Mechanistic Insights into the Photophysics of Ortho-hydroxyl GFP Core Chromophores

Herein we have employed the MS-CASPT2//CASSCF method to study the S₁ excited-state intramolecular proton transfers (ESIPTs) of recently synthesized ortho-hydroxyl GFP core chromophores, i.e. OHIM, CHBDI, and MHBID, and their excited-state relaxation pathways. We have found that in OHIM and CHBDI, the ESIPT process is associated with small barriers of 3.4 and 4.2 kcal/mol; while, in MHBDI, it becomes essentially barrierless. Moreover, we have found two main S₁ excited-state radiationless channels. In the first one, the enol S₁ species decays to the S₀ state via the enol S₁/S₀ conical intersection after overcoming considerable barriers of 7.0 and 7.7 kcal/mol in OHIM and CHBDI (however, in MHBDI, it is nearly barrierless). In the second one, the keto S₁ species is first generated through the ESIPT event; then, it is de-excited into the S₀ state in the vicinity of the keto S₁/S₀ conical intersection. These energetically allowed excited-state decay channels rationalize experimentally observed ultralow fluorescence quantum yields. The insights gained from the present work may help to guide the design of new ortho-hydroxyl GFP core chromophores with improved fluorescence emission and brightness.