Ultrafast Excited-State Dynamics of a Cyano-Substituted "Proton Sponge".

The dynamics of a substituted proton sponge-the 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)-4-cyanonaphthalene (DMAN-CN) molecule-was investigated after excitation in the S1 state. Experimental and theoretical information are reported. The former includes absorption, fluorescence, and time-resolved transient absorption spectra, which were recorded in solution.

Ultrafast excited state dynamics of trans-[4-(4'-dimethylaminostyryl)] pyridine N-oxide in solution: femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion and theoretical calculations.

The results of the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence-spectroscopy measurements and DFT calculations for trans-[4-(4'-dimethylaminostyryl)] pyridine N-oxide (trans-DPO) in various solvents are presented. These results are similar to those reported in the literature for trans-4-(dimethylamino)-4'-cyanostilbene (DCS) where the S1 emissive state shows the charge-transfer (CT) nature. Alcohol solvents, however, have aroused our particular interest because hydrogen-bonded complexes are formed between them and the trans-DPO molecule.