Photophysical properties of monocyano- (2-, 3-, and 4-cyano) and dicyano- (3,4-, 3,5-, 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, and 2,6-dicyano) anilines are investigated by fluorescence measurements. All the monocyanoanilines are virtually nonfluorescent in water (quantum yield < 0.01); however, in nonaqueous solvents (cyclohexane, acetonitrile and ethanol), the fluorescence quantum yield is enhanced substantially. In contrast, dicyanoanilines investigated are highly fluorescent both in aqueous and nonaqueous environments. The photophysical data and MO calculations suggest that conformational changes in the amino group and variation of hydrogen-bonding interactions between the solute and solvent water upon electronic excitation are responsible for the water quenching in the monocyanoanilines. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.