Nanosecond laser photolysis studies of vitamin K-3 in aqueous solution

Vitamin K-3 in aqueous solution was investigated by 248 nm laser flash phot olysis. Laser-induced transient species were characterized according to kin etic analysis and quenching experiments by Mn2+ and O-2 In neutral solution s, the intermediates recorded were assigned to excited triplet states and d ehydrogenated radicals of vitamin K-3. In comparison with the results of pu lse radiolytical experiment, vitamin K-3 not only has strong electron affin ity but could also could be photoionized by UV laser light. All this shows that vitamin K-3 acts as an effective electron carrier and electron transfe r agent. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.