Abstract: Naphthols with electron-withdrawing groups such as cyano or methanesulfonyl at C-5 and C-8 exhibit greatly enhanced photoacidity. This increase in photoacidity enables the substituted naphthols to undergo excitedstate proton transfer (ESPT) in alcohols and MeZSO in the absence of water. In aqueous tetrahydrofuran solution, efficient proton transfer to water occurs at much lower water concentrations than with the parent naphthol, and the ...
