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Ultrafast Photochemistry of Dithizonatophenylmercury(II)
Author(s) -
Schwoerer Heinrich,
von Eschwege Karel G.,
Bosman Gurthwin,
Krok Patrizia,
Conradie Jeanet
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201100337
Subject(s) - conical intersection , photochromism , photochemistry , ultrafast laser spectroscopy , chemistry , femtosecond , excited state , spectroscopy , isomerization , absorption spectroscopy , photoexcitation , solvent , ultrashort pulse , methanol , excitation , ground state , optics , laser , atomic physics , molecule , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , catalysis
The initial photochromic reaction of dithizonatophenylmercury(II) in solution was investigated by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Ultrafast excitation within less than 100 fs caused a radiationless photoreaction with a time constant of 1.5 ps, which is interpreted as CN isomerization through a conical intersection. The orthogonally twisted intermediate state was observed through its excited‐state absorption. Bifurcation along pathways towards the ground states of the orange cis and blue trans configurations occurs below the funnel of the conical intersection. The photochromism of the title compound in a very polar solvent such as methanol is observed for the first time.