FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING OF INDOLES BY N,N‐DIMETHYLFORMAMIDE

Abstract. The quenching of the excited state of indoles by small polar molecules is believed to occur via the formation of excited state complexes. The rate of excited state complex formation of indoles with dimethylformamide is shown to be a function of the group appended to the indole ring at the 3‐ or 5‐position. Substituents which can strengthen the charge transfer character of the exciplex are observed to enhance the rate of fluorescence quenching. In contrast to other amides, dimethylformamide appears to be a moderately good quencher of indole fluorescence, and may be a useful probe for proteins.