Femtosecond electron transfer: Experiment and theory

Abstract

The electron transfer kinetics of 4—(9—anthryl)—N,N'—dimethylaniline (ADMA) and 9,9'-bianthryl (BA) were measured. The dynamics of BA and ADMA are both well described with a semi—empirical model for electron transfer. Within this model, the BA electron transfer dynamics can be described as occurring adiabatically in S1. However, in ADMA, part of the electron transfer occurs nonadiabatically from S2 to S1 and part of the electron transfer occurs adiabatically within S1. To describe the combined adiabatic and nonadiabatic dynamics in ADMA, we introduce a generalized survival probability related to the fractional charge remaining on the donor.In addition, the dipolar solvation dynamics of an anionic probe (conjugate base of coumarin 343) molecule were measured in methanol and found to be similar to previously reported solvation dynamics of a neutral probe. Also, no evidence of ion pairing contributions to the solvation dynamics were observed. © 1993, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.