Photoinduced electron transfer in rigidly linked dimethoxynapthalene-N-methylpyridinium donor-acceptor molecules

Abstract

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) is studied in a series of novel molecules containing a dimethoxynaphthalene (DMN) donor and either a pyridine (P) or N-methylpyridinium (P-Me +) acceptor covalently linked via a rigid nonbornalogous bridge ( n sigma bonds in length). ET rates of the order of 10 10 s −1 were measured for the DMN- n-P-Me + series ( n = 4, 6), while no appreciable ET was observed for the DMN- n-P compounds. Electronic and nuclear factors are discussed and the results rationalized in terms of Marcus—Hush and non-adiabatic ET theories.