The excitation behaviors for 4′-N,N-diethylamino-3-hydroxyflavone (Ia) have been investigated via femtosecond fluorescence upconversion approaches to gain detailed insights into the mechanism of the proton/chargetransfer coupling reaction. In polar solvents such as CH 2 Cl 2 and CH 3 CN, in addition to a slow, solventpolarity-dependent rate (a few tens of picoseconds -1 ) of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reported previously, early femtosecond relaxation dynamics clearly reveal that the proton-transfer tautomer emission consists of a rise component of a few hundred femtoseconds. The temporal spectral evolution at the time domain of zero to a few hundred femtoseconds further resolves two distinct emission bands consisting of a proton-transfer tautomer emission and a time-dependent Stokes shifted emission. The results, in combination with ab initio calculations on the dipolar vectors for normal and tautomer species, lead us to unveil the importance of the relationship of the dipolar vectors among various states, and hence the corresponding solvation energetics in the overall ESIPT reaction. We conclude a similar dipolar character between ground-state normal (N) and excited proton-transfer tautomer (T*) species, whereas due to the excited-state intramolecular charge transfer (ESICT), the normal excited state (N*) possesses a large dipolar change with respect to N and T*. ESIPT is thus energetically favorable at the Franck-Condon excited N*, and its rate is competitive with respect to the solvation relaxation process. After reaching the solvent equilibration, there exists an equilibrium between N* and T* states in, for example, CH 3 CN. Due to the greatly different equilibrium polarization between N* and T*, both forward and reversed ESIPT dynamics are associated with a solvent-induced barrier. The latter viewpoint of the equilibrium type of ESIPT in Ia is in agreement with the previous reports based on steady-state, 8 picosecond, 9,13 and femtosecond 14,15 dynamic approaches.

The tuning of CdSe quantum dot (QDs) sizes, and consequently their corresponding two-photon absorption (TPA) cross section, has been systematically investigated. As the size (diameter) of the quantum dots increases, the TPA cross section is found to be empirically related via a power-law proportionality of 3.5+/-0.5 and 5.6+/-0.7 to the diameters of CdSe and CdTe QDs, respectively. The results are tentatively rationalized via a theoretical model of two-photon excitation properties in a system incorporating excitons and defects.

Differential cross section polarization moments: Location of the D-atom transfer in the transition-state region for the reactions Cl+C 2 D 6 →DCl (v ′ =0,J ′ =1)+ C 2 D 5 and Cl+CD 4 →DCl (v ′ =0,J ′ =1)+ CD 3

Detailed insights into the excited-state enol(N*)-keto(T*) intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction in 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-diethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole (HABT) have been investigated via steady-state and femtosecond fluorescence upconversion approaches. In cyclohexane, in contrast to the ultrafast rate of ESIPT for the parent 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (>2.9+/-0.3 x 10(13) s(-1)), HABT undergoes a relatively slow rate (approximately 5.4+/-0.5 x 10(11) s(-1)) of ESIPT. In polar aprotic solvents competitive rate of proton transfer and rate of solvent relaxation were resolved in the early dynamics. After reaching the solvation equilibrium in the normal excited state (N(eq)*), ESIPT takes place with an appreciable barrier. The results also show N(eq)*(enol)<-->T(eq)*(keto) equilibrium, which shifts toward N(eq)* as the solvent polarity increases. Temperature-dependent relaxation dynamics further resolved a solvent-induced barrier of 2.12 kcal mol(-1) for the forward reaction in CH(2)Cl(2). The observed spectroscopy and dynamics are rationalized by a significant difference in dipole moment between N(eq)* and T(eq)*, while the dipolar vector for the enol form in the ground state (N) is in between that of N(eq)* and T(eq)*. Upon N-->N* Franck-Condon excitation, ESIPT is energetically favorable, and its rate is competitive with the solvation relaxation process. Upon reaching equilibrium configurations N(eq)* and T(eq)*, forward and/or backward ESIPT takes place with an appreciable solvent polarity induced barrier due to differences in polarization equilibrium between N(eq)* and T(eq)*.

Based on design and synthesis of I, II, and III, we demonstrate an ingenious approach to fine-tuning the excited-state intramolecular charge transfer (ESICT) coupled excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction via the dipolar functionality of the molecular framework. Both I and II exhibit remarkable dual emission due to the different solvent-polarity environment between ESICT and ESIPT states, while the interplay of two charge-transfer entities in III leads to ESIPT decoupling from the solvent-polarity effect, resulting in a unique proton-transfer tautomer emission. The results make further rational design of the ESICT/ ESIPT coupled systems feasible simply by tuning the net dipolar effect. Accordingly, systematic investigation of the correlation in regards to the difference in dipolar vectors between ESICT and ESIPT versus solventpolarity induced barriers becomes possible.

Detailed insight into the excitation behavior for charge versus proton transfer in p-N,N-ditolylaminosalicylaldehyde (Ia) has been gained via luminescence spectroscopy and femtosecond dynamics. In cyclohexane, following an ultrafast rate (∼2.0 × 10 12 s -1 ) of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), fast equilibrium takes place between normal (N*) and tautomer excited states (T*), resulting in dual fluorescence maximized at 450 and 540 nm, respectively, with a common population decay rate of 360 ps -1 . The normal emission exhibits drastic solvent-polarity dependence and has been concluded to originate from a chargetransfer species incorporating excited-state intramolecular charge transfer from ditolylamine to carbonyl oxygen. In dipolar solvents, competitive rates between ESIPT and solvent relaxation were observed, and the solvated charge-transfer state is thermodynamically more favorable, so that the T* f N* reverse proton transfer takes places. Supplementary support was provided by the corresponding experiments for the methoxy derivative of Ia as well as other relevant analogues. The results shed light on detailed proton/charge transfer coupled dynamics as well as the associated solvent-relaxation dynamics at an early time domain.

Luminescent complexes: Through the design and synthesis of a series of new osmium‐based β‐diketonate carbonyl complexes (see picture; MLCT=metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer, kisc=intersystem crossing constant), a remarkable aromatic tunable fluorescence/phosphorescence ratio was explored. The relative luminescent efficiencies and associated dynamics were evaluated.

Comprehensive excitation behaviors of 7-N,N-diethylamino-3-hydroxyflavone (I) have been investigated via steady state, temperature-dependent emission, and fluorescence upconversion to probe the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (PT) reaction. Upon excitation, I undergoes ultrafast (<<120 fs), adiabatic type of charge transfer (CT), so that the dipolar vector in the Franck-Condon excited state is much different from that in the ground state. In polar solvents such as CH2Cl2 and CH3CN, early relaxation dynamics clearly reveals the competitive rates between solvent relaxation and PT dynamics. After reaching thermal equilibrium, a relatively slow, solvent-polarity-dependent rate (a few tens of picoseconds(-1)) of PT takes places. Firm support of the early relaxation dynamics is rendered by the spectral temporal evolution, which resolves two distinct bands ascribed to CT and PT emission. The results, in combination with ab initio calculations on the dipolar vectors for various corresponding states, led us to conclude that excited-state normal (N*) and excited proton-transfer tautomer (T*) possesses very different dipole orientation, whereas the dipole orientation of the normal ground state (N) is between that of N* and T*. PT is thus energetically favorable at the Franck-Condon excited N*, and its rate is competitive with respect to the solvent relaxation dynamics induced by CT. Unlike the well-known PT system, 4'-N,N-diethylamino-3-hydroxyflavone, in which equilibrium exists between solvent-equilibrated N(eq)* and T(eq)*, N(eq)* --> T(eq)* PT for I is a highly exergonic, irreversible process in all solvents studied. Further temperature-dependent studies deduce a solvent-polarity-perturbed energy barrier of 3.6 kcal/mol for the N(eq)* --> T(eq)* PT in CH3CN. The proposed dipole-moment-tuning PT mechanism with the associated relaxation dynamics is believed to apply to many PT molecules in polar, aprotic solvents.