Abstract
The molecular structures and E ↔ Z photoisomerization reactions of methyl urocanate and several urocanamides were investigated. All of the Z isomers possess intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The intramolecular hydrogen bonds may influence the efficiency of photoisomerization but do not totally inhibit its occurrence. The relative energies of the electronic absorption of the E and Z isomers depends on the mode of hydrogen bonding and are accurately predicted in the case of methyl urocanate using INDO/S-CI calculations. The solvent dependence of the absorption spectra of methyl urocanate can be related to the effects of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 749-763 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Research on Chemical Intermediates |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1995 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry