Charge density flow as a driving force of distortion in excited protonated azaaromatics

The INDO method was used to calculate electronic charge densities in the ground and lowest excited singlet and triplet states of neutral and protonated 2,3- and 1,4-diaza derivatives of naphthalene and phenanthrene, and benzo (a) phenazine. Experiniental changes of pK_a upon excitation can be correlated with the values of electron density flow into the heterocy- clic ring. Electron-density increase turns out to be a major factor which causes distortion in some excited protonated species.