Solvation dynamics of a probe covalently bound to a protein and in an AOT microemulsion: 4-(N-bromoacetylamino)-phthalimide

4-(N-bromoacetylamino)-phthalimide (I) is used as a new solvation probe for protein and microemulsions. The photophysics of the probe 4-(N-bromoacetylamino)-phthalimide (I) is dramatically different from that of the parent compound, 4-aminophthalimide (4-AP). The solvation dynamics of I in an AOT microemulsion is similar to that of 4-AP in microemulsions. Solvation dynamics in the vicinity of a protein glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS) is studied by covalently attaching I to the protein. The solvation dynamics of the protein-bound probe is described by a very fast component of 40 ps and another of 580 ps