Intramolecular proton transfer from the highest singlet states in 3-hydroxyflavone

It is found that the excitation spectra of the dual fluorescence of 3-hydroxyflavone are different for different recording wavelengths and that the intensity ratio of the emission of the normal and tautomeric (with intramolecular proton transfer) forms upon selective UV excitation in the regions of the S ₁, S ₂, and S ₃ singlet absorption bands strongly depends on the excitation wavelength. The results obtained directly point to the existence of an additional channel of population of the excited state of the tautomeric form and are explained by the intramolecular proton transfer through the S ₂ and S ₃ excited singlet states of fluorophore molecules. The constants of this transfer are estimated using analytical relations for the steady-state fluorescence excitation.