Solvent Dependence of Photoinduced Intramolecular Electron Transfer: Criteria for the Design of Systems with Rapid, Solvent‐Independent Charge Separation

The interplay between structure and environment of the charge-separated state is the decisive factor determining the rate of the photo-induced charge transfer of donor–bridge–acceptor compounds. In the case of 1a and 1b, which differ only in the substituents on the donor unit, the “environment” (solvent effects) can be quantified. Design criteria are derived for systems that can undergo medium- and temperature-independent charge separation at a maximum rate for any given donor–acceptor separation.