Excited-State Proton Transfer in Solution under Vibrational Strong Coupling

Proton transfer reactions are ubiquitous in chemistry and biology. Here we explore the consequences of vibrational strong coupling (VSC) on excited state proton transfer in solution. The rates of proton transfer, as well as the internal dynamics and quantum yields, are significantly modified when the solvent and the photoacid are coupled cooperatively. These findings confirm that VSC can act on excited state reactivity and not just on ground state processes reported so far.