited molecule.     

Spectroscopy and photophysics of 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene: effects of ring torsion and dark pi sigma* state

A combination of supersonic-jet laser spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculation was applied to 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene, BPEB, to study the role of the dark pisigma* state on electronic relaxation and the effect of ring torsion on electronic spectra. The result provides evidence for fluorescence break-off in supersonic jet at high S1(pi pi*) <-- S0 excitation energies, which can be attributed to the pi pi*-pi sigma* intersection. The threshold energy for the fluorescence break-off is much larger in BPEB (approximately 4000 cm(-1)) than in diphenylacetylene (approximately 500 cm(-1)). The high-energy barrier in BPEB accounts for the very large fluorescence quantum yield of the compound (in solution) relative to diphenylacetylene. The comparison between the experimentally derived torsional barrier and frequency with those from the computation shows overall good agreement and demonstrates that the low-energy torsional motion involves the twisting of the end ring in BPEB. The torsional barrier is almost an order of magnitude greater in the pi pi* excited state than in the ground state. The finding that the twisting of the end ring in BPEB is relatively free in the ground state, but strongly hindered in the excited state, provides rationale for the well-known temperature dependence of the spectral shape of absorption and the lack of mirror symmetry relationship between the absorption and fluorescence at elevated temperatures.     

Hydrogen-bonded Intramolecular Charge Transfer Excited State of Dimethylaminobenzophenone using Time Dependent Density FunctionalTheory

Density functional theory and time-dependent density-functional theory have been used to investigate the photophysical properties and relaxation dynamics of dimethylaminobenzophe-none (DMABP) and its hydrogen-bonded DMABP-MeOH dimer. It is found that, in non-polar aprotic solvent, the transitions from S₀ to S₁ and S₂ states of DMABP have both n→π^* and π→π^* characters, with the locally excited feature mainly located on the C=O group and the partial CT one characterized by electron transfer mainly from the dimethylaminophenyl group to the C=O group. But when the intermolecular hydrogen bond C=O…H-O is formed, the highly polar intramolecular charge transfer character switches over to the first excited state of DMABP-MeOH dimer and the energy difference between the two low-lying electronically excited states increases. To gain insight into the relaxation dynamics of DMABP and DMABP-MeOH dimer in the excited state, the potential energy curves for con-formational relaxation are calculated. The formation of twisted intramolecular charge trans-fer state via diffusive twisting motion of the dimethylamino/dimethylaminophenyl groups is found to be the major relaxation process. In addition, the decay of the S1 state of DMABP-MeOH dimer to the ground state, through nonradiative intermolecular hydrogen bond stretching vibrations, is facilitated by the formation of the hydrogen bond between DMABP and alcohols.     

Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of the Excited States of 1‐Amino‐ and 1‐(N,N‐Dimethylamino)‐fluoren‐9‐ones

The dynamics of the excited states of 1‐aminofluoren‐9‐one (1AF) and 1‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)‐fluoren‐9‐one (1DMAF) are investigated by using steady‐state absorption and fluorescence as well as subpicosecond time‐resolved absorption spectroscopic techniques. Following photoexcitation of 1AF, which exists in the intramolecular hydrogen‐bonded form in aprotic solvents, the excited‐state intramolecular proton‐transfer reaction is the only relaxation process observed in the excited singlet (S₁) state. However, in protic solvents, the intramolecular hydrogen bond is disrupted in the excited state and an intermolecular hydrogen bond is formed with the solvent leading to reorganization of the hydrogen‐bond network structure of the solvent. The latter takes place in the timescale of the process of solvation dynamics. In the case of 1DMAF, the main relaxation pathway for the locally excited singlet, S₁(LE), or S₁(ICT) state is the configurational relaxation, via nearly barrierless twisting of the dimethylamino group to form the twisted intramolecular charge‐transfer, S₁(TICT), state. A crossing between the excited‐state and ground‐state potential energy curves is responsible for the fast, radiationless deactivation and nonemissive character of the S₁(TICT) state in polar solvents, both aprotic and protic. However, in viscous but strong hydrogen‐bond‐donating solvents, such as ethylene glycol and glycerol, crossing between the potential energy surfaces for the ground electronic state and the hydrogen‐bonded complex formed between the S₁(TICT) state and the solvent is possibly avoided and the hydrogen‐bonded complex is weakly emissive.     

Charge-transfer-induced twisting of the nitro group

Excited-state relaxation dynamics of 2-amino-7-nitrofluorene (ANF) and 2-dimethylamino-7-nitrofluorene (DMANF) has been investigated in two aprotic solvents, namely acetonitrile and DMSO using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic technique. Following photoexcitation to the highly dipolar excited singlet (S1) state, ANF and DMANF undergo mainly two concomitant relaxation processes, namely dipolar solvation and conformational relaxation via twisting of the nitro group to an orthogonal configuration with respect to the aromatic plane. Viscosity dependence of the relaxation dynamics of the S1 states of both ANF and DMANF suggests no involvement of the twisting motion of the amino or dimethylamino group in the charge-transfer process. The twisting of the nitro group is found to be a friction affected diffusive motion, which does not associate with any further charge transfer. The results presented in this paper resolve experimentally the dynamics of the twisting motion of the nitro group for the first time.     

Time-dependent density functional theory study on intramolecular charge transfer and solvent effect of dimethylaminobenzophenone

The lower singlet excited states for dimethylaminobenzophenone have been investigated as a function of the twisting motion with inclusion of solvent effects. Theoretical calculations have been performed using time-dependent density functional theory. The B3LYP and MPW1PW91 functionals with a 6-311+G(2d,p) basis set have been used to compute transition energies. The solvent effects have been described within the polarizable continuum model. Ground-state geometries are optimized using density functional theory with both B3LYP and MPW1PW91 functionals combined with 6-31G(d) basis sets. Vertical absorption energy calculations characterize the lower singlet excited states both in vacuum and in different kinds of solvents. A large redshift of the absorption maximum in the polar solvent suggests an intramolecular charge transfer character of the excited state. We have constructed the potential energy curves of two possible twisting motions of the excited states both in vacuum and in the polar solvent of acetonitrile: the twisting of only the dimethylamino group and the twisting of the dimethylaminophenyl group with respect to the benzoyl group. Both twisting processes predict the formation of the twisted intramolecular charge transfer state associated with the crossing of a low barrier. The presence of the polar solvent significantly changes the shape of the energy curves. Calculated emission energies for both the isolated and the solvated systems show a large Stokes shift between the absorption and fluorescence maxima. Two possible twisting motions produce similar fluorescence spectroscopic consequences. Our results including solvent effects explain the weak "dual-fluorescence" feature of dimethylaminobenzophenone, and imply that the two possible twisting motions may occur in the excited-state relaxation dynamics, but the twisting of the dimethylamino group seems to take place easier.     

Photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer of sodium 4-(N,N-dimethylamino) benzenesulfonate

A new dual fluorescent N,N-dimethylaniline derivative, sodium 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-benzenesulfonate (SDMAS), is reported. In SDMAS, the electron acceptor is linked to the phenyl ring via a sulfur atom at the para-position of the electron donor. It was found that SDMAS emits dual fluorescence only in highly polar solvent water but not in organic solvents such as formamide, methanol and acetonitrile. In organic solvents only a single-band emission at ca.360 nm was observed in the short wavelength region. The dual fluorescence of SDMAS in water was found at 365 and 475 nm, respectively. Introduction of organic solvent such as ethanol, acetonitrile, and 1,4-dioxane into aqueous solution of SDMAS leads to blue-shift and quenching of the long-wavelength emission. Measurements of steady-state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence indicate that the long wavelength fluorescence is emitted from a charge transfer (CT) state that is populated from the locally excited (LE) state, with the latter giving off the     

Optical properties of protonated Rhodamine 19 isomers in solution and in the gas phase

Visible light absorption and fluorescence of three positional isomers of protonated Rhodamine 19 (o-, m- and p-R19H(+)) were studied in solution and in the gas phase. In solution, strong solvatochromic effects lead to spectral shifts between rhodamine isomers. In contrast, in the gas phase, these species were found to exhibit very similar fluorescence, while pronounced differences were observed in the absorption spectra. The o-R19H(+) was found to have the largest Stokes shift in the gas phase (around 10 nm), suggesting that an intramolecular relaxation operates in the excited electronic state for this isomer. Several mechanisms for this relaxation are proposed, such as the change of the dihedral angle between the carboxyphenyl group and the xanthene chromophore or that between the carboxylic group and the phenyl ring.     

Photocyclization of iminyl radicals: theoretical study and photochemical aspects

The irradiation of acyloximes was studied by theoretical methods. CASPT2/6-31G*//CASSCF/6-31G* calculations, using an active space of 14 electrons in 11 orbitals, indicate that S2 should be the spectroscopic state, and its relaxation leads directly to N-O bond breakage due to coupling between the imine pi* and the sigma* N-O orbitals. Subsequent calculations at the B3PW91/6-31+G* level suggest that the resulting iminyl radicals are able to cyclize to the five- or six-membered ring, depending on the presence of a phenyl group as a spacer, a process that has been verified experimentally. The photochemical aspects of the more common five-membered ring formation, such as excited-state quenching, quantum yield, excited-state sensitizers, laser flash photolysis experiments, Stern-Volmer plot, and luminescence measurements, were investigated. These studies indicate that singlet and triplet excited states undergo the same reaction. Emission lifetimes of ca. tau = 10.6 micros for compound 11 are suggestive of triplet parentage, while no fluorescence was detected, in agreement with the computed MEP energy profile.     

Photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer to meta position of benzene ring in 6-aminophthalides

Substitution of non-fluorescent phthalide (Pd) with amino group at meta (6) position in relation to the electron-accepting part of the lactone ring completely changes Pd photophysics: a new long-wavelength absorption band arises and the molecule becomes highly fluorescent. The experimental data and the analysis of vertical electronic transitions with TDDFT method indicate that the first absorption band in 6-aminophthalides (6-APds) comprises a single CT transition to the S1 state. Almost equal absorption and emission transition dipole moments indicate that S0 <--> S1 transition in all 6-APds is not affected by any mixing with other electronic states, the excited-state vibrational relaxation is not accompanied by significant conformational changes and the Stokes shifts reflect mainly solvation energetics of these molecules. Excited state dipole moments obtained from solvatochromic plots and from CASSCF calculations confirm large charge displacement from amino group towards the meta position of the benzene ring upon excitation of 6-APds to S1 state. Long fluorescence lifetimes and high fluorescence quantum yields demonstrate efficient and stable excited state charge separation in 6-APds. Taken together with sensitivity of 6-APds to polarity and proticity of the environment these properties make them good candidates for fluorescent probes of long-time scale molecular dynamics.     

Excited state behaviour of some trans-stilbene analogues bearing thiophene rings

The effect of replacing the phenyl group(s) of trans-stilbene with thienyl groups, or polycyclic groups containing a thienyl moiety, on the relaxation properties of the lowest excited states was studied by fluorometric, photochemical and laser flash photolysis techniques, as well as by theoretical calculations, for four trans compounds in non-polar and polar solvents. In some cases, a larger contribution of intersystem crossing and, consequently, a triplet mechanism to trans → cis photoisomerization, with respect to the parent hydrocarbons, was found. Although the compound with a single thienyl group, 2-styrylthiophene, shows reactive relaxation in the singlet manifold as in the case of stilbene, the presence of two heteroaromatic rings in di(2-thienyl)ethene enhances the spin-orbit coupling, thus leading to a mixed singlettriplet mechanism in non-polar solvents. The presence of polycondensed rings in dibenzothienylethene and thienyl-naphthothienylethene reduces the isomerization yield due to an increase in the torsional barrier for twisting in the singlet manifold. Therefore these compounds deactivate mainly through fluorescence emission and intersystem crossing, which leads to a predominant triplet mechanism for trans → cis photoisomerization. Polar solvents reduce the activation barrier to twisting, thus favouring isomerization in the singlet manifold.     

Symmetry switching of the fluorescent excited state in alpha,omega-diphenylpolyynes

By using MO calculations based on DFT, absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy, we have comprehensively studied the low-lying excited singlet states of alpha,omega-diphenylpolyynes (DPY) having 1-6 triple bonds. The a(g) vibrational modes of the C(triple bond)C stretching and of the phenyl ring motion were observed in the fluorescence spectra of diphenylacetylene and 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne. On the other hand, in the fluorescence spectra of the long DPY with the triple-bond number (N) more than two, the phenyl ring motion with a(g) symmetry disappeared and the b(1g) modes of the phenyl ring twisting (approximately 400 cm(-1)) and of the C-H bending (approximately 900 cm(-1)) were detected. The observed fluorescent states of DPY with N < or = 2 and N > or = 3 are assigned to the 1(1)B(1u) (pi(x)pi(x*)) and 1(1)A(u) (pi(x)pi(y*) and/or pi(y)pi(x*)) states, respectively, based on the vibronic structures, the relatively short lifetimes, and the solvatochromic shifts of the fluorescence spectra. Not only the allowed transition of 1(1)B(1u) <-- S(0) but also the forbidden transition of 1(1)A(u) <-- S(0) was detected in the fluorescence excitation spectra of the long DPY with N > or = 3. The low-lying excited state with A(u) symmetry is characteristic in polyyne, which does not exist in polyene. The oscillator strength (f) of the first absorption band in DPY decreases with an increase in N, which is the opposite behavior of the all-trans-alpha,omega-diphenylpolyenes. The N-dependence of the f value is understood by the configuration interaction between the 1(1)B(1u) and 2(1)B(1u) (pi(y)pi(y*)) states, which is consistent with the reduction of the nonlinear optical response of polyyne.     

Femtosecond excited-state dynamics of 4-nitrophenyl pyrrolidinemethanol: evidence of twisted intramolecular charge transfer and intersystem crossing involving the nitro group

Ultrafast excited-state relaxation dynamics of a nonlinear optical (NLO) dye, (S)-(-)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-pyrrolidinemethanol (NPP), was carried out under the regime of femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion measurements in augmentation with quantum chemical calculations. The primary concern was to trace the relaxation pathways which guide the depletion of the first singlet excited state upon photoexcitation, in such a way that it is virtually nonfluorescent. Ground- and excited-state (singlet and triplet) potential energy surfaces were calculated as a function of the -NO(2) torsional coordinate, which revealed the perpendicular orientation of -NO(2) in the excited state relative to the planar ground-state conformation. The fluorescence transients in the femtosecond regime show biexponential decay behavior. The first time component of a few hundred femtoseconds was ascribed to the ultrafast twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT). The occurrence of charge transfer (CT) is substantiated by the large dipole moment change during excitation. The construction of intensity- and area-normalized time-resolved emission spectra (TRES and TRANES) of NPP in acetonitrile exhibited a two-state emission on behalf of decay of the locally excited (LE) state and rise of the CT state with a Stokes shift of 2000 cm(-1) over a time scale of 1 ps. The second time component of a few picoseconds is attributed to the intersystem crossing (isc). In highly polar solvents both the processes occur on a much faster time scale compared to that in nonpolar solvents, credited to the differential stability of energy states in different polarity solvents. The shape of frontier molecular orbitals in the excited state dictates the shift of electron density from the phenyl ring to the -NO(2) group and is attributed to the charge-transfer process taking place in the molecule. The viscosity dependence of relaxation dynamics augments the proposition of considering the -NO(2) group torsional motion as the main excited-state relaxation coordinate.