Activation Parameters for the Formation and Decay of Partial-Charge-Transfer Exciplexes of 9-Cyanoanthracene, 1,12-Benzperylene, and Pyrene

The factors affecting the rate of formation and decay of exciplexes with partial charge transfer, which form in the kinetic region of photoinduced electron transfer (G^*_et > –0.2 eV), were studied. The rate of formation of exciplexes is controlled mainly by the diffusion of reactants and the low steric factor (0.15–1.0). The activation enthalpy and entropy for the exciplex formation (9–13 kJ mol^–1 and –(12–28) J mol^–1 K^–1) are close to the activation enthalpy and entropy of diffusion, respectively. Charge transfer in an exciplex and polarization of the medium generally occur after passing the transition state. In contrast, the activation enthalpy of exciplex decay (its conversion into the reaction products) is close to zero (±6 kJ mol^–1) and the activation entropy is strongly negative –(80–130) J mol^–1 K^–1.