Real-time probing of fast photoinduced charge-transfer in electron donor-acceptor model compounds and in biological photosensors

We review some of our results on the role of solvent reorganization as an actual reaction coordinate in a few photoinduced charge-transfer processes concerning: dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN), bianthryl and its 10-cyano-derivative and anthracene-dimethylaniline (ADMA), in solution at room temperature. These processes were studied by subpicosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. We also describe some of our recent results on charge-transfer processes involved in the primary response of photoactive proteins such as the photoactive yellow protein (PYP) and the oxy blepharismin-binding protein (OBIP). The deciding role of the protein environment in the photophysics of the chromophore is emphasized.