Femtochemistry of Inter‐ and Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds

Abstract

Femtosecond studies of 3-hydroxyflavone complexed to a hydrogen-bonding solvent show that competitive inter- and intramolecular proton-transfer reactions are responsible for the production of (A) anionic and (Z) zwitterionic structures of the dye, in the femto- and picosecond timescales, depending on the strength of the intermolecular interactions with the solvent (see figure).