The singlet states of methyl cinnamate and methyl indenoate

Frederick D. Lewis*, Suzanne L. Quillen, Jeffrey E. Elbert, Siegfried Schneider, Peter Geiselhart

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

The fluorescence lifetimes of methyl cinnamate and methyl indenoate have been investigated by means of picosecond laser spectroscopy. Values of <3 ps and 15 ± 2 ps for these esters are significantly shorter than those previously reported for ethyl cinnamate. The short lifetimes are tentatively attributed to the competition between fluorescence from the originally populated π,π* singlet state and its internal conversion to a lowest n,π* singlet state. The efficiency of isomerization is independent of solvent, but dependent upon temperature and excitation wavelength. Comparison of the quantum yields for direct and triplet-sensitized dimerization indicates that intersystem crossing is highly inefficient. Thus the isomerization which occurs upon direct irradiation occurs predominantly from the singlet manifold.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)173-179
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, A: Chemistry
Volume47
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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