Experimental evidence for water mediated electron transfer through bis-amino acid donor-bridge-acceptor oligomers.

This work compares the photoinduced unimolecular electron transfer rate constants for two different solute molecules (D-SSS-A and D-SRR-A) in water and DMSO solvents. The D-SSS-A solute has a cleft between the electron donor and acceptor units, which is able to contain a water molecule but is too small for DMSO. The rate constant for D-SSS-A in water is significantly higher than that for D-SRR-A, which lacks a cleft, and significantly higher for either solute in DMSO. The enhancement of the rate constant is explained by an electron tunneling pathway that involves water molecule(s).