An insight into the dual fluorescence of 3,6-dihydroxybenzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid tetraethyl ester - An experimental and theoretical study.

The Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) phenomenon involving photo-induced keto-enol tautomerization is known to cause significant variations in the excited state structures and photophysical properties of certain molecules. Here, the dual emission exhibited by 3,6-dihydroxybenzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid tetraethyl ester has been studied both experimentally and theoretically and it is concluded that the second emission is due to ESIPT in polar protic solvents, while it is due to dianion formation in solvents like DMSO and DMF.