PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF STILBAZOLES IN POLYMERIC FILMS

The photochemistry of stilbazoles depends on the molecular environment . If the chromophors as side chains of polymers are placed in films, i nteractions in the ground state can be established. These interactions can lead to an ''preorientation'' of the side chains, which favour, i n contrast to the monomolecular pathways in solution, the bimolecular, topochemically controlled [2 pi+2 pi] cycloaddition. This property en ables a controlled and effective crosslinking of polymers, which can b e used e.g. as a mild immobilisation technique.