PROTON-TRANSFER TO PHOTOEXCITED AROMATIC-COMPOUNDS IN SOLUTION

This review paper will summarize work carried out during the last thirty years in the area of proton transfer to the aromatic ring of photoexcited aromatic compounds. The aromatic ring has been predicted to be much more basic in the singlet excited state than in the ground state. However, only recently has there been systematic and quantitative studies in this area. This review will highlight the significant new insights now available and demonstrate that there is much more to be learned in the excited state acid-base chemistry of aromatic rings.