Excited state Isomerization studies

So far we have exclusively discussed time-resolved absorption spectroscopy with visible femtosecond pulses. It has become recently feasible to perfomi time-resolved spectroscopy with femtosecond IR pulses. Flochstrasser and co-workers [M, 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156 and 157] have worked out methods to employ IR pulses to monitor chemical reactions following electronic excitation by visible pump pulses these methods were applied in work on the light-initiated charge-transfer reactions that occur in the photosynthetic reaction centre [156. 157] and on the excited-state isomerization of tlie retinal pigment in bacteriorhodopsin [155]. Walker and co-workers [158] have recently used femtosecond IR spectroscopy to study vibrational dynamics associated with intramolecular charge transfer these studies are complementary to those perfomied by Barbara and co-workers [159. 160], in which ground-state RISRS wavepackets were monitored using a dynamic-absorption technique with visible pulses. 

Another interesting class of molecules are stilbene derivatives with charge donating groups. These compounds offer the opportunity to explore the role of polar solvation dynamics (dielectric friction) in cis/trans isomerization. Interesting papers on this subject have been published by Waldeck et al. [145] and Rulliere et al. [146]. Other well-studied polar excited state isomerization examples include pinacyanol, l,l -diethyl-4,4 -cyanine, and crystal violet, which have been studied by Sundstrom, Gilbro and their coworkers [148] and Ben-Amotz and Harris [148] and others who are referenced in these papers [148,149],... 

Method A is particularly useful for studying the dynamics of dual fluorescent systems, including excimer formation and excited state isomerization. For example, we have studied the dynamics of the excited state isomerization of 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF). The stable ground-state form of 3HF is the "normal"... 

This chapter will describe methods used to generate cations for their photochemical studies, as well as the characterization of their singlet and triplet excited states. Mechanistic studies of excited state carbocations are described, including reactions with nucleophilic species, electron transfer reactions, oxygen quenching, and isomerization processes. 

Kara, K., H. Kiyotani, and O. Kajimoto 1995, High-pressure studies on the excited-state isomerization of 2-vinylanthracene - Experimental investigation of Kramers turnover . J. Chem. Phys. 103, 5548. 

K Kara, N Ito, O Kajimoto. High pressure studies of the Kramers turnover behavior for the excited-state isomerization of 2-alkenylanthracene in alkene. J Chem Phys 110 1662, 1999. 

FtG. 2. Relative energy of the excited states of 2-methylfuraii and of some reactive intermediates. [Reprinted with permission from M. D Auria. Ab initio study on the photochemical isomerization of furan derivatives. J. Org. Chem. 65, 2494-2498 (2000)]. 

In summary, all the experiments expressly selected to check the theoretical description provided fairly clear evidence in favour of both the basic electronic model proposed for the BMPC photoisomerization (involving a TICT-like state) and the essential characteristics of the intramolecular S and S, potential surfaces as derived from CS INDO Cl calculations. Now, combining the results of the present investigation with those of previous studies [24,25] we are in a position to fix the following points about the mechanism and dynamics of BMPC excited-state relaxation l)photoexcitation (So-Si)of the stable (trans) form results in the formation of the 3-4 cis planar isomer, as well as recovery of the trans one, through a perpendicular CT-like S] minimum of intramolecular origin, 2) a small intramolecular barrier (1.-1.2 kcal mol ) is interposed between the secondary trans and the absolute perp minima, 3) the thermal back 3-4 cis trans isomerization requires travelling over a substantial intramolecular barrier (=18 kcal moM) at the perp conformation, 4) solvent polarity effects come into play primarily around the perp conformation, due to localization of the... 

Zimmerman and co-workers were also able to obtain some information regarding the multiplicities of the excited states responsible for the initial /9-cleavage through quenching and sensitization studies. It was found that both trans-to-cis and cis-to-trans isomerizations could be sensitized by chlorobenzene under conditions where the latter absorbed over 95% of the light. The same product ratio was obtained under these conditions as in the direct irradiation of the ketones. With 1,3-cyclohexadiene or 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene as quenchers nearly 90% of the reaction of the trans isomer could be quenched. Again the ratio of the quenched reaction products was the same as in the unquenched reaction. The reaction of the cis isomer, on the other hand, could not be quenched by 1,3-cyclohexadiene or 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-... 

Obviously, a great deal more information could be obtained if the isomeric ions could be probed spectroscopically. Vibrational states of the various isomers are not generally well known, but some structural information is available. Thus, the rotational structure of vibrational transitions may provide a better signature for particular isomers. Certainly, insufficient data are available about the potential surfaces of electronically excited states for electronic excitation to be used as a probe, e.g., as in the very sensitive laser induced fluorescence. At present, there are sensitivity limitations in the infrared region of the spectrum, but this may well be an avenue for the future. The study of isomeric systems and their potential surfaces has just begun ... 

Gas-phase ion chemistry is a broad field which has many applications and which encompasses various branches of chemistry and physics. An application that draws together many of these branches is the synthesis of molecules in interstellar clouds (Herbst). This was part of the motivation for studies on the neutralization of ions by electrons (Johnsen and Mitchell) and on isomerization in ion-neutral associations (Adams and Fisher). The results of investigations of particular aspects of ion dynamics are presented in these association studies, in studies of the intermediates of binary ion-molecule Sn2 reactions (Hase, Wang, and Peslherbe), and in those of excited states of ions and their associated neutrals (Richard, Lu, Walker, and Weisshaar). Solvation in ion-molecule reactions is discussed (Castleman) and extended to include multiply charged ions by the application of electrospray techniques (Klassen, Ho, Blades, and Kebarle). These studies also provide a wealth of information on reaction thermodynamics which is critical in determining reaction spontaneity and availability of reaction channels. More focused studies relating to the ionization process and its nature are presented in the final chapter (Harland and Vallance). 

The effects of nitro substituents on the cis-trans isomerization of stilbenes has been reviewed70 (equation 63). The trans-to-cis isomerization occurs from a triplet excited state, whereas the reverse cis-to-trans isomerization occurs through a main route which bypasses the triplet state. A nitro substituent usually causes a significant enhancement of the quantum yield of the intersystem crossing. Nitro substituent effects on the photoisomerization of trans-styrylnaphthalene71 (equation 64), trans-azobenzenes72 and 4-nitrodiphenylazomethines73 (equation 65) have been studied for their mechanisms. 

A study on mechanistic aspects of di-ir-methane rearrangements has been published recently [72]. The kinetic modeling of temperature-dependent datasets from photoreactions of 1,3-diphenylpropene and several of its 3-substituted derivatives 127a-127d (structures 127 and 128) show that the singlet excited state decays via two inactivated processes, fluorescence and intersystem crossing, and two activated processes, trans-cis isomerization and phenyl-vinyl bridging. The latter activated process yields a biradical intermediate that partitions between forma-... 

Mott transition, 25 170-172 paramagnetic states, 25 148-161, 165-169 continuum model, 25 159-161 ESR. studies, 25 152-157 multistate model, 25 159 optical spectra, 25 157-159 and solvated electrons, 25 138-142 quantitative theory, 25 138-142 spin-equilibria complexes, 32 2-3, see also specific complex four-coordinated d type, 32 2 implications, 32 43-44 excited states, 32 47-48 porphyrins and heme proteins, 32 48-49 electron transfer, 32 45-46 race-mization and isomerization, 32 44—45 substitution, 32 46 in solid state, 32 36-39 lifetime limits, 32 37-38 measured rates, 32 38-39 in solution, 32 22-36 static properties electronic spectra, 32 12-13 geometric structure, 32 6-11 magnetic susceptibility, 32 4-6 vibrational spectra, 32 13 summary and interpretation... 

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