Sheng Wei, Nairat Muath, Pawlaczyk Patrick D, Mroczka Elizabeth, Farris Benjamin, Pines Ehud, Geiger James H, Borhan Babak, Dantus Marcos
Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2018 Nov 5;57(45):14742-14746. doi: 10.1002/anie.201806787. Epub 2018 Oct 12.
Molecular reactivity can change dramatically with the absorption of a photon due to the difference of the electronic configurations between the excited and ground states. Here we report on the discovery of a modular system (Schiff base formed from an aldehyde and an amine) that upon photoexcitation yields a more basic imine capable of intermolecular proton transfer from protic solvents. Ultrafast dynamics of the excited state conjugated Schiff base reveals the pathway for proton transfer, culminating in a 14-unit increase in pK to give the excited state pK >20 in ethanol.
由于激发态和基态之间电子构型的差异,分子反应性会因光子吸收而发生显著变化。在此,我们报告了一种模块化体系(由醛和胺形成的席夫碱)的发现,该体系在光激发时会产生一种碱性更强的亚胺,能够从质子溶剂中进行分子间质子转移。激发态共轭席夫碱的超快动力学揭示了质子转移的途径,最终使pK增加14个单位,在乙醇中激发态pK>20。