The role of the surrounding polarity on the phototautomerization process in a diazaaromatic compound: An UV–vis and NMR study

Fluorescence steady-state and decay measurements of the azaaromatic derivative norharmane were obtained in solvents with different polarities: dichloromethane (DCM) and acetonitrile (ACN), at different temperatures, in the absence and the presence of a donor/acceptor hydrogen bond such as acetic acid. 2D NOESY experiments confirmed that this compound forms a hydrogen-bonding cyclic complex with acetic acid in the ground state. This complex induced a phototautomeric equilibrium, which produced new emission bands at 400 and 500 nm. This tautomeric process was established only in the first excited state via a concerted proton–electron transfer. Indeed, the cyclic complex formed in the ground state evolved to a like-cation upon cooling from room temperature to 225 K, and a new emission band at 450 nm is observed. The fluorescence decay times confirmed these results.