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Protonation effect on the excited state behaviour of EE-1-(n-pyridyl)-4-phenylbutadienes (n = 2, 3 and 4).

The acid-base equilibria of three aza-derivatives of EE-1,4-diphenylbutadiene and the excited state properties of their neutral and protonated forms have been studied in aqueous solutions. The prevalent relaxation of the neutral molecules is photoisomerization by a diabatic singlet mechanism accompanied by substantial internal conversion while the quantum yield of the radiative pathway is very small, particularly for the ortho- and para-substituted pyridines. Protonation affects only slightly the isomerization yield of these two compounds while drastically decreasing that of the meta-substituted analogue. Molecular orbital calculations and comparison with the corresponding azastilbenes indicate that the first excited singlet state of the protonated meta compound has a net charge transfer character, which leads to an increase of the torsional barrier in S1. Application of the Forster cycle to the three compounds showed that they become much stronger bases in S1. The 3-pyridyl derivative proved to be peculiar also in this respect since its equilibration with the proton occurs during the S1 lifetime thus allowing the acid-base equilibration in the excited state to be directly monitored by fluorimetric titration.