Fluorescence quenching as a method of identification of the character of photoreactions in excited states of molecules

Abstract

We consider the steady-state monochromatic excitation of a luminophore that has fluorescent products. We consider how the fluorescence of singlet states is affected by different means of quenching highlying excited states such as quenching with impurities, temperature quenching, and shortening the lifetime with induced transitions in the light field. We show that the use of different methods of fluorescence quenching opens new possibilities for studying photoreactions that proceed via excited singlet states. Our consideration concerns a wide range of primary photoprocesses, such as electron density redistribution (internal electron transfer) in the excited state, protolytic reactions, intramolecular proton transfer (phototautomerization), hydrogen bond formation, intermolecular relaxation of molecules in solutions, and formation of excimers and exciplexes. The obtained relations have been used to analyze experimental fluorescence spectra of solutions of some organic compounds, including derivatives of 3-hydroxyflavone and 3-aminophthalimide, subjected to quenching by different methods.