Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) from -NH 2 to the Carbon Atom of a Naphthyl Ring.

Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) has been documented from an amino NH 2 group to a carbon atom of an adjacent aromatic ring. This finding changes the paradigm, as hitherto such processes have not been considered as plausible due to slow protonation of carbon and low (photo)acidity of the NH 2 group. The ESIPT was studied by irradiation of 2-(2-aminophenyl)naphthalene in CH 3 CN-D 2 O, whereupon regiospecific incorporation of deuterium takes place at the naphthalene position 1, with a quantum yield of Φ = 0.11. A synergy of experimental and computational investigations completely unraveled the mechanism of this important photochemical reaction. Upon excitation to the photoreactive S 2 (L a ) state, a favorable redistribution of charge sets the stage for ESIPT to the carbon atom in naphthalene position 1. H 2 O molecules are needed, as they increase the excitation energy and oscillator strength for the population of the S 2 (L a ) state. The gain in energy is used to surmount a small energy barrier on the pathway from the Franck-Condon geometry to the conical intersection with the S 0 , delivering aza-quinone methide.