1.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
; 57(45): 14742-14746, 2018 Nov 05.
Artículo
en Inglés
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30152115
RESUMEN
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 pKa to give the excited state pKa * >20 in ethanol.