G. Bartocci et al., Photophysics and photochemistry of the EE and ZE isomers of 1-(n-pyridyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-butadiene (n=2, 3 and 4), PHYS CHEM P, 3(3), 2001, pp. 379-386
The positional isomers of 1-(n-pyridyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-butadiene (n = 2, 3 an
d 4) have been synthesized in the EE and ZE geometries by common routes and
characterized by spectrometric techniques. Their excited state properties
were investigated by stationary and pulsed fluorimetric techniques and by l
aser flash photolysis. This paper reports the spectral, photophysical and p
hotochemical behaviour of the EE and ZE isomers in a non-polar solvent. The
photoisomerization proceeds through singlet, diabatic and/or adiabatic mec
hanisms with generally low quantum yield, owing to the role of internal con
version (markedly more important for n = 2). The role of intramolecular hyd
rogen bonds on the excited state properties of the ZE isomer of the 2-pyrid
yl derivative is particularly described.