Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) that occurs upon photoexcitation of molecules is a vital process in nature and it has ample applications in chemistry and biology. The ICT process of the excited molecules is affected by several environmental factors including polarity, viscosity and hydrogen bonding. The effect of polarity and viscosity on the ICT processes is well understood. But, despite the fact that hydrogen bonding significantly influences the ICT process, the specific role of hydrogen bonding in the formation and stabilization of the ICT state is not unambiguously established. Some literature reports predicted that the hydrogen bonding of the solvent with a donor promotes the formation of a twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state. Some other reports stated that it inhibits the formation of the TICT state. Alternatively, it was proposed that the hydrogen bonding of the solvent with an acceptor favors the TICT state. It is also observed that a dynamic equilibrium is established between the free and the hydrogen bonded ICT states. This perspective focuses on the specific role played by hydrogen bonding of the solvent with the donor and the acceptor, and by proton transfer in the ICT process. The utility of such influence in molecular recognition and anion sensing is discussed with a few recent literature examples in the end.

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all-trans-1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) fluorescence in solution consists of emissions from the S1 (2(1)A(g)) and S2 (1(1)B(u)) states of the s-trans,s-trans conformer (s-t-DPH) and emission from the S1 state of the s-cis,s-trans conformer (s-c-DPH). The contribution of s-c-DPH fluorescence increases upon excitation at longer wavelengths, and both minor emissions, s-c-DPH and 1(1)B(u) s-t-DPH fluorescence, contribute more at higher temperatures (Ts). Resolution of a spectrothermal matrix of DPH fluorescence spectra by principal component analysis with self-modeling (PCA-SM) is hampered by T-dependent changes in the spectra of the individual components. We avoided differential polarizability-dependent spectral shifts by measuring the spectra in n-alkanes (Cn, C8 to C16 with n even) at T values selected to keep the index of refraction constant, hence under isopolarizability conditions. Compensation of the spectra for T-induced broadening allowed resolution of the spectral matrix into its three components. The optimum van't Hoff plot gives Delta H = 2.83 kcal/mol for s-c-DPH/s-t-DPH equilibration, somewhat smaller than the 3.4 kcal/mol calculated value, and the optimum Boltzmann distribution law plot gives Delta E(ab) = 4.09 kcal/mol for 1(1)B(u)/2(1)A(g) equilibration. The 1(1)B(u) fluorescence spectrum bears mirror-image symmetry with the DPH absorption spectrum, and the energy gap, 1431 cm(-1), is consistent with the 1615 cm(-1) difference between the lowest energy bands in the 1(1)B(u) and 2(1)A(g) fluorescence spectra. The results give V(ab) = 198 +/- 12 cm(-1) for the vibronic matrix coupling element between the 2(1)A(g) and 1(1)B(u) states. Fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes under isopolarizability conditions reveal an increase in the effective radiative rate constant of s-t-DPH with increasing T.

The effect of nitrogen substitution in the benzene ring of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (HPBI) on the photophysics and rotamerization were examined theoretically by a comparative study of HPBI with 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (HPIP-b), 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine (HPIP-c), and 8-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)purine (HPP). Density functional theory (DFT) was used for ground state calculations. Restricted configuration interaction singles (RCIS) combined time dependent DFT (TDDFT) was used for excited state calculations. The calculations reveal in the ground state all of the molecules have two stable rotameric forms, but their relative population is strongly affected by nitrogen substitution. The excitation and emission bands have been calculated theoretically for the rotamers and tautomers. Fluorescence emission and excitation spectra were recorded for HPBI in dioxane and compared with the theoretical results. Theoretical excitation and emission data are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The potential energy surface simulated for the proton transfer processes reflect that it is not favorable in S(0) state, but it is feasible in S(1) state in all of the molecules. Except in HPIP-b, HPIP-b', and HPP', in all other nitrogen substituted molecules, the energy difference between the keto and enol form along the excited state proton transfer coordinates decreases compared to that in HPBI. The study also reveals that torsional relaxation of tautomer to twisted state competes with radiative transitions and leads to fluorescence quenching. Nitrogen substitution enhances this torsional induced nonradiative process and it follows the order HPBI < HPIP-b < HPIP-c < HPP.

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The spectral characteristics of N,N-dimethyl-4-(4-methyl-4H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl)benzenamine (PyN-Me), 1-methyl-2-(4'-(N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (ImNH-Me), and 2-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PIP) are investigated to understand the mechanism of protic solvent induced dual fluorescence of 2-(4'-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (DMAPIP-b). No dual emission is observed from PyN-Me where pyridyl nitrogen blocked from hydrogen bonding with protic solvents confirms the importance of hydrogen bonding of protic solvents with the pyridyl nitrogen in dual emission of DMAPIP-b. Like DMAPIP-b, ImNH-Me also exhibits weak emission and has a shorter fluorescence lifetime in methanol. However, single emission is observed from ImNH-Me in all solvents including protic solvents. This suggests that the imidazole >NH hydrogen also plays a role in the dual emission process. The longer wavelength emission of DMAPIP-b in water increases with increase in pH of the solution owing to deprotonation of the imidazole >NH group. On the basis of these results, the mechanism for the dual emission of DMAPIP-b is proposed.

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