Interaction of 3,7-diamino-2,8-dimethyl-5-phenyl phenazinium chloride with model biological membranes and reverse micelles of lipid: a spectroscopic study

The interaction of 3,7-diamino-2,8-dimethyl-5-phenyl phenazinium chloride (Safranine T) with the aqueous as well as reverse micellar solution of a phospholipid 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (Azolecithin), a major structural phospholipid in brain, comprising approx 15% of total lipid, primarily localized in grey matter have been studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies. The results show the evidence of complex formation of the dye in the ground and in the excited state. The interaction of the dye with the lipid in reverse micellar state is more compared to that in liposomes. An attempt has been made to determine the polarity of the microenvironment of the dye in liposomes or reverse micelles from the spectral studies of the dye in different solvents of known polarity. The polarity functions of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes are slightly lower compared to that of PC reverse micelles.     

Photophysical properties of 2-amino-9,10-anthraquinone: evidence for structural changes in the molecule with solvent polarity.

The photophysical properties of 2-amino-9,10-anthraquinone (2AAQ) have been investigated in different solvents and solvent mixtures and correlated with the Lippert-Mataga solvent polarity parameter, Deltaf. In the low solvent polarity region with Deltaf < ca. 0.1, the dye shows unusually high fluorescence quantum yields (Phif) and lifetimes (tauf) in comparison to those in other solvents of medium to high polarities. Similarly, the radiative rate constants (kf) are relatively lower and the non-radiative rate constants (knr) are relatively higher in the low polarity solvents in comparison to those in the medium to high polarity solvents. The current results have been rationalized assuming that the dye adopts different structural forms below and above the Deltaf value of approximately 0.1. It is inferred that in the low solvent polarity region the dye exists in a non-planar structure, with its 2-NH2 plane away from that of the 9,10-anthraquinone moiety in the ground state. In solvents of medium to high polarities, the dye exists in a polar intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) structure, where the amino lone pair of the 2-NH2 group is in strong resonance with the anthraquinone pi-cloud in the ground state. In all the solvents, however the dye is inferred to exist in the ICT structure in its excited (S1) state. Supportive evidence for the above hypothesis has been obtained from the solvent polarity effect on the Stokes' shifts for the dye. Quantum chemical studies on the structures of 2AAQ dye in the gas phase also give qualitative support for the inferences drawn from the photophysical properties of the dye in different solvents.     

Photoinduced interaction of riboflavin dye with different reducing agents in aqueous and liposome media

The photoelectrochemical and spectral studies of riboflavin have been carried out in aqueous and phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposome media in presence of different reducing agents such as I-, Br-, Cl-, Fe2+, Fe(CN)6(4-) and Cu+. The results from both the studies support the photoinduced electron transfer from the reducing agent to the excited riboflavin dye. Moreover, a good correlation between photovoltages/Stern-Volmer quenching constants versus reduction potentials of the reducing agents also confirms the above electron transfer in the photoexcited state. An alternative method has been developed to determine the Stern-Volmer quenching constant.     

Modulation of dual fluorescence in a 3-hydroxyquinolone dye by perturbation of its intramolecular proton transfer with solvent polarity and basicity.

A representative of a new class of dyes with dual fluorescence due to an excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction, namely 1-methyl-2-(4-methoxy)phenyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone (QMOM), has been studied in a series of solvents covering a large range of polarity and basicity. A linear dependence of the logarithm of its two bands intensity ratio, log(I(N*)/I(T*)), upon the solvent polarity expressed as a function of the dielectric constant, (epsilon- 1)/(2epsilon + 1), is observed for a series of protic solvents. A linear dependence for log(I(N*)/I(T*)) is also found in aprotic solvents after taking into account the solvent basicity. In contrast, the positions of the absorption and the two emission bands of QMOM do not noticeably depend on the solvent polarity and basicity, indicating relatively small changes in the transition moment of QMOM upon excitation and emission. Time-resolved experiments in acetonitrile, ethyl acetate and dimethylformamide suggest an irreversible ESIPT reaction for this dye. According to the time-resolved data, an increase of solvent basicity results in a dramatic decrease of the ESIPT rate constant, probably due to the disruption of the intramolecular H-bond of the dye by the basic solvent. Due to this new sensor property, 3-hydroxyquinolones are promising candidates for the development of a new generation of environment-sensitive fluorescence dyes for probing interactions of biomolecules.     

Effect of solvents,solvent mixture and silver nanoparticles on photophysical properties of a ketocyanine dye

The effect of solvents of varying polarity and hydrogen bonding ability, solvent mixture and silver nanoparticles on the photophysical properties of a ketocyanine dye, 2,5‐di[(E)‐1‐(4‐diethylaminophenyl) methylidine]‐1‐cyclopentanone (2,5‐DEAPMC), is investigated at room temperature. Solvent effect is analyzed using Lippert–Mataga bulk polarity function, Reichardt's microscopic solvent polarity parameter, and Kamlet's and Catalan's multiple linear regression approaches. The spectral properties better follow Reichardt's microscopic solvent polarity parameter than the Lippert–Mataga bulk polarity function. This indicates that both general and specific solute–solvent interactions are operative. Kamlet's and Catalan's multiple linear regression approaches indicate that polarizability/dipolarity solvent influences are greater than hydrogen bond donor and hydrogen bond acceptor solvent influences. The solvatochromic correlations are used to estimate excited state dipole moment using the experimentally determined ground state dipole moment. The excited state dipole moment of the dye is found to be larger than its corresponding ground state dipole moment and ground and excited state dipole moments are not parallel, but subtend an angle of 77°. The absorption and emission spectra are modulated in the presence silver nanoparticles. The fluorescence of 2,5‐DEAPMC is quenched by silver nanoparticles. The possible fluorescence quenching mechanisms are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solvatochromic studies in polyethylene glycol–salt aqueous biphasic systems

The polarities of the co-existing phases of a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-2000–K₃PO₄ aqueous biphasic system (ABS) have been examined using Reichardt’s carboxylated pyridinium-N-phenoxybetaine dye as a probe. Using this probe, the polarities of these phases have been compared to those of conventional solvent extraction systems and micellar systems using values obtained from the literature. In general, these extraction systems are comparable in polarity to rather polar solvents. Data on the free energy of transfer of solvents suggests that this may be due to the failure of the probe to account for the real polarity of the salt-rich phase compared to the polymer-rich phase. Examination of the monophasic region of these systems suggests that the reason for this is that the probe is partitioned to a discreet solvent domain dominated by PEG, even though phase separation of the solution is not observed. The use of linear free energy relationships for the characterization of ABS is briefly discussed.     

Tunable luminescence of a synthesized furophenanthraquinone derivative: interactions with different solvents

The synthesis is described of a luminescent furophenanthraquinone derivative, 9‐methoxyphenanthro[4,3‐b]furan‐4,5‐dione (MPFD). The biological importance of tetracyclic furophenanthraquinones was considered and the tunable luminescence of MPFD in different solvents was studied to explore the nature of the specific interactions between MPFD and solvents. Observation of dual emission bands and identical nature of the fluorescence excitation spectra of MPFD monitored at the emission wavelength in polar solvents indicated the formation of two different types of species in the excited state, probably due to proton transfer from the solvent to MPFD. Luminescence intensity due to anionic species was found to be increased and the corresponding peak was red shifted with increase in the proton‐donating ability of the solvents, acting as an acid with respect to MPFD. Availability of more acidic protons in the solvent facilitated this phenomenon occurring in the excited state. MPFD also interacted with halogen‐containing solvents by forming electron donor–acceptor charge transfer (CT) complexes. This CT complex formation was dependent on the number of chlorine atoms; the position of the corresponding luminescence band varied with the polarity of the solvent. Extent of the CT increased with increase in the number of chlorine atoms in the dichloro, trichloro and tetrachloro solvents, whereas the luminescence peak due to the CT complex was found to be blue shifted with decrease in solvent polarity. Interaction of the synthesized bioactive MPFD with different solvents deserves biological importance as proton transfer and CT play pivotal roles in biology.     

Papain in organic solvents: determination of conditions suitable for biocatalysis and the effect on substrate specificity and inhibition

Synthesis of N-CBZ-(N-Carbobenzoxy)-1-amino-acid methyl esters from N-CBZ-amino acids and methanol has been used as an assay to examine the properties of papain in organic solvents containing small amounts of water. Papain is active in solvents ranging in polarity from acetonitrile to tetrachloromethane. The optimal activity in each solvent varied only about three to four fold, but the amount of added water required to achieve it varied from 4% (v/v) in acetonitrile to 0.05% (v/v) in tetrachloromethane. The enzyme was generally more stable in hydrophobic solvents and at lower water contents. The apparent K(m) value of CBZ-glycine was 26 times higher in acetonitrile than in toluene due to differential partitioning of the substrate between aqueous and organic phases. The substrate specificity of the enzyme was qualitatively little different from that in aqueous solution, with amino acid derivatives still the best substrates. Nitrile analogs of substrates inhibited the enzyme, as they do in aqueous solution, and inhibition by a variety of substituted aromatic hydrocarbons showed that the main specificity of papain for hydrophobic side chains at its S(2) subsite, was little affected. The results show that papain can catalyze reactions under a variety of conditions in organic solvents but its substrate specificity is little changed from that in aqueous media.     

Voltage sensitivity of the fluorescent probe RH421 in a model membrane system.

The voltage sensitivity of the fluorescent styrylpyridinium dye RH421 has been investigated in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles by inducing an intramembrane electric field through the binding of the hydrophobic ion tetraphenylborate (TPB). To assess the probability of electrochromic and solvatochromic mechanisms for the dye response, the ground-state dipole moment of the dye in chloroform solution was determined from dielectric constant measurements to be 12 (+/- 1) Debye, and the change in dipole moment upon excitation was calculated from measurements of the Stokes shift in solvents of varying polarity to be 25 (+/- 11) Debye. As well as causing absorbance and fluorescence changes of membrane-bound dye, the TPB-induced electrical field was found to reduce significantly the pKa of the dye. The pH at which experiments are carried out is, thus, an important factor in determining the amplitude of the voltage-induced absorbance and fluorescence changes. The observed absorbance changes induced by the field are inconsistent with a pure electrochromic mechanism. A reorientation/solvatochromic mechanism, whereby the electrical field reorients the dye molecules so that they experience a change in polarity of their lipid environment is likely to make a significant contribution to both the spectral changes and to the field effect on the acid-base properties of the dye.     

Microspectrophotometric Analysis of Accumulation of the Fluorones K-Fluorescein, Rose Bengal and Phloxine Red in Living Plant Cells

Spectrophotometry investigations of dye solutions in different media and of living stained cells from the upper epidermis of the scaleleaf of Allium cepa were carried out with the dyes K-fluorescein, rose Bengal and phloxine red to elucidate the mechanism of the accumulation of these dyes in the cytoplasm, the nucleus and the cell sap. Thin layer chromatography and paper electrophoresis indicate that the K-fluorescein used here contains no detectable contaminants. Besides the main component, rose Bengal contains two components in small quantities with Rf values of 0.64 and 0.57, plus three more components in traces. Besides the two main components (Rf values of 0.83 and 0.73), phloxine red also contains five more components in traces. Electrophoretic investigations reveal that in aqueous solution the fluorones rose Bengal and phloxine red from pH 2.0-11 show a migration toward the anode. K-fluorescein from pH 2.9-10.4 shows a migration toward the anode, but at pH 1.9 a migration toward the cathode. By shaking aqueous solutions of K-fluorescein, rose Bengal and phloxine red at different pH values with different organic solvents, the above used stainings show different spectral absorption curves according to the polarity of the solvent. The position of the absorption maxima and the shape of the absorption curves of these three anionic dyes lead to the conclusion that the staining of the living cytoplasm and nucleus is due to ion accumulation by means of the “ion trap mechanism” within the aqueous phase of the cytoplasm (cytosol) and the nucleus. Adsorption of dye particles in the protein phase of the cytoplasm cannot be excluded. There seems to be a fundamental difference in the vital staining of the protoplasm by anionic and cationic dyes, the latter apparently accumulating as neutral dye molecules in the lipid phase of the protoplasm. The concentration of the dyes used in the living cytoplasm (cytosol) is approximately 0.2-0.05%. During natural and artificial displacement of K-fluorescein from the cytoplasm to the vacuole, it appears that accumulation of the dye within the vacuole is performed through an ion trap mechanism in the form of bivalent ions. Along with natural displacement, it is possible that ion accumulation also occurs in metabolic products.     

Photophysics of thionine dye in aqueous and liposome media in presence of different reducing agents.

The photoelectrochemical and spectral (both absorption and fluorescence) studies of thionine, a cationic phenothiazine dye, have been carried out in aqueous and phosphatidylcholine liposome media in the presence of different reducing agents, such as I(-), Br(-), Cl(-) and Fe(2+). The results show that the photovoltage generation from photoelectrochemical studies and Stern-Volmer quenching constant studied by fluorescence quenching support the photoinduced electron transfer from the reducing agent to the singlet excited thionine dye. Moreover, a good correlation between photovoltages/Stern-Volmer quenching constants vs. reduction potentials of the reducing agents also confirms the above electron transfer in the photoexcited state.     

Intramolecular exciplexes based on benzoxazole: photophysics and applications as fluorescent cation sensors.

Exciplex behaviour of three benzoxazole derivatives has been detected and intensively investigated by means of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques and transient absorption spectroscopy. The fluorescence of these compounds shows the properties which are typical for the excited state charge transfer complexes (exciplexes). Besides of the short wavelength fluorescence, which is similar in spectral distribution to the fluorescence of the electron acceptor (2-p-tolyl-benzoxazole), the red shifted, broad and structureless emission band is observed in solvents of low and medium polarity. The detailed analysis of the fluorescence data shows that the ratio of the CT and LE fluorescence initially increases with increasing solvent polarity, achieves a maximum, and drops for more polar solvents (epsilon(s) = 7). Similar behaviour is observed for the exciplex fluorescence lifetimes. The overall fluorescence and the relative intersystem crossing quantum yields show the decrease of these values with increasing solvent polarity. These observations have been explained on the basis of Marcus-type theory for nonradiative charge transfer rate constants. Increasing solvent polarity strongly accelerates the back electron transfer process which recovers the whole molecule in the ground state. The probability of the compact exciplex formation (i.e. sandwich-type structures) depends on solvent viscosity and degree of freedom of the bending of the saturated linker. The compound containing crown ether as a donor subunit may be used as a fluorescent indicator of inorganic cations (barium and lithium). We found an effective complexation of the compound in the ground state with barium and lithium cations. The complex is also stable in the excited state which manifests itself in strong increase of the fluorescence intensity.     

Spectrofluorometric studies of the lipid probe, nile red

We found that the dye nile red, 9-diethylamino-5H-benzo[alpha]phenoxazine-5-one, can be applied as a fluorescent vital stain for the detection of intracellular lipid droplets by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytofluorometry (J. Cell. Biol. 1985. 100: 965-973). To understand the selectivity of the staining, we examined the fluorescence properties of nile red in the presence of organic solvents and model lipid systems. Nile red was found to be both very soluble and strongly fluorescent in organic solvents. The excitation and emission spectra of nile red shifted to shorter wavelengths with decreasing solvent polarity. However, the fluorescence of nile red was quenched in aqueous medium. Nile red was observed to fluoresce intensely in the presence of aqueous suspensions of phosphatidylcholine vesicles (excitation maximum: 549 nm; emission maximum: 628 nm). When neutral lipids such as triacylglycerols or cholesteryl esters were incorporated with phosphatidylcholine to form microemulsions, nile red fluorescence emission maxima shifted to shorter wavelengths. Serum lipoproteins also induced nile red fluorescence and produced spectral blue shifts. Nile red fluorescence was not observed in the presence of either immunoglobulin G or gelatin. These results demonstrate that nile red fluorescence accompanied by a spectral blue shift reflects the presence of nile red in a hydrophobic lipid environment and account for the selective detection of neutral lipid by the dye. Nile red thus serves as an excellent fluorescent lipid probe.     

Kinetics of the association of potential-sensitive dyes with model and energy-transducing membranes: Implications for fast probe response times

Summary The second-order rate constants characterizing the association of potential-sensing dyes of the cyanine, merocyanine, and oxonol classes with glycerylmonooleate suspensions, azolectin vesicles, or submitochondrial particles have been measured and the implications for redistribution type mechanisms proposed to explain the potential-dependent optical signals of these probes considered. The second-order rate constants obtained for the cyanines and oxonols are compatible with microsecond probe response times only on the assumption that a high local dye concentration exists in the aqueous phase immediately adjacent to the membrane surface. Calculations based on a surface charge density induced by a bias potential suggest that the necessary local concentration cannot be attained by a diffusion polarization mechanism. A model based on the rapid recombination of ejected dye with the membrane bilayer seems capable of explaining microsecond probe response times in systems where the potential is rapidly changing polarity; calculations suggest that an ejected dye molecule would not diffuse out of an unstirred layer of 100 microns thickness on a millisecond time scale. Microsecond probe responses are also compatible with a first-order potential-dependent dye ejection from the membrane with no rapid recombination when the potential is not changing polarity. The apparent first-order rate constants describing the interaction of merocanine M-540 with a glycerylmonooleate suspension are independent of dye concentration; the reaction may be diffusion limited. The high local dye concentration need not be met in this case for a mechanism based on the transfer of dye onto the membrane from the aqueous phase to describe the microsecond signals of this dye, but other mechanisms have been proposed to explain such signals. The mechanism leading to potentialdependent signals from optical probes appear to differ substantially between suspensions of energy-transducing biological membranes and those involving excitable membranes such as the squid giant axon or model black lipid membranes.     

Comparative study of the photophysical properties of indoprofen photoproducts in relation with their DNA photosensitizing properties.

The photophysical properties of indoprofen photoproducts have been examined in various solvents by absorbance and emission spectroscopies in relation with their photosensitizing properties. The photophysical properties of 2-[4-(1-hydroxy)ethylphenyl]isoindolin-1-one (HOINP) and 2-(4-ethylphenyl)isoindolin-1-one (ETINP) are typical of a singlet excited state when the ones of 2-(4-acetylphenyl)isoindolin-1-one (KINP) are based on its triplet excited state according to previous work. The effect of solvent polarity on the absorption and fluorescence properties of HOINP and ETINP has been investigated as a function of Delta f, the Lippert solvent polarity parameter. A solvatochromic effect, function of the polarity region, has been observed for both photoproducts due to a change in the dipole moment of the compound upon excitation. In low-polarity regions, the excited state dipole moment of HOINP undergoes only a moderate increase (11.5 D) as compared to the dipole moment of the ground state (4.5 D) suggesting that the fluorescence arises from the locally excited state while in high-polarity regions it is strongly increased (42.9 D), which can imply that the emission takes place from a charge transfer state. In the case of ETINP, it would seem that the emitting state is rather a charge transfer state whatever the region is (16.9 and 31.8 D for the calculated excited-state dipole moments in the low and high-polarity regions, respectively). HOINP and ETINP do not produce thymine dimers by photosensitization but induce photooxidative damage via an electron transfer mechanism.     

The Spectral Properties of (-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-Gallate (EGCG) Fluorescence in Different Solvents: Dependence on Solvent Polarity

(-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG) a molecule found in green tea and known for a plethora of bioactive properties is an inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), a protein of interest as a target for cancer and neuroprotection. Determination of the spectral properties of EGCG fluorescence in environments similar to those of binding sites found in proteins provides an important tool to directly study protein-EGCG interactions. The goal of this study is to examine the spectral properties of EGCG fluorescence in an aqueous buffer (AB) at pH=7.0, acetonitrile (AN) (a polar aprotic solvent), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (a polar aprotic solvent), and ethanol (EtOH) (a polar protic solvent). We demonstrate that EGCG is a highly fluorescent molecule when excited at approximately 275 nm with emission maxima between 350 and 400 nm depending on solvent. Another smaller excitation peak was found when EGCG is excited at approximately 235 nm with maximum emission between 340 and 400 nm. We found that the fluorescence intensity (FI) of EGCG in AB at pH=7.0 is significantly quenched, and that it is about 85 times higher in an aprotic solvent DMSO. The Stokes shifts of EGCG fluorescence were determined by solvent polarity. In addition, while the emission maxima of EGCG fluorescence in AB, DMSO, and EtOH follow the Lippert-Mataga equation, its fluorescence in AN points to non-specific solvent effects on EGCG fluorescence. We conclude that significant solvent-dependent changes in both fluorescence intensity and fluorescence emission shifts can be effectively used to distinguish EGCG in aqueous solutions from EGCG in environments of different polarity, and, thus, can be used to study specific EGCG binding to protein binding sites where the environment is often different from aqueous in terms of polarity.     

双水相萃取技术在白藜芦醇提纯工艺中的应用

论文研究了双水相萃取体系在提纯白藜芦醇工艺中的应用,用乙醇-硫酸胺-水双水相体系使虎杖提取液中的各物质按极性不同在油水两相中得到分离。双水相萃取时,白藜芦醇的含量远高于有机溶剂萃取,达34.29%。可见双水相技术可以完全代替有机溶剂萃取技术提纯白藜芦醇,产品纯度高,具有工艺简单,毒性小,成本低等优点。     

Effect of immiscible organic solvents on activity/stability of native chymotrypsin and immobilized-stabilized derivatives

We have developed different activity/stability tests to evaluate the possibilities of fully dispersed chymotrypsin derivatives as industrial catalysts in biphasic systems. We have tested different immiscible organic solvents (log P ranged from 0.65 to 2.8) and used different enzyme derivatives (soluble chymotrypsin and one-point and multipoint covalent attached derivatives). Special emphasis has been given to the role of the "exact composition of the aqueous phase."High phosphate concentrations largely protect every hymotrypsin derivative from the distorting effects of dissolved solvent molecules. The effects on the activity and stability of soluble chymotrypsin due to saturating solvent concentrations in an aqueous solution, and the much more severe effects of contact with the phase interface in a stirred biphasic system, all show the opposite trend for the influence of solvent polarity to that generally observed for biocatalysts. For example, deleterious effects decline in the order chloroform, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate. On the contrary, with or without stirring, our stabilized chymotrypsin-agarose derivatives are much more stable against these water-immiscible solvents, and their relative effects follow the normal trend. From these integrated activity and stability tests we can conclude that fully dispersed immobilized-stabilized derivatives seem to be an interesting alternative to develop industrial biphasic processes catalyzed by chymotrypsin.     

Spectral changes induced in Cibacron Blue F3GA by salts,organic solvents,and polypeptides: Implications for Blue dye interaction with proteins

The interactions of Cibacron Blue F3GA with organic solvents, salts, oligopeptides, and polypeptides were studied by visible difference spectroscopy. The difference spectrum of the dye in an aqueous solution of NaCl (vs water) has a characteristic positive peak at 690 nm and negative double minima at 630 and 585 nm. Such a “salt-like” spectrum is also obtained for interaction of the dye with polycations such as oligolysines, polylysine, polyarginine, and protamine. In contrast, the difference spectrum of the dye in binary aqueous solvents containing dioxan or t-butyl alcohol at moderately high concentrations, measured against water, displays a positive peak and shoulder at 655 and 610 nm, respectively, with a small negative contribution below 550 nm. This spectrum is attributed to a nonpolar interaction of the dye with organic cosolvent molecules. The spectrum of the dye in 7 M urea is changed little from that in water, indicating similar interactions of the dye with water or urea molecules. The spectral characteristics described here for the interaction of the polyaromatic polysulfonate dye with positively charged groups, polar groups, and nonpolar moieties of neutral molecules provide a basis for describing the details of the interactions of Cibacron Blue F3GA with several proteins and for characterizing the dye binding environments in the proteins.     

Picosecond kinetics of excited-state charge separation in 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine.

4-(Dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) shows solvent-dependent dual fluorescence from the initially excited state B* and a highly polar TICT state A*. Room-temperature time-resolved picosecond fluorescence investigations prove the bimodal kinetics of the excited-state electron transfer reaction B*-->A* in polar aprotic media. In medium polarity solvents (such as ethyl acetate) two emitting states of DMAP are shown to reach equilibrium within 50 ps. Both emitting states originate from the same ground state. The rate of excited-state charge separation depends on polarity and proton donating ability of the surrounding medium. The effects of temperature on the quantum yields of both fluorescences of DMAP in polar aprotic media indicate the transition from the kinetic regime (at low temperatures) to the equilibrium regime (at high temperatures). The kinetic behaviour of the dual luminescence of DMAP in protic solvents is more complex than in aprotic ones. In alcohols an efficient nonradiative channel competes with excited-state charge separation.