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Dependence of Photochemical Reactivity of the All‐ trans Retinal Protonated Schiff Base on the Solvent and the Excitation Wavelength
Author(s) -
Zgrablić Goran,
Ricci Maria,
Novello Anna Maria,
Parmigiani Fulvio
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2009.00697.x
Subject(s) - photoisomerization , photochemistry , chromophore , protonation , schiff base , chemistry , excited state , solvent , quantum yield , acetonitrile , excitation , retinal , wavelength , bacteriorhodopsin , isomerization , materials science , membrane , optics , fluorescence , atomic physics , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , stereochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , catalysis , ion , biochemistry
An all‐optical experimental technique aimed at measuring photoisomerization quantum yield ( ϕ ) of the all‐ trans protonated Schiff base of retinal in solution has been implemented. Upon the increase in the excitation wavelength from 400 to 540 nm a slight increase in ϕ from 0.16 ± 0.03 to 0.20 ± 0.02 is observed in the chromophore dissolved in methanol, whereas the ϕ value of the one dissolved in acetonitrile varies only from 0.22 ± 0.03 (400 nm) to 0.23 ± 0.04 (540 nm). The results suggest that dissipation of the excited‐state vibrational energy excess, along with environment‐induced modifications of the potential energy surfaces are necessary for an efficient retinal photoisomerization in both solvent and protein environment.