Identification of a new electron-transfer relaxation pathway in photoexcited pyrrole dimers

Simon P. Neville, Oliver M. Kirkby, Nikolas Kaltsoyannis, Graham A. Worth*, Helen H. Fielding

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)
87 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Photoinduced electron transfer is central to many biological processes and technological applications, such as the harvesting of solar energy and molecular electronics. The electron donor and acceptor units involved in electron transfer are often held in place by covalent bonds, π-π interactions or hydrogen bonds. Here, using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, we reveal the existence of a new, low-energy, photoinduced electron-transfer mechanism in molecules held together by an NH...π bond. Specifically, we capture the electron-transfer process in a pyrrole dimer, from the excited π-system of the donor pyrrole to a Rydberg orbital localized on the N-atom of the acceptor pyrrole, mediated by an N-H stretch on the acceptor molecule. The resulting charge-transfer state is surprisingly long lived and leads to efficient electronic relaxation. We propose that this relaxation pathway plays an important role in biological and technological systems containing the pyrrole building block.

Original languageEnglish
Article number11357
JournalNature Communications
Volume7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Apr 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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